COMMUTNITY ENGAGEMENT
Introduction
Community engagement is a dynamic social process, which enables interactions, involvement, communication, and exchange between a community and an organization for a variety of organizational and social outcomes (Johnston 2018, p. 19; Johnston and Lane 2018, p. 10). Ehrlich (2000) defines civic engagement as a working relationship that is aimed at transforming the lives of the people in the communities. This concept is characterized by attributes of interactions, connections, involvement, and participation intended to realize or provoke outcomes at an organization, individual or social level (Johnston 2010, p. 217; Checkoway and Aldana 2013, p. 1894). This concept can be enhanced through the act of civic engagement/participation. On the other hand, civic participation or engagement is a group or an individual activity that is directed toward solving or addressing a public issue and promoting the quality of the community (Delli 2016, p. 2; Ekman and Amnå 2012, p. 300).
In this paper, I will use Driscoll’s What Model, which was formulated by Driscoll in 1994 to reflect on my encounters during a community engagement drive. I will use this model because it is among the simplest models for reflection. The Driscoll’s cycles have only three questions; 1) What? (experience) 2) So What? (discover) and 3) Now What? (Actions) (Ekebergh 2007, p. 332). Another reason is that this model helps the users to organize their documents more constructively and concisely since it has only three simple questions that need answers (Williams and Driscoll, 2010). During this community engagement drive, we were focussing on the issue of homelessness in our community. We chose this population because with the tough economic times, the number of homeless people is increasing, and they are facing many problems, including mental health issues, lack of shelter, food, among others. Therefore, the following scenario will help me reflect on my experiences.
Scenario 1
What?
During this community engagement drive, I met a homeless family, a mother, and two daughters, by the side of a road. I found them as they were rolling their sleeping bags since it was early in the morning. I took them to a nearby restaurant to talk to her. From our interaction with the mother of two, she told me that they have been sleeping in the park for two months now. One of her daughters looked malnourished and sickly. I was shocked when I realized that the other daughter could not understand and talk fluently even though she was old enough. The mother said she had not attended any pre-school. The mother looked depressed and was crying throughout our conversation. I felt moved when she narrated the plight she was going through with her two lovely kids. She told me that her husband left her after she lost her job and diagnosed with diabetes. They used all their savings on medications and treatment. They could not afford rent anymore and were kicked out of the house and how they found themselves in the streets.
So what?
I felt so touched to hear what this homeless family was going through on the streets. I even cried when the mother tried to narrate the ordeal. I felt that nobody should go through such a kind of life in our communities. This family was facing problems such as lack of food, shelter, education, limited access to medical care, and the mother has diabetes and depression. I sympathized with family because having all these problems can be depressing. But from our conversation, she started feeling ok and even smiled at some point. I assured her that I would find ways to at least uplift her life and that of her family. To me, this was a very serious situation, and I have never encountered a homeless family with all these problems. We collaboratively came up and agreed on her transformation plan.
Now what?
Our first immediate action was to move the family to a shelter, which she initially was against, but after the conversation, she agreed to the idea. Then, after they had settled, together with her, we took her daughter with malnutrition to a pediatric doctor who I have known since childhood. Together with my friends, we raised funds and enrolled the other daughter to a nearby preschool so that she can learn how to read and write like any other child in her age. For the mother, we enrolled her in a 12-weeks psychotherapy program that was ongoing in the community at that time. In the future, when faced with this kind of situation, as a nurse, I would be happy to help such homeless families myself. I want to gain knowledge in counseling and psychology so that I can help depressed, homeless people, improve their lives in the community.
Scenario 2
What?
In December last year, I decided to volunteer at one of the shelter homes in my community. It was during this week of the year where everyone in our community goes to shelter homes to help out. You are combined randomly and grouped into small groups regardless of age, gender, and experience, and assigned tasks. So, I was assigned to serve tea, a task that gave me an opportunity to talk to different families and people in the shelter. I met and talked to Chris, an eloquent and smart 28-year-old man, although he looked like a 50-year-old. He narrated to me how life has been for him. He said he had spent twelve years in prison and two years on the streets, and now in a shelter. He told me that as a homeless person on the street, he always felt that ‘normal’ people did not have empathy and hated them. When he recounted the number of times he was shouted at, spat at, or battered by pissed people on the streets, he broke into tears. He was grateful to the sponsors of this shelter, citing that it was safer and different from staying in the streets.
So what?
