About Conference

National Youth Conference

“Youth Volunteerism for Democratic Community”

Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia
September 17 – 19, 2006

Youth Council of Cambodia (YCC), sponsored by the International Republican Institute (IRI), will organize a national youth conference entitled “Volunteerism for Democratic Community” from September 16 – 20, 2006 at the Golden Sand Hotel, in Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia. The conference will bring a hundred youth network members of the Youth Council of Cambodia (YCC) who come from its nine program provinces and will feature key speakers concerning institution and NGOs partners in CambodiaThe objectives of the conference are three-fold: (1) to bring together like-minded youth to share experiences in their respective provinces, (2) to deepen their knowledge with better tools so that they can participate in local governance in a greater effective manner, and (3) to build a better communication among them both locally and nationally. Through plenary sessions, breakout sessions, role plays and workshops, the conference will examine and discuss some of the major challenges and successes of youth in Cambodia, and update YCC’s youth platform in order to keep it relevant.

The conference will in addition to plenary sessions consist of panels, breakout sessions, case studies, role play and workshops:

Panels: Several participants have been asked to make presentations on specific topics (see attached agenda). It is the responsibility of the chairperson of each panel to ensure that this time limit is respected. YCC requests that questions to presenters be withheld until the appropriate question and answer time. If possible, YCC requests that participants on each panel present a short paper of their presentation.

Breakout sessions: The conference will consist of 2 or 3 simultaneous breakout sessions and participants are asked to choose any one of them at their preference. Topics may include techniques of advocacy and lobbying at local, local governance, volunteerism, youth and commune election, networking and leadership etc.

Case Studies: Panelists are requested to describe a particularly successful case of youth activism and engagement in influencing both political and social changes and provide details on it. Panelists may consider the following questions in preparing their case study: The opportunities and challenging of youth in order to improving democracy in
Cambodia

Role Plays: The conference will conduct role plays to the topic: youth and local lobbying techniques. Its will play by group of participants assigned and each group will make marked by participants attended in the event.

Workshops: Participants are requested to attend in a special seminar to learn about national youth policy (NYP) process that will present by YCC’s partner.