Active Citizens

Active Citizens is a British Council programme in the area of intercultural dialogue and global citizenship.

The vision of the project is a world in which people recognise their potential and exercise their responsibility to engage with others in the development of their communities at local and international level, i.e. a world of ‘Global Citizens’

Active Citizens was launched in 2009 in the UK and eight counties of Africa and Asia including Nigeria, Nepal, Kenya, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

In 2010 twenty other counties start the project in North, Central and South-East Europe and Israel.

Active Citizens in Armenia

In 2010-11 Active Citizens in Armenia will be piloted in Yeghegnadzor, Vayots Dzor and the nearby villages with possible future extension to other marzes of Armenia. The programme will be delivered in partnership with the Armenian Young Women’s Association Yeghegnadzor branch. We welcome other partners who are interested in joining our activities.

We will work with community leaders and through them, with their organisations and networks (schools, universities, trade unions, political parties, municipalities, public service providers, SMEs etc), bringing diverse community members together on a voluntary basis.

During the programme they will:

•Explore identity
•Increase value for difference and experience new perspectives (including UK perspective) on democratic engagement.
•Increase recognition of UK as a global platform and resource for democratic engagement.
•Form enduring international networks.
•Develop increased commitment to solving global issues at a local level.
•Become more skilled in cross cultural communication and dialogue and the role it plays in community action.

The programme will be delivered in three phases:

• Local training workshops will focus on global citizenship, working effectively with difference and agenda setting in order to achieve better understanding of the local community and global interdependency. The trainings will also cover such areas as project concept development, project management, social entrepreneurship, fundraising, effective networking etc.
• The trainings will be followed by cascading workshops delivered by the project participants in their own networks and communities.
• Social Action Projects will be 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. The best project ideas might receive funding from the British Council or other potential sponsors.
• International exchanges and networking will provide some of the participants the opportunity to experience international practises and learn from other countries. *Knowledge of English will be a requirement for participation

We are therefore looking for people and organisations with

• a value for social justice,
• established community and national networks,
• a strong sense of local culture and identity,
• commitment to life-long learning and broadening horizons,
• strong influencing and communication skills.

To participate in the programme Yeghegnadzor community members aged 18-35 who feel they share the above characteristics need to complete the project application form and return it by the October 15, 2010 to Anna Hovhannisyan at the Yeghegnadzor branch of Armenian Young Women’s Association, 7 Gagarin st, Yeghegnadzor, Vayots Dzor marz.

For more information about the project, please call (+374 0281) 2 20 40; (+374 091) 82 35 69 or contact Active Citizens Country Project Manager Inessa Muradyan` .


Left menu links:

http://activecitizens.britishcouncil.org/

http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-active-citizens.htm

Attached please see application form: