PROGRAM : We are committed to exercise our right to vote for strong Democracy
MODULE II : Democracy and Citizenship
PLACE : Chirala, Andhra Pradesh
DATES : 26th,27th&28thSeptember 2024
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS : Jesus Mary Joseph Social Service Society (JMJSSS), Vetapalem, Community Action For Rural Development Society (CARDS), Chirala, Society For Carmel Gospel Ministries (SFCGM), Machilipatnam and Kamadhenu Charitable Trust (KCT), Ongole, Andhra Pradesh.
RESOURCE PERSONS
Smt. Sai Prasanna
K.Shekar Babu
Dasari Immaniyelu
The three-day training program on Democracy and Citizenship, organized by the Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru, strongly impacted the 40young trainees. They better understood democratic governance, their rights, and responsibilities. The program encouraged discussions that enhanced their critical thinking on the role of civil society and helped them understand the differences between democracy and authoritarianism. Trainees also developed leadership skills for promoting active citizenship and they were empowered to advocate for greater public participation in governance and engage in community initiatives.
Aruna Sri said that democratic governance is understood as a system where people are given a voice in decision-making, and their rights are protected. She mentioned that, in her village, it is seen as a way to hold leaders accountable and ensure transparency using tools like the RTI Act. She said that this understanding makes her feel empowered to participate in community development and have her rights supported.
- Sirisha shared that this training encouraged her to discuss with others. She realized how important good governance is and how it impacts daily life in the village. She now feels confident to talk about these issues with others and hopes to bring positive changes by raising awareness about rights and responsibilities.
Nirmal mentioned that he learned the importance of supporting children’s education and teaching them to help others and treat everyone equally. This training made him more interested in social issues and inspired him to work for his village’s betterment.
Rambabu said the knowledge from this program has inspired him to focus on democracy and citizenship. He is particularly interested in raising awareness about voter rights and encouraging people in his village to participate in elections. He believes that active participation is key to strengthening democracy. This motivation has led him to work on educating others about their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
As a facilitator, I feel happy and inspired to see that the youth have developed a sense of responsibility towards their community. 21 Male and 19 female participants actively participated in the training.
Adv. Karuna Rao
Facilitator, Andhra Pradesh/Telangana
Social Inclusion and Democracy Unit