Citizenship and the Commonwealth The Active Commonwealth ...

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Citizenship in the Commonwealthand the skills to initiate collective action with diverse stakeholders includinggovernments.The positive impact of suchcitizenship education programmesis clear. Recurrent findings fromresearch to determine the impactof the Community CapacityBuilders active citizenshipprogramme in the City ofEffective states requireeffective citizensOnkaparinga, South Australia (www.onkaparingacity.com/onka/living_here/community/leadership_onkaparinga.jsp) show that such programmesincrease the political effectiveness of people, and create additionalbenefits:• programme participants consider they are more confident in theirability to shape their lives and their communities• they feel more confident to seek out and use information• they have more confidence in political institutions• they feel more able to engage in democratic processes and support thework of government• they are eager to pass on the knowledge and skills they have gained toothers in their communitiesEffective states require effective citizens and the Commonwealth needsto help create conditions for active citizenship within its countries andinstitutions.In 2005, 2,300 people took part in agreeing the United Nations BrisbaneDeclaration of Community Engagement. With the 2011 CHOGM takingplace in Perth, there is an opportunity for Commonwealth governmentsand institutions to commit themselves to a programme of active citizenshipengagement and education.The British Council’s ‘Active Citizens’ programme: a case studyThe purpose of the ‘Active Citizens’ programme is to increase thecontribution of those adults who have a social network within their localcommunities. The programme aims to help people become active locally,to equip them with the skills and confidence to engage in decision-makingprocess, and to talk about citizenship across cultures.10
Citizenship in the CommonwealthIn order to achieve its goals, the Active Citizens programme is dividedinto three phases: local training, social action projects, and internationalengagement. This is broken down into a six-stage journey experienced overone week:• Identity – explore the concept of ‘me’• Culture – knowing ourselves and our community• Dialogue – listening without assumptions; transmitting informationabout me to others• Society and citizenship – learning about culture and decision-making• Project planning and social action – developing an active communityproject• International inter-cultural dialogue – through exchange trips or onlineNext generation reports: Pakistani youth speak out on TVA group of young people voiced their opinions about weighty topical issueshighlighted in the Active Citizens report, Pakistan: The Next Generation(available at www.britishcouncil.pk/pakistan-Next-Generation-Report.pdf),on the national TV programme ‘Dunya Today’. The programme focused onthe issue of corruption in government, which the report revealed to beof great concern to young people for the future security of their country.The programme, which draws around 20 million viewers, was aired in aprimetime slot on 9 November 2010 and was the first of a four-part seriesof seminars involving Active Citizens and the Young Parliamentarians’Forum (YPF).Wales – Kenya community development exchangeIn March 2010, a group of young Welsh community leaders went to Kenyaand Sudan and worked with Sudanese and Kenyan community leaders togain an international perspective on positive social action and communitydevelopment. In May, eight community leaders from Kenya journeyedto Wales where they carried out similar activities with communitydevelopment project leaders. For instance, they met with the WelshAssembly Government and witnessed how Welsh communities engageyouth from deprived areas of Wales. They also visited Cardiff City FootballClub, which runs community-orientated and youth-focused schemes thathave since inspired the Kenyan Active Citizens to develop an under-14schampionship back home in Diani (see http://activecitizens.britishcouncil.org/content/wales-kenya-exchange)11
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