Political Strategies for Youth Organizations

(June 16 -23, 2006)
By Maria Rhoda Dilidili

Maria Rhoda Dilidili

Young leaders from different countries gathered for the XI. Liberal Youth Meeting in Villa Lessing, Saarbrucken, Germany. The youth delegates came from Ghana, Tanzania, Senegal, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, Nicaragua, Brazil, Honduras, Georgia, Lithuania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia & Montenegro, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan and India.

Villa Lessing is a good venue for seminars or conventions. Session rooms can accommodate 30 people, and they have new, high technology equipment. The room accommodations were also really good. There was also a 24 hours Internet services, plenty of food and beverages. Most of all, the persons were very friendly and accommodating.

Before the seminar proper was started, every delegate was given an opportunity to introduce themselves in a personal manner. With this kind of self-introduction, we were able not only to know each other’s personal information but each other’s likes on a particular subject as well.

The seminar focused on strategic planning. The strategic plan serves as a broad guide for action. It outlines several action steps that will help concretize what the youth desire to achieve for their sector. It deals with political strategies that youth leaders may put into practice in their active involvement in politics and government. The specific steps and targets of the plan will be further defined in the initial stages of the political strategy implementation, in consultation with youth-serving government institutions and organizations. Our two lovely and brilliant facilitators Gisela Wahle-Gierkes and Natalia Peral, gave us an overview of the seminar, shared their insights and experiences in their participation in politics and government.

When the formal plenary session was started, every participant was attentive and intelligently shared their insights on a particular topic. English and Spanish were used in the discussions. There were two interpreters which ensured that our discussions were understood by all. No one took it personally even when we had different ideas and opinions. Every delegate shared their views and insight on every topic. A lot of questions were raised if there were some points which were not clear; our facilitators explained in detail all topics covered by the seminar.

In every tasked assigned by our facilitators, they divided us into four different groups to work in group session. Each group was given ample time to discuss and to prepare a presentation for the plenary. In the working groups, each participant was cooperative. The facilitators checked the work of the each group in order to guide us in formulating our task. In the presentations, all participants were given an opportunity to represent their group.

Different officials gave us inspirational message and details about liberal politics in Germany. A young politician with many responsibilities in the Saarland State and also the chairman of FDP, Mr. Christoph Hartmann, shared his experience and his involvement in politics. He talked about his organization’s activities, program and projects. Dr. Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, a member of the parliament of the European Union (EU) enlightened us about the policy of the EU. He asked each participant their personal view about the EU so that he would know about our perceptions. He also explained the rationale of economic power in Europe rather than military power. Dr. Karl Addicks emphasized the perspectives and objectives of liberal development cooperation. He discussed the three factors behind the European Union’s development aid program: historical obligation, obligation with other countries and mutual interest. He also tackled the two ways of giving development aid: financial aid and technical aid.

Everybody was excited when excursion day came. We visited the battlefield in Verdun, France where the World War I happened. I compared this site to Corregidor Island in the Philippines. After a half-day study tour, we visited Metz, an old town in France where we had a chance to eat our lunch and shop in the vicinity. I enjoyed taking photos of the old buildings and other architectural structures.

We also had country presentations; each delegate prepared a simple and brief presentation about the country they represented. We learned about different cultures, traditions, customs, tourist spots and historical events.

I considered the formulation of the target image and the tactical aspect (time, action and plan) to have been the most interesting topic. One important initial step for any organization, political party or candidate is to define and specify its targets for the period covered. This will serve as a basis for determining whether the policy agenda was fulfilled. In the formulation of the target image, the candidate, organization or political party should advertise itself in order to obtain its main objectives. In simply giving a key word, we can formulate brief and complete information about target images we want to portray to attain victory.

It is very important for every organization, political party or candidate to secure its action plan. This includes all the plans, activities and programs they will enact within a specific date. Our facilitator emphasized that in formulating our action plan, we need to see to it that it can be done within the chosen date and can be followed in order to have a smooth preparation of activities.

In this seminar, I learned a lot of things that deepened my understanding of liberal ideology and policies. I learned not only from the skilled facilitators but also from my fellow delegates. Most of us said that the knowledge we learned in this seminar will be a great help to our organization, and that we will apply it to our visions and plans. The measure of success of any plan is how well it is put into action.

When the last day came, everyone was sad to say good-bye. In a short time, we had grown close and bonded. We exchanged our contact numbers and e-mail address in order to continue our communication and to keep in touch with each other. I was able to make good friends from all over the world.

Liberal youth is the future of the world. Young liberals play a very important role in ensuring that the recommended liberal policies, programs and courses of actions are carried out.

I thank Friedrich Naumann Foundation and the International Academy for Leadership for giving me the opportunity to be part of the XI Youth Meeting. I thank Dr. Ronald Meinardus, FNF resident representative, for trusting me to represent the Philippines in this international gathering of young liberals. I thank Ms. Alexandra Cuyegkeng, program officer of FNF, for helping and assisting me in the preparation of all my documents. I thank KALIPI (Young Liberals of the Philippines)’s officers for giving me the chance and encouraging me to take the opportunity to be part of the international youth meeting. I won’t forget my experience in Villa Lessing, and I always treasure those memorable days in my stay in Saarbrucken, Germany.