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What's Being Done On . . . Political and Civic Participation of Youth?
This section includes groups and projects that provide training and education to young leaders and other youth on democratic principles and practices such as pluralism, local governance, transparency, and tolerance. Those projects also offer youth the skills for conflict resolution, problem solving, and constructive dialogue to bring an effective change in the social and political lives of their countries. Center for the Research of Societal Problems - Turkey www.tosam.org/ The Center for the Research of Societal Problems (TOSAM) works to develop Turkish civil society based on the principles of multiculturalism, tolerance, political pluralism, and democracy in Turkey. Over the years TOSAM has been involved in a number of projects focusing on reconciling Turks and Kurds of Turkey and building skills necessary to develop and sustain democracy, political pluralism, and peace. As part of a recent youth training project in Southeastern Turkey, TOSAM provides training to over 280 high school seniors and university students on democracy, non-violence, conflict resolution, and multiculturalism. The project targets youth in seven Southeastern provinces which have been under the direct military rule for more than two decades, and youth in those regions are most marginalized and vulnerable to the influences of political extremism and indoctrination by radical movements and organizations. Training is based on TOSAM's new teaching manual, and includes eight different modules: (1) Being Human (meaning of life and living, and the transformation of human consciousness from "us versus them" to "all of us"; (2) A Pluralist, Deliberative Way of Life: Participatory Democracy; (3) Multiculturalism; (4) Tolerance and Forgiveness; (5) Innovative Ways of Conflict Prevention; (6) Religion as a Necessary Belief System but Dangerous when Used as a Political Ideology; (7) Creative Ways of Problem Solving; and (8) Communication Across Cultures (understanding the "other"). Two youth trainees from each province demonstrating leadership potential at the program receive further training to become trainers themselves. The Electoral Institute of Southern Africa - Southern Africa Region www.eisa.org.za The Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA), based in Johannesburg, South Africa, works to strengthen electoral processes, good governance, human rights and democratic values through capacity building, advocacy and research. EISA is currently working on two programs focused on youth: "Celebrating Difference" and "One in a Million." The "Celebrating Difference" aims to promote a culture of human rights and inclusiveness in schools. To reach this goal, it offers support and training to educators in the form of roundtable debates, workshops and programs related to human rights and inclusiveness in the school environment. Educators can contribute to the quarterly newsletter of the program and become part of the educators' network promoting human rights and inclusiveness. The "One in a Million" program looks at how young people can work with local government to change their communities for the better. Forum for Democratic Initiatives- Sierra Leone Contact: fordisal@yahoo.com The Forum for Democratic Initiative (FORDI) has initiated the Schools Democracy and Peace Club in order to provide civic education to young people in the country. The project consists of a set of extracurricular activities through which high school students learn about government, national history, human rights, citizenship, and responsible social living. Some of the recent activities organized by FORDI included an essay and poetry competition, a Peace Camp, a National Unity Languages Competition, and Democracy and Peace Debate. FORDI also publishes weekly crossword puzzles on various democracy and peace themes in the local newspaper. Freedom Equality Peace Society - Sudan Contact: feps_society@hotmail.com Freedom Equality Peace Society (FEPS) is a youth group in Sudan whose vision is to promote peace and reconstruction of Sudanese society. FEPS seeks to promote the growth of other groups with a similar mission but lacking skills in leadership, conflict resolution, and democracy. The Freedom Equality Peace Society (FEPS) organizes a series of workshops for youth groups in Khartoum, Blue Nile, and Kordofan States. In each state, FEPS holds a series of four, five-day training for trainers workshops on conflict resolution and peace, human rights, leadership skills, and democracy. The Khartoum workshop mainly targets youth from the displaced persons camps. The workshops are conducted by FEPS members who have received certified democracy training from the Babiker Badri Association, the Freidrich Ebert Foundation, and from other organizations. Although the content of training may vary from state to state due to the particular circumstances of the state, the training basically covers topics such as political parties, women's issues, democracy and development, democracy theory, the history of democracy in Sudan, minority rights, the role of the military, and representative government. FEPS plans to produce training manuals based on its workshops, which will be used in the follow-up workshops where newly trained trainees will have an opportunity to test their skills. Generation for the Integrity of Lebanon - Lebanon Contact: gil_leb@yahoo.com The Generation for the Integrity of Lebanon (GIL) is a nonprofit youth organization that was founded in 1998 by a group of youth focusing on the promotion of human rights, democracy, and youth participation in civic and political processes. GIL is currently engaged in a civic education program, "Civic Participation and the Right to Know." The program includes four, three-day workshops in the southern Lebanon for local young civic and political activists of diverse religious and political affiliations, many of whom do not have previous exposure to youth of other confessions. Civic activists , journalists, teachers, political leaders trained to conduct such workshops deliver lectures and facilitate discussions during the workshops on topics such as human rights and democracy; the right to know; the concept and principle of religious and political pluralism, and combating citizen apathy in the