Young people want to get involved, know how and why. Info-Prim Neo interview with Sandu Coica, National Youth Council chairman

[ - The National Youth Council of Moldova in the current campaign has carried out several innovative activities aimed mainly at cultivating civic activism and promoting political culture. Why did you get involved?] - We must admit that the civic culture of the Moldovans is at a low level. This is seen in all the social and political processes. A culminant point was the low voter turnout in the September 5 referendum. But we realized the problem long ago. In summer, when it was clear that we will have parliamentary elections until the end of the year, we planned this large-scale campaign. The National Youth Council has carried out such activities since 2005, but the previous campaigns were aimed at direct communication with the people rather than through the media. This is probably the reason why they did not have the same reverberating effect. [ - Do you count on definite results in the campaign “We Count, We Vote!” within which there were designed educational advertisements, which were rather good as the people say? When, how and who can measure them?] - The most wanted result is to have increased youth participation in elections. Regrettably, it is rather hard to assess such a result. One should make thorough studies of a representative sample to see how many young people have voted. We cannot afford to conduct such studies as we do not have the necessary financial resources. Anyway, the results we can already see are impressive. The direct beneficiaries of the campaign from districts and universities include over 150,000 persons. The websites containing the advertisements were visited by approximately 100,000 persons. We broadcast our adverts on a number of TV channels and organized debates in partnership with the public TV channel. The persons engaged in the campaign took part in different programs and talk shows. [ - How were those voter education advertisements devised?] - As it was a creative process, the approach was different. In a brainstorming within the team of the National Youth Council, we formulated the conception we wanted. Afterward, we discussed the scenarios with the studio “Sergiu Prodan” that made the ads. After days and nights of discussions, imagination, fantasy and inspiration, we produced what you saw on the television and websites. They have not been accepted first. We faced a number of challenges, but coped with them and the people accepted and even welcomed our nontraditional approach. [ - What was the effect of the televised debates organized for the first time between the young wings of the parties running in elections?] - I think the debates confirmed what society already knows. We have capable young leaders who can take part in the legislative processes and governance. It is true that not all of them are able to do it, but this is normal. It is now essential to promote those who showed they deserve. [ - To what extent can civil society influence the civic education processes in election campaigns? What should it do, especially between campaigns?] - I believe the influence of civil society is significant. It is good that this influence is increasing. I’m rather optimistic and even sure that civil society and civic education among the active citizens will soon reach the same levels as in developed countries. Any person wants this, except probably the politicians as they realize they will be less successful in manipulating the voters. As to the activities carried out between campaigns, I think emphasis should be laid on the access to information, improvement of formal education in high schools, colleges and universities, especially of the disciplines that focus on civic education, and on widely informing about the activities mounted by the NGOs. [Valeriu Vasilica, Info-Prim Neo]