An engaged citizen is a leader for life. Leadership and citizen values are indispensable to each other. And the Citizen Awareness Programme (CAP) helps awaken the innate need in people to lead and participate in the public sphere.  The program illustrates the ways to effectively engage with urban administration and address civic issues. Active citizenship helps people to act on their ideas, translate entrepreneurial   desire and become leaders. 

Citizen Awareness Program (CAP) is a methodical exercise that works towards developing an understanding of lasting solutions to everyday urban public problems. It one-day programme is facilitated by trained professionals. Mechanisms of role-play, simulated situations, and catchy analogies are used to help participants uncover legitimate and potentially efficient ways to resolve urban challenges, and to improve the quality of life. Participants learn about the structure of the union, state and local governments, the structure of service providers, strengths and opportunities in our democratic structures.    CAP also introduces tools and methods that enable individuals to contribute to the quality of life in their own community. The participan ts become part of a growing network of committed citizens who feel a sense of ownership in their city and are empowered to shape its future.

Leading organizations like Dell, MindTree, Wipro, 24/7, Accenture, NVIDIA and Cross Domain have chosen the Citizen Awareness Programme as part of their training palette. Vivek Mansingh, Country Manager & Director, Dell India R&D Center, speaking about CAP at Dell says, "This was a terrific training programme. The sessions were interspersed with role plays, games and quizzes, making it very lively and extremely informative. We learned a lot and are better prepared to participate in the democratic institutions of our country. We were very fortunate to host the first CAP session. The session would help not only in producing better citizens but also better Dell employees. I would highly recommend it to all the companies. The programme is very inspiring indeed!"

Clearly, organizations in their search for sourcing and retaining good talent are focused on leadership qualities. An exercise like CAP initiates leadership related skills of communication, problem-solving, collaboration, working with heterogeneous groups, sense of ownership and participation in decision-making.   And as citizens become leaders in their community, the same values permeate their workplace too.  And CAP's ability to initiate leadership skills is best expressed in the words of Shahnawaz Khan a participant and associate from MindTree "Excellent Day, probably the best Saturday of my life. I know now that I have to participate in the decision making process that governs every aspect of my life".

The Citizen Awareness Programme is more than just a one-day, one-off exercise. It is a life-long engagement in accomplishing our mutual dream of a better democracy through engaged citizenship.

Janaagraha (http://www.janaagraha.org/) works with citizens and their governments to improve the quality of life in our cities and towns. CAP is a core initiative of Janaagraha.

Organizations interested in the Citizen Awareness Programme may contact:

Sapna Karim - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  - 080-4127-7103

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