10
Theses and Views on Empowerment
We took the english term empowerment for our work because there
is no adequate translation in german language. We are aware that in
using unknown Anglicisms we might create a barrier and possible misunderstandings.
We
consider our work as a part of the global empowerment movement and great
history of humankind. Many women and men did give even their lives for
the vision and mission of empowerment. All we can feel is gratitude
and we will try our best in following the foot steps of so many around
the world.
1. Empowerment as a term was founded in the United States of America.
Keywords are “The Settlement Movement”, “Community
Organizing”, “The Civil Rights Movement” or the “Women’s
Liberation Movement”. Empowerment is fairly new in Germany and
especially used in the field of Social Work. Since the 70s we have called
its meaning "help to self help", "emancipation",
"participation" and "equal opportunities"; since
the 80s we are speaking of new methods of personal "self-realization"
and in the 90s of the up-to-date "coaching". Recently empowerment
has shifted to a magic word of new management concepts in the United
States. However, empowerment is going to become popular and started
a special career around the world in many meanings and on many levels.
2. Empowerment has existed ever since humankind exists being called
other names. Empowerment processes are effective in our outside and
inner life and can't be considered as sperate. Since ancient times of
the wise Indian Rishis we know how we can use our inner and transpersonal
power to enlightenment in order to become our real nature, known as
our true nature of devine love and spirit. Christians might stress the
mercy of reunification with The Holy Spirit. Buddhists our selfrealization
in the True Nature of Spirit. Hindus the awakening in The Devine Father-Mother.
There are other names and ways for Jews and Moslems or many others more
for Native People all over the world. This diversity shows us the potential
of personal and transpersonal empowerment, yet like rivers are meeting
the ocean selfrealization is always the same.
3. Empowerment is the potency that bases on our own power and not on
acquiring power based on depriving others of their power. Empowerment
encourages us to increase that strength in ourselves with love and compassion
to ourself and others. Based
on this intension every person possesses power and is able to use the
gift of empowerment in its fully.
4 . Empowerment wants to strengthen the power that enables us to release
our potentials to intend our lives for ourselves in our outside and
inner life. Sometimes we do need personal and societal assistance in
order to strengthen our faith in our power, talents and potentials.
The classical help-concepts in Social Work that can cause "learned
helplessness" in their negative forms are the opposite to the approach
of empowerment. Instead of taking over the role of a victim, individuals
and groups are really able to experience their own mastery of life.
Therfore professionals should study empowerment and change their deficit-perspective
torwards their clients.
5. Empowerment processes are merging from the individual into social
groups and organizations. In the age of globalization empowerment is
influencing the entire humankind.
6 . Empowerment is going to change into a vogue word of the new century
that goes beyond the field of Social Work. For sure this term shows
a shift of paradigm leading on to more self-responsibility of every
single human and earth citizens all together.
7. Empowerment focuses more than before personal responsibility for
once own potentials, views and beliefs. Self-responsibility not as a
misunderstood Darwinian principal in promoting advantage of the stronger
and privileged, but in difference: Responsibility is combined with mutual
respect and appreciation of the potentials and human rights of everyone.
8. Empowerment does not intend a defined result - its attitude is free
of moral and judgements. The singular personality makes its own decisions
for its own personal process.
9. Empowerment as a counselling concept is not indifferent about the
outer, existential and societal conditions of the individual. It includes
resources of the environment and encouraging the members of a group
to stand up for their rights and their quality of life, better education,
health, living and working conditions. Participation includes high regard
of every single human potential, resources, talents and gifts, regardless
of gender, age, health condition, culture, race and religion.
10. Empowerment is a philosophy with the perception of a potential human
being and not a new method. Our vision is to create "Empowerment-Tools"
in future to transmit the empowerment-philosophie into simple but intelligent
and easy using tools. Everybody, Social Workers, Health Professionals,
Psycholocists, teachers as well as their clients, pupils, students and
especially uneducated people should be able to use those tools for themselves,
their meaning of life and work. Every woman, man and child should become
access to the wisdom and methods of empowerment.
These views of Beate Blank, the founder of empowerment
consulting®, are her theses regarding
the current discourse and future development of empowerment theorie
and practice.
empowerment consulting® creates
with this attitude of mind and spirit; with the consideration of the
beauty and potentials of everybody, every group or organisation the
intermediate space in which development and self-realization is possible.
Therefore
the unfolding ROSE in
our logo shows your potential as a symbol of empowerment.
Stuttgart, February 1999
Beate Blank