Our Commitment

The Asian Youth Forum International mainly commits itself to the ideals of goodwill, camaraderie, solidarity and peace through a positive, effective and efficient social change made possible by active youth participation.

 The organization commits itself to the following core principles:

• Youth and Leadership Development
  

AYF International believes in the important role that the youth plays in the world today. The organization actively supports and commits itself to initiatives that promote training and development of the young people in Asia. Through programs and activities that will provide the youth the necessary skills and training, they are prepared to become active global citizens and leaders of the new millennium who are informed, empowered and united in action.

 AYF International recognizes that the youth of this generation are capable of leading the world through active participation and activities that will bring together other young people through friendship, camaraderie and collaboration. The youth today holds the key to achieving a world free from intolerance and injustice. By committing to youth development and leadership, the AYF International believes it can hone the young generation of Asia and bring them as one community of promising young leaders full of passion, dedication and commitment to change. Through this, the young Asian generation will also realize the value of ‘collaboration and cooperation for action’ based on the value of reciprocity and work for the interest of the common good and their communities.

• Language and Communication

 As globalization today greatly diminishes boundaries on almost every aspect of individual lives – economic, political and social – it is necessary for young leaders to be able to communicate their goals and intention well. Language “frees us from the present moment” as it is a symbolic conceptualization of the world. According to James and Meade (Symbolic Interactionism), we all live in a world of symbols and language is a socially shared symbol system, a vehicle of communication. Language today is slowly diminishing and people are becoming less and less linguistically expressive. Thus, AYF International believes in the importance of language and communication and how it can bridge the differences between individuals and cultures.

 AYF International therefore commits itself in the promotion and support for programs and activities that highly encourages the use of language – English, old and native language as well as other foreign languages – as an important tool for communication and community-building.

 AYF International believes that to learn and understand English and other languages will liberate young people and will allow them to exercise better communication through freedom of expression.

            AYF International commits to the promotion and development of the English language in the Asian region as well as other Asian languages to promote an environment of multilingualism. As language is considered a cultural and national treasure, a perfect example of intangible heritage, it is necessary to uphold the preservation of the old and native languages while at the same time learning a new one.

• Culture
  

“Cultural diversity is a driving force of development, not only in respect of economic growth, but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life.” --- UNESCO

 "We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race." --- Kofi Annan

 "Peace requires everyone to be in the circle – wholeness, inclusion." --- Isabel Allende

 “We have the ability to achieve, if we master the necessary goodwill, a common global society blessed with a shared culture of peace that is nourished by the ethnic, national and local diversities that enrich our lives.” --- Mahnaz Afkhami

 "There are no nations! There is only humanity. And if we don't come to understand that right soon, there will be no nations, because there will be no humanity." --- Isaac Asimov

AYF International believes in the crucial role of culture and how one must be able to know, understand and appreciate his own and other’s as well. In today’s world where globalization is the key phenomenon, culture is one of the most directly affected aspects of this integration of economic, political and social dimensions.

As AYF International aims to develop young leaders in Asia to work actively for their local communities and the global order, it is also necessary for the organization to commit itself to learning, understanding and appreciating the cultural diversity that exists in an international community like this.

To know, learn, understand and appreciate culture and the diversity that exists among societies around the world will allow every young leader to achieve similar goals with others while working across boundaries and difference. This commitment and dedication of AYF to promote cross-cultural learning and understanding will contribute to the main goal of achieving a world of tolerance, friendship, peace and camaraderie among the young people of the world today.

• Social Issues
  

“Social change is only possible through active commitment and a sincere heart dedicated to action.” --- Tieza Santos (AYF International President)

 “We have it in our power to begin the world over again.” --- Thomas Paine (The Crisis Papers, 1783)

 While AYF International stands witness to the social issues and problems that the world faces today, it also commits itself to developing the young Asian leaders to active citizens who are aware, informed and responsive to these challenges.

 AYF International believes that aiming for a world of tolerance, justice, camaraderie, goodwill and peace is only possible when the youth will work together in concrete action for their local communities with a common goal to reach the global society.

 The true outcome of AYF International’s commitment to Youth Development and Leadership, Culture and Language and Communication (the first three commitments of AYF International) is greatly manifested through action plans and programmes led by the young leaders in their own communities.

 By becoming aware, educated and responsive to social issues and problems, the Asian youth will be able to provide their share and dedication to their society to attain social change for the common good.