culled from the homesite:
http://studentworldassembly.org

by Akinbo A. A. Cornerstone
Pioneer Nigerian Member, Initiator of HIV/AIDS Walk (especially in Nigeria) and First Chapter President.

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Our Concept of Global Democracy
“Promoting Global Democracy, One Student at a Time”
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We believe that students represent the future of our world’s leadership and aim to encourage them to create a better world by actively supporting the ideals of individual liberty, informed democratic participation and respect for the diverse and equally important views of all of the citizens of our planet.

The SWA provides direct references to relevant books, articles and on-line resources, a discussion forum where members from anywhere can discuss Pressing Global Issues ranging from AIDS prevention to natural disaster relief, and hosts an annual international convention where members can vote either in person or by proxy for representatives whose views best represent their own. Its aim is to inform the leaders of tomorrow by encouraging their own participation and interaction.

The first method of informing and encouraging our members is to give them relevant resources from which they can derive and deliberate the opinions of others, including politicians, journalists, human rights activists, and politically-concerned writers. By following links such as ‘Resources’ or the‘Newsroom,’ members can easily find articles, books and images directly related to world events. Whereas other organizations propagate their own beliefs and opinions to members, the SWA allows and urges our members to read, digest and discuss a diverse range of opinions, so that they can formulate their own views and respect those of others, which are two necessities of true democracy.

After reviewing an eclectic variety of opinions, our members are encouraged to engage in dialectic deliberation. Global Democracy begins with the fostering of free and informed discussion. This is realized through SWA’s Online Discussion Forum.

Using it, members can freely broadcast their own opinions and debate the issues, creating a network of information and participation that is directed only by the guiding principles of the Student World Assembly, which include the beliefs in personal, political and religious freedom, nonviolent action and individual rights.

SWA’s Annual International Convention represents the culmination of the year’s activities. It is also the third method of encouraging democratic participation and action in our members. Every spring the Student World Assembly holds the Annual Convention in a different part of the world where members discuss and pass resolutions on selected issues. Here they also form Committees and elect International Officers for the year. Those who are unable to attend are not left without a voice. They can still vote by proxy, using either our online voting system or contacting our organization directly to select their delegate of choice prior to the election. Regardless of nationality, religion, opinion, or presence, no voice is allowed to be unheard, and all that are broadcast count.

Members are urged to found chapters in their schools or local institutions, so that membership and participation will have no bounds, thereby expanding the reach of democratic action.

The Student World Assembly uses these methods to further the cause of global democracy. Unlike other organizations that share this benevolent aim, we have defined direct methods to achieve our goal. We do not believe that we ourselves will lead the world into an era of free democratic participation, as by its very definition democracy is for the people, by the people and of the people. We inform and inspire.


Nota Bene:
Easy to join and start your own School or Institutional Chapter. Visit the homepage and you are on your way to making history. I believe the wait for you to be informed and inspired is over. We can learn both ways with you on our side...always.