MODULE 1 – THE CORE VALUES OF COMMUNITY ACTION

QUARTER 4
INITIATIVES

At the end of this module, students are expected to:

Explain the core values of community action initiatives: a. human rights b. social equity c.
gender equality d. participatory development (HUMSS_CSC12 -IIIh - j -12; HUMSS_CSC12 -IIIh -
j -13 and HUMSS_CSC12 -IIIh - j -14)
1. Identify the core values of community action initiatives

2. Promote awareness of human rights in communities among learners; and

3. Develop commitment in taking community action.

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 MODULE 1 – THE CORE VALUES OF COMMUNITY ACTION
QUARTER 4
INITIATIVES

Lesson 1: The Core Values of Community Action Initiatives

Every community has its own issues and problems that are needed to be resolved. There
are issues that are being a subject matter of the argumentation and discussions of the people.
There are also problems wherein conditions are undesired by people which they tend to seek
solutions.
Due to the above stated realities in the community, actions and initiatives from its members
are very relevant and needed. Being a member of the community, you should take part in the said
actions, to address the issues and problems, so that community life will be better for you and
other community members.
Thus, the process of collaborative work between the individuals and groups known as
community engagement will take place in the community action initiatives. A community initiative
is generally a network of individuals and partner organizations dedicated to improve the health
and welfare of a community. It seeks to deal with and reduce the effect of social problems, in order
to improve peoples' quality of life. They vary by community, but may address issues such as
homelessness, drug abuse, domestic violence, and many others.
Hence, it is important for you to understand the core values of community action initiatives.
Let us learn these core values before having actions to community issues and problems.

What are Core Values?

According to Oxford Dictionary, core values are principles or beliefs that a person or
organization views as being of central importance. Another definition of core values is that
these “are the fundamental beliefs of a person or organization. These are guiding principles
dictate the behavior and can help people understand the difference between right and wrong.”
Core values also help to determine if they are on the right path and fulfilling their goals by
creating an unwavering guide.

The Core Values and Principles of Community-action Initiatives

Based on the book of (Taguibao et. al 2016), There is no single approach to community
development and as such, initiatives and actions that are intended to address community issues
and problems must consider different tools and methods that are appropriate to the context of the
community. Essentially, community actions must give members and leaders a “voice” in the
community action.

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 MODULE 1 – THE CORE VALUES OF COMMUNITY ACTION
QUARTER 4
INITIATIVES

In that sense, the following are the core values that must be taken into consideration in
making community action initiatives and plans.
1. Human rights
2. Social Equity
3. Gender equality
4. Participatory development

HUMAN RIGHTS

According to the Office of the

United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR), it is defined as
“the rights inherent to all human beings
whatever our nationality, place of
residence, sex, national or ethnic origin,
color, religion, language or any other
status.
It is also defined as the supreme,
inherent, and inalienable rights to life, to
dignity, and to self-development. It is
concerned with issues in both areas of
civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights founded on internationally
accepted human rights obligations.

In this sense, each person, even before coming into this world and getting out of its mother’s womb,
have already have rights, like right to live, which is a natural right. Upon birth and growing up,
citizenship and other rights and entitlements are already alongside to the child, such as the right
to a name and nationality, the right to health and nutrition, the right to shelter, the right to
education and the likes.
Also, here are the human rights included in the United Nations declaration:
• Natural Rights - The liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
• Civil Rights - privacy, property, religion, expression, contract and movement
• Political Rights - assembly, petition, suffrage, direct and indirect participation, self-
determination, self-government and election to public office

All of these and more are our rights, but let us not forget that our right ends, where the
rights of others begin. Also, in every right there is a corresponding obligation and responsibility

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INITIATIVES

SOCIAL EQUITY

It is the fair access to opportunities, like

education, livelihood and resources. It involves
participation in cultural and political practices in the
community like the social justice, but social equity
emphasizes more on institutions and how people can
access it, especially those who need it most. It also
refers to standards set applied to improve the
participation of a certain classes or sectors of people
in the community.

An example of this is the marginalized group like Persons With Disability (PWDs) who do
have the same and equal rights to ordinary people but are also protected and given the privilege
to achieve social equity. Other marginalized groups sectors or groups are women, children, youth,
indigenous, LGBTQ+ community, and the likes who are considered weak and in need of help.
In tackling social equity, we cannot go away with social justice. As defined by former
President Jose P. Laurel, it is the humanization of laws and the equalization of social and economic
forces by the state so that justice may at least be approximated. It is anchored heavily on the idea
that justice is based on basic human rights and each individual must have an opportunity to
exercise these rights.

Hence if we compare equity and equality, equity according to Encarta Dictionary is a general
condition characterized by justice, fairness, and impartiality, while equality is full equality under
the law. If we think about it, equality means giving all things to all individuals even others may
not need it, while equity is giving the individuals what they need.

GENDER EQUALITY

As defined by United Nations Entity for Gender

Equality and Empowerment of women, it is “the equal
rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of women and
men and girls and boys.” It does not mean that both
genders are the same but emphasize the equality of men
and women, with equal rights, values, treatment, and
opportunities.

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INITIATIVES

Clear examples of problems in gender equality are seen in the following situations:
-Men may often have better opportunities, freedom and social favor compared to women.
-Most of the positions, socially and politically were being occupied mostly by men.
-Men may have more weight in marriages or other direct or indirect relationships.

It is known that individuals in a community have unique roles that are being played, also,
aside from the said roles; they also have unique needs that must be answered. There are gender
differences between the roles played by women and men and their unique needs and responses to
a community issue.
Not including a certain gender group may mean a different set of priorities that would
become a possible condition of a non-holistic approach in the issue and problem solving

PARTICIPATORY DEVELOPMENT

Its objective is to engage the marginalized group in programs and activities that will benefit
them. It must have advocacies to enable the marginalized groups to promote their rights. The more
participation from the community, the higher is the possible success and sustainability of the
programs and projects. As a result, it will empower a certain sector that will benefit from the
community initiatives thru participatory development.
This kind of development aims to directly involve local communities in development
projects. It is in our knowledge that different members of the community have their own and
distinct needs, but if all or most of its members will unite and participate for a certain goal, there
will be less discord and misunderstanding, then most likely, the program and activities, as well as
the participation of the groups in the community, will succeed, and answering the needs of a
certain group or sector would be easier.
Hence, the entire above stated core values of community action initiatives must be our
guiding light in making and preparing our own community action initiative and project.

What’s More

Directions: Write YES if the statement is correct and NO if the sentence is incorrect. Write the
answer in your answer sheet.
_____1. There is a single approach to community development.
_____2 Community actions must give members and leaders a “voice” in the community action.
_____3. Human Rights are acquired when a person reached the legal age.
_____4. Human Rights are basic human entitlements.

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INITIATIVES

_____5. Social Equity is the fair access to opportunities in livelihood, education and resources.
_____6. Gender Equality is the equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of women and men
and girls and boys.
_____7. Sex is defined as the attitudes and feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associated
with the person’s biological being.
_____8. The liberty and the pursuit of happiness are civil rights
_____9. The objective of participatory development is to engage the marginalized group in programs
and activities that will benefit them.
_____10. Empowerment of the marginalized sector will be the result of community initiatives and
programs.

What Have I Learned

Directions: Fill-in the blanks with appropriate word or phrase to make each statement
complete. Write the answer on the space provided
1. Core values are _________ or ________ that a person or organization views as being of central
importance.
2. The __________ of community action initiatives revolves around human rights, social equity,
gender equality and participatory development.
3. _____________ are the inalienable and inherent rights that each human being have and cannot
be taken away from a human being.
4. PWD’s, women, children, youth, indigenous, LGBTQ+ are examples of __________ group.
5. The concept of ______________ is that, if there are more participation from the community, the
higher is the possible success and sustainability of the programs and projects.
6. Individuals in a ____________ have unique roles that are being played.
7. Gender equality emphasizes the equality of ________ and _______, with equal rights, values,
treatment and opportunities.
8. _____________ according to Encarta Dictionary is a general condition characterized by justice,
fairness, and impartiality.
9. _____________ is full equality under the law.
10. Unlike social justice, _____________ emphasizes fair access to opportunities, like education,
livelihood and resources.

1. ___________________________________ 6.
2. ___________________________________ 7.
3. ___________________________________ 8.
4. ___________________________________ 9.
5. ___________________________________ 10.

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Assessment

Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer of the following concepts. Write your answer on
the space before the number
_________1. These are the fundamental beliefs of a person or organization that serves as their guide
in all of their undertakings.

a. Core Values b. Framework c. Principle d. Values

_________2. Which among the following is not a core value of community action initiative?

a. Human Rights c. Social Equity

b. Participatory Development d. Sense of Entitlement

_________3. “All men are equal regardless of the color of skin” this statement from Kartilya ng
Katipunan is an example of:

a. Human Rights c. Participatory Development

b. Gender Equality d. Social Equity

_________4. It is an equal representation of men and women in most of the activities.

a. Human Rights c. Participatory Development

b. Gender Equality d. Social Equity

_________5. This kind of development aims to directly involve local communities in development
projects.

a. Human Rights c. Participatory Development

b. Gender Equality d. Social Equity

_________6. Which among the following is not an example of problem in terms of gender equality?

a. Men may have more weight in marriages or other direct or indirect relationships
b. Men may often have better opportunities, freedom and social favor compared to women.

c. Men and women may now vote their desired official without being hindered by anyone or
any law.

d. Most of the positions, socially, politically and the likes were being occupied mostly by
men.

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INITIATIVES

_________7. The right to assembly, petition, suffrage, direct and indirect participation, self-
determination, self-government and election to public office are included in _______ right.

a. Civil Rights c. Political Rights

b. Natural Right d. Social & Economic Rights
_________8. PWD’s, indigenous people and LGBTQ+ community are some example of ________.

a. Civil Society c. Marginalized Sector

b. Private Sector d. NGO’s
_________9. The humanization of law is _________.

a. Human Rights c. Social Justice

b. Social Equity d. All of the above
_________10. All individuals are being given things that they may need or may not need. This is an
example of:

a. Equality b. Equity c. Human Rights d. No answer

Additional Activities

Direction: Create a poster about your commitment in a community action in your community
during this time of pandemic. It must show two or more Core Values of Community action
Initiative. Use any coloring materials available at home. Do this in a separate paper.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SOLIDARITY, AND CITIZENSHIP 8