National Service Training Program
Module 1
COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND ADVOCACY
Introduction:
The National Service Training Program 2 complements the knowledge learned from NSTP 1. As a prerequisite course, it is designed to empower students with the foundation of community projects, its planning
and implementation through the project’s advocacies which can contribute to the general welfare and can
improve the quality of life of people in the community.
The topic shall provide ways for students to be involved in various community projects and are expected to
undergo community participation whre they can engage themselves in the implementation of the community
projects.
Objectives:
At the end of the module, the student should be able to:
1. Explain the importance or benefits of community projects.
2. Identify, understand, and analyze the challenges of community projects and advocacy.
3. Choose and implement a project that would promote consciousness involving local issues,
concerns and responsible citizenship as future professionals.
4. Empower themselves and the people in the community.
Motivation:
In this part, students are asked to review the list of issues below and answer as briefly as possible the
following questions:
1. What problems have you seen, heard, read about, or experienced that sparked your interest or concerned
you?
2. What issue do you care about most?
3. My personal passion or asset is _______________________________
4. What would you like to see change?
Process:
In this part, the answers from the students are important as these will be considered during the discussion of
the topic. Answers may vary, however this will lead to identify the most prevalent issues in the community.
Evaluation:
Are you ready to do this project?
Students are asked to choose one community project based from the given example previously discussed.
Their writing must be in paragraph form with the following format:
Service project: ________________________________.
Advocacy: ___________________________________.
Name of Service Project: ________________________.
And answer these questions to make sure that your project is meaningful, doable, and effective:
o Are you willing to commit time and skills to this project?
o Will the project have a positive, and visible, outcome for your community?
o Will you be able to measure and track the impact or results of your project?
o Can you convince friends to join you? Can you promote the project as something that would attract
them?
o Is there enough time to plan and complete the project?
o Will you need funds to do this project – and do you have a plan for how you will raise them? Do you
know where, and how, you will be able to collect needed project supplies and materials?
To make it more creative, it is best to ask the students to attach photos/ pictures of their chosen community
project.
1. What is Service Learning or Community Engagement?
In the words of the National Service Learning Clearinghouse, it is “a teaching and learning strategy that
integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience,
teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.” Or, to quote Vanderbilt University’s Janet S. Eyler
(winner of the 2003 Thomas Ehrlich Faculty Award for Service Learning) and Dwight E. Giles, Jr., it is
“a form of experiential education where learning occurs through a cycle of action and reflection as students . . .
seek to achieve real objectives for the community and deeper understanding and skills for themselves. In the
process, students link personal and social development with academic and cognitive development. . .
experience enhances understanding; understanding leads to more effective action.”
Typically, community engagement is incorporated into a course or series of courses by way of a project that
has both learning and community action goals. This project is designed via collaboration between faculty and
community partners, such as non-governmental organizations or government agencies. The project asks
students to apply course content to community-based activities. This gives students experiential opportunities
to learn in real world contexts and develop skills of community engagement, while affording community
partners opportunities to address significant needs. Vanderbilt University’s Sharon Shields has argued that
service learning is “one of the most significant teaching methodologies gaining momentum on many
campuses.” [1] Indeed, when done well, teaching through community engagement benefits students, faculty,
communities, and institutions of higher education. Below are some of the benefits that education researchers
and practitioners have associated with community engaged teaching. [2]
https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-through-community-engagement/
2. Importance / Benefits of Community Projects
2.1 To Students
LEARNING OUTCOMES
-Positive impact on students’ academic learning
-Improves students’ ability to apply what they have learned in “the real world”
- Positive impact on academic outcomes such as demonstrated complexity of understanding, problem
analysis, problem-solving, critical thinking, and cognitive development
- Improved ability to understand complexity and ambiguity
PERSONAL OUTCOMES
- Greater sense of personal efficacy, personal identity, spiritual growth, and moral development
- Greater interpersonal development, particularly the ability to work well with others, and build leadership and
communication skills
SOCIAL OUTCOMES
- Reduced stereotypes and greater inter-cultural understanding
- Improved social responsibility and citizenship skills
- Greater involvement in community service after graduation
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
- Connections with professionals and community members for learning and career opportunities
- Greater academic learning, leadership skills, and personal efficacy can lead to greater opportunity
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INSTITUTION
- Stronger relationships with faculty
- Greater satisfaction with college
- Improved graduation rates
2.2 To Faculty
- Satisfaction with the quality of student learning
- New avenues for research and publication via new relationships between faculty and community
- Providing networking opportunities with engaged faculty in other disciplines or institutions
- A stronger commitment to one’s research
2.3 To the University
- Improved institutional commitment to the curriculum
-Improved student retention
- Enhanced community relations
2.4 To the Community
- Satisfaction with student participation
- Valuable human resources needed to achieve community goals
New energy, enthusiasm and perspectives applied to community work
- Enhanced community-university relations
https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-through-community-engagement/
. 3.10 Examples of Great Community Service Projects
1. Collect Food
Contact your local food bank and they will provide you with the necessary information and materials to have a
food drive. Encourage people to donate their favorite food items. You can even offer prizes to individuals who
donate the most!
