Civic Empowerment
By: Patricia Conway, Intern
What is Civil Empowerment?
This means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes. Civic engagement includes both paid and unpaid forms of political activism.
Civil participation and empowerment refer to a condition in which every citizen has the means to actively engage in the public sphere, including political processes. Under this condition, civil society is empowered, protected and accountable; the media are present, professional, and independent of government influence; equal access to information and freedom of expression is upheld.
Without opportunities for civic engagement, motivations for violence may be more likely to increase, as the population seeks to ensure their voice is heard and their needs are met. Civic participation and empowerment also require respect for fundamental civil and political rights of minority groups, including the perception that these rights can be freely exercised without fear of retribution.
I have utilized my civil participation and empowerment through volunteering my services; unpaid time, at a local soup kitchen, which I found to be a most rewarding experience.
Volunteering is a common form of civic participation that can yield health benefits. Studies show that volunteers enjoy better psychological well-being and positive emotional health. Volunteering can increase social resources like having friends to call, which may help explain the association between volunteering and reduced levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Therefore, the word empowerment suggests feelings of positivity, strength, and bravery in the face of adversity, which makes it ideal for organizations charged with helping people make changes that can improve their lives; the act of giving someone more confidence, making them feel strong and powerful.
“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who Empower others.” (Bill Gates)
https://youth.gov >civic-engagement-and-volunteering
