IRI Hosts Youth Party Development Conference

June 13, 2003

IRI hosted the first ever Youth Party Development Conference in the town of Mavrovo, Macedonia from May 30 to June 1. The conference's primary mission was to assist Macedonia’s political party youth auxiliaries in becoming actively and visibly engaged in the political and civic life of the country.

The conference assembled a geographically, ethnically and politically diverse group of party youth wing representatives for training in organizational, outreach and mobilization efforts. Participants were introduced to creative new ways to identify constituents, recruit and retain volunteers, and develop plans for growth and issue advocacy. In addition, the conference encouraged the youth auxiliaries to develop strong, separate identities and structures distinct from the main parties, while also becoming more integral and relevant to broader party activities.

Resident Program Officer Hank Jones educated participants on youth campaign plans, youth literature, public programs, publicity, mock elections and special projects. The participants engaged in exercises on campaign planning and publicity and were assigned to ideologically and ethnically diverse working groups to develop youth literature and design public programs. Assistant Program Officer Dimitar Stojkov also instructed the group on demographic research and vote goals, and led a group exercise in voter targeting.

Due to the success of the conference, the youth auxiliaries have unanimously called for an IRI-mediated conference to develop joint proclamations on issues of concern to all Macedonian youth. The conference also has provided a launching point from which IRI can continue training young political leaders through tailored seminars and individual consultations.

###

A nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing democracy worldwide