2. Recycling Program
Starting a recycling program is a big task but a worthwhile one. Here’s a great guide to get you started. When
you recycle, those items can be turned into amazing things, like the Green Guardian™ coat, made from
recycled PET plastic bottles.
3. Community Garden
A community garden is a great way to bond with your community and provide healthy food. You may be able
to identify a sponsor to help get your garden started. Consider making a garden just for children, so they can
learn about the process of gardening. It is a great educational opportunity.
4. Cleanup
A community cleanup will improve the look of your neighborhood or park and inspire people to keep the space
looking great. Hosting a potluck after is a wonderful way to celebrate this community achievement!
5. Blood drive
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. By hosting a blood drive, you and your community can
make a real difference. The American Red Cross provides planning assistance, recruitment tools, equipment,
supplies, and a trained staff to screen and collect donations safely.
6. Neighborhood Watch Group
Starting or joining a neighborhood watch group is easy. Once you recruit as many neighbors as possible you
can contact your local law enforcement agency to schedule a meeting to get additional information. Holding
regular meetings and events is another way to bring your community together.
7. Give New Coats to Kids in Need
Starting an Operation Warm coat program for your local low-income school is a great way to serve your
community. You select the school, set your fundraising goal, and hand out the brand new coats yourselves.
This is a wonderful way to strengthen your community ties while helping local children stay warm.
8. Community Newsletter
Organizing a community newsletter is a fun way to get the word out and get people involved in activities in
your neighborhood and community. Here is a great comprehensive guide to get you started.
9. Volunteer
Volunteering is a rewarding experience that brings people of all ages together for a good cause. Get involved
with a great organization like Habitat for Humanity or Operation Warm.
10. Coach
Are you into sports? Do you spend most of your free time on the field or watching your favorite team? Become
a volunteer coach or referee with a local youth team. Your town recreation department, Boys and Girls Club or
Y is probably looking for volunteers, and they should be so lucky to have someone with your expertise!
https://www.operationwarm.org/blog/10-examples-of-great-community-service-projects-331/
National Service Training Program (NSTP 2)
Module 2
TIPS IN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY
Introduction:
In the previous module it was discussed that NSTP 2 is to empower students with the
foundation of community projects, wherein we’ve listed different community service
activities that can be utilized in this course.
In this module we are to learn the different tips that we can apply while we work with the
fulfillment of the activities that will be later on implemented in our own community/
locality.
Objectives:
At the end of the module, the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Know what is community and its different types.
Identify the characteristics of a community.
Know what is a community service and importance of community service.
Choose the best strategy to be implemented while working with the
community/locality.
5. Identify the challenges in working with the community.
Definition and Discussion:
•
Community- it is defined as a group of people who share something in common.
One can define a community by the shared attributes of the people in it and/or by
the strength of the connections among them. You need a bunch of people who
are alike in some way, who feel some sense of belonging or interpersonal
connection. Communities are technically human beings that share common goal
and interest.
TYPES OF COMMUNITY:
•
FORMAL COMMUNITIES- engage in joint activities and discussion, help each
other, and share information with each other; they care about their standing with
each other.
- Examples: Ecovillages, Co-housing communities, Co-ops
communities, and Religious communities
•
INFORMAL COMMUNITIES- consists of a set of personal relations, social
networks, common interest and emotional sources of motivation.
- Examples: Academic communities, Recreation communities and
Retirement communities
•
URBAN COMMUNITIES- large in terms of land area & population, advanced in
science & technology, with favorable physical environment and & diverse
cultures, and the people are engaged in various occupations.
- Characteristics of urban communities: Advancement in
science and technology, many business establishments,
recreational centers, educational and religious institutions,
people are crowded, social heterogeneity, class extremes and
greater pollution;
- Many crimes are committed, Family ties tend to be weak,
Limited space, Greater impersonality among neighbors, Higher
standard of living, Shortage of employment, Informal settlers are
rampant;
- A lot of hazards and dangers, Greater number of separation of
spouses and live- in arrangements, Major occupations are
industrial, administrative and professional, Divisions of labor and
occupational specialization are very much common
•
RURAL COMMUNITIES- usually produce their own food for subsistence
- Characteristics of rural communities , Greater personal
interaction, Deep, long-term relationships , Generally, peace
and order exists, Mutual give and take affairs, Emphasis of
shared values, Vernacular is usually spoken, Wider area;
- Influence of blood relationships in decision making,
Homogenous type of culture, Belief in supernatural and
superstitious beliefs, Relationship is more personal and
informal, Less pollution, Few establishments and institutions,
Few goods and services
•
GLOBAL COMMUNITIES- it is the international aggregate of nation-states.
