Do It Yourself - Promoting Responsibility and Civic Action

Do It Yourself – Promoting Responsibility and Civic Action Mikheil Benidze ’06 FLEX-Ability South Caucasus Conference March 27, 2010 Tbilisi, Georgia

Defining Active Citizenship
“ The main concerns of citizenship theorists are with civil, political and social rights ; with social justice, the obligations of citizens, and the principle of equality.”
“ Citizenship includes the rights and liberties granted by a State and the duties and responsibilities of the individual.”
“ Citizenship is a status bestowed on all those who are full members of community. All who possess the status are equal with respect to the rights and duties with which the status is endowed. . . . Citizenship requires a direct sense of community membership based on loyalty to a civilization.”
"Active citizenship is the philosophy that citizens should work towards the betterment of their community through economic participation, public service, volunteer work, and other such efforts to improve life for all citizens.
“ Active Citizenship is a constant interchange between personal development and society reached by the awareness, responsibility and participation in the economic, social and politic life of the community.”

Rights
Respect
Responsibility
The Three “R”s

Dimensions of Active Citizenship
Political - participation in the decision-making process and exercise of political power
Legal - respecting the rule of law, being aware of and exercising citizens' rights and responsibilities
Social - Combating social isolation and exclusion, safeguarding human rights, bringing together different groups of society, working for equality
Economic - fight against poverty and unemployment, considering innovative methods of work and community development, corporate social responsibility, consumer rights
Cultural - respect for diversity, fundamental democratic values, both a shared and divergent history and heritage, and contributing to peaceful intercultural relations
Global - recognising and promoting global interdependence and solidarity, global development, environmental issues, etc.

Understanding different aspects of democracy
Respecting the rights of other people
Taking responsibility
Thinking outside of box
Able to work with others
Working towards consensus
Having confidence to act for changes
Improving the quality of life of the community and environment
A Responsible Active Citizen:

Basic Citizenship Competences
Acquiring and Using Information
Assessing involvement
Making Decisions
Making Judgments
Communicating
Cooperating
Promoting Interests

Gain new skills
Build confidence and self esteem
Ease yourself back into work and try out a new area of work
Build up contacts to help find a paid job, get a reference
Stop your skills going rusty
Get used to a new environment
Meet new people
Improve relations between different communities in your area
Help people
Experience different cultures
Influence/change something in your local area, make your local area a better place to live
Have fun!
Why Become Active Citizen?

Stay Informed and inform others
Initiate and participate in debates and public forums
Help out at school/neighborhood/community
Volunteer
Express your opinions – Write a blog; write a letter
Run an awareness campaign
Join a special interests group
Develop your own Community Action Plan
Becoming an Active Citizen

Becoming an Active Citizen Fundamental values underlying the definitions Human rights, civil rights, democracy, multiculturalism, etc Citizenship as awareness of these values and what they imply (knowledge) Citizenship as an attitude of respect (tolerance, non-violent behavior) Citizenship as engagement in the direction of these values (participation, skills)

Eight Skills of Leadership
Envisioning (shaping visions and goals)
Consensus Seeking (helping groups make decisions)
Negotiation (resolving conflicts)
Creating rewards (motivating members)
Creating an image (laying foundation for outside support)
Gaining legitimacy (laying foundation for group power)
Advocacy (attracting outside support and defending group)
Coalition Building (getting support from other groups)

Outcomes: Outcomes are what changes you want to happen to as a result of the work that you do
Goals: Goals are general statements of what the group expects to achieve after a reasonable time
Objectives: objectives are specific, measurable milestones along the way to achieving your action goals.
Strategies: Strategies are methods to accomplish objectives and reach goals.
Activities: Activities are specific actions towards achieving those objectives.
Community Action Plan Core Elements

Community Action Plan
Step 1 - Create a list of pressing needs in a community.
Step 2 - Which of those needs do you think are the most serious?
Step 3 – Review your list of needs. What do you think you can do about each one? Write down some ideas and chose one important need that you would like to do something about. Be realistic!
Step 4 – Consider where you might find additional information about this problem.
Step 5 – Review all the information you have collected and brainstorm the ways you could help the community solve this problem. Make a list of all the possible solutions.
Step 6 – Which solution seems to be the best and why?
Step 7 – Think about how would you implement this solution.

Community Action Plan
Step 8 – Identify barriers to successfully implementing the solution. Make a list of potential allies and opponents. Think about how to calm the fears of those who might oppose your plan.
Step 9 – Identify necessary resources for successfully implementing your solutions.
Step 10 – Chose individuals and community partners, gather your potential allies to bring your solution to life.
Step 11 – Consider a timeline for conducting activities.
Step 12 – Within your group chose a person or a group of people to work together on writing the CAP.
Step 13 – Implement your plan into action. Be ready for some challenges.
Step 14 – After you have implemented your CAP, take time to reflect what you did. Include monitoring and evaluation.
Step 15 – Celebrate your success!

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. Chinese proverb

Thank You!  Good Luck!!!

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Do It Yourself - Promoting Responsibility and Civic Action Presentation Transcript