The power of the youth

There are 37 million youth who may spell the outcome of the May 9 elections.

Let’s realize the power of the youth to shape a fairer and more just world.  Many young people are fighting corruption and are trying to make a big difference.  This is certainly the time to encourage the youth to keep anti-corruption in mind when acting as agents of change in the creation of a new political environment that will have anti-corruption and its adverse effects on society in mind.

For those young people who are interested in tackling corruption, but don’t know where to start, here are some ideas from Transparency International’s youth anti-corruption tool kit:

1. Follow the money

Governments have vast sums of public money to spend and this can pose a serious corruption risk. By keeping tabs on government expenditure, you can help shed light on how Philippine taxes are being spent and expose any abuses. You can also join the Integrity Circles that have been set up with various LGUs throughout the country, as a result of the Integrity for Jobs project, financially supported by the European Commission and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

2. Count supplies

Schools receive lots of supplies from government, like textbooks, lab equipment or other classroom necessities. It’s not rocket science to keep track of this. It just takes commitment and transparency. Ask to see how many Bunsen burners are supposed to be in the biology labs and if the numbers don’t add up – ask what’s happened.

3. Tech solutions

If you're tech-savvy (all young people are), you can help communities document cases of corruption by developing reporting platforms on the web or through mobile apps. Social media, in particular, is an effective way to address corruption in real-time.

4. Comics and Cartoons

Comics are a powerful way of raising awareness about anti-corruption. Through a combination of images and text, comics can also help spark debate – and they are easy to produce. All you need is a pen and paper. Or use your smart phone or laptop:)

5. Sports

What’s your favorite sport? From running against corruption to scoring a goal for transparency, you can raise your community’s anti-corruption awareness through any sport you want.

6. Youth groups

Youth groups share their disapproval of corruption that is found at local and national levels. Different groups have different goals, but they have one thing in common: a willingness to talk openly about their opposition to corruption and raise awareness about its adverse effects on society. These groups can be formed to take part in a one-off event, around a single issue.

7. Election pledges

During the lead-up to elections, candidates are in the spotlight and this is a good time to hold them accountable for their campaigning and election promises.

You can ask your local candidates to sign a pledge against corruption (for instance the Integrity Pledge of the Integrity Initiative) and agree to take specific steps to stop corruption. They can, for example, pledge not to buy votes during the election, a very common form of corruption. And young voters should definitely not sell their votes!!

8. Crowd sourcing election monitoring

Tweet. Text. E-mail. From accessing your mobile phone to surfing the web on your computer, it’s never been easier or quicker to monitor elections in real-time. Through online crowdsourcing you can let the world know of voting irregularities in your area with just a few clicks. Some of the information can even be plotted onto an interactive map online, allowing you also to see what others in your community are reporting.

I hope you find these suggestions useful! If you want specific details on how to make any of these ideas a reality, I will be glad to assist you with advice. If you have more suggestions that are not already on this list, I would love to hear from you!

Let me conclude with a note of caution: there is risk in exposing people involved in corruption. Work in a group rather than alone when taking up some of the above proposals.

And remember: the youth deserve an end to corruption. Young people are not just our future. They are key to creating a just, peaceful and prosperous world right now!

You can contact me at [email protected]