Political Youth Organizations: Signficance, Influence and Improvement in Performance

(January 17 - 24 2003)
by Doris G. Ramirez

Doris G. Ramirez

The seminar gathered together twenty-one diverse young people coming from different parts of the world to discuss the situation of liberal youth organizations and come up with ideas, strategies and new approaches to the issues facing the youth today.

In particular, the seminar covered the following subjects:

• Relevance and importance of Youth – Organizations
• Development of Strategies for Implementing for Youth Issues in the Decision- Making Process
• Efficient Participation in Political Parties
• Networking of Liberal Youth Organizations
• Promotion of Interests within the Party
• Youth and Application of Participative Technique

Activities and Program

Consists in the seminar were various work group sessions wherein we were given the opportunity to exchange ideas on vital issues affecting liberal youth organizations all over the world. In the process, we were able to capture lessons from one other, which would indeed be very helpful in improving the performance of the respective organizations we represented.

The plenary sessions with resource speakers were truly noteworthy. These provided us with supplementary knowledge on essential matters and more importantly, on the practical know-how in many aspect of an organization such as planning and networking.

Included in the seminar was a guided tour in Strasbourg, France where we visited the Council of Europe and had a discussion with some of the officials of the institution. The discussions were enriching as it versed us with its work particularly dealing with human rights, a topic I have always been interested because of its corollary relation to enjoying freedom and having human dignity. There was also a boat tour on the Rhine Canal. As we passed on the canal, we learned about the history behind it. It was really satisfying.

Significant Concepts Learned

The exchange of experience of all kinds among the participants have given each of us significant learning, which we intend to convey to the young people in our respective countries. These include the ideas on how can we voice the concerns of today’s youth more effectively through the promotion of interest and participation to politics. The discussion on the power through networks and cooperation, has enabled us to have a basis for a successful professional networking. More importantly, we learned various ways on how can we address the problems pressing in most youth organization such as the recruiting of new members, securing finance and improving the relation with the mother party of the youth organization, if there’s any. It is good to note that these measures are not just theoretical but are practicable actions, which we can put into effect.

In same manner, the output of the working groups on the policy perspective approach of improving the work of liberal youth organizations is very useful in developing strategies that  can make our organizations more liberal.

As liberalism stands for interaction, co-operation and competition between nations, states and culture that is characterized by respect for freedom, it is also important that we establish mechanisms to enhance security against terrorism and conflicts, which could curtail the progress of such ideals. Anent this, the talk on said issue is indeed of value in presenting regional and as well as global answers we can use in order to prevent such terrorism and conflicts. 

Participation and Involvement

Ideas, strategies, lessons and knowledge were shared in the dynamic discussion among other participants. Each of us convey the experiences in our respective organization and country, and in one way and another each of us was able to impart learning that can be useful in advancing liberal ideals among the youth. Particularly, in the working groups, we had the opportunity to be more acquainted with each other’s organization. And I am very privileged to have represented the Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas (KALIPI - Young Liberals of the Philippines) and as well as the rest of the Filipino youth before them.

In the same way, I was fortunate to have given the chance to present inputs of the working group before the plenary in various occasions. More significantly, the presentation wherein our group had chosen KALIPI as the model organization for strategic planning.

Remarks

The seminar was indeed fruitful in contributing towards the strengthening of the liberal community throughout the world.  And specifically,  in reference to my country, the learning it imparted to me will facilitate us in improving the performance of our youth organization in the Philippines. The different modes of the seminar are commendable and worthy to be our model in similar activity we look forward to conduct for the advancement of the ideals of liberalism among the Filipinos.

Further, it provided us with an ideal place in establishing a network of liberal youth, wherein we can help one another and participate in each other’s cause. As a concrete product, a website and a yahoo group was created for the continuous link and communication. Thus, we can have updates of what has transpired with the learning and strategies we have acquired in the seminar.

The short but very wonderful and fruitful visit to Germany forms an important part of my education and experience. The coldness of winter complemented the warmth that has been shared with all the participants, moderators, organizers and other gracious people there during my stay for the seminar.