Understanding the language behind community engagement helps foster deeper connections and more meaningful participation. Here are key terms:
- Community Engagement – The process of working collaboratively with community groups to address issues affecting their well-being.
- Civic Responsibility – The duty of individuals to contribute to the betterment of society and the community.
- Social Impact – The effect of an activity on the well-being of a community or individuals within it.
- Reciprocity – A mutual exchange in which all parties benefit, foundational to ethical community partnerships.
- Volunteerism – The act of offering time and services to others without financial gain.
- Empowerment – Providing people with the tools and confidence to take control of their lives and contribute to their communities.
- Cultural Humility – A lifelong process of self-reflection and learning about different cultures to build respectful partnerships.
Types of volunteering
- Formal: Unpaid help provided through organized groups, clubs, or institutions.
- Informal: Direct, unpaid help to individuals outside one's immediate family or social circle.
- Skilled: Volunteering that utilizes professional skills or expertise.
- Unskilled: Volunteering without specific professional skills, relying on general contributions of time and effort.
- Micro: Short-term volunteer tasks, often online, with minimal time commitment.
- Episodic: Short-term, temporary, or occasional volunteering, like event-based volunteering.
- Long-term: Volunteering for an extended period, either part-time or full-time.
