“With enough caring and sharing, poverty need not be inevitable.” This was the hopeful message that Dr. Cielito Habito, former director-general of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and currently Director of Ateneo de Manila University Center for Economic Research & Development, left with the attendees of the conference organized by the Philippine Economic Society (PES) and the Economics Program of the Ateneo de Davao University, with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF), on 28 August 2010. Read more on the PES agenda.

The Role of Youth Wings in Political Parties was addressed in a workshop organized by the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF) on August 17-21, 2010 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. This also marked another milestone in CALD’s history with the creation of CALD Youth when the young participants from CALD’s member parties saw the need to increase their influence, not only in their mother parties and CALD, but also in national, regional and international affairs. The delegates initiated the formation of CALD Youth to promote youth participation and empowerment in Asia and the rest of the world. Read more on the CALD Youth Caucus.

The first gathering of the International Academy for Leadership (IAF) Alumni Group in the Southeast Asia region was held on August 18-20, 2010 in Ratchburi, Thailand. The activity paved the way for alumni networks in Burma, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, and also Pakistan to meet each other and exchange ideas. Read more on the IAF Alumni networking workshop.