- Global communities or what we refer to as the “World
Community” they have common point of view towards issues of
human rights, global warming and climate change, peace and
order, socio-economic conditions as well as disputed issues
such as territorial conflict.
•
SECTORAL COMMUNITIES- this include the voluntary sector or non-profit
sector
- The Voluntary, non-profit and non-governmental sectors, also
called third sector (in contrast to public and private sector),
NGOs: Non-governmental organizations
•
SOCIAL SPACE COMMUNITIES- based on social spaces
- A social space is a physical or virtual space:
- Physical: social center, gathering place, town squares, parks,
pubs, shopping malls;
- Virtual: online social media, websites.
- Characteristics of social spaces- People gather at information
grounds for a primary purpose other than information sharing,
Attended by different social types, Social interaction is a primary
activity, Information occurs in many directions, Information is
used in alternative ways, many sub-contexts exist; together they
form grand context.
WHAT CHARACTERIZED A COMMUNITY?
According to Paronen and Oja, there are six main features which characterize a
community:
1. A community is typified by membership; that is its members have a sense of
identity and belonging.
2. A community consists of common symbol systems, such as similar language,
religion and practices.
3. Community members share norms and values.
4. They have a sense of mutual influence, whereby they influence and are
influenced by each other (reciprocity).
5. A community is characterized by shared needs and commitment to meeting
those needs.
6. Community members typically share an emotional connection, such as common
history, mutual support, and similar experiences.
What Is Community Service?
- Community service is any kind of work done either by a person or a group of
people with the objective to benefit others. Typically, this kind of work is done on a
volunteer basis, which means there is no monetary outcome. You are basically
volunteering your time and effort to help. There are many different ways to help your
community, focusing on a various areas — children, animals, senior citizens, people
with disabilities and the environment are a few examples.
Usually, such work is organised by a local group, like a school or non-profit. However,
you may start your own community service group and take on projects of your choice.
Why Should You Participate in Community Service?
-There are number of reasons as to why one should engage in activities that
positively benefit the community. Most students are required to put in a few hours of
community service organized by their school or college as a graduation requirement. In
some countries, community service is court mandated — you have to complete a
certain number of hours ordered by a judge.
There are other reasons to participate in community service other than being required,
or forced, to do so. Indeed, volunteering does have numerous personal benefits too.
Here are some of the reasons, apart from benefiting the community, why one should
consider engaging in community service:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Helps you develop a richer perspective of the world
Develop an increased sense of social responsibility
Often results in psychological and emotional growth
Improves lifelong communication, interpersonal and critical thinking skills
Helps students find their passion and interests that could potentially lead career
choices they may have failed to consider otherwise
6. Can help strengthen college applications and resume
7. Can be a great way to meet new people and make friends
8. Provides you with an opportunity to gain work experience
9. Allows you to quickly step up to leadership positions within organizations
10. Provides an opportunity to apply academic learning to real life events
The opportunity to see, first-hand, how your work can benefit someone is very
important. Moreover, expanding our worldview by looking beyond what most us of
frequently taken for granted leaves a lasting mark on an individual. Finally, interacting
with people who have vastly different backgrounds teaches us patience and empathy as
you develop a global perspective.
Physical activity programs for community development
The following elements have been identified as important aspects of programs that aim
to build stronger communities:
1. Connecting the social, cultural, environmental and economics spheres in the
community.
2. Improving the quality of life of community populations and gaining mutual benefit
among community members.
3. Creating opportunities and encouraging community members to participate in
community activities, from employment to social events to civic duties.
4. Empowering communities, helping them to take advantage of opportunities and
to take shared responsibility for their wellbeing.
5. Recognizing the diversity of interests within a community and how that may affect
capacity building.
6. Engaging people from the community, government, and private sectors to work
together to address community issues, solve problems in their community and
achieve common goals.
Tips for working together and increasing productivity
1. Set goals and monitor your performance. Make sure you define realistic
goals and decide how you will measure the outcome and your success.
2. Create effective plans for reaching those goals. Now that you know what to
accomplish, you need to identify the steps you need to take to achieve the
goal, dedicate tasks according to skills, and manage time wisely.
