Module 1

National Service Training Program

People-centered Development
Management and Empowerment

Compiled and Prepared by:

KRISSANDRA MINETTE ORILLO

Course Coach
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Civic Welfare Training Service

Week/Day M-T-W-TH

Course Code NSTP 2 Duration

Week 1-3
Lesson No. 1

Course
National Service Training Program 2 (CWTS)
Description

Lesson/Topic PEOPLE-CENTERED DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT

At the end of this lesson, the students can:

Learning
 Discus how people-centered development management can empower
Outcomes
people in the community and discuss how to build a community through
commitment by volunteerism.
 Describe the effects of community empowerment on self-reliance and on
the program sustainability.
(National Service Training Program- Civic Welfare Training Service 1/Literacy Training
Service 1, 2nd Edition Sergio J. Lee 2007)
Reference (National Service Training Program- Civic Welfare Training Service II/Literacy Training
Service II 2nd Edition Sergio J. Lee, Serge-Albert C. Tiu-Lee 2008)
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/ra-no-9418-volunteer-act/

Course Coach KRISSANDRA MINETTE B. ORILLO

CHAPTER 1: People-centered Development

Management and Empowerment
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Civic Welfare Training Service

I. Activation of Prior Knowledge justice, and participatory decision-making. It goes

beyond the concept of community development
As your course coach, I would like to know your by contending that people at the grass-roots level
thoughts about the topic to be discussed. If you define their needs. They can and should also
have any experience or prior knowledge on plan, implement, and evaluate their own
Empowerment or Volunteerism, I would be glad if development process. Outsiders cans serve as
you could share it here. Write your thoughts on development catalysts but if training is
the sheet found in Annex A. successful, people themselves become further
empowered to take over the development
II. Engagement In Relevant Content And
process.
Appropriate Learning Activity/Activities

In any community undertaking, both the Sustainability is an inherent component and

motivation to take action and unity in people’s explicit goal of people-centered development.
efforts depend very much on having clear and People-centered development calls for the
common goals and values. It is truly important to establishment of self-supporting social and
involve the participants in planning and economic systems, key elements of sustainable
formulating the purpose and course of action of society.
the group.
Five Core Concepts of Development (UN
Formal education has delivered many people but Development Institute, 1997)
made them detached from the real day-to-day 1. Man as the end of development
experience of poverty. Their interventions as 2. De-alienation of man in the sense that he feels
development workers can sometimes be quite at home with the process of development, he
inappropriate as these might be considered as as subject, not as object.
cultural intrusions. 3. Development of collective personality of man
in which he finds his richest expressions.
How can we truly listen to the people? 4. Participation as the true form of democracy.
5. Self-reliance as the expression of man’s faith
People-centered Development in his own abilities.
Management
What is Development? Three Core Values of Development, Relating to
Fundamental Needs (Todaro, 1978)
Development is a quest for an improved quality
of life for all. It is multi-dimensional. It has  Life sustenance – ability to provide basic
political, economic, social, cultural, institutional, necessities.
and environmental dimensions. It is multi-  Self-esteem – is the person’s sense of
disciplinary having been drawn from the self-worth and self-respect.
disciplines of economics, sociology, psychology,  Freedom from servitude – ability to
choose.
management, politics, environment, and
sciences. It uses integrative approaches and
Development Management
strategies in attaining its goals and objectives.
What is Development Management?
Development is dynamic with respect to change Development management is a commitment to
and transformation of people’s attitudes, behavior promote the application of science and the art of
and organizational structures. It involves management to process of nation-building for
mobilization of people and resources. It is dynamic development.
people-oriented and participatory in development 1. It is an integrative and complex field of
programs that bring about the empowerment of study that examines the structure,
people. processes and the behavioral patterns
What is People-centered development? involved in managing development
interventions at the project, program and
People-centered development is an approach to policy levels.
international development that focuses on 2. There is a need to enrich social groups
and network as supplements to
improving local communities’ self-reliance, social
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Civic Welfare Training Service

hierarchies and as source of social

support, innovation and social action. 1. Empowerment, therefore, occurs when
3. It must respond by assuming a more power goes to the project implementors. It is
proactive role of generating techno- the process in which people take action to
managerial capabilities necessary for a overcome the obstacles to progress. This
sustainable, self-reliant, and people- action involves getting more control over
centered development. their situation. Most organizations believe
4. It focuses on capacity-building in the that a commitment to continuous
strengthening of community improvement by all members is a must to
organizations and in the enhancement of remain competitive. Empowerment and the
government and government institutions. energy that comes with feelings of ownership
are necessary prerequisites for continuous
Discovery Process of Citizen Participation improvement.
2. Empowerment is facilitated by a combination
Kent Discovery Process (1972) uses the theory of factors, including values, leadership
of “informal networks,” consisting of people who actions, job structure, training, and reward
support each other in predictable ways and have systems.
a shared commitment to maintain and to
Community Empowerment and Program
enhance their quality of life. Discovery of the
Sustainability
formal and informal networks – how they
function, and the content of their interaction –
What is community empowerment (CE)?
helps identify the strength and weaknesses of the
community and leads to a definition of the issues
Community empowerment means giving
that disrupt or impinge upon the quality of
community people the freedom to think on their
community life. This assessment then gives
own and to reflect on the improvement of their
direction to a social action process for change
situation.
which incorporates citizen participation by using
the network system. The “process begins with an
Three Main Objectives of Empowerment
ability to identify and tie issues to specific
(Thompson, 1997)
networks, because social action processes must
always be grounded on the concerns of individual
1. To make organizations more responsive to
citizens and their constantly changing
external pressure
environments.” 2. To ‘de-layer’ organizations in order to make
them more effective
3. To create networks featuring teamwork,
collaboration, and horizontal communication

As empowerment is increased, it is important that

community people are properly informed and
made knowledgeable, that they are motivated to
exercise power, and that they are rewarded for
successful outcomes.

Diagram of Kent’s view of citizen participation and the

Discovery Process

Community Empowerment
What is Empowerment?
Three Basic Empowerment Options (Thompson,
What does “empower” mean? Power means 1997)
control, authority, and dominion. The prefix “ em”
means “to put to” or “to cover with.” To empower, 1. Community people can be encouraged to
then is to pass an authority and responsibility to contribute ideas.
somebody. (Wellins et al., 1991).
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2. Community people work in teams which What do you want from Volunteering? (Schwartz
share and manage their own work, within et al, 1997)
clearly defined policies and limits.
3. There can be more extensive You may not realize it, but you are going to get
decentralization where individuals are much something out of volunteering – new friends,
freer to change certain parameters and emotional satisfaction, new skills or something
strategies. Evaluating outcomes is an also important to you.
important control mechanism.
Here are eight of the things people frequently say
Building the Community We Want through they hope to get from volunteering.
Commitment by Volunteerism
1. A chance to “make a difference.”
What is Volunteerism? 2. A chance to use a skill or talent.
3. A chance to gain professional experience or
Volunteerism is the practice of providing time and contacts.
4. A way to express one’s religious faith.
skills for the benefit of other people and causes
5. A chance to meet people.
rather than for financial benefit.
6. A chance to develop personal growth and
self-esteem
Everyone knows that volunteering is a “good 7. A more balanced life.
thing to do.” Volunteers are people who are 8. A chance to “give something back.”
willing to take action to build the kind of
community they want to live. They are exactly III. Reflection and Respond/Action
what our society needs right now.
A. What issues do you want to work on?
Reflect on the answer sheet provided in Annex B.
Seven Tips for Youth Volunteers
Problems Resources to Group to Help
Help
1. Choose a job that interests you.
 Pick a volunteer job that you enjoy or
one where you can do something B. Answer the following questions provided in
important for yourself. Annex C.
2. Be realistic about your time.
 It is a good idea to start with a small IV. Summative Assessment
commitment. TRUE OR FALSE:
3. Consider transportation. Instruction: Write TRUE if the statement is
4. Explore your options. True and provide the correct word if the
 Find an organization that needs statement is False. Use Annex D. If possible,
volunteers in the community project. try answering without looking back to your
5. Call some organizations. module. Good luck!
 Call up organizations that are interesting.
Tell them that you want to join as V. Feedback.
volunteer implementor.
 Introduce yourself and express your Let me know what problems or difficulties you
interest in learning about volunteer encounter in this module. Use Feedback Form
opportunities. found at the annex booklet.
6. Check things out first.
 You are not obligated to work in an “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is,
organization just because you called up. what are you doing for other?”
 You should see the place first before you – Martin Luther King, Jr.
make a commitment.
7. Make a decision.

 After you have visited an organization,

decide whether you want to work there. If
you have decided, set up a date and
time to start.