For nearly 25 years, Action Education Suisse has been working to ensure that every person we support has the opportunity to learn about their rights, understand their responsibilities and find their place in society through education. In addition to access to schooling, we have a strong conviction: education for citizenship must enable everyone to become an enlightened citizen, capable of thinking, expressing themselves and acting responsibly.

In a world marked by multiple crises (climatic, social, economic and political), citizenship education is no longer an option. It is an essential lever for building fairer, more inclusive, peaceful and sustainable societies.

What is citizenship education?

Education for citizenship begins at a very young age and is built up throughout life, through :

• informal settings: within the family, the community, peer groups ;
• formal settings: at school and in education systems, from childhood to adulthood.

It goes far beyond the transmission of theoretical knowledge. It enables children and young people to develop :

• knowledge (human rights, institutions, social and environmental issues),
• skills (dialogue, debate, cooperation, problem-solving),
• attitudes and values (respect, solidarity, sense of responsibility, critical thinking).

The aim is clear: to enable everyone to play an active, informed and responsible part in society, at local, national and global level.

The three pillars of citizenship education

The UNESCO and Council of Europe reference frameworks define citizenship education as a global process based on three complementary dimensions.

1. The cognitive dimension

It concerns the acquisition of knowledge and the development of critical analysis. Children and young people learn to understand their rights and duties, learn about political and legal systems, grasp social, environmental and economic issues, and take a critical look at information, the media and discourse.

In a world saturated with information and disinformation, this ability to question and analyse is essential.

2. The socio-affective dimension

This dimension refers to human values and relationships. Citizenship education aims to promote respect for human dignity, empathy, solidarity and a sense of belonging to a community, whether local, national or global.

It is an essential foundation for recognising others as equals, regardless of their differences.

3. The behavioural dimension

It is about the ability to take action. Children and young people learn to cooperate, to get involved in collective projects, to make decisions and to act for the common good. Citizenship is more than just knowledge: it is lived, experienced and practised.

Children's participation: a fundamental right

Education for citizenship is inseparable from a fundamental principle: the right of children to express themselves and to be heard. Article 12 of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) stipulates that :

«States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.»

This right is not limited to major political decisions. It also applies to everyday life, at school, in the family and in the community. Recognising children's voices means recognising their dignity and their ability to contribute fully to society.

What's the situation in Switzerland?

In Switzerland, there are a number of schemes and practices designed to encourage the participation of children and young people, in a context characterised by federalism and direct democracy.

At local and cantonal level, there are :

• Youth Councils and Parliaments enable young people to debate issues that concern them and put forward practical proposals; ;
• participative approaches in schools, encouraging pupils to express themselves and get involved in school life.

At national level, there are :

• The Federal Youth Session, organised every year under the aegis of the Swiss Parliament, gives hundreds of young people aged 14 to 21 a forum for debating social issues and voicing their demands to the political authorities.
• Education for citizenship and international solidarity (ECSI), which is also playing a growing role in educational practices and associations in Switzerland. It raises young people's awareness of human rights, global inequalities and sustainable development issues, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Action Education Switzerland is fully involved in this dynamic through its awareness-raising and civic engagement activities at the Read-A-Thon.

And around the world?

Global Citizenship Education (GCED) is recognised as a pillar of the’United Nations 2030 Agenda, through target 4.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals. Coordinated by UNESCO, this approach aims to train citizens capable of understanding global interdependencies, promoting peace, human rights and social justice, and taking action for sustainable development.

The UNESCO Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development, updated in 2023, is now a reference framework for countries around the world.

Action Education Switzerland's approach: making children agents of change

At Action Education Switzerland, we don't just work with children, we work with them. In the schools we work with, we set up school governments.
These bodies enable students to take on responsibilities (chair, secretaries, committee chairs, etc.) and make a real contribution to the life of their school. Depending on their role, they may :

• carry the voice of their peers, both in and out of school,
• identify priorities in terms of rights and citizenship,
• propose and implement actions,
• dialogue with educational teams, families and local authorities.

These school governments empower children, both at school and in their communities.

As part of the «Alternatives to climate change» project, carried out in ten schools in Saint-Louis, these bodies have become veritable climate clubs. In 2025, with the support of the municipality and technical partners, the pupils have :

• improved environmental management at their school,
• campaigns to reforest the coastline,
• created nurseries,
• participated in the development of income-generating activities.

These initiatives are helping to establish a lasting civic and ecological culture among young people.

How can we increase children's participation?

Our commitment is not limited to field projects. We also carry out advocacy work to ensure that children's right to participation is fully recognised and applied. As a member of several networks and groups of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Action Education Switzerland conveys common messages to political decision-makers, both in Switzerland and internationally, to ensure that children's rights are made more effective. At Action Education Switzerland, we are convinced that children and young people are not only the citizens of tomorrow: they are already the citizens of today. Giving them a voice strengthens democracy, justice and peace.