Group photo all participants MENA Academy 2024 – FMS
We support people in their quest and journey towards and with social democracy. In the MENA region we connect with our partners through various ways, by organizing local trainings where members of social democratic parties gain practical skills to use in their professional and personal careers. And occasionally by bringing together political parties from countries throughout the Middle-East and North-Africa, like we did this past weekend. To serve the purpose of also fostering connectivity and collaborative thinking and sharing about challenges and opportunities for the future of the region.
And thus, once again, we have brought together various delegations from countries and parties all over the region to host the MENA Academy 2024!
On the weekend between November and December 2024 the MENA Academy revitalized and took place in Rabat, Morocco. The Foundation Max van der Stoel, in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy of the Labour party in the UK, welcomed delegations from Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, and Iraqi-Kurdistan. The academy brought together leadership representatives and multiple youth members from the respective political parties from across the MENA region to engage in open conversations, share experiences, find differences and common grounds and to collectively learn from each other and the trainers.
The event kicked off on Friday with the leadership roundtable discussion, where representatives from their democratic parties shared insights on the importance of youth members and their integration into the party. The PUK from Iraqi-Kurdistan, Ettakatol from Tunisia, the JSDP from Jordan, Labour from the UK and the USFP from Morocco all shared their views on youth membership and the importance of raising democratically strong young leaders. Despite differences in struggles and opportunities, the overarching consensus was the great importance of youth participation amongst all parties and countries. By bringing together different democratic parties from the MENA region it was possible to see and reflect on the many similarities the youth in these countries face. Sharing personal experiences also helped everyone connect and understand each other in a deeper way, which aided the thinking process on how to overcome certain struggles of unemployment through their respective roles in the parties. Youth participation in political parties can push social democratic movements forward quicker, especially through regional collaboration, because the young, inspiring, impressive and energized youth members truly are the future!
This session flowed into a weekend full of interactive trainings. Multiple youth members from the respective political parties followed practical and theoretical workshops led by former member of parliament, DutchCulture CEO and FMS trainer Kirsten van den Hul and Labour’s policy development officer and trainer Rebecca Morrish. As well as some informative sessions led by former Secretary General of Labour, David Evans about the structure and strategies of the UK party.
During, in between, and after the sessions the youth members connected over shared dilemmas in the region but also recognized the specific challenges each party was facing. Progress that has been made was shared amongst the participants. Furthermore the sessions offered practical tools and knowledge to the youth delegates, empowering them to take these lessons back to their communities. By connecting young social democrats from the Middle-East and North-Africa, the academy fostered an environment of learning, solidarity, and empowerment.
Our commitment remains to support and empower youth and organizations committed to building a better future across the MENA region through training programs and collaborative events.
Written by: Isabel Freie