Children from nine primary schools presented proposals today (Thursday, 25 September 2008) on a wide range of key community issues in the Western Cape.

The children presented their proposals at a special function at York Road Primary School, Lansdowne.

The function marked the culmination of a civic education programme called Project Citizen for children in Grades 7 to 11.

The participating primary schools are: Ashton, Breërivier, Heinz Park, Hyacinth, Liebenberg, Manenberg, Strandfontein, Wespoort and York Road.

About 500 children took part in the programme. About 250 attended today's event. Topics covered included vandalism, bullying, drug abuse, xenophobia and the effect of single parenthood on education, among others.

The aim of Project Citizen is to assist young learners to understand what public policy is all about and what they can do to influence it.

The programme started in the United States and is now run in over 60 countries, including China, Russia, India, Mexico, Senegal and Ghana.

"We cannot underestimate the importance of this project," said Yousuf Gabru, MEC for Education in the Western Cape. "Thanks to this project, our young people are learning skills that hold the key to our developing democracy."

"Our future depends on a deep commitment to democratic values and a deep understanding of what democracy is all about."

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has worked with the Project Citizen organisation to implement the programme in the province, to support Life Orientation teaching on effective citizenship.

Project Citizen helps young people understand the lawmaking process and teaches them how to monitor and influence public policy. They learn democratic values and principles in the process and how to engage in participatory democracy.

Project Citizen develops critical thinking skills and an understanding of how to apply critical thinking frameworks.

Project Citizen first trains teachers on how implement the programme in their schools. Entire classes or youth organisations then work cooperatively to identify a public policy problem in their community.

They research the problem, evaluate alternative solutions, develop their own solutions in the form of a public policy, and create a political action plan to enlist local or state authorities to adopt their proposed policy.

Participants develop a portfolio of their work and present their project in a hearing showcase before a panel of civic-minded community members. The presentations provide an opportunity for children to demonstrate what they have learned. The children will receive certificates to acknowledge their participation.