• Civil Society and Governance
  • Civil Society and Governance Overview
  • Institutional Capacity Building
  • Civic Education
  • Citizen Participation
  • Advocacy
  • Democratic Governance
  • Grants Solicitation and Management Capacity
  • Women's and Minority Rights
  • Disenfranchised Groups
• Education
  • Education Overview
  • Basic Education
  • Higher Education
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
  • Education for Vulnerable Groups
• HIV/AIDS
  • HIV/AIDS Overview
  • HIV/AIDS Prevention
  • Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
  • Grants Solicitation and Management Capacity
  • Institutional Capacity Building
• International Visitors Exchanges
  • International Professional, Academic, and Cultural Exchanges Overview
  • Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Exchanges
  • Professional Exchanges
  • Youth Exchanges
• Capacity Development and Training
  • Capacity Development and Training Overview
  • Participant Training
  • Institutional Capacity Building
  • Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Exchanges
  • Grant Solicitation and Management Capacity
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Civil Society and Governance

Citizen Participation

Citizen participation is the process of organizing and motivating stakeholders to take action for a common purpose. It strengthens advocacy efforts by connecting political coalition building with community action. Empowering individuals or communities to take direct control over their environment so that innovations are not seen as externally imposed, is central to social mobilization. The process of empowering individuals and communities also builds norms of reciprocity among actors that become internalized values retained after the campaign.

World Learning works through the leadership structures of formal and informal social organizations involving youth, women, local councilors, village leaders, religious leaders, and others. By working through an inclusive network which reflects the voices of marginalized groups World Learning provides them with the skills required in democratic governance. Citizens acquire new knowledge, awareness and skills to better engage with communities and government. Community-led programs are borne out of thorough deliberation with all stakeholders during needs assessment meetings and workshops. The involvement of a broad spectrum of stakeholders throughout the pre-implementation and during implementation phases often creates a sense of ownership and partnership for concrete actions and sustainability.