YOUTH CAMP 2011:

IF launched its second “Youth Civics Camp” in partnership with the American University of Iraq in Suleimaniyya (AUI/S) from July 7th through the 29th. The young participants came from all Iraqi provinces including Baghdad, Basra, Diwaniyya, Erbil, Suleimaniyya, Babil, Karbala, Mosul and Maysan, Anbar, Wasit, Thi Qar, Ninawa, Najaf and Diyala. IF held a total of four back-to-back camps including four groups of 25 students each and a total of 48 girls and 52 boys. The camps ran from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm and provided civic education classes including citizen’s rights and responsibilities, civic and political rights under the Iraqi constitution, social networking, and the eDemocracy developed with Freedom House. This year’s summer camp also included a class on movie editing aimed at training students on the art of editing and encouraging students to apply to the video competition on the theme of overcoming sectarianism.

The camps trained students on the ‘eDemocracy’ curriculum newly developed by the Iraq Foundation and Freedom House for use at the high school and undergraduate levels. Special modules in the curriculum will dealt with the Iraqi constitution, the Iraqi state, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens under the constitution.

Youth became familiar with primary characteristics of liberal democracies and how their civic duties play a central part in maintaining the country’s peace and freedom. The training also addressed youth’s role in developing an ethos of reconciliation, community based conflict resolution and cross-sectarian cooperation. The students also gained knowledge about civic action via the internet, including how to better use blogs, Twitter and Facebook, and how to get out their messages and widen their networks among other civic minded youth.

At the end of each camp, participants created a network for which they chose a name and created a Facebook account. The names chosen were:

Group 1: So that hope becomes a reality
Group 2: Messengers of Peace
Group 3: Change Leaders
Group 4: Good intentions ambassadors

The summer camps were covered by the Iraqi media and in the AUI/S bulletin. Media Coverage for 2011 Youth Civics Camp

Photos of Youth Civics Camps – PEDP – 2011

Camp 1: So that hope becomes a reality

Day 1-YCC-Camp 1 – 7/ 7/ 2011

Graduation of YCC-Participants in Camp 1

Camp 2: Messengers of Peace

Day 1-YCC-Camp 2 – 7/ 13/ 2011

Graduation of YCC-Participants in Camp 2

Camp 3: Change Leaders

Day 1-YCC-Camp 3 – 7/ 19/ 2011 

Graduation of YCC-Participants in Camp 3

Camp 4: Good intentions ambassadors

Day 1-YCC-Camp 4 – 7/ 25/ 2011   

Graduation of YCC-Participants in Camp 4