CHAPTER 2 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HISTORY OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION ❖The first efforts at community organization for social welfare were initiated in England to overcome the acute problem of poverty, which led to beggary. HISTORY OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION ❖ The first effort of its kind was the Elizabethan Poor Law (1601) in England, which was set up to provide services to the needy. Another important landmark in the history of community organization is the formation of London Society of organizing charitable relief and repressing mendicancy and the Origin of the Settlement House Movement in England during 1880. HISTORY OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION ❖ In fact, these movements had a major impact in the United States of America. In 1880 the Charities organization was set up to put rational order in the area of charity and relief. ❖ The major community organization activities in the United States could be classified into three periods: The Charity Organization Period, 1870-1917 ❖ This era is the beginnings in social welfare in USA. The first citywide Charity Organization Society (COS) was established in the Buffalo in 1877 in USA. This movement was started with the influence of London Charity Organization established in 1869. In USA, Rev. S. H. Gurteen, an English priest who had some association with London Charity association and had moved to Buffalo in 1873 gave the leadership to this movement. Within a short span of six years the COS had reached to more than 25 American cities. The Charity Organization Period, 1870-1917 ❖ Charity organization about two things: was concerned ❖ Providing adequate personal services to families and individuals in need. ❖ Take steps to address the issues/problems in social welfare. The Charity Organization Period, 1870-1917 ❖ Apart from this service, the COS also took initiatives in promoting co-operation among the various welfare agencies. From this movement of charity organization emerged many such service-oriented organizations i.e. Social service exchange, Community welfare councils, Councils of social agencies. The Rise of Federation 1917 to 1935 ❖ It is a period where we can see the growth and development of chests and councils. It started with the rise of war chests in 1917 and ended with the enactment of social security act, which set the stage for development of the public welfare programmes in 1935. A large number of chests and councils came up after first world war. The American Association for Community Organization was organized in 1918 as the national agency for chests and councils and it later became known as community chests and councils of (CCC) America. The Cincinnati Public Health Federation, established in 1917 was the first independent health council in American City. It is in this period that the American Association of social workers organized in 1921, the first general professional organizations, set up its training for the social workers and others who specialized in community organization. The Rise of Federation 1917 to 1935 ❖ A community chest is a voluntary welfare agency, co-operative organization of citizens and welfare agencies, which is the powerful local force for community welfare that handles large funds. It has two functions. It raises funds through a communitywide appeal and distributes them according to a systematic budget procedure. Secondly it promotes co-operative planning, coordination and administration of the community’s social welfare. Period of Expansion and Professional Development 1935 to Present Time ❖ It is in this period that we see the greater use of the community organization process in the field of public welfare. A marked significance of this era is the establishment of Federal Security Agency where we see maximum involvement of the Govt. in welfare programmes. In 1946 the agency was strengthened and re-organized following which in 1953 Department of Health, Education and Welfare was established. Period of Expansion and Professional Development 1935 to Present Time ❖ Another important development during the period is the professional development that took place. Some of the important professional developments were: ❖ The National Conference of Social Work in 1938- 39 undertook a study on community organization, which was later published under the title “Generic Community Welfare Organization”. Based on this, another study took place in 1940, but due to American involvement in World War II an active programme could not take off. Period of Expansion and Professional Development 1935 to Present Time ❖ In 1946, at the National conference of social work in Buffalo, the Association for the Study of Community Organization (ASCO) was organized. The main objective was to improve the professional practice of organization for social welfare. In 1955, ASCO merged with six other professional organizations to form the National Association of Social Workers. Community organization has been recognized as integral and important aspect of social work education in the American Association of Schools of social work education. At present there is an active committee of Council on Social Work Education involved in the production of teaching materials in community organization. The first contemporary textbook on community organization titled “Community Organization for Social Welfare” published in 1945 has been written by Wayne McMillan. Period of Expansion and Professional Development 1935 to Present Time ❖ Another development in the history of community development is seen in the wake of World War II. Wartime needs were very special and crucial. During this time many councils and community war services came to the forefront. Among them (USO) United Service Organization is of prime importance as