Youth taking action

Across the Transparency International movement young people are coming together to learn about how to fight corruption. This ranges from one-day workshops to week-long study programmes that can earn university students academic credit. In each situation the goal is the same: educate young people to become leaders in the fight against corruption in their daily and professional lives.

In January, Transparency International Cambodia brought together 130 young people from across the country for one of its anti-corruption youth camps. The event brought the young people together with representatives from the Cambodian Anti-Corruption Unit, an anti-corruption specialised law firm, media producers, prominent youth leaders, motivational speakers and many more to discuss the effects of corruption and what they can do to stop it.

In addition to the training and experience-sharing sessions with these professionals, participants also took part in interactive learning sessions and role play. They were encouraged to transmit the anti-corruption message widely and share the learning experiences in their home towns acting as role models to others and engaging people on the fight against corruption.

The Summer School on Integrity in Vilnius, Lithuania is now in its fourth year. It is organised by Transparency International Lithuania in cooperation with Mykolas Romeris University and the Transparency International Secretariat. In July, 140 students from 60 different countries, many on scholarships, come together to spend a week learning about both the philosophical and the practical sides of fighting corruption.

Guest speakers shared their knowledge and experience on a wide range of issues including:

• How to campaign for and monitor anti-corruption legislation.
• How to measure corruption.
• The importance of access to information and whistleblower protection laws.

In Ershovo, a resort near Moscow, Russia, the Laboratory for Anti-Corruption Policy (LAP) at the Higher School of Economics brought together 25 students in July. Students ranged in age from 17 to 30 years old and came from cities all around Russia.

Members of Transparency International Russia and other experts helped design the programme and present the lectures which included presentations on civic activism and conflict of interest. There were guest lectures from José Ugaz, a lawyer from Peru and member of Transparency International’s international board, on the experience of a no impunity campaign in Peru and there was also a presentation from Greenpeace Russia.

The summer school, which is in its third year and is free for participants will be repeated again next year.