During political transitions, activists sometimes have an opportunity to “cross over” into government so they can advance democratic reform from within as elected or appointed officials. Developing and maintaining relationships is important for civil society activists before and after crossing over into government.
On November 20, 2021, the World Movement for Democracy and the Manila-based Young Public Servants co-hosted a discussion entitled “TAWID/TUWID: Initiating Reforms from Within” to share successful and challenging experiences of civil society activists in the Philippines who have crossed over to government in order to advance reforms. The event brought together current and former…
Young people are, and have been in our history, often at the forefront of movements advocating for democratic change. While many studies show that young people today are disillusioned by institutions that have failed to deliver democratic dividends, some young leaders are taking responsibilities for responsive governance in their hands by crossing over from civic…
“You need to be able to work with activists and at the same time with the existing government processes.” Pedro Kumamoto discusses how he decided to join government. He highlights his ability to gain legitimacy and work with both activists and government colleagues to craft and pass new policies. He advocated for youth looking to…