ABCD-Training-of-Trainers-Tools-July-2013

1.15. Defining Active Citizenship: The “Presidential Speech”
(Source: Seminar at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, The Balance between the
rights and responsibilities of citizens in the new South Africa, Cape Town 2009)
Session Title
Session Objectives
Duration of Session
Resources
Training Materials
Defining Active Citizenship
Come to a common understanding of what it means to be an active
citizen
Discuss the balance between the rights and responsibilities of citizenship
45 minutes
Flipchart paper
Markers
Examples of Presidential Speeches
Introduction
This tool is a fun way of getting people to come to a come understanding of what we mean by active
citizenship and the balance of rights and responsibilities of citizenship in South Africa today.
Instructions:
On a flip chart, power point slide or wash board, write the following excerpt from President Barack
Obama’s 2009 Inaugural Address:
My fellow citizens…What is required of us now is a new era of
responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that
we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that
we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the
knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so
defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship. -
Divide the group into teams of 3-5 people.
Ask them to consider the following question:
• Considering that you, as new President of South Africa, want to convey a strong message about
development and citizenship, what would your introductory speech say?
Ask them to record their responses on a piece of flip chart and present to the group.
Examples of responses (if required) can be found below and also in the Training Materials Guide:
(Source: The Balance between the rights and responsibilities of citizens in the new South Africa, Cape
Town 2009, Coady Institute and Ikhala Trust)
1. My fellow South African citizens, now is the time for introspection and choice. What does it mean to
be a citizen in South Africa today? What is your role as a citizen? What is the price and promise of
citizenship?
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