Strengthening Civil Society via Education

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TITLE: Strengthening Civil Society Via Education

TIME: 8:30 – 11:00am

ORGANIZER: Globalverkstan- International Project Management for Social Movements and NGOs

NO. OF PARTICIPANTS

Male: 22

Female: 20

Total: 42

KEY SPEAKERS:

Heunig Mibler (Namibia)

Alfred Mizuake (South African Youth Movement)

Dr. Willy Mutunga (Ford Foundation and Human Rights Association, Kenya)

SUMMARY

The fight against a repressive regime can result in the challenge of retaining the features of the repressive regime through the liberators who are well versed in what they ought to replace. Civil rights movements are supposed to articulate different postulates by bringing in a counter opinion. A counter opinion is built through education because education provides dignity, a means of articulation, self-respect and empowerment to speak out.

Education: Strengthens the capacity of civil society as it brings diversity. Thus, it is important to mainstream education for a long-term.

There are many challenges, however. Authoritarian regimes use education to continue to perpetuate the system. Thus, education ought to be liberalized to permit curiosity.

The other challenge is that at times participation in civil society, especially in Africa can only be achieved after achieving basic rights such as food, water, shelter, etc.

Some civil society organizations are not democratic themselves and political leaders in Africa, very rightly at times, ask whether civil societies are democratic. Many civil society organizations have been accused of corruption and lack of accountability.

REMARKS

A very lively discussion that needed more representatives from the civil society organizations from Kenya, but none apart from Dr. Mutunga were there.

Documentalist:

Fred Kachero