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COMMUNITY BUILDING
COMMUNITY BUILDING
Content
This learning activity is all about community—what it means, why it matters, and how you can help make your community stronger and more connected. Over the next 1 hour, you will:
- Learn how to talk and work with others in positive, respectful ways.
- Explore what makes people feel like they belong and are part of something special.
- Look at real-life problems that communities face—and think of creative ways to solve them!
- Come up with ideas and action plans to bring people together and make change happen.
When people feel connected, supported, and heard, everyone benefits. Building a community can make life better—not just for you, but for everyone around you.
Check out this short, inspiring video that highlights how, while individual achievements are often celebrated, it’s the strength of our relationships and communal bonds that truly enrich our lives.
So let’s get started! You’re not just learning today—you’re becoming a community builder.
Loneliness and Our Craving for Community
Feeling disconnected or isolated? You’re not alone. In this powerful video, "Loneliness and Our Craving for Community," discover why we, as humans, have such an intense need to connect with others—and how loneliness can impact both our mental and physical health. The speaker dives deep into the emotional effects of isolation and offers valuable insights into how we can build stronger, more meaningful relationships to combat these feelings. Ready to explore the secrets behind our craving for community? Watch the video:
What type of community do you feel most connected to? Family, neighborhood, online group, workplace, etc. Share your answer to complete the task 1 below.
Case Study: "The Neighborhood Food Bank"
In a small, tight-knit neighborhood, many families were struggling to put food on the table due to economic challenges. A group of community members decided to come together and start a food bank to help. The goal was simple: provide food for those in need, no matter how big or small the contribution.
The food bank started with just a few people gathering donations, but over time, it grew into something much bigger. Thanks to the contributions of local businesses, volunteers, donors, and social media supporters, the food bank became a vital resource for the community. People from all walks of life came together to make it work.
Now, let’s dive into the different roles and contributions that made the food bank a success.
1. Maria was the leader who brought everything together. reached out to neighbors and local businesses to collect donations. She organized the first food drive and made sure everything ran smoothly. Maria coordinated all activities and made sure food was distributed fairly. Maria’s organizational skills were crucial in turning the idea into reality. Without her planning and leadership, the food bank would not have been able to help as many people.
2. Tom was one of the first volunteers who helped set up the food bank. Every weekend, Tom helped sort and package food for distribution. He also helped deliver food to families who couldn’t come to the food bank. Tom even encouraged his friends to volunteer. Tom’s consistent volunteering kept the food bank running every week. His willingness to pitch in, even when the work was tough, made the food bank dependable and reliable.
3. Lily was a regular donor who helped fund the food bank. Lily donated money and food items each month. She also shared the food bank’s fundraising campaigns on social media, encouraging others to donate as well. Lily’s financial support helped the food bank purchase necessary supplies like storage bins, transportation, and even refrigeration for perishable items. Her donations made sure the food bank could continue to grow and meet the needs of the community.
4. Mr. Patel owns a grocery store in the neighborhood. He donated surplus food from his store every week. He also offered discounts to the volunteers who bought food for the food bank. Mr. Patel’s contributions made sure there was always enough food to give out. His business support helped keep the food bank well-stocked and efficient.
5. Sarah managed the food bank’s social media page. Sarah created posts, shared success stories, and announced upcoming food drives and events. She also connected the food bank with people looking to donate or volunteer. Sarah’s social media posts raised awareness about the food bank, brought in new donors, and increased community involvement. Her posts made sure the food bank was always in the public eye, encouraging more people to help.
Reflect on the following and share your answers to complete task 2 below:
- How did each individual’s role contribute to the overall success of the food bank?
- What do you think would have happened if one of these characters hadn’t contributed?
- Which role do you think had the most behind-the-scenes impact?
- If you were involved in this project, what role would you choose?
Challenge 1: Your Commitment to Community
Write one action you’ll take in the next week to contribute to a group or community around you. This can be small (helping a friend, joining a meeting) or big (starting a project, volunteering).
Shared Vision and Values
Shared vision unites a community. Watch this video to discover why it's important:
How Do You Develop a Shared Vision? Watch to learn:
Shared Vision Example are presented in this video:
Challenge 2: Create a shared vision and values
Look around you — is it your school crew, your neighborhood fam, your faith group, or even your gaming squad? Pick one community you’re part of.
Your mission: Invite them to meet up and chat about what matters most. What kind of community do you all want to be? What values do you all share? Agree on your Top 5 values — the ones that matter most to everyone. Create a slogan or simple visual that shows off your shared vision — something that says, “This is who we are!”
Community Participation
Imagine you are leading a community. This could be any kind of community that matters to you—your neighborhood, a workplace team, an online group, a school club, or even a local volunteer organization. But here’s the problem: Not enough people are joining in.
You’ve got cool stuff going on, but most folks aren’t showing up, helping out, or getting involved.
Your Task: Come up with ideas to get more people to join and take part!
Now, do the following:
- Grab a piece of paper, a notes app, or a digital mind map tool.
