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General Evaluation Report of WFDY
For our evaluation we should always keep in mind the
political and social situation that the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela is passing trough and the internal
and external attempts of imperialism to act against
democratic and progressive youth and people, that were
deeply involved in the Festival have been carrying out
an intensive process of people’s participation and
transformations within the Bolivarian Revolution. It is
also important to take into account the support of
Venezuelan Government to the youth and students movement
in Venezuela in organizing the Festival.
In general terms we consider the 16th WFYS,
which took place from 7 – 15 August 2005 in Caracas,
capital city of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,
under the slogan “For Peace and Solidarity, We Struggle
Against Imperialism and War”, as a great success. It has
been proved by the participation of 17.000 delegates
from 144 countries (with a natural more massive
participation from the American continent) and the high
political level of the discussion held during the
Festival in several events and moments and the
reinforcement of its anti-imperialist character as
decided by the 1st IPM and stated in the
Appeal of the 1st IPM. Nevertheless it would
be always possible to do it better in several aspects.
The success of the Festival assumed even more relevance
since it was the biggest international event ever
organized in the history of Venezuela, which constituted
a great challenge for all the organizers, namely for the
NPC of Venezuela that was comprised of 47 youth
organizations where a lot of them were not so well
experienced on this kind of initiatives. We believe that
the Festival also contributed a lot for the
reinforcement of these youth organizations in Venezuela.
The solidarity with Venezuelan young people and
Bolivarian Revolution and the peoples in struggle all
over the world assumed a substantial relevance on this
Festival.
The role that WFDY played was determinant and
fundamental, not only trough the important task of
coordinating the work of IOC, but also due to its
intensive work and involvement from the first moment in
all the preparatory process, visiting Venezuela,
preparing the IPM’s, involving the regional and
international partners organizations of the Festival,
printing propaganda materials, promoting the Festival,
etc.
Upon the mandate given by the NPC’s of the Festival of
Algeria, WFDY carried out its own evaluation and started
the procedures to find a host for the next edition of
the Festival in cooperation with the partners of the
Festival.
This process started with the Consultative Meeting that
took place in the framework of the 16th
General Assembly of WFDY on March 2003, in Havana Cuba
but a concrete proposal only came to our hands in
September 2003 conveyed by our organization in
Venezuela. After that we were in close touch with them
and this issue was discussed collectively for the first
time in a constitutional organ of WFDY - the
Coordinating Council Meeting of WFDY, which took place
in October 2003, in Budapest, Hungary. This meeting took
the proposal of Venezuela positively and encouraged the
Venezuelan organizations to develop their work on this
field in order to proceed with all the necessary steps.
During the General Council Meeting of WFDY and the
Consultative Meeting held in Larnaca, Cyprus, in January
2004 we presented our evaluation on the proposal of
Venezuela to host the 16th World Festival of
Youth and Students with the information collected by our
visit to this country on November 2003. It was
unanimously decided to organize the Festival in
Venezuela and start all the necessary procedures for its
successful accomplishment.
Then the preparatory process had been initiated but even
before the 1st IPM, WFDY had one more chance
to visit Venezuela in April 2004.
PREPARATORY PROCESS
Besides the Consultative Meetings that had been carried
out in Cuba and Cyprus, respectively in March 2003 and
January 2004 there were four International Preparatory
Meetings.
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The 1st IPM, which took place in June 2004,
Brasilia, Brazil, fixed and approved the place, dates,
slogan and logo of the Festival as well as the Appeal
to the Youth and Students of the World. There was also
first brainstorming on the topics to be focused during
the Festival.
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The 2nd IPM, February 2005, Hanoi, Vietnam,
decided on the main guidelines of the political
program, the participation fees for delegates and the
technical and mobilization aspects. Upon proposal of
the NPC of Venezuela the dates of the Festival were
changed to 7 – 15 August 2005 to make them coinciding
with the 15th of August – symbolic date for
Venezuela for the historical declaration of Simon
Bolivar and the victory on the Presidential
Referendum.
