spreading ideas of freedom to youth: perspectives from india and beyond efn asia conference ‘09...
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Spreading Ideas of Freedom to Youth:Perspectives from India and beyond
EFN Asia conference ‘09
Spreading Ideas of Freedom to Youth:Perspectives from India and beyond
EFN Asia conference ‘09
presented by: Yavnika Khanna, National Coordinator, Liberal Youth Forum
Agenda Harnessing Youth Power A Brief Introduction Working with Youth The Future
18% of the world population[1]
[1] According to the United Nations definition, youth constitutes people between the ages of 15 and 24
Youth bring in fresh perspectives
as citizens, become dynamic
leaders of the future and participate
actively in the market economy
Their energy, motivation and vision are essential assets for change
Burkina Faso
Ukraine Belarus
Krgyzstan
The lives of young people worldwide are characterized by
transition phase. Borderless Selling
Global empire Global citizens movement
Global justice LiberalizationMarketization
McDonalidisation Offshoring Outsourcing
The Global Economy Walmarting
Westernization World Trade Organization
Values of young people are reflected in their regions’ own
transformationCHINA I980s CHINA 2000s
“
"The Chinese youth today are more pragmatic than the youth in the '80s. They first consider about themselves, their own benefit, and their own career future. I will not say they [do] not value the idea of
liberty or political freedom. But I don't think, for example, going after popular elections is such an
important thing for Chinese youth”
Chan Che-po, a political science professor at Lingnan College
Generation Lost to Generation Next
Russia I990s Russia 2000s
Soviet Russia
Wish to Change ‘their’ World, not ‘the’ world
India: 1970 onwards
India: 1990s+
How to channelise the pragmatism of this generation to form a vision for a
freer world ?
...youth initiative
...Aim to equip youth to apply ideas for freedom as emerging
leaders
..registered trust in India
“....a liberal movement of individuals and groups
collaborating to create access and choice in social, cultural, economic, political and
environmental spheres for a freer India”
We are a..
We are committed to the creation of a society based on principles of freedom and tolerance
where all citizens are equal before the law and have the opportunity to pursue their own happiness
where gender, caste, creed, race or region is no barrier to the brotherhood of mankind and the accident of birth is not a barrier to social or economic progress
where nations live in peace and borders do not matter
and competition is the fountainhead of choice.
Liberalism for LYF
Our endeavorsWorkshop Series for Youth (2008): Spurring a
debate on freedom
Region Cities Program Direct Outreac
h
East Ranchi and Jamshedpur
"Am I an Active Citizen?” Seminars
154
North Delhi "Are We Really Free?" seminar and
"Youth in Governance"
workshop
55
South Cochin Al- Kerala Intercollegiate RTI workshop
60
2009: Campus Pulse Project in 10
campuses through a dedicated team in each to improve
governance in higher educational institutions and generate interest in ideas of
‘responsible’ freedom
Campus Pulse Project 09 Training teams to mobilise
students, to take up campus governance issues and leadership positions in
campus councils.
Key note speaker was Ms. Meenakshi Natarajan (Member of Parliament)
Campus Issues:
No democratic student representation
Fine culture
Updation of syllabus and pedagogy
lack of proper infrastructure (library, canteen)
Inadequate facilities ( water, power, sanitation, library)
Transparency in exam Evaluation
Absence of placement cell
unfavourable student teacher ratio
Methods:
Research about students issues
Poster, pamphlets and signature campaign
RTI action club
Using cultural events to propagate action
Formation of LYF Club that takes up students' issues
Stakeholder awareness: Interaction and meetings with unions and faculty
Discussion groups
Web based campaign
City Nature of EventDirect
OutreachPatiala LYF Meet 70
Guwahati RTI Workshop 55
RanchiDebating
Competition 35
MumbaiDiscussion
series+ LYC 120Amritsar LYF Meet 50
Jamshedpur LYF Club formingBangalore RTI Workshop 200
Delhi LYF Meet 35
Outreach of more than 400 in 3 months
start SIZE . DIVERSITY . HISTORY. POLITICAL SYSTEM . REFORMS. OPPORTUNITIES & GAPS. LYF . end
LYF website, www.lyfindia.org as comprehensive liberal resource
1. Downloadable resources developed by LYF: compendium on campus politicsliberal articles and documentaries in different
languagestraining kits for liberalism workshops
2. Live discussion forum/Polls on critical issues 3. Profiles of young change makers -
Web Resources
Law, Liberty and Livelihood Project
www.livelihoodfreedom.in
http://www.indiafnfalumni.org/
http://www.pratigya.in/
Our Partners
Centre for Civil Society (CCS)
Third Wheel Project
SCOT Analysis of LYFStrengths: Well-connected with established, thought
leaders such as FNF and CCS
Legally registered Trust
Semi-formal network of local chapters already established through individual NGOs, freedom groups, graduates of CCS programs across India and our LYF founders
Pool of professionals with diverse strengths and skill-sets that we can leverage
Challenges: All LYF Core members are either students or
working professionals and are providing their time to LYF on a voluntary basis.
We do not have a Secretariat with a committed staff member who can oversee the coordination
Funding available is only for programs and not supporting the administration
Network members have varying views on the liberal issues that we have no common cause except “liberty” in general.
Opportunities Youth initiative and there is a
tremendous scope to work at the national, regional and international levels.
Current colleges and universities don’t have many activities to unite the youth towards common ideologies
We already have a democratic eco-system in India.
• Threats:• Awareness and
understanding of “liberal” concepts and solutions is minimal in India
Other Liberal Youth Organisations
International Federation of Liberal Youth
Institute of Humane Studies
Working with youth
How to make youth aware about issues?
How to integrate program with their education or career aims?
How to deal with sifting attention spans. A mobile generation?
How to gather funding for grassroots projects?
How to cope up with the “digital divide”?
Learning-oriented mindset
Energetic High “stickiness” of
ideas Seek socialization
and hence greater spread of ideas
The Future Possibilities
Actively incubating and mentoring Liberal Youth Clubs in India encouraging them to take up projects around entrepreneurship and benefits of market economy
Translation of liberal texts in Indian languages Understanding and awareness of ideas of
economic freedom is very low, especially among youth Can we encourage faculty/ students to take up research
work? Can we ‘demystify’ economic freedom for them :
student documentaries? Essays? Art? Theater? Can we translate materials in Indian languages?
The Future
“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”
Franklin Roosevelt
....................................................................................................
Acknowledgements:Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die FreiheitCentre for Civil SocietyAtlas Foundation
Thank you!
Feedback and questions are welcome.