Nearly 30 youths from organisations all over the world – including the Young Democrats from the SDP – attended a study session focusing on how to empower youths by sharing best practices.
The event took place recently at the European Youth Centre on Budapest, Hungary.
The host organisation, International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY), aimed to strengthen youth activism and raise the number of young elected parliamentarians.
Speakers included politicians such as the Chief of Staff of the Young Democrats of America, Heather Brown, young Members of Parliament, Jan Paternotte (Amsterdam) and Els Ampe (Brussels).
The session developed an internal guidebook with concrete strategies that participants can take home and employ in their everyday political work.
Ms Frederique Soh (right), who represented the SDP’s YD, said: “It is essential that young people realise how important local politics are. We want to engage especially youths and include them in the policy making process.
“The decisions made on the local level affect people’s lives directly – so, basically, all politics are local politics.”
The International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) is a non-governmental, international youth umbrella organization for 104 young liberal organizations in over 60 countries around the world.
IFLRY’s main goal is to promote and represent the interests of young liberals globally. It facilitates the exchange of ideas and best practices between its member organizations by organizing seminars, delegations and study session.
The Young Democrats, SDP’s Young wing, is a member of IFLRY.