Community Organizing Participatory Action Research (COPAR) Lecture

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards summarizing key COPAR concepts, principles, phases, and activities.

COPAR

A social development strategy that transforms marginalized individuals into an organized, participatory, politically responsive community through collective action.

Transformative Process

A sustained, systematic method of building people’s organizations by mobilizing community capabilities and resources to resolve issues and change oppressive conditions.

Community Process

The sequence in which community members critically review local conditions and collaborate to improve them.

Community Structure

A specific group of community members working together toward common health-related goals.

Self-Determination Emphasis

Focus on the community’s capacity to solve its own problems rather than external project implementation.

Consciousness Raising

Helping people see health and medical care within the broader social structure to inspire collective action.

Empowerment

Enabling individuals and groups to eventually manage development programs on their own.

Participatory Principle

COPAR is directed toward and biased in favor of the poor, ensuring their active involvement in all stages.

Group-Centered Principle

Leaders emerge and are tested through action; initiatives are not leader-oriented but driven by the collective.

Action-Reflection Cycle

Progressive sequence of ‘action → reflection → action’ beginning with small issues, encouraging learning from concrete experience.

Integration (Step 1)

Immersing oneself in the community to understand culture, economy, history, and lifestyle.

Methods of Integration

Activities such as joining production work, house-to-house visits, attending social events, and helping with chores to build rapport.

Social Investigation (Step 2)

Systematic data collection and analysis to obtain a clear picture of community conditions.

Secondary Data Review

Examining existing information thoroughly before collecting new data during social investigation.

Tentative Program Planning (Step 3)

Selecting one pressing issue to mobilize people and begin organizing.

Ground Work (Step 4)

One-on-one motivation of residents to act on the chosen issue.

Community Meeting (Step 5)

Collective ratification of individual decisions, giving people shared confidence and power.

Role Play (Step 6)

Practice session where community members simulate meetings with officials to prepare for negotiations.

Mobilization (Step 7)

Actual exercise of people power in confronting authorities or addressing issues.

Evaluation (Step 8)

Reviewing steps 1-7 to assess success and shortcomings.

Reflection (Step 9)

Considering deeper values and realities of life versus ideals after action.

Organization (Step 10)

Formation of a people’s organization with elected officers following successive actions.

Home Visits

Regular household contacts used to meet objectives such as health education and service delivery.

Pre-Entry Phase

Initial stage where organizers locate communities to serve; involves networking and site selection.

Site Selection

Choosing potential communities based on factors like population size, economic status, and peace and order.

Criteria for Site Selection

Population 100-200 families, economically depressed, minimal resistance, stable peace and order, no duplicate programs.

Host Family

Strategically located, respected household that shelters organizers during community immersion.

Entry Phase

Social preparation stage; success depends on how well organizers integrate with residents.

Low-Key Profile

Guideline for entry encouraging modest appearance and behavior to avoid raising early suspicion.

Core Group

Initial set of leaders identified through sociograms to spearhead community organizing.

Sociogram

Diagram showing relationships—key persons, opinion leaders, and isolates—to spot potential leaders.

Organization-Building Phase

Establishing formal structures, training leaders, and setting up systems for planning and evaluation.

Community Health Organization (CHO)

Formal body created to oversee health programs, complete legal requirements, and elect officers.

By-Laws

Internal rules formulated by the CHO to govern operations and decision-making.

Sustenance & Strengthening Phase

Stage where committees plan, implement, and assess programs independently with minimal outside guidance.

Linkaging & Networking

Connecting with government agencies and NGOs to sustain community initiatives.

Livelihood Projects

Income-generating activities implemented to support community development during sustaining phase.

Phase-Out

Exit stage when organizers leave; community organizations must sustain programs and self-evaluate.

Trust-Building

Best practice emphasizing strong relationships between organizers and community members.

Capacity-Building

Training community leaders in governance, finance, and advocacy for long-term sustainability.

Partnerships for Sustainability

Collaborations with local governments and institutions to maintain initiatives after phase-out.

Opinion Leader

Individual consulted by key persons for guidance, playing a crucial role in information flow.

Isolate

Community member rarely consulted, indicating low influence within social networks.

Key Person

Highly approached individual in the community who can facilitate outreach and mobilization.