3. Communicate clearly. Every team member should keep others updated on
their progress. Clear and straightforward communication leads to more
productivity.
4. Solve problems together. The team needs to work together to solve
unexpected problems. Addressing conflict before it becomes a more
significant problem is also important.
5. Be open. Teams need to be honest with each other. There is a willingness to
listen to others and to work through stressful situations constructively.
6. Respect individuality. Remember that each group is composed of different
skills and personalities. Understanding what each person can bring to the
table is critical to success.
How to Positively Benefit Your Community as a Student
One very effective way for you to benefit and improve your community greatly is through
community service. In the process, community service will also help you acquire skills
and knowledge, and gain essential experience that you can include on your resume.
Although the sole purpose of benefiting your community positively shouldn’t be an
updated resume. Engaging in community service as a student helps you become an
active part of your community, which will certainly serve to make a positive impact.
Some of the skills you are likely to gain through social work include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Leadership
Problem-solving
Collaboration with others
Time management
Communication
REMEMBER!
If you want to be more relevant to a community you already engage, there are a few
questions you should ask yourself. Answering these questions will help you figure out
what you feel most passionate towards. It is important to compare tasks based on their
perceived importance. Recall the quote above, no act of kindness, no matter how small,
is ever wasted.
1. What do you already know about the people within it?
2. Do you know how connected people feel to each other?
3. Are there identifiable leaders or representatives you can talk with about their
shared issues, goals, and dreams?
4. Who and/or what are you passionate about?
5. Is there a particular activity you enjoy doing that you could do to help in some
way? Like, baking or drawing.
6. Do you want a long-term activity, something that you can do for short amount of
time or a one-time activity?
7. Why do you want to do this?
8. What is the impact you would like to have?
9. If your impact is quantifiable — an “amount raised” for instance — what is your
goal?
10. What do you wish to learn?
After assessing, then you may start tapping people to help you materialized your goal.
Present to them the objectives of your project, involve them in the planning up to the
decision making processes, so they may feel that they are really into it.
Ideas on How to Benefit the Community:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Pick up some trash. Head out and spend a few hours beautifying your
surroundings. Start small in your own neighborhood
Start a violence protection group in your community
Participate in a charity walk or run
Host an Earth Day event
Create and distribute a list of hotlines for people who might need help
Teach a home-alone safety class for children
Gather a group of friends or talk to one of the on-campus clubs to package
meals for the homeless in the surrounding city
At the end of the semester, create a textbook donation drive so students can
donate used textbooks to redistribute to low-income students for free
Create a summer reading program
Teach classes for a skill you have
Challenges of community engagement:
1. Attitudes and expectations: There may be a feeling in the community that they
cannot provide constructive input, won’t be taken seriously or cannot influence
the decision-making process. It may be difficult for them to contribute skills,
resources and time because of geographic or cultural barriers.
2. Characteristics of urban communities: Close communities are common in rural
areas. In urban areas, the members of the community may not know each other,
so communities may be more fragmented. Urban communities are very mixed,
with diverse backgrounds and needs that can make it difficult to accommodate
different people’s interests. Communicating technical information in an
understandable manner is also made more difficult if local residents speak
different languages or have conflicting priorities.
3. Commitment to the future: Higher levels of community engagement continue
beyond the initial planning stage to project management and maintenance. This
requires a continuing commitment from all stakeholders. Preparing plans for the
future and identifying possible challenges that may arise can help with
preparations to avoid them and should improve sustainability of the project.
References:
•
•
•
•
•
•
http://www.artofrelevance.org/2018/02/20/how-do-you-define-community/
Ariola, M. (2017). Community Engagement, Solidarity and Citizenship. Manila: Unlimited
Books Library Services & Publishing Inc. 45
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.604.9684&rep=rep1&type=pdf
https://www.getopensocial.com/solutions/working-together
https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=80596&section=8
http://www.stucredblog.com/how-to-positively-benefit-your-community-as-a-student/
NSTP 2 Module 2
Activity 2
Answer the following questions based from your assessment on the current
situation you have in your community:
1. What type of community you live in? (kindly also mention your home
address)
2. On your assessment what could be the possible project you can make in
your community. (kindly based it from our current situation right now)
3. Who are the people who can possibly help you to fulfill the project?
4. What could be the difficulties you will encounter while doing the project.
5. What interventions can the school do in fulfilling the project?
Module 3: Leveraging Social Media Advocacies
Introduction:
In the previous module, the different tips in working with the community/locality were discussed.
We have learned that one of the most effective ways for you to benefit and improve your community
greatly is through community service. In the process, community service will also help you acquire skills
and knowledge, and gain essential experience that you can include on your resume.
