What is Empowering European Citizens?

Empowering European Citizens incorporates the British Council's Active Citizens programme, training and development method, and global networks. The project is delivered in Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden.

What does Empowering European Citizens aim to achieve?

Empowering European Citizens aims to build trust and understanding between Europeans from diverse communities, connecting organisations and people in neighborhoods and municipalities across ten European countries. It provides them with tools and assistance to develop leadership skills, intercultural competencies, to run social action projects in their local areas as well as sharing ideas and practice with other networks in order to help them address their community and wider European issues. The four stages of the project enable communities to feel empowered to work with others in tackling the challenges of the 21st century Europe as part of a global network of Active Citizens.

Who is Empowering European Citizens for?

Empowering European Citizens brings together people across Europe who has or would like to play a role in local initiatives that benefit their community. Participants gain an international perspective on community-led development as well as cross cultural engagement skills. In Estonia the project is meant for youth workers.

How will the project be delivered?

Empowering European Citizens in jointly delivered by the British Council and local civil society partner in all participating countries. The project is delivered in four stages:

   1. Development of a network of trainers

Trainers ultimately deliver all training events and support cascading of knowledge in their local communities. They also act as a link to their community, making sure that specific local needs are taken into account and the project is adjusted accordingly. The first event, the "training of trainers", takes place in October 2011 in Croatia.

   2. European training events for community activists

The aim of the training is to increase understanding of the European citizenship, ability to engage in intecultural dialogue and motivation for social action. The training content includes understanding multiple identities, developing intercultural communication and project management skills, and enhanching abilities to work with difference at a variety of levels, from municipality to pan-European.

We will recruit 30 youth workers, volunteers and community activists from Estonia who will participate in training events. Training events will be held in eight municipalities across different European countries starting November 2011 till Feburary 2012. The selected participants need to be available to attend one of the events delivering Module 1 and one of the events delivering Module 2. Modules are happening in the following places and on the following times:

Module 1: Finland 3-5 October; Estonia 10-12 November; Czech Republic 17-19 November; Poland 1-3 December

Module 2: Hungary 12-14 January; Romania 26-28 January; Slovakia 2-4 February; Sweden 9-11 February

   3. Cascade training and social action within local communities

Participants of the international training events cascade the knowledge gained during the trainings to members of their home organisation and communities within their municipality. During this stage participants can apply for funding from British Council Estonia to deliver social action projects in their communities and/or organsiations. Cascading events will take place in participating countries on March - September 2012.

   4. International knowledge sharing event

The final international knowledge sharing event will bring together the trainers, selected training participants and project partners to assess progress made so far, identitfy examples of good practice, and develop recommendations for future. It will take place on May 2012 in Macedonia.