Better shaping citizenship education

We are not born citizens, we become ones. Since Tuesday, the Department of Education and Vocational Training has been launching the 2nd edition of Citizenship Week in all Vaud training centers. An event which aims to “give students the desire and the means to get involved in subjects that are dear to them and to make students aware of their rights and duties”.

Although school provides an essential academic foundation and teaches the theoretical principles of citizenship, extracurricular youth activities offer considerable potential for concrete experiences and practical opportunities! But they are not often highlighted through this citizen dimension.

However, by taking on responsibilities in supervising children and young people during holiday camps, by participating in debates within Youth Councils or by devoting all their Saturday afternoons as patrol leaders to scouts, regardless of the associative structure, young people acquire irreplaceable social and personal skills. Others set up artistic, sporting or community projects and all these young people emerge from it, learning to organize themselves, manage a budget, communicate and find solutions. By actively participating in projects, young people also develop their autonomy, self-confidence and a strong sense of belonging to society. Their commitment suddenly makes sense and the words civics And altruism become more concrete than in their classroom.

Extracurricular activities therefore complement and enrich school citizenship education by offering practical experiences and personal development opportunities essential to forming active and responsible citizens. By combining the knowledge acquired at school and the practical skills developed in the field, young people are better prepared to become engaged citizens.

Support

In order to support young people in their learning of citizenship, municipalities are also invited to set up and develop participatory activities for children and young people, as is the canton which, via the General Directorate of Children and Youth youth (DGEJ), grants each year financial aid intended to support projects carried out by young people from Vaud up to the age of 25 (law on support for youth activities – LSAJ, 2024).

In the future, let’s open the doors of this Citizenship Week to the extra-curricular domain as well as to municipalities and the general public so that all stakeholders can strengthen, together, young people’s citizenship!

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