Better Programs, Stronger YLDA.

This, in a nutshell, was the message the new Executive Committee of the Young Liberals and Democrats of Asia relayed to the general membership during the organization's annual general assembly held in Jakarta, Indonesia last month, November 26, 2007.

With their eyes on the future just after getting a fresh mandate from the general assembly, the 2008 Executive Committee headed by YLDA President Rajendra Mulmi and Secretary General Jan Argy Tolentino proposed to the body a two-page list of projects primarily intended to strengthen YLDA and its member organizations from within while implementing changes in the way programs are undertaken.

For the first item, the centrepiece of the proposal revolves on the promotion of the YLDA Program Officer from a part-time position to a full-time position starting in January 2008. "With the ambitious goals we have set forth for 2008 in celebration of YLDA's 5th Founding Anniversary, the Executive Committee needs a permanent and reliable partner to ensure things are running smoothly in the Manila Secretariat office," declares YLDA President Rajendra Mulmi.

Improving the quality of future workshops, seminars and conferences is the focus of the other restructuring efforts of YLDA to expand the participation base of YLDA participants and generate quality participation from delegates. Headlining the list of YLDA international events next year is the proposed YLDA Liberalism Institute that aims to jumpstart a productive dialogue amongst Asian youths on Asian brand of liberalism and the Training of Trainers (ToT) on Modulation and Facilitation Skills, which aims to produce a battery of YLDA-trained facilitators and moderators.

The culmination of the YLDA activities in 2008 shall be the celebration of the organization's fifth year anniversary in November at Siem Reap, Cambodia. The exact place where YLDA was officially born with the ratification of its constitution in 2003. This event is being panned to be a joint project with IFLRY. The theme of the event is "Youth Changing the World".

Other programs mentioned are publication of the papers and proceedings presented during the YLDA liberalism institute seminar, creation of the new YLDA multimedia presentation, reconstruction of the YLDA website, and the various capacity-building visits by YLDA to member organizations and partners in the region.

"The meat of this proposal reflects the resolute effort by the YLDA Executive Committee to further improve the organization's political standing and influence amongst Asian youths," adds Secretary General Jan-Argy Tolentino. He also expressed optimism that with the re-election of Camelia Puji Astuti and the election of Chee Wey Hng and Buddhika Pathirana as Executive Committee members, YLDA shall see the fruition of its 2008 goals.

YLDA Program Officer Felipe C. Canlas meanwhile looks forward to sustaining the administration improvements at the YLDA Secretariat. The cornerstone of this endeavour shall be the consistent and reliable appointment of an YLDA Program Assistant from partner universities in the Philippines to help streamline administrative functions of the Secretariat and build a strong partnership base for YLDA in the Philippines.