it was the union of many forces that served the needs of the military personnel and defense communities. The other striking characteristics of the period is the immense increase in the volunteer service i.e. defense council, American Red Cross and USO which coordinated and recruited the volunteers. Period of Expansion and Professional Development 1935 to Present Time ❖ Another development that took place at the wartime is the growth of closer relationship between labour and social work, which is considered a great significant to community organization. ❖ The other developments that took place after the World War II that are very specific to community organization area are as follows. ❖ The rehabilitation of the physically and mentally challenged ❖ Mental health planning, problems of the aging ❖ Prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency Period of Expansion and Professional Development 1935 to Present Time ❖ In order to address these issues, separate bodies were set up and we see the entry of international agencies in the field of community organization. The present situation in community organization is the emergence of the new community development programmes, which aim at providing, services to the less developed areas in international social welfare. Therefore, the present agenda is on working with the whole community and greater emphasis is on self-help. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN UK ❖ Baldock (1974) has summed up the historical development in UK by dividing it into four phases. ❖ The first phase: 1880-1920: During this period the community work was mainly seen as a method of social work. It was considered as a process of helping the individuals to enhance their social adjustments. It acted as major player to co-ordinate the work of voluntary agencies. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN UK ❖ The second phase: 1920-1950: This period saw the emergence of new ways of dealing with social issues and problems. The community organization was closely associated with central and state Govt.’s programme for urban development. The important development in this period was its association with community association movement. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN UK ❖ The third phase 1950 onwards: It emerged as a reaction to the neighborhood idea, which provided an ideological base for the second phase. It was a period of professional development of social work. Most of the educators and planners tried to analyze the shortcomings in the existing system. It was also a period where the social workers sought for a professional identity. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN UK ❖ The fourth phase: It is a recent period that has seen a marked involvement of community action. It questioned the very relationship of community work and social work. It was thus seen as period of radical social movement and we could see the conflicts of community with authority. The association of social workers and the community were professionalized during this period. Thus, it was during this period that conflictual strategies were introduced in the community work, although even now there is no consensus on this issue (Baldock 1974). COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ Marcos' declaration of martial rule in 1972 altered the terrain for social movements. All progressive groups were subjected to repression while some individuals were either eliminated or arrested by the military. During the early stages of martial rule, all attempts at organizing ground to a halt, except for the Zone One Tondo Organization (ZOTO). COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖The repressive situation led a large number of activists to go underground and wage armed struggle against the Martial Law regime. Some organizations like the FFF were coopted by the regime. Others simply laid low. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ Church-based programs which functioned as non-government organizations (NGOs) were the first to engage in organizing despite martial law. These include the Urban and Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, Episcopal Commission on Tribal Filipinos, Share and Care Apostolate for Poor Settlers, and PEACE, among others. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ Soon, however, NGOs resumed grassroots activities. The Philippine Ecumenical Council for Community Organization (PECCO) continued with the refinement and implementation of the community organizing (CO) approach all over the country, in combination with the Marxist structural analysis and the thinking of Saul Alinsky and Paolo Freire. Politicized NGOs used the structural analysis approach in conscientizing and mobilizing, while the Basic Christian Community framework was developed by the progressive church as a response to the needs of the time. Programs like education and health, economic enterprises and cooperative development were used as entry points for organizing to avoid getting in trouble with the dictatorship. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ Various political formations saw the need to set up NGOs or influence the programs and projects of existing ones in order to pursue their own interests. On the positive side, it cannot be denied that the most effective NGOs of the period were those whose leaders and staff had ideological leanings. On the other side, internal ideological struggles wracked some NGOs as ideological debates and rivalries within the mass movement spilled over to the social development community. PECCO, for one, split in 1977 because of ideological differences among its elements, leading to the formation of two separate organizations the Community Organization of the Philippines Enterprise (COPE) and the People's Ecumenical Action for Community Empowerment (PEACE). COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ Developmental institutions eventually saw the need for more coordinated activities among themselves. In December 1972, ten foundations came together and formed the Association of Foundations (AF). The association expanded to 40 members by 1976. More progressive groups formed the Philippine Alliance for Rural and Urban Development (PARUD), a consortium of POs and NGOs with more or less the same ideological bent. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ Repression continued, but opposition to the Martial Law regime became more consolidated. There was widespread unrest as the majority of the people remained mired in poverty; wages were kept at very low levels and human rights violations increased. When Martial Law was paperlifted in 1981, organizing efforts multiplied and innovative approaches and tools were developed and replicated all over the country. NGOs were instrumental in the development of the organized mass movement. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ Human rights as an advocacy issue was effectively raised by pioneers in this field such as the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines and lawyers' groups like Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) and MABINI. ❖ International campaigns against weapons of mass destruction, environmental conservation and sustainable development influenced the Philippine social development terrain. NGOs with these issues as primary concerns were established during the period. The women's movement also began to flex its strength locally. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ NGOs recognized the need to band together into networks for purposes of linkaging, synchronization of activities, and cooperative exchanges of experiences and resources. Networks formed during this period include the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in the Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA) and the Council for People's Development (CPD). Regional NGO networks such as Kahayag Foundation in Mindanao and the Consortium of Development Programs in the Cordillera were formed also. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ Cooperatives went through a second wave of growth during this period. The government formed the Cooperative Union of the Philippines in 1979 and required all cooperatives to register. Independent cooperatives refused to yield and instead formed the National Confederation of Cooperatives (ACSPPA/PCHRD, 1995). (NATCCO) COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ The assassination of Benigno Aquino in 1983 led to widespread street protests which became known as the parliament of the streets. It attracted a cross section of society including previously unpoliticized sectors, such as business and the institutional Church. ❖ There were efforts to forge unity among the anti-dictatorship forces. Several coalitions were formed: Justice for Aquino, Justice for All (JAJA), Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino (KOMPIL), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and others. But these organizations did not last long due to ideological differences among its members. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ Major organizations among the ranks of the peasant, fisherfolks and indigenous peoples were organized for the purpose of advancing sectoral agendas. ❖ Other venues of development work were explored further. Programs that focused on livelihood, gender equality, ecology, alternative legal assistance, support for migrant workers and others were implemented. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ One of the issues that divided the social development sector during this period was the question of whether to participate in the 1986 snap presidential election. The mainstream national democratic movement and the NGOs and POs under its influence opted to boycott the election, while the other left-of-center formations decided to participate, albeit critically. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ During the First Quarter Storm of the seventies, CO was introduced through the Philippine Ecumenical Council for Community Organization (PECCO). The group organized communities in Tondo and established the Council of Tondo Foreshore Community Organization which proved to be an organization of leaders. Re-training was carried out to improve the organizing skills of PECCO personnel. The Saul Alinsky method of conflict-confrontation developed in Chicago was adapted to conditions in Tondo. As a result, the Zone One Tondo Organization (ZOTO) was born. The program was replicated in other parts of the Philippines, including the rural areas and usually introduced through Church structures. The Alinsky CO method was refined to include reflection sessions, which were, in turn taken from Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ When Martial Law was declared, organizing efforts continued. During this time development workers began pushing for people's participation and CO became the tool for achieving this. Both international development groups and government began advocating and funding CO programs. Thus, community organizing proliferated. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ❖ Even before PECCO adopted Alinsky's practice of community organizing, the progressive section of the Catholic Church were already started organizing Basic Christian Communities (BCC) in Mindanao with the proclamation of Vatican II. It soon spread to some parts of Luzon and Visayas and the organizing was basically liturgical, employing Bible studies and other creative forms of worship. But during the Martial Law period, the BCC became a means for witnessing the Teachings and Example of Christ through socio-political work.
