Empowering European Citizens

WHAT IS EMPOWERING EUROPEAN CITIZENS?

Empowering European Citizens is an intercultural project co-funded by the European Commission, British Council and ten civil society organisations across Europe. 

It incorporates the British Council’s Active Citizens programme, training and development methods, and global networks.

Empowering European Citizens 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 neighbourhoods 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 area 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 have 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.

Participants may include youth workers, women’s groups, educators, community development professionals, voluntary sector representatives and faith leaders.

HOW WILL THE PROJECT BE DELIVERED?

Empowering European Citizens is jointly delivered by the British Council and local civil society partners in all participating countries.

The project is delivered in four stages.

I. 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.

II. European training events for community activists

The aim of the trainings is to increase understanding of the European citizenship, ability to engage in intercultural dialogue and motivation for social action.  The training content includes understanding multiple identities, developing intercultural communication and project management skills, and enhancing abilities to work with difference at a variety of levels, from municipality to pan-European. Training events will be held in eight municipalities across different European countries starting November 2011 till February 2012.

III. 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. Cascading to local communities is supported by trainers and project partners.  Cascading events will take place in participating countries on March – September 2012.

IV. 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, identify examples of good practice, and develop recommendations for the future. It will take place in May 2012 in Macedonia.

BY SHARING IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THEIR COMMUNITY, PARTICIPANTS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP IN EUROPE.

To get involved in the Empowering European Citizens project either as a project participant or as a project partner please contact Mariola Ambroziak, British Council Projects and Partnerships Manager.

Partners

Empowering European Citizens project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.