Copar CHN
Copar CHN
Copar CHN
A social development approach that aims to transform the apathetic, individualistic and voiceless poor into dynamic, participatory and politically responsive community. A collective, participatory, transformative, liberative, sustained and systematic process of building peoples organizations by mobilizing and enhancing the capabilities and resources of the people for the resolution of their issues and concerns towards effecting change in their existing oppressive and exploitative conditions (1994 National Rural Conference) A process by which a community identifies its needs and objectives, develops confidence to take action in respect to them and in doing so, extends and develops cooperative and collaborative attitudes and practices in the community (Ross 1967) A continuous and sustained process of educating the people to understand and develop their critical awareness of their existing condition, working with the people collectively and efficiently on their immediate and long-term problems, and mobilizing the people to develop their capability and readiness to respond and take action on their immediate needs towards solving their long-term problems (CO: A manual of experience, PCPD)
Process:
- the sequence of steps whereby members of a community come together to critically assess to evaluate community conditions and work together to improve those conditions.
Structure:
- refers to a particular group of community members that work together for a common health and health related goals.
Emphasis of COPAR:
1. Community working to solve its own problem 2. Direction is established internally and externally 3. Development and implementation of a specific project less important than the development of the capacity of the community to establish the project 4. Consciousness raising involves perceiving health and medical care within the total structure of society
Importance of COPAR:
1. COPAR is an important tool for community development and people empowerment as this helps the community workers to generate community participation in development activities. 2. COPAR prepares people/clients to eventually take over the management of a development programs in the future. 3. COPAR maximizes community participation and involvement; community resources are mobilized for community services. PRINCIPLES: 1. People especially the most oppressed, exploited and deprived sectors are open to change, have the capacity to change and are able to bring about change. 2. COPAR should be based on the interest of the poorest sector of the community. 3. COPAR should lead to a self-reliant community and society.
Phases of COPAR Process: 1. Pre-Entry Phase - is the intial phase of the organizing process where the community organizer looks for communities to serve and help. Acitivities include: Preparation of the Institution * Train faculty and students in COPAR. * Formulate plans for institutionalizing COPAR. * Revise/enrich curriculum and immersion program. * Coordinate participants of other departments.
Site Selection
* Initial networking with local government. * Conduct preliminary special investigation. * Make long/short list of potential communities. * Do ocular survey of listed communities.
* Do the same process as in selecting municipality. * Consult key informants and residents. * Coordinate with local government and NGOs for future activities.
Choosing Final Barangay
* Conduct informal interviews with community residents and key informants. * Determine the need of the program in the community. * Take note of political development. * Develop community profiles for secondary data. * Develop survey tools. * Pay courtesy call to community leaders. * Choose foster families based on guidelines.
Identifying Host Family * House is strategically located in the community. * Should not belong to the rich segment. * Respected by both formal and informal leaders. * Neighbors are not hesitant to enter the house. * No member of the host family should be moving out in the community. 2. Entry Phase - sometimes called the social preparation phase. Is crucial in determining which strategies for organizing would suit the chosen community. Success of the activities depend on how much the community organizers has integrated with the community.
3. Organization-building Phase
Entails the formation of more formal structure and the inclusion of more formal procedure of planning, implementing, and evaluating community-wise activities. It is at this phase where the organized leaders or groups are being given training (formal, informal, OJT) to develop their style in managing their own concerns/programs.
Key Activities
* Community Health Organization (CHO) o preparation of legal requirements o guidelines in the organization of the CHO by the core group o election of officers * Research Team Committee * Planning Committee * Health Committee Organization * Others * Formation of by-laws by the CHO
Key Activities
* Training of CHO for monitoring and implementing of community health program. * Identification of secondary leaders. * Linkaging and networking. * Conduct of mobilization on health and development concerns. * Implementation of livelihood projects.