Active Citizenship Training (ACT) for Youth
Chronicle of “Active Citizenship Training (ACT) for Youth”, Summer 2003
During the summer of 2003, CES delivered a special program for the youth participants of the SUCCESS Youth Leadership Millennium (YLM) Program. The program, ACT for Youth, was designed to introduce the youth to the concept of “active citizenship” through a series of interactive learning activities, including workshops, interviews, presentations, and reports.
The youth participants learned from a simulation game, where they role played as selection panelists to choose the winner of an Annual Active Citizenship Award. They were responsible for establishing the criteria for assessing the nominees, compiling profiles of the nominees (through face-to-face interviews), presenting the profiles to the whole panel, and eventually voting democratically to determine the final winner.
The nominees were active citizens who have had much contribution in their fields of interests and commitment. About 40 youth participants were divided into work teams of 3-4 members each (with the support of team coaches and SUCCESS youth leaders), responsible for planning and conducting the nominee interviews, and presenting nominee profiles to the whole group. In the end, each participant had the opportunity to cast a vote to determine the final winner.
This program has since become a regular CES project. Many youth have benefited from participating. If you are interested in finding out more about when the program will be offered, please contact us.
August 1, 2003, Workshop: Introduction to Active Citizenship
Facilitators: Michael Yue, Meena Wong, and Stephen Liu
The participants were introduced to the learning objectives and activities of the program, the facilitators and other program assistants (team coaches and SUCCESS youth leaders). They had the opportunity to discuss the meaning of active citizenship and start developing the nominee interview questions.
August 3, 2003, Workshop: Learning Interview Skills
Facilitators: Michael Yue, Meena Wong, and Stephen Liu
Guest Speaker: Winnie Hwo, Fairchild TV
A reputable news expert, Winnie Hwo from Fairchild TV, was invited to speak on the topic of journalistic interviews. After her talk, the participants worked in their own teams to finalize the nominee interview questions. They were also briefed on the importance of interview logistics.
August 4-21, 2003: Interviewing the nominees and preparing for the final presentations
Team coaches: Virginia Chiu, Philip Fung, Sophia Liu, Kenneth Tung, and Mabel Tung (with the assistance of SUCCESS youth leaders)
Each work team was responsible for contacting the nominee, arranging for and conducting the interview, and preparing a presentation of the nominee profile in front of the whole group. The team coaches provided guidance and support during this stage.
August 22, 2002: Final Presentation of Nominee Profiles
Facilitators: Michael Yue and Meena Wong
Some team coaches were present
Team presentations were delivered and the winner of the Annual Active Citizen Award was chosen through secret balloting.
September 1, 2003: Submission of Nominee Profile Write-Up
Each team was responsible for writing up its nominee profile and submitted it to the program coordinator. Click here to see a submitted profile that was reviewed and approved by the nominee. (The profile is in Adobe Acrobat format.)
Acknowledgement
ACT for Youth would not have been possible without the generous support from the interviewees, who have taken time out of their busy schedule to share their civic participation experience with the youth. Special thanks go to Shashi Assassnand, Lois Carson Boyce, John Cheng, Jennifer Larsen, Reggie Ho, Mason Loh, Annie McKitrick, Penny Pedersen and Ann Takagi. We would also like to thank Winnie Hwo of Fairchild TV to be our guest speaker, sharing her journalistic experience with the youth.
The commitment and support of the workshop facilitators, team coaches, SUCCESS youth leaders, and SUCCESS staff made the program a successful project. The positive learning attitude of the youth participants was most appreciated, in light of other learning objectives that they had to fulfill in the Youth Leadership Millennium Program. It has been a positive learning experience for everyone involved.
