active citizenship

1. Introduction to Active Citizenship
 What is Active Citizenship?
 Overview of some Important Ideas/Components.
 Different levels of Citizenship
 Skills of Citizenship
By: Muhammad Kaleem
(University of Sargodha)

2. What is Active Citizenship?
Active citizenship is a term used to describe the involvement of individuals in
public life and affairs at local, national and international levels.
A citizen who takes an active role in the
community's context, such as in the
neighborhood security, community policing, or
in other social activity.
Active citizens participate in things like public
meetings, social groups, committees, councils.
active citizens help their society by doing good
to help others. active citizens help their
neighbours. active citizens speak out against
hatred, injustice, inequality.

3. Overview of some Important Ideas/Components.
Citizenship has four main components
Human Rights, Responsibilities, Participation, Identity
 Human rights
Human rights are rights inherent to all human
beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality,
ethnicity, language, religion, or any other
status.
Human rights include the right to life and
liberty, freedom from slavery and torture,
freedom of opinion and expression, the right
to work and education, freedom of
information, freedom of the press, freedom of
thought and many more.

4.  Responsibilities
Responsibility refers to an obligation to perform certain functions in order to achieve
certain results.
Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws. Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions
of others. Participate in your local community. Pay income and other taxes honestly, and
on time, to federal, state, and local authorities
 Participation
The action or state of taking part in something, participation is the involvement of
individual constituents or communities in local, state, and national government. Civic
involvement can include voting, political activism, volunteering, and community
engagement. In short, it is the participation of people in government and democratic
processes.
 Identity
Identity is the qualities, beliefs, personality traits, appearance, and expressions of a
human. An active citizen identifies his qualities and traits that how can he particepate in
community engagement.

5. Levels of Active Citizenship
There are three levels of Active Citizenship
At community level individuals active in different ways to get involved in issues or causes that are
directly affect theirs lives at local level, while some want to do somtething at global level.
 local level
It is used most often at local level to refer to citizens who become actively involved in the life of
their communities; tackling problems, bringing about change or resisting unwanted change.
 Regional and national level
At regional and national level it can move from voting in democratic processes, to being involved
in campaigning groups, to becoming a member of a political party.
 International level
At international level the global active citizen may be involved in movements to promote
environmental sustainability or fair trade, to reduce poverty or to eliminate people trafficking and
slavery.

6. Skills of Citizenship
 Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is the analysis of available facts, evidence, observations,
 Analysing Information
Collecting, organizing, analyzing, and assessing data or information to gain valuable insights and make wise
and correct decisions
 Expressing Opinions
The act of saying what you think or showing how you feel
 Taking part in discussions and debates
Engaging people in discussion and debate encourages people to create their own understanding of the
content and connect it to their experiences.
 Negotiating
Negotiation is a dialogue between two or more parties to resolve points of difference,
 Conflict Resolution
Conflict resolution is the process of ending a dispute and reaching an agreement that satisfies all parties
involved
 Participating in Community Action
The involvement of people in a community in projects to solve their own problems.