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The 3rd IPM took place in April 2005,
Lisbon, Portugal to finalize the main guidelines of
the political, cultural and sport program of the
Festival and elect the IOC. This meeting also reviewed
the issues regarding the mobilization and preparations
for the Festival.
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The 4th IPM took place few days before the
Festival, in August 2005, Caracas, Venezuela with the
goal to review the perspectives of participation,
final program and logistics aspects.
It is also important to mention that due to the
political situation in Algeria at that time was not
possible to host there the 1st IPM as it is
tradition and we would like. However as decided by the 1st
IPM to organize a Ceremony to handover the flag of the
Festival, which finally took place in November 2004 in
Algiers, Algeria, alongside with a meeting of the
Coordinating Council of WFDY.
We appreciate the work of the organizations of WFDY in
the countries that hosted these international meetings
for their successful outcomes and contribution for the
preparation of the Festival.
WFDY participated in all meetings with delegations and
elaborated consultation with the host organizations on
many proposals and ideas that became part of the
program. WFDY contributed decisively to the
international coordination and mobilization, assisted
the host organizations with all its capacity in their
work, but we still also believe that the difficulties of
communication between the CC/Headquarters of WFDY and
the NPC of Venezuela till the installation of
International Organizing Committee (IOC) created delays
on the development of some aspects of the preparatory
process.
We highlight the essential role of WFDY member
organizations on the work and dynamic they have
developed among millions of young people around the
world promoting the spirit of the Festival Movement
through thousands of pre-Festival activities that took
place. In many countries special materials (posters,
stickers, t-shirts, pamphlets, etc) were printed and
distributed, allowing millions of young people to know
and participate in the preparations, in pre-events and
special occasions. The member organizations took
initiatives for forming NPC’s and worked as well with
the regional and other international organizations, for
mobilizing them. Numerous organizations arranged press
conferences and many media reported on the preparations
on national level.
The technical, financial and other difficulties the
organizations and NPC’s had to overcome for their
participation were serious. Till the last days many
organizations were trying their best, in order to
participate with the biggest possible delegations. The
uncertain facilities that Venezuela committed to provide
in terms of international travel and that were not
totally fulfilled may have mislead some NPC’s and
organizations on their own mobilization for the
Festival. We point out as shortcoming the difficulties
to implement the visits to promoter the Festival in
several countries to be carried out by WFDY and the NPC
of Venezuela. The aspects with visa were also a priority
assumed from the beginning, in which the IOC put a lot
of pressure to solve all the situations. On this regard
we should keep in mind state security aspects that
caused more delays than we were expecting. Nevertheless
the situations were finally solved in a satisfactory way
with some exceptions.
WORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (IOC)
The IOC got elected in the 3rd IPM, which
took place in Lisbon, Portugal on April 2005. There was
delays on the installation of the IOC in Venezuela,
which only start to work from the mid of June 2005,
around seven weeks before the starting of the Festival.
The facilities on the disposal of IOC by the NPC of
Venezuela were in general good and the fact to have the
offices of IOC and NPC of Venezuela on the same building
was very important.
It is worth to mention the collective style of work of
the IOC and the followed procedures, which contributed a
lot for the successful accomplishment of the 16th
WFYS. Collective discussions and conclusions, regular
meetings, work in commissions and working groups,
minutes of the conclusions, contact with the NPC’s,
promotion of the Festival are just some examples of the
positive work carried out by IOC.
The role played by WFDY as coordinator of the IOC was
also determinant and fundamental. It was important for
the coordination of work between the CC/Headquarters of
WFDY and the IOC the adoption and implementation of the
document “Working Mechanism and Mandate of the WFDY’s
Representative at the IOC” by the CC/Headquarters.
However we will not lose anything in the future if the
communication from the CC/Headquarters would be more
intensive and regular. A special effort was also done
between the CC/Headquarters of WFDY and the regional
representatives at IOC.
As negative aspect we underline the absence of several
NPC’s / Organizations that were elected to the IOC and
did not involved themselves on the work, which caused
more difficulties and obligations among the IOC members
that were in Venezuela. It is also important to mention
that it was decided a vacant seat for the International
Union of Students (IUS) in the IOC but due to the
situation of this organization they did not participate.
