Defining Empowerment
To empower is to give one the power and encouragement to act on behalf of themselves, regardless of perceived limitations such as age, race, gender, or socioeconomic status. In regards to children, empowerment means letting them make decisions, supporting their growth, and allowing them to be individuals.
Why is it important to empower children?
It is important for children to feel empowered because it allows for proper psychological development and is also linked to having a positive self-image. By empowering children, we are saying that it is okay to be you and to stick up for yourself. Empowered children are more likely to be able to solve their own problems, thus they become stronger individuals and a stronger part of society.
Teaching Empowerment
The next step is determining how to teach empowerment to children. How do you teach a child to have self-confidence, autonomy, or critical thinking? Here are some steps to help guide you through the process:
• build trust with the child
• recognize the child’s contributions and ideas
• promote critical thinking by asking questions
• help the child develop goals
• recognize the child’s successes verbally and provide a reward if possible
One of the most important factors is just to make sure the child is heard and then to validate their opinion. By doing so, you will increase their confidence and reassure them that they are a valid part of your community, family, class, etc…
To empower is to give one the power and encouragement to act on behalf of themselves, regardless of perceived limitations such as age, race, gender, or socioeconomic status. In regards to children, empowerment means letting them make decisions, supporting their growth, and allowing them to be individuals.
Why is it important to empower children?
It is important for children to feel empowered because it allows for proper psychological development and is also linked to having a positive self-image. By empowering children, we are saying that it is okay to be you and to stick up for yourself. Empowered children are more likely to be able to solve their own problems, thus they become stronger individuals and a stronger part of society.
Teaching Empowerment
The next step is determining how to teach empowerment to children. How do you teach a child to have self-confidence, autonomy, or critical thinking? Here are some steps to help guide you through the process:
• build trust with the child
• recognize the child’s contributions and ideas
• promote critical thinking by asking questions
• help the child develop goals
• recognize the child’s successes verbally and provide a reward if possible
One of the most important factors is just to make sure the child is heard and then to validate their opinion. By doing so, you will increase their confidence and reassure them that they are a valid part of your community, family, class, etc…
Empowerment in Africa
Empowerment is an important aspect of life in Africa, especially when it comes to women and girls. Women not only take care of house and child-rearing duties, but women are also largely involved in politics with over half of Rwanda’s parliament being women making Rwanda the first country to have a female dominated House.
Additionally, Rwanda is working hard to ensure that girls receive a proper education, paying special attention to science and technology classes. Several groups are collaborating to create a healthy program where girls receive mentorship and are taught empowerment skills. Girls are becoming more and more important within their community and The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is helping promote a better quality of education to encourage success. It is important that women and girls stick together and empower each other to be successful in the area they wish.
References
African gender activists applaud female dominated parliament. (2008, September 19). Retrieved November 16, 2008, from rwandagateway: http://www.rwandagateway.org/article.php3?id_article=9967
Cox, A. (2008, August 19). Ten Steps to Empowerment. Retrieved November 16, 2008, from ArticlesBase: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/ten-steps-to-empowerment-528301.html
Derman-Sparks, L. (1993). Empowering Children to Create a Caring Culture in a World of Differences. Childhood Education , 70.
Kembaga, M. (2008, November 16). Women leaders have proved cynics wrong. Retrieved November 16, 2008, from NewTimes: http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13716&article=2364
Kolars, C. (n.d.). Seven Stepts to Empowerment. Retrieved November 16, 2008, from EmpoweredCoaching: http://empoweredcoaching.net/_wsn/page2.html
Kwinjeh, G. (2008, October 17). Women’s liberation - Nationalism versus Social Liberation. Retrieved November 16, 2008, from rwandagateway: http://www.rwandagateway.org/article.php3?id_article=10082
Additionally, Rwanda is working hard to ensure that girls receive a proper education, paying special attention to science and technology classes. Several groups are collaborating to create a healthy program where girls receive mentorship and are taught empowerment skills. Girls are becoming more and more important within their community and The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is helping promote a better quality of education to encourage success. It is important that women and girls stick together and empower each other to be successful in the area they wish.
References
African gender activists applaud female dominated parliament. (2008, September 19). Retrieved November 16, 2008, from rwandagateway: http://www.rwandagateway.org/article.php3?id_article=9967
Cox, A. (2008, August 19). Ten Steps to Empowerment. Retrieved November 16, 2008, from ArticlesBase: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/ten-steps-to-empowerment-528301.html
Derman-Sparks, L. (1993). Empowering Children to Create a Caring Culture in a World of Differences. Childhood Education , 70.
Kembaga, M. (2008, November 16). Women leaders have proved cynics wrong. Retrieved November 16, 2008, from NewTimes: http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13716&article=2364
Kolars, C. (n.d.). Seven Stepts to Empowerment. Retrieved November 16, 2008, from EmpoweredCoaching: http://empoweredcoaching.net/_wsn/page2.html
Kwinjeh, G. (2008, October 17). Women’s liberation - Nationalism versus Social Liberation. Retrieved November 16, 2008, from rwandagateway: http://www.rwandagateway.org/article.php3?id_article=10082
