Active Citizens

	Empowering European Citizens

This year British Council and civil society organisations in Sweden, Finland, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Macedonia and the Czech Republic have successfully secured funding from the European Commission for the project Empowering European Citizens. The project incorporates the British Council’s global project Active Citizens core framework. British Council Sweden's local partner is Centrum för Publikt Entreprenörskap.

WHAT IS EMPOWERING EUROPEAN CITIZENS ABOUT?

This project aims to contribute to social change within communities and sustainable development by establishing an enduring international network of leaders who as influencers in their communities dialogue, learn and act together to address global issues. It works with leaders of youth, women’s, cultural, recreational or religious groups, with NGOs or local governments, to build on their own skills and models.

It also aims to increase the contribution of those (Motivators) who already play a role in their local communities, through civic engagement with community-based organisations and projects. It consequently supports grassroots initiatives around the world, in turn promoting community cohesion and cross-community understanding.

The programme will assist the growth of empowered European citizens by reinforcing a strong sense of local culture and identity, understanding of local community, a sense of responsibility towards sustainable development, values for working effectively with difference, and by developing project planning and management skills.

MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAMME:

Pan-European training workshops that focus on global citizenship, working effectively with difference to achieve better understanding of the local community and global interdependency. Participants will cascade the knowledge gained during the training on a voluntary basis to members of their home organisation and communities within their municipality.

The international exchanges and networking provide participants with opportunities to experience and learn from international practise, especially in areas of common interest. Community leaders will share best practice, develop new thinking, and strengthen cross-community and cross-border partnerships. To find out more about the experience of last year’s active citizens, you can read a blog about a Swedish participant's visit to Romania in July 2011.