Human beings derive a sense of self-worth from being able to contribute to a cause that is larger than them. It gives them a chance to widen what David Hume called the concentric circles of our empathy – to care for more than themselves or their loved ones – thus, enabling them to keep the interests of other human beings at heart. At a time of war, perceptions are often distorted. There is little to anchor a young, impressionable person to their values and there is a great deal of insecurity about the future. As a consequence, the youth of the nation tend to indulge a degree of fatalism. Sri Lanka‟s social dynamics and lack of institutions only seem to perpetuate this fatalism.
These words come from Piyumi Erandima Kapugeekiyana’s first place winning essay for the category of “Citizenship in a Democratic Society,” in CIPE’s 2009 International Youth Essay Contest. Piyumi writes as a Sri Lankan born in Abu-Dhabi, now studying in Malaysia, her parents having left the war-torn country in search of opportunity abroad. She writes as an active expatriate community member, keeping tabs on the 26-year old civil war between the Sinhalese unitary government and Tamil ethnic minority. She writes, in her words, “in the hope that writing about identity, citizenship and democracy would bring me closer to decoding some aspects of that world.”
Joining Piyumi at the virtual winners’ circle for “Citizenship in a Democratic Society,” are second place winner Rahel Weldeab of Eritrea, and third place winner Asamoah Prince of Ghana. Tatenda Chiware of Zimbabwe also received an honorable mention in the category. Their essays were among the 860 overall entries from 106 countries in the 2009 contest, almost double the entries as the first time around. Tomorrow and wednesday, the CIPE Blog will feature the winners in the two other categories, “Enterpreneurship and Leadership,” and “Educational Reform and Employment.” Visit www.cipe.org/essay to view all winners, read their biographies, and download their winning essays as originally submitted.
The growth in number and quality of entrees testifies to the energy and interest of young people around the world in thinking about reform issues, and many ideas especially from winning essays in both competitions thus far were incorporated into CIPE’s recently published issue paper on engaging youth in policy reform. The paper, as are many of the essays, is as much challenge to youth themselves as to elected leaders, as Asamoah Prince concludes in his essay:
For us to achieve the dream country that all Ghanaians hope to live, we the youth must sacrifice and work hard towards its reality and this can be accomplished only when we equip ourselves with the requisite knowledge and an understanding of our roles as responsible citizens. As a result, politicians and people in authority would be put under constant pressure, holding them accountable for every decision and action. In so doing we would also put our actions, minds and voice into good use for the collective benefit of Ghana.
Published Date: September 14, 2009