International Youth Exchange Organisation's new framework for Active Global Citizens

What does it take to prepare young people for an interconnected world? As challenges like climate change, inequality, and misinformation grow, education must go beyond textbooks and exams. The new Framework for Active Global Citizenship offers a fresh approach—one that empowers learners to become informed, compassionate, and action-oriented citizens in a rapidly changing society. It was launched by AFS Intercultural Programs for international youth exchanges.  

The AFS Framework for Active Global Citizenship defines what it means to be an active global citizen and outlines four core areas for development:

• Valuing and belonging to a common, diverse world: Learners see themselves as part of a global community, committed to upholding human dignity and diversity.
• Critical inquiry beyond immediate environments: Students are encouraged to ask questions about local and global issues, seek trustworthy information, and think critically about the world around them.
• Understanding and relating across differences: The framework fosters empathy, dialogue, and respect, enabling learners to connect with others, across cultures and viewpoints.
• Taking action for collective well-being: Active global citizens are empowered to make ethical decisions and take informed action—whether on a personal or community level—to build a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world.

This holistic approach aligns with the European Commission’s broader goals for education, as set out in the European Education Area strategic framework. Recent EU initiatives aim to integrate intercultural and global learning into curricula, promote experiential learning through exchanges like Erasmus+, and encourage civic engagement. The Commission’s targets for 2025 and 2030 focus on reducing educational inequality, boosting digital and scientific literacy, and ensuring that education equips all learners for life as responsible, engaged citizens

To learn more about the Framework for Active Global Citizenship, visit the dedicated AFS website. Also explore their partner organisations in your country. 

AFS is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, nonprofit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and a peaceful world.