Empowerment

Common card · No. 369406

Empowerment is the degree of autonomy and self-determination people and communities have. This enables them to represent their interests responsibly and self-determinedly, acting under their own authority. It is the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights. Empowerment as action refers both to the process of self-empowerment and to professional support of people, which enables them to overcome their sense of powerlessness and lack of influence, and to recognize and use their resources. As a term, empowerment originates from American community psychology and is associated with the social scientist Julian Rappaport (1981). In social work, empowerment forms a practical approach to resource-oriented intervention. In citizenship and democratic education, empowerment is seen as a tool to increase citizens' responsibility. Empowerment is a key concept in the discourse on promoting civic engagement. Empowerment, as a concept...

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