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Is Politics For You - Checklist For The Young Aspirant - World Youth Movement For Democracy
Is Politics For You - Checklist For The Young Aspirant - World Youth Movement For Democracy
Is Politics For You - Checklist For The Young Aspirant - World Youth Movement For Democracy
ChecklistfortheYoungAspirant|WorldYouthMovementforDemocracy
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March27,2016inNews,Politics,YouthFellow,YouthVoicesbyWYMDAdmin
Itisalsotruethatsomeyouthswhotrytoengageinpoliticsconfrontahugeloadofpaternalism,are 20162017Hurford
belittled,patronized,consideredapprenticesandtreatedasinadequate.Intheprocesstheyget YouthFellowship
discouraged. Application.Apply
Now!
Sointhedeficitofademocraticpoliticalculture,lackofenablingspaceandtheineffectivenessof
TheHurfordYouthFellowshipProgram,facilitated
currentpoliticstoadequatelytransformthelivingconditionsofpopulations,includingcreatingjobsfor
bytheWorldYouthMovementforDemocracy,seeks
afastgrowingyouthpopulation,youngpeoplebecomeincreasinglydisengaged.Thishasledtoa emergingdemocraticleadersfromaroundtheworld
viciouscycle:themoreyoungpeoplearedisconnectedfrompoliticsandciviclife,themoredecisions committedto
thataffecttheirfuturearetakenbyothers.Yettheyarethefuture. READMORE
Reminder:Joinus
todayat11:00amEST
forOnlineDiscussion
onICTsandPolicy
Reforms
Findbelowthebackgroundtothediscussionand
informationaboutthepanelistsBackgroundtothe
onlinediscussion:TheroleofICTsinenhancing
policy
READMORE
OnlineDiscussion:The
RoleofICTsin
EnhancingPolicy
Aspuzzlingasthismaysoundwhilekeepinginmindtoothatleadershipisnotalwayssynonymous Reformsand
toholdingapositionthereexistmanyyoungpeoplewithleadershippotentialwhocouldmakea MovementbuildinginAfrica
hugedifferencetotheircommunitiesandtheworld,iftheyhavethespacetoengage. ModeratedbyHurfordYouthFellow,AtekiSeta
CaxtonAtekiSetaCaxtonistheExecutiveDirector
Soifyou(areayouthand)havepassionforthegreaterwelfareofhumanityandtrulybelievethatyour ofNetworkforSolidarity,Empowermentand
missionistochangetheworldifyoubelievethatyourcallingistoalterthecourseofhumandestiny TransformationforAllin
andrestorehopeinaworldstrickenbymultiplecrises,thenpoliticsmaybetherightchoiceforyou.
http://democraticyouth.net/worldyouthmovementfordemocracy/ispoliticsforyouchecklistfortheyoungaspirant/ 1/5
5/2/2017 IsPoliticsforYou?ChecklistfortheYoungAspirant|WorldYouthMovementforDemocracy
Withclarityaboutwhatchangeyouseekandthetoolsyouneedtodoso,youwouldcometo READMORE
appreciatethenecessityandthenobilityofhealthypoliticalengagement.
Schedule/Calendar
1.1.Decideifpoliticsisforyou.
Tag Cloud
Thefirststeptobecomingapoliticianisdecidingifpoliticsisforyou.Youneedtoanswerthesequick
questions. #MoveDemocracyafricaAfrican
DemocracyMovementApplyNOW!Ateki
Areyoupassionateaboutmakingdecisionsandbringingpositivechangetosociety?
SetaCaxton CameroonColombia
Areyoucomfortablewithlivingaverypubliclife? corruptionCubaDemocraciaen
Latinoamerica
Canyousticktoyouropinionsinthefaceofopposition?
democracyDerechos
Doyouhavegoodmotivesforengaginginpolitics? HumanosDerechos
HumanosenLatinoamerica
Canyouembracetheoutcomesofapoliticalcontest? Ecuadorempowermenteventeventsfellowship
Areyoupreparedforanunstableemploymentpath? Human
gender GlobalGuatemalaHait
RightsHurfordYouth
Asyoureflectonthesequestionsrememberthattheonlymotivethatcankeeppoliticspureisthe
motiveofdoinggoodforonescountryanditspeople.Thegoalintheendisnottowinelections.The
FellowICTsinterviewJuventudLACLatin
goalistochangesocietyforbetter.Ifyouranswertotheforegoingquestionsisyes,thenpoliticsmay AmericaLatinAmericaand
berightforyou.Whatshouldyoudothen? CaribbeanLatinoamerica
leadershipMentalHealthNewSETA
1.2.Commit
PhilippinesRedLatinoamericana
JvenesporlaDemocraciaStatement
Ifyouwanttobeapoliticianyouhavetodecide100%fromthebeginningthatyouwanttobe.Ifyou
dontfullycommittopolitics,youmayneversucceedinit.Theworldsgreatestachievershavebeen VenezuelaVote18webinarwomen
thosewhohavealwaysstayedfocusedontheirgoalsandhavebeenconsistentintheirefforts. WorldYouthDayWYMD youthYouths
Commitmentwouldenableyoutakethenecessarystepstosustainthecourse.Thefirstamongthese zimbabwe
is
1.3.BuildYourRsum
From Twitter
EducationWiththecomplexchallengesoftodaysworld,itwouldbenecessarytogetasatisfactory Tweetsby@WYMD
levelofeducationtohaveaclueaboutimportantlocalandglobalissuesandalsogiveyourelectorate
theassurancethatyouareuptospeedwiththerealitiesthataffecttheirlives. WorldYouthMovement
@WYMD
WorkexperienceWhatelsewouldbeamorepatentproofofthequalitiesyouhaveandwhatyou
ATTNGov'tof#Venezuela:Releaseall
haveaccomplishedthandemonstratingyourachievementsthroughyourwork? #PoliticalPrisoners&respecthumanrights!
