World Movement for Democracy - What's Being Done On . . .

What's Being Done On . . . Civic Education for Democracy ?

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Teaching Civic Education In School and Out

Online Publications

Links to Civic Education Groups

Democracy Education in Difficult Cultural and Political Environments

Interview with David McQuoid-Mason, member of the Faculty of Law at the University of Natal in South Africa, and participant in the World Movement

Interview with Cynthia Gabriel, Executive Director of Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), and participant in the World Movement

World Movement Participants Database - Search for more information about groups working on democracy and civic education.

The August/September 2003 theme is Civic Education for Democracy. This issue highlights projects and organizations around the world whose work reflects the important connections between democracy and civic education. We have focused on groups working at the local, regional, and international levels to advance democracy through civic education. The issue has been divided into two sections: Teaching Civic Education In School and Out, and Democracy Education in Difficult Cultural and Political Environments found under the menu to the right. Projects and organizations presented are illustrative examples that democracy activists, practitioners, and educators might consider as they develop their own initiatives.

Please send us information on work your organization may be doing on civic education, so we can consider adding it to the list of projects and organizations. Please send the information via email the or by fax to +1-202-293-0755.

Special sections of this issue feature interviews with two World Movement participants: David McQuoid-Mason, member of the Faculty of Law at the University of Natal in South Africa, and Cynthia Gabriel, Executive Director of the Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).

This issue also contains an extensive list of Online Publications, including journals, resource pages, and articles organized by region.

The importance of civic education was discussed during the World Movement's Second Assembly in Sao Paulo in November 2000. The Foundation for Education for Democracy (Poland) and CIVITAS International organized a workshop entitled "Democracy Education in Challenging Political and Cultural Environments." Participants in the workshop discussed common challenges to civic education, and recommended that an international forum for educators be established to share strategies and teaching materials; that national and international media networks provide education about democracy; that training seminars for young democrats be conducted; and that democracy educators facing persecution and other dangers be protected and defended. During a second workshop, "Education for Democracy-Democracy for Education," organized by CIVITAS International, participants from various countries exchanged experiences and ideas on their work teaching democracy. They discussed the importance of civic education in emerging and established democracies, the need to make civic education available for both students and adult citizens, the value of long-term commitments to civic education, and the methodology required to cultivate the skills, values, and knowledge to motivate and inspire citizens.

We encourage you to review the workshop reports by visiting: www.wmd.org/second_assembly/topical/w-t16.html and
www.wmd.org/second_assembly/functional/w-f7.html.

About "What's Being Done On . . . "

For three months at a time, we highlight the activities of various organizations in different global regions, and links to important resources, that are focused on a particular theme or area of democracy work. Each new theme is announced via DemocracyNews, and the information from the previous installment is placed in the archives below. We hope to receive and post information about the work you or others may be doing that is focused on these issues. Send information via e-mail to the or by fax to (202) 378-9889.