Active Citizenship
Active Citizenship/Voter Education Programme
Since 1996 the Active Citizenship/Voter Education Programme has been facilitated with communities in disadvantaged areas. Many people in such areas are alienated from the democratic electoral system and do not participate in elections. As a result their voices are not heard by policy makers and lawmakers.
To Date:
- The Active Citizenship/Vote Education Programme has been facilitated with approximately 800 community groups in 23 counties with very positive results.
- Approximately 240 community leaders have been trained to facilitate the programme
- A National Active Citizenship Network has been established.
- Active Citizenship Groups have been established in 2 local areas. These groups are working for social and economic change in their own communities.
- A website has been developed – www.vote.ie
- The following material has been produced and distributed:
- Active Citizenship /Voter Education Manual and Charts for workshops.
- Booklets: Material for continuing engagement - after the election – ‘Working for Change at Local Level’, ‘Your Community, Your Role- Working for the Public Good’ and ‘How We Are Governed’. ‘After the Elections’.
- Posters: Active Citizenship Posters – to encourage people to register, to vote – connect politics with every day life.
- Three National Active Citizenship Network conferences were organised in preparation for elections – each attended by approximately 100 community leaders/workers from around the country.
- Participated in 2 E.U. Partnerships consisting of 10 member countries.
Some Evaluations
“My vote is as good as anyone else’s, I count”
“This Programme taught us about people like Nelson Mandella. It showed me how I can walk tall. I can make a difference”
“I can now make connections and see that we are responsible for the kind of politicians we get”
“My issues will determine how I vote”
“This Programme has taught me how to stand up for myself” at times of the Local, E.U. and General Elections”.
“This Programme has shown me that I am the expert on my area and so I know who to vote for”
“In the past I did not bother to vote. From now on I won’t miss the chance to make my voice heard”
“I have had to struggle to get where I am. This Programme will have to struggle but it will get there”
“I never thought that the EU elections would mean anything to me. Now I have an idea of what it means to be an EU Citizen”
Further infomation visit our website www.vote.ie