UN Analysis Final.pdf - United Nations in Cambodia

8.2.1 YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING DEVELOPMENT
According to the World Youth Report 2007, providing young people a chance to take part in decision-making
helps shape their own development, preparing them for a role in enhancing and strengthening their
societies, and subsequently creating a better environment for youth participation. This entails, however, broad,
synergistic feedback mechanisms that give youth the space to provide their inputs or that permit a dialogue
between young people, their families, local leadership groups and others who can be critical to the positive
paths that youth can take for their advancement. Often, however, exclusion is more common.
Elders and local authorities think that youths have less experience in development, therefore, their ideas have
been ignored ...– Fathers’ FGD, Siem Reap
The elders and village chief only call youths to a meeting if there is conflict among young people. The
youths are never called on to participate in drafting the village development plan...– FGD, 20-24 year olds,
Siem Reap
There are presently no structures that bring youths into discussions of national or local development. Because
local leaders do not consult youth on development issues – since their views are not appreciated – youth
concerns are not adequately represented and reflected in village (or district and provincial) development
priorities and budgets. Youths expressed confidence, however, of their ability to contribute to development.
For them, the social environment and conservative beliefs of the l authorities and elders in their communities
prevent them from making a contribution. This suggests that youths have a positive view of their role,
implying that a national youth policy – accompanied by institutional mechanisms that support young
people’s voluntary engagement – could bring on their more active participation in decision making within
and possibly outside their communities.
8.2.2 YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN VOLUNTEERISM
The United Nations defines volunteerism as “actions undertaken out of free choice, not motivated by
financial gain, and bringing benefit to the community, volunteer, and society at large” (United Nations
General Assembly 2008). In Cambodia, several studies link volunteerism to the creation of social capital
and to engendering reciprocity (Brown 2008; Mysliwiec 2005; Dara 2001; Ebihara 1968). This is because
volunteerism fosters trust, a basic component to the concept of social capital, as it leads people to cooperate
towards their shared goals. In the absence of assets in the 1990s and even today, poor Cambodian people
have relied on their relationships, associations and networks to survive on a day-to-day basis, through
voluntarily sharing or reciprocating labour, cash, food, information, services and emotional support in times
of crisis such as ill health (Rakodi, 2002). These are the key elements of social capital that characterize
rural communities – elements that build on trust and that can lead to meaningful participation in community
activities and events.
The World Youth Report of 2007 notes that “volunteerism is a clear manifestation of youth participation in
society – one that is often altruistic and devoid of immediate selfish interests.” It helps build interpersonal
and social skills and strengthens personal potential. For example, promoting volunteerism and expanding
opportunities for youth participation in development benefits larger society, and can be part of a strategy to
combat social ills such as drug abuse, juvenile delinquency and other deviant behaviour, particularly among
youth (United Nations 2007).
92 Situation Analysis of Youth in Cambodia