Young Leaders Take the Next Steps; Big Leaps to Follow

Young leaders from CALD member organizations converged in the picturesque city of Kandy, Sri Lanka from 25-27 March 2011 for the CALD Youth Strategic Planning Workshop. This was hosted by CALD chair party, the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka, and organized with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. The activity allowed the youth wing of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats to continue and streamline the planning that began since its inception at the first CALD Youth Caucus Workshop in 2010.

In his welcome remarks, CALD Chair Hon. Rajiva Wijesinha, MP, described the CALD Youth as bright and enthusiastic group of young people working together with their political parties. He called upon participants to establish systems that would allow for the continuity of the organization and provide space for young people to make contributions to political thought and political activity.

Wijesinha said that CALD has had a successful history through its member parties and exhibited solidarity, on a principled basis, with fellow Asians. “We need to help each other and develop principles and practices that we hope can be replicated,” he added.

Ms. Selyna Peiris, who was selected as CALD Youth Chair last year and is President of the Liberal Youth Sri Lanka, briefed participants on the organization. CALD Youth aims to promote liberal and democratic values among the youth through education and capacity building; create regional solidarity among liberal youth on issues related to the violation of liberty, democracy and equality; create regional networks and build relationships among liberal youth and future liberal leaders; and provide for the smooth transition of party youth wings into the political mainstream.

Peiris also discussed how relevant the organization is, how it differentiates itself from similar organizations (particularly as a political youth organization) and how it aligns itself with like-minded organizations. She discussed developments since 2010, including CALD Youth’s participation at the IFLRY General Assembly and CALD Executive Committee meeting, and the drafting of the organization’s Charter. However, she stressed the need for CALD Youth members to take the next steps in order to turn the organization’s objectives into concrete results.

Facilitated by Dr. Neric Acosta, CALD Secretary General and Mr. Jules Maaten, Country Director of Friedrich Naumann Foundation Philippines, the workshop was an opportunity for participants to share the problems the youth face within their respective organizations and countries. They also discussed their organizations’ strengths and responses to challenges on strengthening political interest, understanding of political ideology and increasing the willingness for action among the youth.

Maaten, also a former member of European Parliament and former Secretary General of the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY), provided input on key ingredients to successful youth organizations. These organizations involve future leaders, issue groups and young people who want change. Successful youth organizations often attribute their successes to their strong base of members who stay around for a long time and ensure the continuity and growth of their organizations, and the establishment of their networks. These organizations engage themselves in big politics, training and research, and organization and outreach. Youth wings of political parties are immensely important in helping their parties garner youth appeal.

Acosta, on the other hand, showed a video on leadership lessons and let participants know that apart from being good leaders, it is also important for them to become good followers. Oftentimes, movements become successful because of courageous followers who also show others how to follow.

The workshop proved the commitment of CALD member organizations to the development of a youth group for CALD and the cultivation of young Asian leaders. Participants, in return, committed to becoming a core group and even formed sub-committees to ensure smooth and strategic communication within the organization. Apart from promoting CALD Youth within their organizations, they will present their Charter at the CALD Executive Committee meeting this June and have begun planning their next program on the role of youth in politics.

Participants successfully took on the challenge of taking the next steps that CALD Youth called for. Given their caliber and passion for creating political change together with other young people, it is not unlikely that big leaps will soon follow.

Categorised in: News Article

This post was written by CALD