The whole time in the shelter, I could not help but sympathize with the homeless people that were housed there. I dawned on me exactly what such people go through. From our conversation with Chris, I was able to understand homeless people’s experiences on the streets. This made me reflect on what I really perceived of them. It is then that I realized that before the shelter event, I was not even paying attention to the homeless people on the streets as I walked to school. I felt ashamed at the thought that I may have despised them and looked down upon them before. But this situation changed my perceptions toward the homeless, and whenever I was approached by a homeless person, I gave them attention to hear what they wanted to see if I was in a position to help.
Now what?
In this situation, as a student nurse, it could only advocate for the recognition and respect of the homeless in our community. If this does not happen, I will play my part and act as a good example by helping them on the streets so that I can inspire people to love and respect the homeless. I felt disappointed in some of the members of the community when I heard that Chris and his friends were being spat on whenever they approach people to ask for help. I felt this is inhumane, and respect for humanity should be exercised by everyone. If faced with this kind of situation in the future, I would love to help any ex-convict both financially and socially. I will need to equip myself with the knowledge that will make me culturally competent to deal with diverse people.
Scenario 3
What?
My passion for volunteering has often made me take up humanitarian duties in a local non-governmental organization (NGO). This NGO engages in humanitarian activities that are aimed at alleviating the lives of sick refugees in camp by offer health care services. During one of our refugee camp visits, I encountered a patient who was a young girl, 14 years of age. The patient was brought by her mother. She had experienced a traumatic sexual assault and rape. She was sobbing while tightly holding her mother. After a medical examination, fortunately, she had not been infected with any STDs. I was tasked by our supervisor to counsel her and make follow-ups until she recovers from the trauma. I faced many challenges with this patient since she was still young and could not understand many of the concepts and coping strategies. I had to use the mother, as her support system, to guide her through the counseling process.
So what?
I felt bad that women and girls in this camp always leave in fear living or even walking, especially at night, because of the high risk of being raped and trafficked. I felt sad that with all the problems people in this camp are facing, girls and women still experience inhumane sexual violence. I sympathized with the homeless people in this refugee camp since they were not able to enjoy free life we have out here; instead, they live only in constant fear and worry that some time might happen to them. I feel that everyone has a right to live freely without fear.
I also felt bad since I was not able to counsel the girl properly, and I had to use the mother. However, I am happy we were able to come up with an action plan with the mother that helped the girl to slowly recover from this trauma.
Now what?
From this situation, I felt more motivated with my humanitarian work to continue helping refugees and the homeless in our community. I think security needs to be heightened in refugee camps to protect the vulnerable population. I plan to advance my counseling skills to continue offering free mental health services to the homeless and refugees in our community. If I am faced with this kind of situation in the future, I think a consultation with other health professionals will be important. We need to create community awareness on the effects of sexual violence and how to curb it (Taylor, Maureen, and Kent 2014, p. 384).
Scenario 4
What?
While working to school one day, I met a homeless person on the street, a situation that is usual in our community. He was carrying what seemed to be his belongings in a cluster of carrier bags. The man looked so very sad, tired, and walked slowly. As I walked passed him, I greeted him, but he did not respond. As I went on, I could not get him off my mind. As I passed several restaurants, I saw people taking coffee and dressed in warm clothes since it was a cold morning. I decided to let me help this man. I went into one of the restaurants and bought two coffee cups. Then, I went straight to the homeless man and gave him the other cup of coffee. I also handed him some money to buy food later in the day. He looked at me, and he was very grateful. I saw a sense of appreciation in his eyes. I had never seen such raw, honest gratitude in an individual’s eyes before. I also noticed he was carrying a bunch of newspapers, which he had circled adverts of cleaning jobs. I assured him that I would look for a cleaning job offer and recommend him when I pass by again.
So what?
First, I could not help but feel ashamed when I saw people were enjoying hot coffee while he was out here in the cold. I now feel that the homeless should not be looked down upon in our community. After seeing job adverts in his hands, I realized that they are also trying to improve their situations by finding something to do, but they just don’t have connections to secure casual jobs. I felt a sense of fulfillment when I helped this man. It is was a humbling gesture.
Now what?
This situation changed my perception toward homeless people. I could not offer much, but at least I help out. After the incident, I committed myself to find a cleaning job for him. I recommended him to some of my friends for casual jobs whenever they had. May in the future, I become successful; I can be employing such people in my company. This will give me a sense of fulfillment that I am giving back to the community.
Conclusion
Civic engagement aims at addressing public issues and improving people’s lives. I have been able to achieve this through my various civic engagements. By volunteering in a homeless shelter, I was able to interact with the vulnerable members of our community and help them establish connections with the rest of the community. By volunteering as a humanitarian worker, I was able to offer free mental health services to the vulnerable population in refugee camps. It is through civic engagement that I have learned how to give back to the community while improving my interpersonal skills.
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