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programmes

democracy for all

introduction A Constitution sets out the basic laws according to which a country is governedaware and informed about HIV/AIDS	Street Law's sister project, Democracy for All (DFA), was established in 1994 in anticipation of the transition to democratic government. DFA's most important aim is to promote and nurture a culture of democracy and human rights and as such, is a component of the South African Street Law programme. The overall objective of Democracy for All is to provide all people with an understanding of the principles of democracy and how a democracy functions. The primary objectives are: to establish a high level of awareness for the principles and functions of democracy; to educate people about democracy and how government works in a democratic society; to foster justice, tolerance and fairness in a democratic society and through education and training workshops to develop basic skills, such as critical thinking and reasoning, communication and problem-solving. Our programme is aimed at everyone: young people, adults, students, teachers and the general public. Over the years, DFA has informed thousands of South Africans from all different walks of life. This has contributed to the introduction of a more democratic and tolerant culture - a culture which treats everyone as equal. Street Law functions from the cities of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal and Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. Democracy for All is therefore part of the programme in these provinces. However, as a result of years of being a national project, DFA has trained facilitators throughout the country.
education	Understanding democracy means that one develops a willingness and ability to resolve disputes and differences without resorting to violence. Basic skills, including the ability to reason, think critically, communicate effectively, and solve problems are other characteristics developed by the programme. The programme uses a variety of learner-centered activities including role-plays, simulations, small-group discussions, opinion polls and debates to bring the practice of democracy alive.
learning methods	Two education manuals (a Student Workbook and an Instructor's Guide) form the basis of the Democracy for All programme. The books provide an understanding of the fundamental principles and values underlying democracy and promote awareness of current issues and controversies relating to democracy. DFA has also produced Learner Support Materials for Curriculum 2005 with Juta. These are used for the Human and Social Sciences learning area and have been written for Grade 7 and Grade 8 learners.
democracy challenge game	A game and interactive poster has also been developed to extend the participatory learning methods used by Democracy for All. The game involves players in debates and stimulates discussion on the key concepts of democracy. The game is being extensively used throughout South Africa, with learners, university students, community groups, adult learners and educators.
networking for the future	To extend the impact of civic education DFA is contributing to the inclusion of democracy education in the formal curriculum in primary and high schools, as well as in tertiary education. The Democracy for All programme is a founding member of the National Forum for Demoracy and Human Rights Education (NFDHRE), a network of Civil Society Organisations, statutory institutions and education organisations. The objectives of the NFDHRE are: to provide a national platform for all NGOs, statutory institutions, government departments, providers and other structures involved in democracy and human rights education, for the purpose of collective advocacy and the sharing of information, experience and educational material; to encourage and support the establishment of provincial forms for democracy and human rights education; to promote and support the inclusion of democracy and human rights education in the new school curriculum; to participate in and monitor the development of unit standards for democracy and human rights education in accordance with the requirements of SAQA; to promote and support democratic management in institutions of learning and the creation of safe, non-discriminatory learning environments; to promote and support democracy and human rights education amongst adults and out-of-school youth through a range of non-formal educational channels, including community-based and workplace-based initiatives; to monitor and contribute to ongoing policy developments that have an impact on democracy and human rights education; to identify specific areas of interest or need to undertake joint projects of a provincial, national and regional nature.
citizen participation	The basis of democracy is citizen participation. Central to Democracy for All is building capacity for citizenship participation in a democracy. Education, training and empowerment are key to developing citizen participation. "It is each persons' duty to inform oneself and others about democracy and the human rights values enshrined in our Constitution. The outcome of such empowerment is an effective and responsible citizenry who participate in building and sustaining a democracy society."
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