Organization for Responsible Governance announces “Year of the Active Citizen”

Initiative urges Bahamians to “make the most of their votes”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Recognizing that the participation of citizens is a critical factor in good governance and a strong democracy, the Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG) announced the launch of the “Year of the Active Citizen”, during which ORG will host a series of events, activities , resources and tools across the next 12 months to encourage more Bahamians to become involved in matters of national development.

The activities will include in-person and online civic education and advocacy training sessions, online tools to support voters, daily social media activities and the introduction of new resources citizens can use to improve their experience with the government.

Encouraging individuals to “Get informed and Get Involved!”, the campaign is based on research that shows that societies benefit when a broader spectrum of its citizens participate in civic activity.

ORG Executive Director Matt Aubry said: “We want Bahamians to be able to make the most of their votes. An attentive and involved citizenry drives the government to be responsive and more effective.”

ORG Engagement Coordinator Steffon Evans added: “We need to remind The Bahamas that participation in governance is not just for those who are more affluent.

“Everyone’s voice counts and sustainable change must happen at the community level so that our cultural norms and views are reflected in our system of governance.”

The Year of Active Citizenship will create avenues for every citizen to be engaged.

ORG has created accessible and inclusionary means to ensure Bahamians from all islands and all levels of society can play a role in benefiting their communities and the nation.

The “Year of Active Citizenship” features multiple channels for individuals to participate. ORG’s virtual education platform, Freedom Schools, and online broadcast, Freedom Fridays, are accessible ways for individuals to learn about a wide range of current national issues of accountability and governance. ORG will also empower civic groups to take collective action on issues affecting the country..

ORG’s Citizen Solution Center, a revitalized online resource center for citizen engagement, will provide a pre-election kit to prepare citizens to vote, identify priorities and engage with elected leaders.

Alongside the aforementioned digital resources, ORG will also be releasing a Citizen’s Charter tool that will allow citizens to review and make recommendations for the improvement of key government services.

To encourage citizens at all levels, ORG has also crafted a membership system where the only form of payment will be microactions. These microactions will take the form of a monthly commitment to one “act of citizenship” as offered by ORG to the public each month.