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WHAT IS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION?

Before we get to know about community organization as a method of social works, let
us understand the terms we use, the term community organization has several
meanings. It is synonymous to community work, community development and
community mobilization.

In general, community organization means helping the community to solve its

problems. In sociology, we learn that society and social institution are more than just
a mere collection of individual, it includes how those individuals are linked to each
other as well as how they link up with the set of systems such as economy, political
organisation, norms and value, ideas and belief system, technology and patterns of
expected behavior. These are otherwise referred to as social interaction. It means that
just a collection of individuals living at a common place is not just enough to
conclude that such a setting is an organized community. To call them an organized

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community, they need to have a set of common ideas and expectation, this gives
them asocial and some social processes that make the organization something social.

Furthermore it is important to note that just forming various groups and having
some structure or form does not make a community an organized one. It is not the
multiplicity or institution interest groups / set of activities will make of an organized
community, actually, that may even create more conflict and disrupt normal life.
Thus the important determining factor of community organization are interaction,
integration and coordination of the existing institution, interest groups and activities
and evolving / emerging of new groups and institutions, if necessary to meet the
change, need.

The distinguishing features of community organization practices are derived largely

from three dimensions

1. Nature of the setting and focus

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2. Nature of its goals i.e enhanced functional capacity of the community and its
ability to influence the social welfare policy.
3. The techniques it employs towards effecting the interpersonal and intergroup
relationship of the members of the community

The statement defining community organization method stress individually / in

combination of the three above factors and also refers to the clientele and the total
process and the way in which the method is applied. Community organization is a
process through which welfare needs of a community are met. It is the method used
in the combination of resources needed. The whole community is treated as a unit. It
is struggle of some organization to empower the resources of community to provide
solutions to existing problems.

PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION

The main principles of community organization are as follows;

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1. ACCEPTANCE; It is the acceptance of the community by a social organizer /
community developer / change agent when he goes to the field, he must meet
with people of various groups and culture, he should have to explain his
interest in the community welfare. He has to accept all hindrances and face
the difficulties in the way of progress. Instead of helplessness he must have to
accept patience and work for the betterment of the people, he must keep
people within the convinced boundary and bring their attention to the
existing resources and prefer solutions to their problem
2. TO UNDERSTAND RESOURCES AND NEED; Documentary organizers must
have to explore the internal as well as the external resources of the people; he
must not impose his work on the people regularly and calmly. He should
introduce the people to the problems faced by them and to bring solution for
this problems through utilization of their own resources
3. COMMUNITY SELF DETERMINATION; Self determination is necessary in the
community, the people of the community must be provided freedom to

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express their feelings and the organizers must not impose his own will over
them. To create self determination among the people of the community,
organizers require to know them better with their resources and needs
because the community people will know those things better than outsiders.
4. INDIVIDUALIZATION; To recognize the dignity of each individual, the social
organizer must create an environment of awarding them the privileges of
individual differences, it is necessary for the individual to know his duty and
responsibility about the social welfare, so the idea of individualization creates
awareness among the people to work better for the community. A community
organizer indicates the people that they can do everything as human beings
and there is no difficulty in their way of progress
5. FREEDOM WITHIN LIMITS; The organizers should give freedom out within
units to make decisions, show their interest and give proper attention to the
problems. So freedom should be within limits for the members of the
communities to pave way for progress and prosperity.

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