YLDA Opens Search for Young Freedom Writers
2008-08-22

The time has come for young Asian liberals to establish their own liberal identity. And YLDA is going to lead the way.

The Young Liberals and Democrats of Asia is spearheading the search for a common Asian liberal identity with the launching of its latest book project: Freedom Writers: Young Asian's Call for Freedom.

The book is funded by grants from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. The book project was supposed to have been launched in May this year but has had to wait for the confirmation of the funding grant from YLDA partners. In sending their messages to the YLDA Secretariat, the YLDA Executive Committee expressed excitement and elation with the final approval of the book project.

"This is a major project of YLDA for the year and the commitment of the latest commitment from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation to support this endeavour reignited our desire to continue our goal to present how liberalism and democracy is seen in Asia by the youths," declares YLDA Secretary General Jan Argy Tolentino.

In sending his congratulations to the YLDA Secretariat for finalizing the partnership, YLDA President Rajendra Mulmi emphasized that the collaboration with new YLDA partner Taiwan Foundation for Democracy "speaks well of YLDA's vision and commitment to publish a work detailing the common experiences and thoughts of young Asians on democracy and human rights."

"This publication definitely adds credence to YLDA's mission of spreading democracy and liberal values in Asia," adds YLDA Executive Committee member Chee Wey Hng from Malaysia.

At the YLDA Secretariat in Manila, YLDA Program Officer Pey Canlas and Project Assistant Guita Gopalan have devised strategies to attract chapter contributors. Among the incentives successful writers shall receive are: 1. Invitation to YLDA international events for 2008 and 2009 covering all costs, 2. Three complimentary copies of the book, and 3. Souvenirs and paraphernalia from YLDA and its partners (shirts, bags, pins, etc.).

YLDA is also coordinating with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for the possibility of granting monetary incentives to successful young writers and inviting the author of the best paper submitted to do a training course in the famed International Academy for Freedom in Gummersbach, Germany.

Asked for his recommendations on what participants should do to get the nod of the panel of evaluators, YLDA Program Officer Pey Canlas has just but one piece of advice: Think freedom, write freely.

For detailed information about the book and the guidelines for submission of abstract/essays, please download the document below.

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