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ByHurfordYouthFellowAtekiSetaCaxton Related Posts

ItisagreatprivilegetoshareafewthoughtsonPolitics,especiallyaboutthewaysyoungpolitical
aspirantscouldpreparethemselvestoeffectivelyrunforoffice.Writingaboutwhyandhowtostarta OnlineDiscussion:
careerinpoliticshavingnotheldpoliticalofficemyselfcouldbequiteachallenge.Ihadtotakeonthis OrganizingforChange
issuebecauseIamaconcernedyouthwhoenjoysseeingyoungpeopleeffectivelyengagingin FromSocial
politicsandtakingtheleadtosolveourcurrentchallenges.So,insteadoftryingtosetastandard Movementsto
abouttherationaleandapproachtopolitics,theobjectiveistoshareafewthoughtsandbasicideas
DemocraticReforms
providingsomesortofachecklistaboutwhatmaybethebestwayforanyyoungaspiranttoequip JoinHurfordYouthFellowAtekiSetaCaxtonand
themselvesastheyembarkonthepoliticalroads. panelistsonFridayMay20,2016at10:00amEST
forOnlineDiscussiononSocialMovements
BeforeproceedingIwouldliketotalkaboutthewordpolitics.Etymologically,politicsisderivedfrom READMORE
theGreekwordpolitikosmeaningof,for,orrelatingtocitizensandinvolvesmakingcommon
decisionsthatapplyinthesamewaytoallmembersofagroup.Thetermcametobeassociatedwith READING
AristotlewhowroteabookPoliticstheaffairsofthecitieseventhoughpoliticsitselfisasoldasthe RESOURCES:ICTs,
emergenceofhumancommunities.Itpermeateseveryaspectoflifeandhasbeenoneofthemain POLICYREFORMS
channelsfortransformationofhumansocieties. ANDMOVEMENT
BUILDING
Asimportantasthismayseem,myobservationfromexperienceinCameroonisthatyoungpeople ByHurfordYouthFellow,AtekiSetaCaxtonThe
continuetodriftawayfrompolitics.Someperceivepoliticsandpoliticalengagementwithgreatfear RoleofICTsinenhancingpolicyreformsand
andsuspicionandremainconvincedthatpoliticsisadirtygamebetterleftinthehandsofelderlyand movementbuildinginAfricaInformationand
wealthyindividualswhooftenapproachsocialissuesinanopportunistic,manipulative,ordevious CommunicationTechnologies
way. READMORE

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.

Inthispiece,Iproposeafewideasthatmayhelpgetyousetforthepoliticaljourneybutremember: Member Spotlight

youarethearchitectofyournarrativeandthesovereignmasterofyourowndestiny.
MemberSpotlight:

FatouBintouSallah
Whatfirstgotyouinterestedin
youthissues?Growingupasa
femaleinAfrica,whereboundariesandrestriction
arelaideitherclearlyor
READMORE

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!

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