The workshop will be useful with different target groups to explain some key concepts on good citizenship and to foster a debate on some positive behaviour to have in the local communities.
The trainer asks the learners some questions:
The trainer explains some concepts and definitions related to citizenship.
Specifically, s/he starts with the evolution of the idea of "citizenship" from ancient times to the present.
Definition: In ancient times, citizenship meant inclusion in a city, and only a limited proportion of the city's inhabitants could achieve this status. Slaves and foreigners were not eligible for citizenship. Today, citizenship refers to membership of a nation-state, which can be acquired either by birthright or by following certain legal procedures (such as immigrating from one state to another).
The trainer divides the participants into two groups and assigns a time of 6 minutes. Each group is given a flipchart and markers and a group representative is chosen.
Group 1: Write down the most important rights of a citizen.
Group 2: Write down the most important duties of a citizen.
At the end of the time, the two group representatives will present the group's results, they will have 3 minutes each. Participants from the other group and the teacher can add other ideas.
The teacher draws a table with two columns:
Good citizen
Bad citizen
He/she opens a debate and gives some actions that the learners have to decide in which column to write.
Here are some examples of actions: pay taxes, be irresponsible, respect the rule of law, damage the city's property, participate in political life, be selfish, take care of public spaces, vote, disrespect authority, be patriotic, be socially committed.
Other actions can be added by the trainer or by the participants during the discussion.