- In the center, write: "Low Participation"
- Around it, add ideas. Try to think of 20 ideas total—quick, fun, even wild ones!
Share your mind map with us to complete task 5.
The Power of Rituals
The video below is an inspiring example of the power of rituals within a community. One such ritual, keeping Shabbat, is one of the most important aspects of what it means to be Jewish. It serves as a weekly moment of rest, reflection, and connection with both family and faith. Rituals like Shabbat foster a sense of belonging, continuity, and identity, helping to strengthen communal bonds and pass down traditions to future generations. Through shared rituals, communities create a collective memory, reinforcing their values and cultural heritage, which are essential for the survival and thriving of the community:
Challenge 3: Rituals of Connection
Now, think about one community you are a part of. What is one ritual you could propose to that community to help create a collective memory, reinforcing their values and cultural heritage? Consider how this ritual could strengthen the bonds within the community and contribute to its growth and resilience.
Pridobite značko aktivnosti
COMMUNITY BUILDING Pridobi to značko
This badge is for learners who’ve explored the power of community, the impact of connections, and how to build stronger, more supportive groups. It’s all about understanding how to bring people together, solve problems collaboratively, and make a real difference by fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
When you’re part of a community, everyone benefits. This badge shows that you’re ready to contribute positively to any group you’re part of, whether that’s your family, neighborhood, school, or even an online group.\
What you did to earn this badge:
- Explored the importance of community and how to communicate respectfully with others
- Learned how to identify and create belonging in a group
- Worked through a real-life community case study to see the value of teamwork and contribution
- Committed to taking action and contributing to a group in your life
- Created and shared a shared vision and values for a community you belong to
- Brainstormed creative ways to increase participation in community activities
- Proposed a meaningful ritual to strengthen the bonds of your community
Your tasks were reviewed by an organiser of this playlist. Once you engaged with these activities, shared your thoughts, and made real-life commitments, you earned this badge!
This badge shows that you understand how to build and nurture communities, create shared values, and contribute to meaningful change. It proves you’re ready to help others feel connected, supported, and heard—whether in small or large ways. You’re now a true community builder!
Da pridobiš značko, moraš opraviti vse naloge
Naloge
Naloga št.1
Dokaze preveril: En organizator dejavnosti
Task 1: My Community
What type of community do you feel most connected to? Family, neighborhood, online group, workplace, etc. Share your answer.
Naloga št.2
Dokaze preveril: En organizator dejavnosti
Task 2: The Neighborhood
Food BankReflect on the following and share your answers:
- How did each individual’s role contribute to the overall success of the food bank?
- What do you think would have happened if one of these characters hadn’t contributed?
- Which role do you think had the most behind-the-scenes impact?
- If you were involved in this project, what role would you choose?
Naloga št.3
Dokaze preveril: En organizator dejavnosti
Task 3: Challenge 1 - Your Commitment to Community
Write one action you’ll take in the next week to contribute to a group or community around you. This can be small (helping a friend, joining a meeting) or big (starting a project, volunteering).
Naloga št.4
Dokaze preveril: En organizator dejavnosti
Task 4: Challenge 2 - Create a shared vision and values
Look around you — is it your school crew, your neighborhood fam, your faith group, or even your gaming squad? Pick one community you’re part of.
Your mission: Invite them to meet up and chat about what matters most. What kind of community do you all want to be? What values do you all share? Agree on your Top 5 values — the ones that matter most to everyone. Create a slogan or simple visual that shows off your shared vision — something that says, “This is who we are!”
Option 1: Share the results of the challenge with us.
Option 2: Got a plan? Tell us how you’ll team up with your chosen community to build a shared vision and agree on core values
Naloga št.5
Dokaze preveril: En organizator dejavnosti
Task 5: Community Participation
Imagine you are leading a community. This could be any kind of community that matters to you—your neighborhood, a workplace team, an online group, a school club, or even a local volunteer organization. But here’s the problem: Not enough people are joining in.
You’ve got cool stuff going on, but most folks aren’t showing up, helping out, or getting involved.
Your Task: Come up with ideas to get more people to join and take part!
Now, do the following:
- Grab a piece of paper, a notes app, or a digital mind map tool.
- In the center, write: "Low Participation"
- Around it, add ideas. Try to think of 20 ideas total—quick, fun, even wild ones!
Share your mind map with us (it can be a photo, scan, what makes it easy for you).
Naloga št.6
Dokaze preveril: En organizator dejavnosti
Task 6: Rituals of Connection
Now, think about one community you are a part of. What is one ritual you could propose to that community to help create a collective memory, reinforcing their values and cultural heritage? Consider how this ritual could strengthen the bonds within the community and contribute to its growth and resilience.
Share with us which community you’ve chosen, the ritual you’d like to introduce, and how you believe this ritual could impact the community.
Organizatorji
TiPovej!
Uporabljeno v seznamu predvajanja
LifeSkills 360º
TiPovej!Ustvarjeno na Ljubljana City of Learning
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