Political Strategies for Youth Organizations

(July 09 - 16, 2004)
by Christopher Pangilinan

Christopher Pangilinan

The 10th Liberal Youth Meeting was held in a home-like four storey house called the Villa Lessing situated in the beautiful and scenic city of Saarbrucken, where the famous Saar River is just a stone’s throw away.

A total of 19 youth delegates from 18 countries attended the meeting, most were leaders of youth organizations. The nice thing about the group was that all of us were liberals. This was why everyone easily jived with one another in spite our cultural differences.

The seminar was about learning the right steps or being strategic. It was pointed out that strategizing is basically simplifying the organization’s mission by making the organization’s objectives more realistic, attainable and quantifiable. To do this, it is important that factors that affect the organization are identified.

Moderators Pabst and Peral clearly explained to the participants the formula or ways of strategic planning. It was discussed that an organization can achieve its goal by utilizing its strengths and recognizing its weaknesses.

We were taught the method of categorizing factors based on its effect on the organization. The use of grids was introduced as a planning tool. In using grids, one can list down the organization’s objectives, tasks and key result areas, and then slowly eliminate items which are not important. What remains in the grid after the process reveals the points that should be prioritized by the organization.

The importance of creating a good public image was also discussed. It was noted that it would be helpful for an organization to create a good picture of itself. For example, if an organization aims to increase its membership, it must work on building an image that would easily attract its target groups. If the organization caters to the young, it should make an impact that it is youthful, active and dynamic.

The participants were divided into four groups and were given certain cases to deal with. We were basically tasked to strategize an approach to solve a particular issue. Most of the working groups stayed late at night just to finish their assignments and report their output the next day. The moderators were always on a stand by to help the groups.

English and Spanish were used in the discussions. Our Spanish-speaking friends, however, conversed well in English, and this, also with the help of interpreters, made the flow of the discussion smooth. These things I admired.

From time to time, a member of the state parliament from the host country would visit the Villa and have a little chat with us. Some gave an inspirational message to the participants.

The excursion to Mainz was also a learning experience to most of us. We saw the beauty of the city and the Rhine River. We likewise toured the Bundesrat building of Rhineland Palatinate and was able to talk with a young and wonderful lady MP from the Free Democratic Party.

The seminar was a venue to learn a lot of things. One thing I discovered was the situation of other youth organizations in other countries. I would say that the Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas, to which I belong, is in someway, fortunate because countries like in India and Thailand still have no youth organizations. In the case of Turkey, their youth organization (LIYA) has no identified mother party.

I also noticed that the Eastern European delegates (Romania, Macedonia and Lithuania) were very excited in their country’s inclusion to the European Union next year. They said that EU would help NGO like their organizations to realize their aims. But this also meant that the presence of political foundations like FNF would be dissolved as Director Denhert told the participants.

For trusting me to represent Manila in the international gathering of young liberals, I thank the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung and the International Academy for Leadership. I would also like to thank the officers and members of KALIPI for encouraging me to take this opportunity and be in the other side of the world, to learn and exchange ideas with liberal comrades.

My visit to the Academy in Villa Lessing would always be memorable. I had fun, learned a lot and deepened my understanding of the liberal ideology.