In this module, students shall learn how to engage in digital advocacies using digital advocacy
tools to galvanize supporters to take action in community related concerns. They will also learn how to
responsibly engage in any social media advocacy.
Objectives:
At the end of the module, the student should be able to:
1. Explain the importance and benefits of using social media.
2. Use social media for digital advocacy.
3. Recall the popular social media advocacies released in different social media platforms.
4. Understand the good, the bad, and the gap of engaging in any social media advocacy.
1. THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media are online services and tools used for publishing, sharing and discussing information. They
can include forums, blogs, wikis, social networking websites, micro-blogging sites, mobile communication
apps and any other websites that allow individual users to upload and share content in real time from any
location.
Social media services and tools use a variety of different formats, for example text, pictures, video and
audio. These are increasingly being used by people on smartphones and tablets while out and about.
These days, you will also find social media tools in most traditional websites, making the internet more
interactive and social. This might involve watching a video, using a live chat box, using social media
share buttons, adding a comment and much more. Ten years ago most websites were like brochures and
we could only read text.
For community groups, social media can provide new ways to communicate, share information and build
networks locally, nationally, and internationally. It also allows you to reach new audiences based on
common interests.
The unique ability for online tools and social media to enable people to talk, listen, support and
collaborate with anyone, at any time and in any place, means that social media is here to stay, and is
becoming the norm.
Social media can help community groups and organizations:
• Get their message out quickly and effectively to a large number of people
• Listen to what the community is saying online and tailor their services to meet their needs
• Engage and grow online communities (often involving people they would never have engaged
through traditional communication)
• Target information to certain users in certain channels
• Collaborate with and get input and assistance from the community
• Communicate in real time with stakeholders (e.g. live from events)
• Share information more easily internally between staff, volunteers and partners
By effectively using social media community groups and organizations can:
• Raise their profile within the community
• Increase the number of participants in programs and events
• Raise more money
• Recruit and retain more volunteers
2. USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR DIGITAL ADVOCACY
What is digital advocacy?
•
•
•
Digital advocacy is the use of digital technology to contact, inform, and mobilize a group of
concerned people around an issue or cause.
The purpose of digital advocacy is to galvanize supporters to take action.
Common digital advocacy tools include:
Why should you use social media for digital advocacy?
•
•
•
•
•
Social media:
Costs little or nothing to set-up
Has a potentially wide reach
Allows you to share messages instantly
Offers new opportunities to listen, engage, and monitor your progress
When might you use social media?
•
•
You can join and participate in social media networks at any time
But when you post messages and other communications, be sure to consider who your audience
is, and when they are most likely to be on social networking sites, to maximize the number of
people who see your updates
When might you use social media?
•
•
You might want to develop a content plan or editorial calendar of topics to post, which will include
the timing of advocacy requests and key dates for desired outcomes.
o This will help ensure that your social media presence is consistent.
o Be sure to allow enough flexibility to react to current events.
You’ll also want to integrate any online efforts with your offline efforts (printed materials, public
relations, media outreach) to maximize success. Make sure you include social media reference
points on printed materials, and promote content from printed materials online.
How do you use social media for digital advocacy?
•
Conduct a brief strategic review
o Clarify your goals and social media objectives
▪ What kind of direct action are you trying to prompt?
o Research and evaluate where your supporters are most likely to be online
o Evaluate the time and resources available to you and your team to devote to social media
o Determine how you will measure success
▪ Monitoring sites such as Google Analytics, Technorati, Hootsuite, etc., might be
helpful
•
Sign up for social media accounts
o Select one central platform (most likely a website, blog, or Facebook Causes page)
o Choose a combination of social media tools that will be most likely to help you
communicate with and engage supporters
▪ Facebook and Twitter are currently the two most used social networking sites,
and a great place to start
▪ Easy-to-use websites include Weebly and Squarespace
▪ Some options for blogs are: Wordpress, Moveable Type, Typepad, and Blogger
o Sign up for accounts and enter your profile information
•
Become familiar with the social media tools you have chosen
o Learn the common terms and conventions of the tools you are using – “hashtags” on
Twitter, tagging other users on Facebook, etc.
