7th CALD Communications Workshop

The activity had been aimed to prepare young leaders for their future political campaigns. But with the young participants at the 7th CALD Communications Workshop so hung-ho to “change the governing systems,” “tear down walls in the minds,” and fire start an “intelligent revolution,” this particular set of Asia’s future might just have always been ready for any political challenge or task.

For four days in August, twenty-one young leaders from nine Asian countries delivered persuasive speeches on their topics of interest, including gay right, social media, and their passion for political involvement, in preparation for their future electoral campaigns. They were all participants in the latest CALD COmmunication workshop – “Strategic Political Communication for Youth Candidates” – but their enthusiasm would have made any observer think they were launching real campaigns.

Dutch communications consultant Pam Evenhuis facilitated the workshop that was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia – in a site that was just a stone’s throw away from the historical complex of Angkor Wat – from 17 to 20 August. Evenhuis, asked participants to identify their personal ideals, and they committed to education reform, people-powered politics, transparency, solidarity among generations, and good governance.

The communications experts also gave tips on speech delivery, political goals, and branding. He adde, “What is very important within political communicaiton is the abilitiy to communicate in such a way that the receiving end can remember. You should be able to build such a reputation that, instantly, we remember who you are.”

CALD Secretary General Dr. Neric Acosta, meanwhile, providedinputs on characteristics of successful campaign messages and making sound political statements and speeches. A veteran public speaker, he stressed the importance of connection with the constituency, context, content and conviction in speeches. Acosta also chalenged participants to recognize their purpose. “The purpose will always connect to a passion – why you love doing it,” he said. “Only when you are clear about purpose and passion will you know how to proceed.”

Also on hand to show her support for workshop’s young participants was CALD Women’s Caucus Chairperson and Cambodian opposition MP Mu Sochua. “I want to have a conversation with you,” she said during her remarks that she gave on behalf of the Sam Rainsy Party. “I think to maintain its stance, its ideology, and its dream, it has to always be young.”

For sure, the activity brought participants closer to the liberal ideology and its international networks. One of the workshop’s resource persons, Ivo Thijssen, bureau member of the International Foundation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY), pointed out that liberalism is about “the individual” by other ideologies, and gave examples of IFLRY’s work issues, including freedom of expression and climate change.

Apart from learning from the presentations of the resource persons, participants actively engage in group activities where they identified liberal responses to healthcare, education, human rights,poverty, and anti-corruption. They also built campaign plans, taking into account the importance of volunteers and how to attract and engage them.

The workshop, which included the CALD Youth Executive Committee Meeting, is a precursor to the proposed CALD Youth Festival to be held in 2013.

Participants

Cambodia:
Heng Chaosay
Sann Seakkin
So Channtha

Indonesia:
Maria Restu Hapsari
Irine Yusiana Roba

Malaysia:
Lim Teck Ang
Simon Ong

Mongolia:
Akmurat Eedgee
Monsor Nyamdavaa

Philippines:
Herminio Bagro, III
Samuel Nantes

Singapore:
Sheeba Balakrishnan
Fredrique Soh

Sri Lanka:
Selyna Peiris
Upali Saddananda

Taiwan:
Anne Chen
Edgar Chan

Thailand:
Nutt Bantadtan
Premmanat Vajrabhaya

Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom:
Julianne Schmucker
Neang Sovathana

International Federation of Liberal Youth:
Ivo Thijssen

Categorised in: Conferences & Workshops

This post was written by CALD