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The Vincentian Partnership facilitates workshops on Active Citizenship/Voter Education with community/adult education groups.  Training Trainers Workshops for community workers and adult education personnel are also provided.

Photographs of Participants - Preparing For The June 2009 Elections
  
 Wexford        Dublin City Council Offices         Mullhuddart Dublin     Tipperary      Dublin City Council Offices     Wicklow.pdf

 Ballyfermot.pdf       Galway.pdf

Why – an Active Citizenship/Voter Education Programme?
  • The Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice was established in 1996 to work for social and economic change tackling poverty and exclusion. The members of the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice are the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Vincentian Congregation, the Daughters of Charity and the Sisters of the Holy Faith.
  • In its work with communities in disadvantaged areas to promote justice and inclusion the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice became aware of the large number of people who do not vote. Many of these people are alienated from society and the democratic process and their number is increasing as can be seen in the national trends for General Election.
National Trends for General Elections (1969 – 2007)
1969 1977 1987 1989 1992 1997 2002 2007
76% 75.66%
72.69% 67.66%
67.46% 65.26%
62.05% 66.71%

Non Voters – The Experience of the Vincentian Partnership

From their experience of working with over 800 groups in disadvantaged communities during the past 12 years the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice noted:

  • Many people choose not to vote because they believe their vote/voice has no value.
  • A large number of people who do not vote said they abstain because they do not know how to complete a Ballot Sheet or how to register as a voter.
  • Considerable proportions of non-voters are intimidated by language and the presentation of politicians and candidates.
  • There is very little effort being made by social and political leaders in Ireland today to recognise, understand and respond to this decreased participation in the democratic process.

Voter Education – Active Citizenship Programme

To achieve a more inclusive and just society it is necessary for all the citizens to appreciate the power of their vote, to participate in the democratic electoral process and to engage in civil society. It was with this in mind that the V.P.S.J. undertook to promote a Voter Education – Active Citizenship Programme.


What is the Programme?

The programme was developed by NETWORK, Washington and the material adapted with permission by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice for the Irish situation in 1997

The content and process reflect the approach to adult education by Paulo Freire and Jan Vellas

The content of the programme is presented in a manual and a set of charts, which are available from the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice at a non-profit basis.

The process involves 3 or 4 facilitated workshops. Each workshop deals with a Unit of the content/material.
  • Unit I Explores with people the reasons to vote and demonstrates how to register and how to vote.
  • Unit II considers ways of taking an informed stance on important issues facing people today.
  • Unit III outlines a process for evaluating election manifestos in the light of a more just society and presents an approach to choosing candidates on an informed basis.
The Programme Process:
  • Is 85% participation and 15% presentation
  • Is strictly non party-political
  • Has been used with positive results with a wide variety of groups numbering (800 +)
  • Can be adapted time wise and number wise to suit the needs of different groups

Has encouraged people to:
  • believe in their power to influence what is happening in their country
  • participate in the life of their local communities
  • use their civil right to vote in all elections

Offers a learning process that is enjoyable, informative and interesting

Is also available as a training for trainers workshop

General, Local and European Elections
Units I, II and III as described above are focused on preparation for General Elections. The Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice has prepared 2 additional units, Units IV and V, which focus on European and Local Elections.

Training Trainer Workshops
The aim of these workshops is to give community workers and adult education personnel an opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and confidence to facilitate active citizenship/voter education programmes in relation to National, E.U. and Local Government Elections and the After and Between Elections period.

After and Between Elections
In response to requests to provide workshops material which would encourage ongoing engagement with the democratic process the V.P.S.J. had developed the following -  
  • After the Elections
  • How we Are Governed
  • Working for Policy Change at Local Level
  • Your Community – Your Role - Working for the Public Good
Further Details are available from the-

The Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice
Ozanam House
53 Mountjoy Square
Gardiner Street
Dublin 1
Telephone:  01 8780425  Fax:  01 8780423

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Websites: www.vpsj.ie  www.vote.ie