o Listen and monitor activity
o Engage in conversations
o Develop a voice that is authentic and engaging
o Request the action you are seeking in a clear and direct way
o Build in metrics for evaluating progress andmeasuring success
•
Develop systems for managing your digital advocacy efforts
o Develop a single content plan / calendar of topics to post, outlining timing of advocacy
requests and desired outcomes
o Integrate and streamline social media efforts to avoid duplicating your posts and
overwhelming your supporters
o Integrate online and offline efforts
•
Monitor your efforts and adjust as needed
o Use the metrics you established earlier to measure your progress
o Listen to your supporters
o Encourage and support your most active participants
o Review other social media tools that could support your cause, and if you have the
resources, begin using them as well
o If you stop using a social media tool, take the content down or redirect visitors to an area
where there is active engagement
o Evaluate and revise strategies as necessary
3. EXAMPLES OF DIGITAL ADVOCACY
Countless examples exist across all social media platforms of non-profit organizations and community
movements using the Internet to not only get their message out, but to use social media to unify people
across the country and internationally to take action. Below are several examples:
Example 1: Facebook
ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals uses their Facebook page to encourage
involvement in many ways. They post videos of cats and dogs that are up for adoption through the
Humane Society and other shelters, calling on their followers to help the animals find a home, either by
adopting themselves, or simply sharing the videos with their networks to spread the word. They also call
for direct action, such as signing a pledge to fight puppy mills by boycotting any pet stores that sell
puppies. They also use the Facebook page to share inspiring news stories that align with their followers’
interests.
LIVESTRONG
The Livestrong Facebook page shares information on Livestrong events across the country, including
fundraising activities that help fund cancer research, shares links to relevant news articles about cancer
prevention, and provides a place for cancer survivors to share their stories and inspire others.
JDRF ADVOCACY
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Facebook page provides the latest information on
advances in Type 1 Diabetes research, and allows people to share their stories, and tell why they support
the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The page also tracks developments in legislation that affect
diabetes research and the JDRF, such as votes on funding.
CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION OF MID-AMERICA
The Children’s Foundation of Mid-America is an organization in Missouri that provides social,
psychological, and educational services to children and families. The organization uses their Facebook
page to share news stories that can help improve children’s lives, such as an examination of why kids
drop out of school, or why children bully and how to end the cycle. They also share information about
local events, and encourage people to share their stories.
Example 2: Twitter
THE “OCCUPY WALL STREET” MOVEMENT
Twitter was also a big part of the success of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Occupy participants used
tweets to tell people where to gather, share up-to-the-minute news of what was happening at Occupy
events across the nation, share inspiring quotes, even post pictures of what they were experiencing.
AVOIDING GANG VIOLENCE IN VERACRUZ, MEXICO
In Mexico, Twitter is vital to many citizens, but for a different reason than the Arab Spring or Occupy Wall
Street – for those movements, Twitter provided a way to unify people across geographic areas and spur
change. In Mexico, Twitter has become an important tool for simply getting through the day safely. In
areas ravaged by cartel violence, Twitter is often used to provide real-time information about dangerous
locations to avoid. But this innovative use of Twitter is not without drawbacks – public officials believe that
if such messages contain false information, they can spread public panic for no reason, sometimes
creating problems where there were none. But others argue that drug cartels often successfully enforce
information blackouts at the local level by intimidating the police and reporters, and that decentralized
methods of communication such as Twitter are the only way to effectively get information out to keep
people safe.
Example 3: Change.Org
Change.org is a social action platform where anyone can start a petition about an issue they feel
passionate about. Change.org provides a guide for getting started, with examples of past petitions. The
website has several categories that they consider “Top Causes” – animals, criminal justice, economic
justice, education, environment, gay rights, health, human rights, human trafficking, immigrant rights,
sustainable food, and women’s rights. One of the most successful recent petitions was started by the
parents of Trayvon Martin, calling for a full-fledged investigation in the case, as well as the arrest of the
acknowledged shooter, George Zimmerman.
Example 4: Petitions
iPetitions is another website that allows users to create their own petitions. A recent successful petition
was A Call for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai for the Immediate Release of
Gulnaz. In 2009, Gulnaz, an 18-year old girl in Afghanistan, was raped, impregnated as a result of the
rape, and subsequently put in prison for adultery. Gulnaz (who was a virgin and unmarried) was raped by
her cousin’s husband. She and her baby daughter, who was born in prison, had been imprisoned for
almost two years when the petition was created. The petition helped bring international attention to the
situation, and in December 2011, Gulnaz was released.
Example 5: Moveon.Org
MoveOn.org Civic Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, set up in 2001, that has raised over $20
million dollars, all in small dollar contributions. Moveon.org works with allies and other non-profit
organizations to build a strong, unified voice, with campaigns on a variety of issues. And when Oxfam
America, an international relief organization, requested donations for food aid for Iraq, MoveOn.org raised
over $500,000 in less than a month by simply sending out a message to the folks on its e-mail list asking
them to contribute online. Browse MoveOn.org's current campaigns.
