What is Democracy?

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Short description

This is a short and interactive activity where participants will work together to develop their own group definition of democracy.

Aims & Objectives

  • To produce a definition of what democracy is and what it means to us.

Material and equipment needed

  • Flipchart paper
  • Markers
  • Pens
  • Other: Blue Tack or equivalent

Requirements for facilitators

The intention of this activity is to establish a baseline of an understanding of Democracy therefore there is no need for any expertise in the subject.

More resources

The definition used came from a blog post from which can be found here.

Instructions

Step by step explanation

Activity 1. Developing a definition of Democracy (30 min)

  • If you have a group of more than 6 young people, divide into smaller groups.
  • Ask young people to pretend a Martian has arrived in their local community, the Martian has never heard of the word ‘Democracy’.
  • Ask young people to discuss and consider how they would explain what democracy is.
  • From this discussion agree on a sentence or short paragraph and write this down on flipchart paper.
  • Nominate someone to present from each group.
  • Once all definitions have been collected and collectively discussed, present them with this definition.

Democracy means everyone should have an equal voice regardless of who they are or where they come from; the colour of their skin, amount of money they have and their status in society. Everyone has a voice that should be equal and an equal opportunity to have their opinion heard. A successful democracy can give every individual the opportunity to make a difference in the way the future is paved. https://www.ukyouth.org/2018/04/democracy-young-people

  • Facilitator can read out the definition then lead a discussion looking at the comparisons from what the group has written with the definition
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