Empowerment

People and communities who are empowered have a greater degree of autonomy and self-determination than those who are not empowered. This empowers kids to advocate for their own interests in a responsible and self-determined manner, acting with their own authority and responsibility. When one becomes stronger and more confident, he or she is more capable of regulating their lives and asserting their rights in society at large. Individuals' experience of helplessness and lack of influence may be addressed via the process of self-empowerment and professional assistance, which helps individuals to understand and utilise their own resources while also overcoming their sense of powerlessness and lack of influence.

It is believed that the word "empowerment" originated in American community psychology and was coined by social scientist Julian Rappaport (1981). Nonetheless, the origins of empowerment theory may be traced back deeper in time and are associated with Marxist sociological theory. Throughout Neo-Marxist Theory, these sociological theories have been developed and polished to their current state (also known as Critical Theory).

In social work, empowerment is a practical approach to resource-oriented intervention that is based on practical experience. Encouraging people to take on more responsibility is seen positively in the fields of civic education and democratic education. The notion of empowerment is central to the discussion of increasing civic participation. It is becoming more common to see the notion of empowerment, which is defined as a shift from a deficit-oriented to a more strength-oriented perspective on one's self, in management concepts, continuing education programmes, and self-help programmes.