Example 6: Tumblr
A hybrid of ordinary blogging platforms, such as Typepad or Wordpress, and of the microblogging site
Twitter, Tumblr gives users the ability to post photos, videos and messages and share with people they
don’t know. We Are the 99 Percent is a blog prompted by the Occupy Wall Street movement that allows
people to share their stories – about homes being foreclosed on, medical bills that pile up, poor job
security, etc., and support the Occupy movement.
Example 7: Foursquare
Foursquare is essentially a social city guide with the ability to recommend places based on your activity,
that of your friends and other foursquare users. You use your phone to “check in” at different places you
visit, from bars and restaurants to parks, museums, etc. But your account can also help you find and
mobilize a base of willing volunteers and donors. For example, Big Love Little Hearts, an organization
which helps children in developing countries with heart defects, raised $25K in just 24 hours by getting a
donor to contribute $1 when someone checked in with Foursquare or tweeted using the hashtag
#100by100. The money raised was enough to pay for 12 heart surgeries.
Example 8: Integrated Social Media
ORGANIZING BONE MARROW DRIVES USING FACEBOOK, GOOGLE DOCS, AND YOUTUBE
When Stanford graduate Sameer Bhatia and his friend Vinay were diagnosed with leukemia, they decided
to use social media and the vast reach of the internet to fight the disease. Doctors said the odds of a
bone marrow match were 1 in 20,000, so they used web services like Facebook, Google Docs, and
YouTube to mobilize and empower others to organize bone marrow drives all over the country. In 11
weeks, Sameer and Vinay’s supporters registered 24,611 South Asians into the bone marrow registry and
found a match for both. And the 7,500 people they registered in the San Francisco Bay Area, where
Sameer lived, yielded 80 matches for other leukemia patients. Both Sameer and Vinay received
transplants, but tragically, both passed away some months later, succumbing to AML. The changes they
effected did not end with their deaths, however. The potential lives saved in the past two years because
of the 24,611 South Asians now in the registry numbers over 250.
2008 CAMPAIGN: OBAMA'S SOCIAL MEDIA ADVANTAGE
The 2008 Presidential election was unique in many ways, one of which was the influence and power of
social media. There are many articles that explore how social media may have strengthened Barack
Obama’s campaign by helping him connect to voters on a more personal level. By using social media
tools such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to spread his message, he created a sense of connection
and engagement among his followers. Grassroots movements and local community organizations were
instrumental in getting out the vote, fundraising, even creating their own Youtube videos, tweets, and
Facebook posts to show their support. In other words, the online movement was powerful enough to
create offline engagement.
Example 9: The Food Babe's Integrated Approach
In February 2014, Food Babe Vani Hari (of foodbabe.com) mobilized an army of supporters to
successfully petition Subway to stop using “azodicarbonamide (ADA)” in their breads. ADA is a chemical
compound found in plastics, synthetic leather, and ceramics. Her integrated approach included a blog
post, video, petitions on her website, twitter appeals integrating the hashtag #NoWaySubway, and a
Facebook page.
Example 10: Snapchat
This video shows how the Colorado State Department of Transportation utilized the popularity of
Snapchat to send the message of seatbelt safety to high school students state-wide. Using Snapchat as
the form of communication provided students with an easy and fun way to become advocates for seatbelt
safety. Due to this, the campaign was able to grow and reach 16,000 students.
4. SOCIAL MEDIA ADVOCACY: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GAP
We #PrayedFor Syria, Palestine, Paris, and Boston. We dumped buckets of ice over our heads. And we
made #LoveWin. Social media advocacy is a powerful strategy. But it’s a double-edged sword.
The Good - The first and most immediate benefit of using social media for advocacy is awareness. In
your social media advocacy, the first goal is to let as many people know that your cause exists.
Awareness isn’t enough, of course. Even if people know that your advocacy exists, they might not
understand what it is so social media is an excellent tool for education, this is not just to explain what
you’re fighting for e.g. you’re a feminist organization committed to forwarding women’s rights, but also to
use Facebook or Twitter to tell people what you think is wrong with society.
The Bad - While social media is a powerful tool for advocacy, it can also work against the cause. Social
media campaigns tend to simplify the advocacy to a hashtag. It defeats the purpose of educating people
because the focus is not on the cause itself but the campaign activity. A lot of the participants simply
joined the bandwagon because of the hype and because celebrities were doing it which didn’t really gain
genuine interest for the advocacy.
The Gap - For any social media campaign to be successful, there must be a clear goal: whether it’s to
spread awareness, or to inspire action in the community or to donate. The goal is the basis for everything
you do in the campaign, and all hashtags you will use. It’s also important to identify your target audience.
