YOUTH CAMP 2010

On July 14th, IF launched its first “Youth Civics Camp” in partnership with the American University of Iraq in Suleimaniyya (AUI/S). Four sessions of 25 students from different Iraqi provinces will participate in the camps scheduled to run from July 14 to August 7th. 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.

The camps also included a social evening and dinner for the camps’ participants and AUI/S students on the 1st day of each camp session as well as a moderated discussion group between camp participants and AUI/S students to talk about their experiences as students and the challenges they face.