Global Xchange: In Depth
Learning about Active Global Citizenship
Active global citizenship is at the heart of this programme and it is part of our aim "to develop and inspire global citizens who will create positive change and build mutual understanding and respect between different people".
We define active global citizens as individuals who learn from the experience of others around the world, have an awareness of issues facing all countries, and who put that learning into action.
In consultation with past volunteers and Oxfam we have developed the Global Citizenship Framework (GCF).
Global citizenship framework (GCF)
The GCF serves as a guide for your learning in the five key areas that are the focus of the programme:
- Poverty and Inequality
- Diversity
- Community Development
- Volunteering
- Social Action
In addition to the GCF, the programme has developed a Global Citizenship Pack (GCP) and a set of extension cards to assist volunteers in understanding these five key areas.
Poverty and Inequality
Exploring poverty, inequality and their causes
Possible mini-topics:
- What is poverty?
- How do we measure poverty?
- What causes poverty?
- Are poverty and inequality due to past events?
- Globalisation
- Who has the power to reduce poverty and bring about equality?
Diversity
Exploring diversity: how communities live with difference and what we think about difference
Possible mini-topics:
- Identity
- Gender
- Sexual orientation
- Religion and belief systems
- Socio-economic status
- Ethnicity and race
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Ways of living with different cultures
Community Development
Exploring communities: how they change and who controls this change
Possible mini-topics:
- What is a community? How do different organisations fit into them?
- Sustainability
- Social inclusion
- Community cohesion
- Participation
- Community change
Volunteering
Exploring why people volunteer and how we can get involved
Possible mini-topics:
- Different ideas of volunteering from around the globe. What is a good volunteer and what is a good placement?
- What benefits does volunteering bring to you, and the community?
- The voluntary sector: what is it and what does it do?
Social Action
Support and increase your motivation and ability to bring about change, and self-belief that you can do anything
Possible mini-topics:
- Advocacy
- Social responsibility
- Democracy
- Human rights
- What can you do as a global citizen?
To ensure that you develop a broad understanding of Global Citizenship, Global Xchange would strongly recommend that you focus on a minimum of two mini-topics from each of the five key framework areas. So by the end of the programme you should have covered at least ten mini-topics.
For each mini-topic it is recommended that you record your thoughts, findings and reflections in a learning journal, as this will help you remember something later and hopefully stimulate thought.
Throughout the programme you will have regular supervisions/one-to-ones with your Programme Supervisor. As part of these supervisions, your Programme Supervisor will ask questions about what you have learned around Global Citizenship linked to the GCF. If at the end of the programme the Programme Supervisor is happy that you have learned something around the GCF you will be issued with a Certificate of Global Citizenship recognised by the British Council, Oxfam, VSO and other Global Xchange partners. Supervisions with your Programme Supervisor will also form part of the basis of the reference that the Programme Supervisor writes for you.