Since advocacy rely on public support, it is also crucial to create relatable content. This is to make sure
that people understand what you’re trying to tell them. Using comics to explain concepts, or letting the
audience imagine themselves in the shoes of the people you are trying to protect are very useful
strategies in getting your posts noticed. And if the goal is to get people to act, call to actions must not only
tell the people to help, but also how to help. It’s not enough to tell the world to stop discrimination: it’s
more important to tell them how discrimination happens and what they can do stop them. It’s not enough
to tell them to #Blacklivesmatter: it’s more important to tell them how. To inspire action, you also need to
tell them why they should do what you’re telling them to do. Why should they donate in your fundraiser?
Why should they support your advocacy? And, why should they care?
Social media is a storytelling platform and advocacies are about real people with real problems. This why
they go together and this is why we need to be responsible in using it—because social media can help or
hurt those people based on how you wield it.
LEARNING TASK
Create a digital advocacy like the examples previously discussed. The social media advocacy should
address any concerns or problems that are currently happening in your community. Provide the following
using the format below:
Name of the digital advocacy: __________________________________________________________
Goal and Objectives
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Part 1: Poster-Slogan (Design a simple digital Poster-Slogan for your advocacy like the example
below):
Part 2: Take some time now to answer the following questions: (10 pts. each question, based your
grading on the rubrics below)
1. What particular community-related problem or concern does your advocacy address? How will
your advocacy help in addressing this community-related problem or concern?
2. Who will likely to join you in this advocacy? How will you invite them to join you in this advocacy?
3. What particular digital tool will you be using for your digital advocacy? Why?
Rubrics:
Part 1:
5 Pts. – Craftsmanship (work is neat, well organized and not messy)
5 Pts. – Creativity
Part 2:
5 Pts. – Originality (use of new ideas)
2 Pts. – Content (relevance of answer to the question)
2 Pts. – Organization (arrangement of ideas)
1 Pt. - Grammar
References:
http://www.mycommunitylife.com.au/files/63674fe2-6f5d-4420-8f17-a4ba00d758f7/My-Community-LifeUser-Guide-Social-Media-for-Community-Groups-June-2015.pdf
https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/advocacy/direct-action/electronic-advocacy/main
https://caffeinerobot.com/social-media-advocacy
NSTP 2 Module 4
Progress Checkpoints of Students
Introduction:
Community Projects and/or Social Advocacy at this time of the “new normal” under
the National Service Training Program 2 go through phases accompanied by a time table mapped out
for the attainment of the intended results, meet project objectives, and utilize allocated budget if there
is any. It is through the implementation of these Community Projects and/or Social Advocacies that
we Louisians can live by one of the core values of the University of Saint Louis: Social Awareness and
Involvement. We initiate and participate in constructive and relevant social activities for the
promotion of justice, peace, and integrity of creation and people’s wellness and development consistent
with the CICM charism.
Checkpoints provide an opportunity for project leaders, implementers, and team members to
study, analyze and assess whether said Community Project and/or Social Advocacy is being
implemented as planned and to provide solutions or corrective actions as the need arises.
Since we are at the middle of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we have to
innovate, reach out and conduct projects or promote our respective advocacies.
Objectives:
At the end of the module, students should be able to:
1. Identify the necessary documents and instruments to assess the success of the Community
Projects and/or Social Advocacies.
2. Make use of these forms and evaluation instruments to ensure successful and meaningful
implementation of the Community Projects and/or Social Advocacy.
3. Appreciate the importance of having proper documentation, monitoring and assessment of
the Community Project and/or Social advocacy.
Discussion:
Make use of the following forms for your proposed projects:
1. Form #1- for the application of your Community Project and/or Social Advocacy
2. Form #2- weekly progress report
FORM #1: Activity Application Form
Proposed Title:
Background:
This portion discusses in
detail the problem of the
society in general (or
specific barangay/target
audience identified). It
includes how the problem
began, its magnitude, its
cause, and other salient
information
Objectives:
State the goals that the
activity aims to achieve by
the end of its
implementation
Measure of Success:
State the conditions that
indicate the achievement of
your objectives
Suggested Plan of
Activities:
Week Number
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Activities to be Conducted
Social Advocacy:
Explain the core message of
your advocacy and how
this will be disseminated in
social media
FORM #2: Project Progress Report (to be used weekly and must compiled)
Week Number:
Status of Implementation:
Problems Encountered
Measures Done to Solve the
Problems Encountered:
Reflection:
Learning Task:
A properly filled-out Application Form (Form #1) for the Community Project or Social
Advocacy for submission to the respective facilitator for filing/documentation.
Resource/s:
Labuguen, F. (2008) Towards A Responsive Community Action (A Modular Worktext in NSTP 2 for
Trainers and Students). Mutya Publishing House, Inc.