At its International Committee (IC), which took place in Brussels this weekend (16 – 17 June 2018), IFM-SEI elected a new President, Christina Schauer, for a one-year term until IFM-SEI Congress 2019. During the annual meeting, which brought together 17 member organisations and 55 attendees, the organisation also gained a new full member and three candidate members.

Christina, age 22 from Austria, has been involved in IFM-SEI’s Austrian member, Kinderfreunde / Rote Falken, and for two years she has been a member of IFM-SEI’s Control Commission. On her vision for IFM-SEI she commented this weekend: “In times of increased racism, xenophobia, islamophobia, antisemitism and, especially in Europe, a strong rise in right-wing activism… (At IFM-SEI) we are here to work with children and young people despite their socio-economic background. We are the lobby for kids and young people. That is why we need to get louder! Kids and young people are the ones who will be the most effected (in these circumstances).”

During the IC meeting, which brings together IFM-SEI’s members from all over the world, a new member was accepted into the movement and three new candidate members joined. The new member, the Association for Social Democracy from Turkey, is based in Ankara but recently launched projects in Istanbul, bases its activities on socialist values and human rights. The three candidate members are: Girls Excel (Cameroon), Oyoun Masr Association for Cultural and Social Development (Egypt) and Seeds Association for Development and Culture Bothoor (Palestine).

Members voted on several resolutions, including one on the upcoming European Elections in 2019. In the resolution, IFM-SEI notes the worrying context in the run up to these elections: with the rise of the right wing and populism and at the same time progressive and left parties seeing a decline at the national level, there is a serious concern that the European Elections could prove to be a further boost for the right. IFM-SEI acknowledges the flaws in the European Union but notes that it is only with a strong presence of the progressive left that IFM-SEI and similar organisations can continue to advocate for a peaceful, united and socio-economically conscious Europe.

IFM-SEI sees an opportunity to challenge the the current neoliberal agenda and create a socialist society, through encouraging alternative forms of taking part in democracy such as direct action, online activism, participating in demonstrations or involvement in social movements or group work, in addition to voting and traditional party politics. And youth organisations are the perfect space in which to take part in such forms of democracy. IFM-SEI urges young people’s voices to be heard in democracy. In this context IFM-SEI has committed to promote the European Youth Forum’s campaign in the run up to the European Elections 2019, as well as other partner organisations whose campaigns have similar aims.

Keep an eye on our website for more information about our new members!