Executive Summary
By the decision of the Steering Committee meeting, and in accordance with the WFDA Frameowrk for Action adopted at the 2007 Biennial Conference , WFDA will initiate a WFDA Youth Caucus. This new network is intended to promote youth activism in democratic movements by both informing interested youths of available resources and by providing opportunities for the exchange of ideas and experience regarding the development and expansion of new democratic activist organizations. Ideally, the organization will serve as a platform for connecting and promoting youth-oriented democratic activist movements across Asia, as well as by providing support for both existing and new organizations.
Background
Although there are more and more organizations aimed at promoting democratization within Asia, there are few organizations that target youth activism specifically. Given that the political awareness of younger generations is essential to the survival of existing democratic society, as well as to the survival of democratic movements, engaging meaningfully with the youth is an essential part of promoting democratic values. As an organization dedicated to promoting democracy throughout Asia, WFDA has a special responsibility to reach out to Asia’s youths and provide them with the resources to get involved with democratic activism.
During the 2007 2nd Biennial Conference in Manila, preliminary discussions among youth participants highlighted this need; they proposed a motion to the plenary for inclusion of a specific item on youth in the Framework for Action, and this motion was accepted by the plenary. Through this action, WFDA participants recognized the importance of intergenerational dialogue in supporting democratic activist movements, and they agreed that WFDA should take positive steps towards achieving such dialogue through encouraging greater youth participation within the WFDA Biennial Conference, as well as by establishing the WFDA Youth Caucus aimed specifically at promoting youth-sponsored, youth-oriented democratic movements.
Objectives
1. To focus the attention of Asian youths on the democratization process in the region and to encourage their involvement in it.
2. To serve as a connecting point for the network of existing youth-sponsored, youth-oriented democratic activist groups across Asia.
3. To seek broad international support for the Asian democratization effort, in particular by engaging with global youth networks for democracy, such as the World Youth Movement for Democracy.
4. To provide resources to youths interested in founding democratic activist organizations throughout Asia.
Initial Steps
The first meeting of the new WFDA Youth Caucus will be held the day after the WFDA Conference in Seoul and will include delegates between the ages of 18 and 29 selected by our member organizations. Ideally, the delegates will all have some experience working in grassroots activism in their various countries or regionally. The purpose of the meeting is to lay the foundation for the WFDA Youth Caucus and to provide a springboard for expanding the organization into a full-fledged, functional organization. During the post-conference meeting, the delegates will discuss the organization and governance of the Caucus, as well as prepare a plan of action explaining how the organization will make progress towards the objectives stated above.
The first meeting of the new WFDA Youth Caucus will be held the day after the WFDA Conference in Seoul and will include delegates between the ages of 18 and 29 selected by our member organizations. Ideally, the delegates will all have some experience working in grassroots activism in their various countries or regionally. The purpose of the meeting is to lay the foundation for the WFDA Youth Caucus and to provide a springboard for expanding the organization into a full-fledged, functional organization. During the post-conference meeting, the delegates will discuss the organization and governance of the Caucus, as well as prepare a plan of action explaining how the organization will make progress towards the objectives stated above.
By holding the meeting directly after the WFDA Conference, we hope to take advantage of the conference momentum and to translate many of the ideas discussed into meaningful, lasting action. All of the delegates will attend the WFDA Conference and will use the conference as the starting point for organizing their own new organization. We also hope that the delegates will use the meeting as an opportunity to expand their own social network of Asian youth activists and will find encouragement from likeminded individuals to continue their own efforts.