The AFS Framework for Active Global Citizenship

AFS defines active global citizens as people whose informed, compassionate, and ethical compass drives them to lead lives and make decisions that contribute to a more just, peaceful and sustainable world. The key characteristics of this definition build on the longstanding AFS educational approach and serve as core guiding principles in the development and implementation of all our educational programs.

Four dimensions of active global citizenship

Becoming an active global citizen takes a lifetime of practice. Global citizenship education is about helping individuals to gain or increase their ability in four areas of development crucial for active global citizenship:

Value & belong to a global world:

Active global citizens know themselves and see themselves as belonging to an inter-connected world for which they care, responsibly committing to uphold values of human dignity and shared responsibility. For example, they are able to:

1. Value and appreciate our common humanity.
2. Value and appreciate our planet.
3. Understand the self and their own identities.
4. Understand how they themselves are influenced by multiple relationships and cultures.
5. Value human dignity.
6. Value difference and commonality across individuals and communities.

Inquire critically about the world beyond immediate environments:

Active global citizens inquire critically about local, global and intercultural issues beyond their immediate environments, showing curiosity to manage information from reliable sources and being critical of how information is used. For example, they are able to:

1. Ask relevant questions to understand the world, including local and global issues.
2. Recognize the interconnectedness of local, national and global issues, structures and processes.
3. Find and analyze information from across broad sources.
4. Reason with evidence.
5. Commit to seeking well-founded insights.
6. Demonstrate critical media literacy, being alert to fake news and misuse of digital tools.
7. Recognize that knowledge is provisional and subject to bias.

Understand and relate to others across differences:

Active global citizens engage in understanding and relating to others across differences, being able to take perspective with empathy and compassion, and committing to dialogue and respect. For example, they are able to:

1. Recognize how beliefs, values, life experiences, levels of privilege and opportunity influence their own and other's views.
2. Seek to understand others’ perspectives across differences and respond to others with care and solidarity.
3. Build relationships based on respect and civil dialogue, irrespective of cultural differences.
4. Recognize others’ emotional states.
5. Understand socially appropriate verbal and non-verbal communicative norms.
6. Understand the effects that different communication styles can have on other people.
7. Understand how every language expresses culturally shared meanings in unique ways.

Take action toward collective well-being:

Active global citizens are committed to taking action, considering local and global challenges, and oftentimes working with others, to put into practice informed, ethical, and reflective actions (from small personal ones to collective community-level ones) that contribute toward a more just, peaceful and sustainable world. For example, they are able to:

1. Believe in their own ability to make a difference in the world to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals agenda.
2. Be sensitive to opportunities for engagement as citizens to contribute at local, national, and global levels.
3. Seek to understand and find inspiration in actions taken by others in the past.
4. Cooperate with others in actions to achieve collective goals.
5. Show resilience and care for self and others to overcome obstacles in the face of challenges in the process of taking action.
6. Seek different approaches to achieve particular goals – for example, using voice and influence to raise awareness, change practices, change cultural norms, and change policy.
7. Commit to values of peace, justice, fairness, and sustainability in any action taken.