Einladung zum Vortrag von Angelika Krüger (29.11.2017)

Active Citizenship for Social Change – The Role of Youth and Community Empowerment in the Process of Developing an Inclusive Europe Exclusion of vulnerable citizens, in particular of young people with fewer opportunities, is a growing problem in European countries and globally. The policies of how to manage diversity to support the potential and contribution of people of all backgrounds, specifically young people, will determine the future of Europe. What we already know is that without active engagement and participation of responsible citizens and communities, in particular of young people, as drivers of positive change, democracy cannot flourish and sustainable development cannot be advanced.

How can we respond and how can we combat and counteract exclusion and work towards building inclusive communities and an inclusive Europe? How can we contribute to supporting active engagement and participation of responsible citizens, in particular of young people, to be empowered to contribute to bringing about social change based on respect for human dignity, equality, solidarity and freedom?

In response to these complex questions, the empowerment approach - its origins, present definitions and different levels - will be presented as one promising approach and process to counteract and work towards overcoming exclusion. This will be followed by the presentation of The Youth Empowerment Partnership Programme (YEPP) and the resource agency – YEPP Europe as one example of best practice in Europe that illustrates the role that youth and community empowerment can play.

Angelika Krüger ist Diplom-Pädagogin und seit 1972 im Bereich von Bildungsreformen im vorschulischen, schulischen und außerschulischen Bereich und als Wiss. Mitarbeiterin in der Lehrerbildung an der FU Berlin und in der Forschung in den Bereichen Community Development und Community Education, Youth Empowerment und weiteren Innovationen im Bildungs- und Kulturbereich in Europa und den USA tätig. Sie ist u.a. Direktorin des internationalen Projektes „Youth Empowerment Partnership Programme“ (YEPP) (2001-2011) sowie Mitbegründerin und Beraterin der Folgeeinrichtung YEPP Europe am ICE.