World youth allies
Bratislava. The first (and only) thought that comes to mind is the horror movie Hostel, where seductive Bratislavan women lure teenage tourists into torture chambers. So you can only imagine my bewilderment when I came across a document called “The Bratislava Youth Declaration.” It read: “As citizens and future leaders, we accept our responsibility to participate in the reconstruction of our continent.” Whoa, reconstructing the continent — so much for the dimly lit hostels I had in mind. What was going on?
Produced by the World Youth Alliance (WYA), it appears the declaration tackles the integration of the European Union. Literally continent reconstruction. The document was written in the Slovak Republic (capital: Bratislava), but the young participants represented several countries that will form a common Europe. Well, I thought, why not a “Filipino Youth Declaration”? Personally, I know I have a lot to say as a young person in this country — although it comes with a more extensive and less neutral vocabulary. I should sign up and submit my personal declaration!
See, I’ve always taken comfort in the written word. When you say something aloud, you’re making it real. Declarations may seem like just paragraphs of extensive vocabulary, but there it is: that sense of acknowledgement. An overused phrase in revolutionary literature says the youth is the future of any nation. It becomes different when I, a constituent of this so-called future, say “I am responsible for the fate of my nation.” The acknowledgement makes me actually accountable for what happens — or does not happen — to the country I have claimed a stake in.
So I decided to investigate further. According to its website, WYA was founded in the United Nations (UN) a decade ago, and now has over a million members from 100 nationalities. The alliance is a “global coalition of young people committed to promoting human dignity and building solidarity.” The website, of course, wasn’t enough for me. I noticed the Asia Pacific division is actually based in Manila. It turns out I have several college friends who are active WYA members. Through some solid networking skills, they forwarded me to the Director of Operations for Asia Pacific, Desiree Go.
Des says the main thrust of WAY can be summed up in two words: human dignity. When you take apart all the seams, what lies at the core of the alliance is a simple value: everyone has self-worth. As significant as solidarity may be, the truth remains that we are still infinitely different — but does that make one any more or less than the other? WYA’s definition of dignity reflects the generation of its founders: “As young people seeking our vocations, we ask ourselves: Who am I?” I don’t think any other generation has ever given that question as much thought as ours has.
My movie connotation of Bratislava is obviously an unfair prejudice against the little-known city, and this is precisely WYA’s point: to raise a generation with awareness, educating a youth that will eventually educate the succeeding human race. For cultural exposure, they hold the film festival Cinema Ubuchindami (the word means “dignity” in the Zambian language). WYA members are trained to impact international policy and culture — some are even sent to the UN and EU where they discuss global issues and policies.
I’ve always found advocacy to be the most important point of action, the culmination of all reflection and resolution. The significance of what we think and feel pale in comparison to what we actually do. Des says WYA encourages its members to brainstorm advocacy projects, which are then supported by the alliance through its resources. They also have established links with other NGOs like Kythe and Gawad Kalinga, so members have access to projects of their own interest.
By supporting members in their own advocacies, WYA has a unique mission: advocacy is just one of its prongs, not the entire fork. Long after other initiatives have faded into disillusionment, WYA will survive not just because of what it does, but because it understands. To become a member, you sign a charter that states, “We are committed to building free and just societies through a culture of life.” It’s not a temporary phase when young people want to make a difference, but a deeper reflection on what quality of life they actually want to lead. This may very well last longer than any short-lived urge to overturn systems and make the world all shiny and bright.
Whether it’s planning the cheapest summer trek or getting tips on how to reboot your wet iPhone (you can tell I’m bitter), we join Internet forums where we can both find and give answers. WYA is really a forum brought into actuality, gathering young people together so they can find out what they believe in and what they want to do about it. It doesn’t try to solve all the problems in every country, but instead provides an avenue where people can bring their own skills to the table. We always complain about nobody ever doing anything; well, here’s your chance — especially if you want to do something but have no idea where to begin. You’ll be surprised at how many people are stuck in the same blurry place.
Speaking of forums, WYA is in fact celebrating its Decade of Dignity and Development (WYA’s 10th birthday) on July 22. To be held in Tagaytay, the four-day conference includes forums on marginalization and good governance. If you plan on running for office one day, signing up just might save the country a couple of mass political revolutions.
More than why it was founded and how it works today, I’m curious to see what this organization will one day become. Imagine what you can do with millions of young people from the deepest corners of the world. Thanks to the Internet, communication will build lasting networks of mixed cultures. Imagine these young people growing up to become powerful businessmen, government officials and world-renowned artists. Imagine a generation of Filipinos and Bratislavans who actually know of each other’s existence, and who at some point in their lives both wanted to reconstruct the world’s notion of who they are as a people.
The human life cycle presumes that young people will eventually shed their fiery idealism, the superhero complex that makes them believe they can save the world. Older folks have a term for shedding that idealism skin: wisdom. Most of us will eventually grow “wiser” and become hardened by life’s realities. One day we too will cock our eyebrows at young people’s declarations. But someone has to do it. And for now, that someone is us. Today’s decision makers have to be reminded of the world as they once saw it — after all, the one they are creating will be ours soon enough.
Reading through the declarations, I found my favorite part: “Who is woman? Daughter, mother, wife, patriot, policy-maker, sister, thinker, worker?” The writer is asking my own personal question! At the very least, WYA surprises you with the realization that there are more like you out there. You’re not an aberration, a morphed, unidentifiable extraterrestrial. Many if not most are just like you — and at the same time, not like you at all. It would be interesting to find out where the differences begin, and where they end.
I’m still in the process of writing my Filipino youth declaration, where I plan to give a piece of my mind. Watch out, folks. You will have some signing up to do.
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To learn more about World Youth Alliance, you can visit their website at www.wyaddd.org or their office at Unit 203 Torres Building, 321 Katipunan Avenue Loyola Heights. Ask for Desiree Go, or call 433-0715.