#SetThemFree#NoMas
VolunteeringhistoryItisimportanttovolunteerforacauseyouarepassionateabout.Thiswould
showyourpotentialvotersthatyoucareforthecollectivenotjustyourindividualneeds. 18h
Leadershipexperiencefamiliarwiththequoteleadershipcannotreallybetaught,itcanonlybe WorldYouthMovement
learned?Establishatrackrecordofleadership,eventhelessknownopportunitiesyouhadbackin @WYMD
time,soonceyouengageingreaterpoliticalchallenges,youarenotseenascallowandoutoftouch.
TodayisthelastdaytoapplyfortheHurford
YouthFellowship!!!Submitallmaterialsby
Notableaccomplishmentsstriveforanyawards,honors,andrecognitions.
11:59pm(EST)fellowships.ned.org
Getpublishedexpressyourviewsabouttheworld,yourvisionforsocietyandgetthempublishedon
aseriouspeerreviewedandrespectablespace.
Thesealreadysetyouontracktoyourdestination.Buttoreachthere,youneedto.
1.4.BuildNecessarySkills
Embed ViewonTwitter
Thereareseveralskillsthatapoliticianshouldpossess.
http://democraticyouth.net/worldyouthmovementfordemocracy/ispoliticsforyouchecklistfortheyoungaspirant/ 2/5
5/2/2017 IsPoliticsforYou?ChecklistfortheYoungAspirant|WorldYouthMovementforDemocracy
PublicSpeaking:
Obviously,sincetheydo
alotofspeaking,aspiring
politiciansshould
developtheirpublic
speakingskills.Hereisa
goodplacetostart:
http://theinspirationblog.com/2013/06/02/whatarethepublicspeakingmusthaves/
Finances:Thenextisdevelopingskillsonmanagingfinances:Youwouldneedtheseskillsboth
duringyourcampaignsandyourtimeinoffice.Storiesaboutcorruptionandthemismanagementof
fundsarenotstuffwethinkonlyhappenstootherswhatgoesaroundcomesaround.
SocialSkills:Youneedtodevelopimpeccablesocialskills:beingabletocommunicateclearlywith
voters,campaignworkers,donorsandgenerallybeateamperson.
ICTSkills:Theworldisgettingincreasinglysophisticatedintermsoftechnologicalprogress.You
definitelyshouldmasterhowtousethecomputerandbecomefamiliarwiththerisksinvolvedusing
thesetechnologies.
Builddebatingskillsbecausetheywouldcomeinhandyduringthecampaignprocess.
1.5.Solidifyyourviews
Becomingapoliticianmeansyoustandforsomething.Letyourconvictionsonthoseissuesbefirm.
Avoidwaveringfromonepositiontoanother.Beabletodefendthevaluesyoubelieveinandthe
principlesandpoliciesyoustandfor.Ifnotpeoplewilllosetrustinyou.
Youshouldalsohaveasoundmoralandethicalcode.Toleadpeople,youshouldstrivetobeseenas
apositiverolemodelalways.
1.6.Getthingsinorder
Finances:Ensurethatyourfinancesarestableenoughtosustainahugepoliticalrun.Inorder
torunforpresidentinCameroon,bereadytodeposit$60000(about30millionFCFA)intotheState
coffers.Gettinglessthan10%ofthevotesalsomeansthatyoumaylosethemoney.
Agerequirement:Althoughyoumayhavetowaituntilyouare23torunfortheCouncilor
Parliament,youneedtobe35torunforPresidentand40torunfortheSenateinCameroon.These
agelimitsthoughshouldnotstopyoufromthenecessarypreparationsthatyouneedtomakeupfront.
Youmayneedtofindouttherequirementsforyourcountry
Employment:Itisimportanttocontactyourcurrentemployertoletthemknowyouwillbe
runningforofficeandthatyoumayormaynotsucceedorthatyoumayormaynothavetoquityour
job.
Informfamily:Itisveryimportantatthisstagetoletyourfamilyknowwhatyouhavedecidedto
engagein.Ensuretohavecloseonestostandbyyouintoughpoliticaltimes.
