Has your obsession with change been a bit one-sided?
In the early 2000’s, a multicultural, multi-religious group of young people gathered in New York City to discuss what good governance meant for the youth. I wasn’t there when it happened; nonetheless, their output, a single-page declaration, contained ideas I later on recognized as my own. Here are some lines that stood out to me:
“…The common good arises from the person’s free and deliberate choice to pursue something beyond himself both for his own benefit and for the benefit of the community.
…Good governance entails the just use of power to create conditions for unity and trust and to inspire in the governed the desire to contribute to the common good.”
(Excerpts from the World Youth Alliance Declaration on Good Governance)
In the declaration, you will notice there were several mentions of the words, ‘community,’ ‘solidarity,’ and ‘responsibility’ of all persons—not just of those in power. If those words are what good governance embodies, then who’s responsible for it?
World Youth Alliance (WYA), the author of the declaration, is a global coalition of youth committed to promoting and defending the dignity or worth of all persons. I have been in WYA for about six years now; three of those as a volunteer and the other half as staff and director of the Asia Pacific region. In those six years, I came to understand this side of good governance that doesn’t get enough hype, in my opinion. Sure, it equates adherence to the law, social accountability, and transparency by those in power, but it also includes self-governance and the people’s freedom to participate in contributing to “the common good.”
John Stuart Mill argued for this participatory approach and articulated how it causes much growth on both the individual and societal level. In his Considerations on Representative Government, he writes how “it is evident that the only government which can fully satisfy all the exigencies of the social state is one in which the whole people participate; that any participation, even in the smallest public function, is useful…” You probably already know this but in case you need reminding, good governance is not just a goal to be achieved but also a responsibility we all share.
“I never thought much of it; and as far as I can remember I don’t think I ever questioned the idea. Young as I was, I probably thought it was the norm.”
Being in the youth development sector for about half a decade (that’s not much, but hey, I’m young), I’ve learned that while I can’t rule my country in my late 20s just yet, I can, however, impact policy and culture through my participation as a “democratic citizen.” For Millennials and Generation Z-ers, I guess a less intimidating way of living this out if not through policy participation is through volunteerism. I mean, what better way to show your genuine desire to help than by spending your own time, energy, skills, and even money, for the benefit of others? For many broke millennials—myself included—that is one meaningful and praise-worthy sacrifice.
When I was in elementary school, my mom would organize my birthday parties where she would not only host my friends (and hers) but also invite little strangers—street children, living within the vicinity of the party place. My brother would Photoshop the invitations and include a line that read something like, “Please bring old toys to be given away to street children.” I never thought much of it; and as far as I can remember I don’t think I ever questioned the idea. Young as I was, I probably thought it was the norm. The program we had was just like any other “normal” children’s birthday party—rounds of singing, games, food, and all. But towards the end I would distribute two sets of party favors: goodie bags for my guests, and goodie bags plus lovingly-wrapped gifts for my “special guests.” I remember enjoying those birthdays very much. As I grew older, I started to see more clearly how much impact—in this case, joy—little voluntary deeds like giving gifts could actually bring. I don’t hold the same parties anymore but giving a part of myself to others eventually became a big part of who I am.
“Regardless of how small an act is, I am convinced that going out of one’s way to participate in filling a gap in a person’s life or in society in general, is a manifestation of being in solidarity with others. It is a conscious choice to be responsible for other people’s present…and future.”
Currently, I am working with a global institution that continues to exist because of the commitment and hard work of hundreds and thousands of volunteers and active citizens who participate both in policy and in culture. The problems we wish to solve are complex, saddening, and will likely take several generations to address or at the very least alleviate. And far from the fun experience of handing out toys to street children, I’ve come to terms with the fact that participation can also be distressing, frustrating, and exhausting, especially when the process and the results are not what you would expect. Such is the cost of love.
Citizen participation is a strong force in democracy and good governance. In the Philippines alone where I am from, “people power” put pressure on the highly-contested Marcos regime in the 1980s when Filipinos from all walks of life demanded an end to brutality and problematic political ideologies. This same force also helped rebuild the communities severely devastated by super typhoons that hit our archipelago over the years. One of which that prompted a global response was Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in 2013; it was hailed one of the strongest cyclones ever to hit earth. A lot of people from different parts of the Philippines and the world stepped up that year.
Today, this force exists in many sectors—civil society, religious groups, minority groups, youth groups, government, and so on. Sadly, the Philippines suffers a dearth of information and data on volunteerism and civic engagement, but it’s safe to say that the youth development sector certainly looks promising. This year, we reinstated the Sangguniang Kabataan (local youth councils). Then there’s the 14-year run of the TAYO Awards or the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations Awards—a national grant-giving competition for youth-led social impact initiatives. Other than that we have the Philippine Youth Development Plan (2017-2022)—a framework for holistic youth participation made in alignment with the country’s 25-year plan (AmBisyon Natin 2040); among many others. These programs and more continue to combat collective apathy and encourage a sense of ownership of our future.
Admittedly, the Philippines needs more work in educating the minds behind this “force.” Nonetheless, I am thankful that we have concerned, agitated, restless, and some angry citizens who know in their hearts that we could do better and that we deserve better than what we have now. This sense of purpose will get the engine up and running. I also genuinely hope that the people in power will do more (do better?) to set adequate and just systems in place for more citizen-led initiatives to thrive in, but that’s a different story.
To educate anyone about the importance of civic engagement in achieving good governance is, in my opinion, impossible to do without practice, and impossible to start without that “free and deliberate choice.”
Good governance is a practice, a lifestyle, and a shared responsibility. In the words of Vaclav Havel (arguably one of the most celebrated dissidents of our time), “The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human meekness and human responsibility.”
Marythinks.com 