29-06-2017, 12:42 PM
The term empowerment refers to measures aimed at increasing the degree of autonomy and self-determination in individuals and communities so that they can represent their interests in a responsible and self-determined manner, acting on their own authority. Empowerment as action refers both to the process of self-empowerment and to the professional support of people, which allows them to overcome their sense of helplessness and lack of influence, and recognize and use their resources.
Empowerment of the term originates from the psychology of the American community and is associated with the social scientist Julian Rappaport (1981). In social work, empowerment is a practical approach to resource-oriented intervention. In the field of citizen education and democratic education, empowerment is seen as a tool to increase citizens' accountability. Empowerment is a key concept in the discourse on promoting civic engagement. Empowerment as a concept, which is characterized by a move away from the deficit towards a more force-oriented perception, can be found more and more in management concepts, as well as in the areas of continuing education and self-help.
Empowerment is the process of obtaining basic opportunities for marginalised people, either directly by such people or through the help of non-marginalised people who share their own access to these opportunities. It also includes actively thwarting attempts to deny such opportunities. Empowerment also includes encouraging and developing skills for self-reliance, with a focus on eliminating the future need for charity or well-being in the people in the group. This process can be difficult to initiate and implement effectively.