It was the last day of the conference. After breakfast and refreshing game, the Plenary Session started. We had three topics related to youth presented by three guest speakers.

Youth and Volunteerism
Presented by: Mr. Uth Renne
Co-Director
Youth Star Cambodia

Download: Presentation can be downloaded here

Youth and National Youth Policy Establishment
Presented by: Mr. Chiv You Meng
President
Khmer Youth Association (KYA)

Download: Presentation will be available for download next week

Youth and Political Participation
Presented by: Mr. Yin Bendarom
Senior Program Officer
International Republican Institute (IRI)

Download: Presentation can be downloaded here in Khmer and here in English

After a nice breakfast, participants played an icebreaker game and started the second day of the National Youth Conference. Actities of the seconday included Panel Discussion (YCC’s Youth Network’s Participation in Local Governance, Experiences and Lessons Learned) followed by Q&A and Youth and Local Lobbying Technique (roleplay by participants).

Panel Discussion: Youth Participation in Local Governance
Experiences & Lessons Learned

Through training programs in nine provinces, YCC recruits network member in commune basis. Participants, who have the opportunity to attend the National Youth Conference, are selected carefully by local network members with the facilitation of YCC provincial representatives. Outstanding network members are nominated by their peer in the commune or district base. The criterias for the selection are based on their activeness in local governance and democratic participation such as their attendance at commune council meetings, local workshops/public forums/seminars, petitions circulations, follow-up meeting with commune councils and local authorities and internal network meeting in their communes and districts.

Represenatatives of youth network members from each provinces shared experience and lessons learned about these local activites.

After the presentation, YCC presented the annual report of programming activities and network activities in each province comparing to each others. Awads were given to outstanding provincal networks which had volunteered their time and resources to build and promote local good governance and democratic practice in their communities.

Download: Presentation of Youth Network Activity Report can be downloaded here

Download: Presentation of YCC Training Report can be downloaded here

ROLE PLAY

Youth and Local Lobbying Technique: Roleplay by Participants

YCC participants were split into three groups. Each group discussed and decided where they want to tour in Sihanouk Ville in the free afternoon of the third day of the conference. Each group selected six members to represent their idea and lobby a panel (of five YCC staff members) to agree with their request of city tour. YCC will arrange a city tour to the place where the best lobbying group would like to go.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

There were three breakout sessions conducted simultanoeusly: Youth and Local Lobbying Meeting Technique, Youth and Local Governance, and Youth and Voter Registration. Participants were allowed to freely register to attend their interesting topics. Each participants could attend two of the three topics – one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

The breakout session gave opportunity for YCC provincial youth network members to share their experiences which they had gained from working to promote local good goverance and living democracy in their local communities, and to learn new topics to improve their knowledge for future activities. For instance, Youth and Voter Registration is designed for youth network members to prepare for the upcoming annual voter registration campaign and the upcoming registration for the 2007 Commune Council Election. After going back, they will share what they learn with other network members in local network meetings.

Breakout 1: Youth and Local Lobbying Meeting Technique
Trained by: Mr. Keng Bunchhoeuth
Program Officer, ForumSyd

Download: Presentation can be downloaded here

Breakout 2: Youth and Local Governance
Trained by: Ms. Hing Peranich
LAAR Program Assistant, Pact Cambodia

Download: Presenation can be downloaded here

Breakout 3: Youth and Voter Registration: Youth’s Roles in Annual Voter Registration
Trained by: Ms. Kieng Piseth
Legal Officer, Comfrel

Download: Presentation will be available for download next week

The activities of the first day were followed by Q&A session and group picture. Participants were introduced to each other and refreshed by a number of ice-breakers activities.

In the eveining, Cultural Night was organized by YCC youth network members from each province. There are four groups from four provinces performed their dramas in the first night. They were well prepared and did well on stage. Participants were very facinated by their stories and plays. All the nine perfoming groups from nine provinces competed to win three prizes from the National Youth Conference.

Buffet-style dinner was prepared at the ballroom of the conference hotel while everyone also enjoy dancing and fun games. Activities of the day was also shown on LCD screen.