Techniques of Engaging with the Community - Case Study Example

Executive Summary The report conceptualizes quite a number of methods and techniques of engaging with the communities at various levels in a bid to address the concern of community outreach and mobilization. The Wesley community has been considered in this report to present an exclusive outline of the topic of discussion that encompasses community engagement and empowerment. The community mobilization through meetings and sensitizations of developmental agendas take the center stage in understanding the needs of communities at various levels. The report takes note of the intervention of the mass media as a method of engaging the wider segment of the community to establish an idealistic perspective of prosperity and economic development. The report considers entertainment and education for the young people as style that not only educate and entertain the community but also a technique of enlightening the essentiality of positive attitude towards developmental projects. The report presents an extensive description of innovative approaches as models of participation and community engagement. On the same note, cultural activities and electronic technologies are viewed as a way of enhancing social marketing campaigns to boost economic performance of the community. Aims The aims of the research include; Determine the economic status of the community. Examine the social and cultural status of the community. The study aims to conduct an exclusive review and evaluation of societal growth and engagement, more specifically based on the models for participation towards community growth and development. The study aims to recognize and presents a comprehensive distinction between diverse styles and techniques of engaging marginalized individuals in the Wesley community. The study has an objective of establishing requisite procedures for collecting and interpreting communicable information in a bid to support the priority setting for addressing the concern of marginalized groups in a society. Table of Contents Page No. 1.0. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………….5 2.0. Main Body……………………………………………………………………………...6 2.1. Community Profile…………………………………………………………….6 2.2. Methods of Engaging With the Community…………………………………7 2.3. Activity…………………………………………………………………………7 2.4. Evaluation……………………………………………………………………...8 3.0. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………...8 4.0. Appendices……………………………………………………………………………..9 5.0. Introduction Be that as it may, societal outreach and mobilization has always been considered as a number one priority for engaging the marginalized groups since the dawn of time. The community sensitization and mobilization comprises of diverse issues that involves meeting and trainings. In view of the previous studies and comments posed by profound scholars, community engagement through traditional authorities and cultural activities are perceived as a stepping stone towards defining the needs of the disadvantaged groups in the community. Mass media has been conceptualized as technique of engaging and enlightening a wider segment of the community on the essentiality of grasping developmental perspectives. In a strong sense, mass media basically targets the young people since they are believed to have what it takes to implement and put into practice the developmental agendas for facilitating economic performance of a community. The use of television, billboards and quite a number of mass media procedures is quite essential in enabling the majority of disadvantaged individuals in community access credible information and resources. Another technique of engaging with the community is through entertainment and education. On the same dimension, conducting learning through entertainment is perceived as a developmental strategy of designing the media message to reach a substantial percentage of the marginalized groups, more specifically the young generation. Entertainment and education creates an ideal platform for sensitizing favorable learning notion and also influences a change of behavior towards economic growth and development. On the same note, the ideological construct of education and entertainment outlines a shift of the social norms by the young people, particularly with regards to community empowerment and engagement. The conceptualization of electronic technologies through the use of computers and cultural activities also come out as a recommendable strategy of community empowerment. In addition, the aforementioned innovative approaches enhance societal engagement and marketing campaigns in a bid to address the concern of disadvantaged groups in the community. 6.0. Main Body 6.1. Community Profile This section of the report will design a community profile of the Wesley community. The community profile will provide a precise description of the requirements as well as the needs of the community. The structures and resources in the community will be assessed in the description or the community plan. The community, Wesley was selected by the research team since the research was focused on a geographical community and Wesley was among the best communities under geographic. The community profile is one of the most effective method that was used by the research team to collect data as well as the information of the community. Community profile was a data sheet filled and compiled by the research team from the data collected. The main purpose of using the community profile is not to collect the entire information about the community, but to obtain a key idea and understanding of the community, which will help to approach and meet the needs of the community. Some of the basic that were examined by the research team in the community profile included; Community history: this provides a comprehensive information on the economic, social and culture of the community among others. Infrastructure of the community: this describes the infrastructures available as well as the status of the infrastructures such as the transportation, communication, education, health, markets and agriculture among others. Resources: the type of resources existing in the community such as natural resources among others. Livelihoods: this is composed of the number of people and houses in the community. In addition, the number of households is also involved I the community. Local institutions: this involves the organizations associations, regulations, rules and customs among others. Structures in the community: this is composed of structures and houses in the community. The buildings and households among others. The community profile created by the research team is presented in the report as seen in (appendix 1). 