List of Community Mobilization Activities

Community mobilization aims to mobilize and engage community members to address a particular cause. Engagement of community mobilizers needs to happen early and individuals need to be involved from the definition of the problem through to the generation of adequate solutions. The level of engagement of individuals may vary depending on their interest and capabilities. They may just listen to some messages on the radio, participate in meetings and events, or they can proactively design, organize and implement activities. Below is a list of activities that can be used to mobilize communities into action. The list below provides some of the many ways to mobilize community members however use your creativity to think of other ways to mobilize community members.

Community meetings to discuss an issue with community leaders, which may include traditional, religious and local political leaders, among others.

Public debates in which community members question leaders on a specific, predetermined topic. These debates can be recorded on the radio and then broadcast.

Puppet shows and participatory theatre where audiences are encouraged to participate by developing alternative scenarios that would lead to better outcomes.

Village literacy fairs where information about a predetermined topic is shared.

Dance and concerts conveying key messages. The events can be recorded and screened through cinema units or made to go viral on the Internet.

Mobile cinema units screening short films addressing a specific topic and followed by discussions and questions/answer sessions. Sporting events and competitions where messages are conveyed before and after the games and at halftime.

Listening groups to listen to and discuss a particular radio program.

Quiz competitions between teams addressing knowledge of a specific topic.

Print media such as leaflets and cartoon strips for distribution in the community.

Community coalitions made up of people who practice desired behaviors, or who have survived the outbreak and can act as positive role models and decrease stigma.

Door-to-door sessions where mobilizers enter household to discuss the outbreak and protective practices in privacy.

Storytelling in which a narrator recounts a pertinent story which may be real or fictional, to highlight key messages and the importance of protective behaviors.