Agents of Change and Active Citizenship

Becoming an Agent of Change Through Active Citizenship

This activity will provide participants with the foundations of Active Citizenship and how their own actions can contribute to transformative change in the community, nationally and internationally, for equality and social justice.

Activity 1: Five words exercise – part One

Purpose: to determine the level of awareness of Active Citizenship before the workshop

Method:

Give participants a sheet of paper and ask them to write five words that they think explains Active Citizenship.
Ask them to write their name on the page and hand it back to the facilitator when complete.

Activity 2: Agents of Change

Purpose: Defining an Agent of Change

Method:

● Before giving the formal definition of Agents of change, display photographs of prominent Agents of Change eg Greta Thunberg, Jacinda Adern, Martin Luther King or others that relate to the age group of the participants. Ask what they know about these people and are they aware of any impact they have had, if any, on a social issue. Discuss the impact of their active citizenship– positive and/or negative


● The purpose of this exercise is to determine if people are aware of the actions of an agent of change as opposed to the concept.


● Play the "https://youtu.be/0ZwA7v0UhlA">Africa Wildlife video.



● Ask participants to identify people they think are Agents of Change for a cause the participant cares about and what Transformative Change could result

Activity 3: Slacktivism

Purpose: to identify the impact of Social Media on Active Citizenship

Method:



● Start the lesson by asking participants have heard of Slacktivism



● "https://www.citizenlab.co/blog/civic-engagement/slacktivism/">Lazy Activism



● Ask if they agree with the definition



● Ask if they agree if it’s valid form of activism given the global instant access to information and social media platforms



● Display images that explain Slactivism



● Discuss the power of social media on Active Citizenship



● Discuss the impact of ‘fake news’

Activity 4: Group exercise

Purpose: Bringing about Transformative Change through Active Citizenship

Method:

● Divide into groups

● Ask group to select a social justice issue

● Ask them to identify how they could get involved

● Identify what behaviours would have to change

● Identify how they could motivate and encourage people to change their thoughts and behaviours

● Identify what would be the desired results

● Identify the long-term impact of change

Following this exercise, groups share their ideas. Invite questions and opinions and suggestions eg is there a better way to do things, what is positive/negative about the approach, how realistic is the campaign

Activity 5: Five Words Exercise – part two

Purpose: to determine the level of awareness of Active Citizenship post discussions/activity

Method: Return the paper the participants wrote the five words that they thought explained Active Citizenship at the beginning of the activities

Ask them to write down five new words

Final thoughts:

Group discussion on Active Citizenship and becoming Agents of Change