6.2. Methods of Engaging With the Community The research team used methods in collecting the information that forced them to engage with the community. The method that was used in collecting the information is the questionnaire. The research team designed the questionnaires and implemented them in the community. As result, the research team engaged with the community. They gave the questionnaires randomly to different people in the community. This also led to them involving the members of the community in the research. As the community profile was being filled, different members of the community were interviewed to give their views about the communities and the questions interviewed. The method of engaging with the community was the use of questionnaires. Engaging with the community was useful and effective for the collection of data and information form the community. The community members were responsive and cooperative to the questions asked. Evidently, the methods used by the research team was useful and improved the collection and obtaining the required information. A sample of the questionnaire that was used to collect data by the research team is presented in the report inform of (appendix 2) 6.3. Activity The research team planned an intervention of the community and facilitated it in the community. The intervention activity used in the research is the consultation activity. The community consultation activity the main activity that was conducted by the research team. The purpose of the activity was to dig in and understand the community better. The research team used this as a secondary method of collecting other information the community such as the past activities and the current activities. The consultation activities were also done inform of secondary questionnaires that focused on specific issues such as family issues among many others. The sample questionnaire of given to a young youth in the community about the family and the neighborhood is represented in (appendix 3 below). 6.4. Evaluation After assessing the community through the selected methods, the results obtained were analyzed. According to the results and the findings of the research, Wesley community is an outstanding community with a population whose needs can be satisfied by the community. The research shows that the community is a developing community and the economy of the community is increasing. The community has companies and organizations that have contributed to the development of the community in terms of economy and infrastructure. Evidently, the research focused on obtaining the aims and the objectives set. The results from the analysis clearly show that the aims and the purpose of the research were obtained. The research has performed the intervention of the Wesley community and determined the status of the community in terms of economic growth and development. 7.0. Conclusion In view of the information communicated in the report, the combination of techniques of community engagement and empowerment is quite essential in establishing multiple strategies of economic growth and development. On the same note, programs that conceptualize multiple modalities of community sensitization and marketing campaigns are more effective in ensuring sustained engagement and societal ownership. The need to consider alternative styles and procedures of dealing with violence practices such as violence against the marginalized groups in the community is inevitable and need to be accorded requisite attention. Based on this concern and the research conducted on the Wesley community, it would be quite recommendable if most communities across the globe engage the disadvantaged groups and institutions to be agents of change. The need for encouraging community empowerment and ownership is a necessary technique of instilling hope and excitement to ensure a safe community that is free of violence. In addition, personalizing the styles and procedures of community engagement would ensure that each and every marginalized group is part and parcel of the solution. This perspective would also engage the marginalized groups to take note of the developmental projects and become activist in boosting economic performance of their communities. 8.0. Appendices Appendix 1: Community Profile PART A: Community Information Please type in boxes provided; cells will expand as text is entered. Community Name Other Name/s History/Background Information Language(s) Road Access Dry Season: Wet Season: Travel Time By Road: By Air: Transport Mode Frequency Flight Services: Road Services: Barge Services: Air Strip Details Surface condition: All weather: Lighting: Other information: (eg.livestock/maintenance) Outstations Outstation Name Population Distance (from community) Police Location Contact Details Night Patrol Contact Details Community Amenities Amenity Opening Hours (eg stores / fuel/ banks/ post office/ credit union) Community Facilities Facility Contact Details (Health centers) Community / Cultural Events Event When Held (eg. Art festivals) Appendix 2: Questionnaire 1. Name 2. Family Name 3. Name of the Community 4. Language 5. How many Schools are there in the community? 1 - 5 5 - 10 10 - 50 50 - 100 above 100 6. Are there companies in the community? Yes No 7. If yes, how many organizations are they? 1 - 5 5 - 10 10 - 50 above 50 8. How would you rate the performance of economy in the community? Excellent Good Average Poor Very poor 9. How would you rate the influence of the companies in the development of infrastructures such as roads? Excellent Good Average Poor Very poor 10 Examine the Performance of the community in terms of education and health facilities. . Excellent Good Average Poor Very poor Appendix 3: Sample Questionnaire for Activities of Consultation 1. What is the group of your age? Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13 2. What gender are you? Male Female 3. What activities do you normally do after school? (You can tick more than one) Attend school club Attend a club elsewhere Stay at home Visit another family member Ply with friends Anything else (write it below) 4. How do you spend your school holidays? (You can tick more than one) Attend school club Attend a club elsewhere Stay at home Visit another family member Ply with friends Anything else (write it below) 5. What do you currently do at lunchtimes? (You can tick more than one) Play sports, Play other games like with school equipment Play team work games Play indoor games Sit and relax Chat with friends Attend organized clubs Anything else (write it down)   Reference List Thomas, E. J., & Rothman, J. 2013. Intervention research: Design and development for human service. Routledge. Read More