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Globally Connected and Locally Engaged

We live in a world that seeks to be globally connected and locally engaged, where people recognise their potential and exercise their responsibility to work with others in the development of their communities at local and international level - a world of ‘Global Citizens’.

What is Active Citizens about?

Active Citizens was launched in 2009 and is currently running in 20 countries in Europe, as well as in Africa and Asia.

This programme aims to contribute to social change and sustainable development by establishing an enduring global network of leaders who as influencers in their communities shape the dialogue addressing global issues. It works with leaders of youth, womens’, cultural, recreational or religious groups, with NGOs or local governments, to build on their own skills and models.

Based on the needs analyses conducted by the government of Georgia and several international organisation young people from IDPs represent one of the most disadvantaged groups leaving in Georgia  to experience social, economical, educational, health and unemployment problems.

Therefore, the main aim of the Active Citizens programme in Georgia is to empower young people from IDP communities living in and around Tbilisi to become influencers, to take active role in overcoming challenges which they face on daily bases and in long term perspective by :developing their  sense of initiative and active citizenship, teaching them to reflect on and address their community needs, developing competences in  planning and management skills and creating space, opportunities and means of support for young IDPs to realize their own social projects in respective communities through civic engagement with community-based organizations and projects.

In Georgia, we implement this project in partnership with the Academy for Peace and Development (APD)

Three Major components of the programme :

1. Local training workshops that focus on global citizenship, working effectively with difference to achieve better understanding of the local community and global interdependency.

Where we are now

• On 25-31 October a seven day training program was conducted for 30 motivated young leaders from Tbilisi, Tskneti, Zugdidi, Poti and  Tserovani IDP communities who practised making the difference between the terms Active Citizen and the legal term of “Citizenship”. They also learned the certain tools of becoming active and bringing benefits to the community and society they live in.
• Community participants delivered third phase of trainings to 300 young IDPs who live in collective centres, such as hostels, hotels, hospitals, school buildings, and other state owned premises during January- February 2011.

2. Social Action Projects, planned and delivered by the participants based on what they learned and where they feel they can make a positive impact in their own community and communities they interact with.

Where we are now

• After the end of the training phase active citizens took part directly in identifying the needs of their community and developed social action projects in the area with regular consultation and support of their master facilitators.
• Wining project ideas were identified and funded by 1st March 2011. A small grant was provided by USAID to give 10 winning project teams the opportunity to plan and implement the social action projects in their respective community.

3. International exchanges and networking provide participants with opportunities to experience and learn from international practise, especially in areas of common interest. Community leaders themselves will meet in annual events to share best practice, develop new thinking, and strengthen cross-community and cross-border partnerships.

Where we are now

• A scoping visit was organized in January 2011 where representative of Georgian project delivery partner organisation (APD) travelled to meet the organisation they have been partnered with in the UK, St Helens Community Empowerment Network.

The purpose of scoping visits was

Gain an understanding of the respective community contexts
Agree learning content for the international exchange
Identify professional development opportunities for participants in international exchange
Identify possible opportunities for sustaining links between the delivery partner organisations following the completion of the Active Citizens programme.

• Series of exchange visits of community representatives between UK and Georgia took place in spring and summer 2011

For additional Information Please visit Active citizens' main website or contact Project Manager.

DCSIMG

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