South. The workshops also include role-playing, small group activities, and multi-media presentations. At the end of the project, GIL will publish a book with the workshop presentations, which will be distributed among journalists, MPs, NGOs, academics, and other interested citizens. Israel Democracy Institute - Israel www.idi.org.il Contact: info@idi.org The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) is an independent, non-partisan think tank, dedicated to strengthening democracy in Israel. Israel does not yet have a written constitution, and the IDI is working hand in hand with the policy makers and the parliament to draw up a constitution accepted by the various sectors of the Israeli population. The IDI has brought this process to schools through its program "Kids in Search of Common Ground: The Education System Writes a Constitution." The curriculum includes drafting sections of the constitution, debates, mock trials, role playing, and case studies on key issues. Now in its third year, there are over 60 high schools participating, including Jewish and Arab, and religious and secular schools. Just recently, schools have started to cooperate with each other on the program. We are also planning on joint projects with high school students abroad. The Palestine Cetre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation - Palestine www.mideastweb.org/ccrr/ The Palestine Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (CCRR) works for nonviolent community by empowering marginalized groups such as youth, women, labor and teachers to participate in the decision-making processes that affect their life. The Centre works to strengthen democratic relations and understanding inside the Palestinian community by introducing the subject of conflict resolution and the skills needed to improve relations between authorities and the public, including communication and respect for others' opinions. In addition it promotes the values of reconciliation and forgiveness inside the Palestinian community and helps build self respect and peace between different races, religions and groups. The CCRR's peace education program teaches youth and their teachers on how to better deal with conflict without resorting to violence. The program is based on the model of principled negotiations that focuses on the underlying interests behind various positions and seeks to find "win-win" solutions to conflict that would satisfy interests of each party involved. The unique aspect of this training program is the application of traditional Palestinian conflict resolution strategy knows as "Sulha." The Centre builds on Palestinian heritage drawing on ideas of mediation, negotiation and dialogue. As part of this peace education program, teachers are trained first, then they are expected to transfer their knowledge and skills to their students, who then in turn will teach their classmates. The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute - Israel www.vanleer.org.il Contact: sabagh@vanleer.org.il The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute (VLJI) runs a Hebrew and Arabic active learning civic education program in over 200 Israeli schools across secular and religious sectors (Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze and Bedouin). On a monthly basis, the VLJI provides teachers and students with materials, tackling current events and related social issues, in order to raise civic awareness, develop critical thinking, and encourage active civic participation in high school students. The VLJI is currently piloting a program for schools, local community centers, and youth groups, in which teens study concepts associated with democracy and citizenship with a critical eye on what is being done in Israel in these areas, and learn the skills needed for affecting social change. Participants select the most meaningful area in which they wish to spearhead change (for example combating violence and protecting minority rights), and work with local authorities, elected officials, the media, and community agencies to bring about changes by means of formal applications, organized demonstrations, petition campaigns, and raising public awareness. Youth Ecological Center of Dushanbe - Tajikistan Contact:tabiat@netrt.org Youth Ecological Center of Dushanbe is a non-governmental social-ecological organization established in 1993. It promotes the development of civil society in Tajikistan through conducting social-ecological and educational programs. The main task of the EcoCenter is to consolidate efforts of students, teachers and scientists to save and restore the environment, assist in forming social-ecological position of citizens, and careful attitude to environment based on the principles of ecological ethics and sustainable development of the Republic of Tajikistan. The EcoCenter works in several directions. Its Resources Center provides activists with consultations, information, and technical support to activists in developing social-ecological programs. The EcoCenter also dissaminates information on socio-ecological programs and initiatives; publishes and distributes ecological bulletin "Tabiat," youth bulletin "The way to success," as well as e-mail newsletters and digests. In addition, the EcoCenter maintains a Training Center which mainly holds seminars and training for youth on civil society, justice, environmental education, democratic leadership, and developing voluntarism among Tajik youth. Its latest project focuses on the formation of a network of youth discussion clubs in five of the poorest and most isolated regions in Tajikistan. The Center trains regional youth leaders to manage and lead their groups effectively and to approach the authorities in a skillful and productive manner. About "What's Being Done On . . . " For three months at a time, we highlight the activities of various organizations in different global regions, and links to important resources, that are focused on a particular theme or area of democracy work. Each new theme is announced via DemocracyNews, and the information from the previous installment is placed in the archives below. We hope to receive and post information about the work you or others may be doing that is focused on these issues. Send information via e-mail to the or by fax to (202) 378-9889. |
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