1.7.PreliminaryPreparations:
Beforeyoueventrytorunforofficetherearethingstoknowupfrontunlessyouwanttomeetsome
unpleasantsurprises.
Studythejurisdictionorareawhereyouplantorun,andthefunctionsoftheoffice.Masteringthe
Constitution,electorallawsandotherlegislationiscrucial.
Getmentored.Ifyouhaveapoliticalrolemodelthatinspiresyou,itwouldbeagoodideatofollowup
ontheiractionsorevengetachancetomeetthemtohear,firsthand,theirownexperiencesinpolitics
orrunningforoffice.
Understandyourelectoratemore:theirpoliticalaffiliation,theturnoutofthepopulationbyelectoral
year,theagebreakdownoftheelectorate,income,education,majoremployers,
Knowtheacademicprofilesofothercandidatesandtheirpositionsoncertainissuesthatyoucare
about,wheretheywenttoschool,whattheydoforaliving,whattheirvotingrecordis,howtheyhave
madetheirmoney,etc
http://democraticyouth.net/worldyouthmovementfordemocracy/ispoliticsforyouchecklistfortheyoungaspirant/ 3/5
5/2/2017 IsPoliticsforYou?ChecklistfortheYoungAspirant|WorldYouthMovementforDemocracy
Issueresearch:
Soundknowledgeoftheissuesthataffectyourjurisdictionisverycrucialunlessyouenjoyleaving
interviewsanddebateswithmajorinjuries.Asacandidateyouwillbeaskedquestionsaboutyour
viewsonlocalandglobalconcernsandyoushouldbereadywithsatisfactoryanswerstothe
questions.
Ifyouplantomakeanissueofeducation,forexample,youneedtoknowwhatisspentperpupil,how
manyschoolsareavailableinthearea,schoolretentionrates,testscores,thenumberofkidswhogo
toschool,teachingconditions,graduationrates,pensionandsalaries,retirement,unemployment
rates,migration,andthenumberandtypesofjobsavailable.Mostofthevotersdontknowthis
information,butasacandidateyouwouldbeexpectedto.
Readthenewspapers,watchTVandlistentotheradio.Dontmakethemistakeofignoringthepress,
bloggersandsocialmedia,theirimportanceinpoliticsisgrowingexponentially.
Ifyouarethinkingofrunning,itisimportanttodraftapreliminarybudgetincludingwhatyouplanto
spendonspecificissuesincludingthemedia.Ifyoudonothaveabudget,youdonothavea
campaignstrategy.Imaginethatyouareabouttogoonajourneywithoutanyideaofwhatyouare
goingtospendonfuel,food,hotels,emergencies,etc,
Unlessyouhavepersonalmoney,youwouldneedtohaveafundraisingplan!Whereisthemoney
youneedtospendduringcampaignsgoingtocomefrom?Ifyoudonthaveananswer,justasksome
ofthecandidateswhohavebeenforcedtolayoffstafforendtheircampaignsbecausetheyranoutof
money.
Doaninventoryofthepressintheareawhereyouplantorun.Knowthereportersandgetphone
numbers,radiostations,TVstations,andconvenientspots,talkshowsandhosts.Ifyouarenotusing
thepressyouarewastingafreemeanstogettoyouraudience.
1.8.StartSmall
Youneedtostartoutsmallinpolitics.Youcannotgoon
straighttobecomingPresident.Thebestplacestostart
areinlocalschoolboards,orwithyourlocalpartypolitics,
attendingtheirmeetings,convetionsandmakingyour
viewsknown.
Volunteertoworkinacampaignatsomelevel,helping
mobilizesupportersoffundraiseforthecampaignandthe
cause,orevenobserveelections.Thiswouldgiveyou
someexperiencewiththesystemofelectionsinyour
jurisdiction.
Donatingtocampaignsisalsoagoodwaytogetstartedandgetnoticed
Youmaythenmoveontothenextlevel,contestinglocalelectionsandclimbinguptheladderfrom
there.
Icanassurethatthereisnostraightcutpathforengagementandprogressinpoliticsandalldoesnot
culminateintobeingelectedPresident.
1.9.Conclusion
Ijustdevelopedthischecklisthopingitmightbeagreatresourcetohelpyouunderstandthestakes
involvedengaginginpolitics.Tomakeanygreatadvances,therearemanystepsalongtheway.As
indicatedabove,youneedtocometoadecisionifpoliticsisforyou,committoyourvision,buildyour
profile,developnecessaryskillsandbolsteryourvalues,researchyourjurisdictionandissues,and
startfromthebottomup.Asyouconsiderundertakingthisjourney,rememberstrongconvictions
precedegreatactionandthetaskofaleaderistogethispeoplefromwheretheyaretowherethey
havenotbeen.Howevertogettothisdestination,youneedtodreamofit,beconvincedofits
possibility,andstartthepoliticaljourneyofathousandmileswiththefirststep.Iwishyougoodluck!
About Author
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