PARTICIPATION ON THE FESTIVAL
The success of the Festival in terms of participation
and in terms of political orientation has proved the
revitalization of the Festival Movement.
The discussion centers (Conferences, Seminars,
Workshops) were well attended, with numerous of
constructive interventions and contributions, reflecting
the experiences and positions of the organizations,
their struggles and achievements. Analyses were made on
the contemporary world situation and the need to have
broad anti-imperialist unity of the youth and students
of the world, for their rights and needs. Positive
element was the written outcome of the discussions
mainly from the Conferences in form of report, which we
still need to collect. Almost all the planed activities
took place. We also emphasize very positively the three
main political massive events (Opening Ceremony,
Anti-Imperialist Tribunal and Closing Ceremony) occurred
during the Festival. However the participation of more
Venezuelan youth and students during the Opening
Ceremony could be more enthusiastic.
The promotion of the Festival in Venezuela was very
important and determinant for a massive involvement of
the Venezuelan young people. Besides all kind of
propaganda materials published by the organizers we also
mobilized several newspapers, radio stations and
television for the covering of the Festival activities
and its preparations. The International Broadcasting
Center, the daily newspaper of the Festival and the
several bulletins as well as the Press Center were
important centers for the promotion of the Festival, its
contents, activities and participants and outcomes.
Although the political program and content of the
Festival were very positive we also point as
shortcomings the few cultural and sport activities that
took place during the Festival as well as the
difficulties on the work with personalities and
veterans. In this framework we also evaluate that these
aspects were under collective responsibility, it means
the NPC of Venezuela, IOC, and National Preparatory
Committees.
The organizational and logistics aspects during the
Festival faced some problems although did not have big
impacts for the great success of the Festival. The
circumstances of mobility / distances did have cause
some difficulties for an even deeper inter-exchange
among the delegates. Those difficulties were more felted
during the first and second day of the Festival but were
getting better day by day due to an intensive collective
and coordinated work of IOC and NPC of Venezuela, in
which WFDY helped a lot. The difficulties faced by the
Regional Club of Middle East should be taken into
account to not repeat mistakes in the future. There are
also some references of difficulties that occurred in
some places with the simultaneous translation despite
the serious efforts done by the organizers to settle
this issue properly. We underline the important role,
efforts and involvement of the Venezuelan volunteers.
The Final Declaration, which constitutes a step forward
on the analysis, proposals and action of the
anti-imperialist youth and students’ movement, is an
example of the intensive and collective work that was
done. We emphasize that it was started to be drafted
based on the Appeal and finally adopted by the Meting of
NPC’s, which took place during the Festival upon the
work of the IOC. It was positive the oral presentation
of the Final Declaration in the Closing Ceremony as well
as its distribution among the delegates after it. It is
essential to promote it as outcome of the Festival among
the young people all over the world.
The presence of WFDY during the Festival was realized a
step forward comparing with previous editions of the
Festival, after the dissolution of Soviet Union. The
stand and the exhibition of WFDY are a clear example of
this as well the reprinting of the booklet of the 16th
General Assembly of WFDY and its physical presence on
several propaganda materials made by the NPC of
Venezuela and our member and friendly organizations. We
also evaluate as very positive the initiative that WFDY
promoted with veterans of Festival Movement during the
16th WFYS.
WFDY was involved in all discussions and events
actively, but it would be important to have an even
better coordination and preparation for coming
Festivals. This Festival also helped WFDY itself to
intensify its activities in some countries where WFDY
was not present for long time and also helped to have
more new contacts and new working partners.
FINANCIAL ASPECTS
As it was decided since the very first beginning the
whole Festival was organized on a self-financed basis,
which makes it the only international event of this
size. The contribution of the host country regarding the
accommodation, transportation, organization, technical
support and infrastructure was of decisive importance.
Also the decision of the NPC of Venezuela to reduce the
participation fee for each delegate by 50 USD in
comparison with the last Festival was an encouragement
for a more massive participation in the Festival.
It is worthy to mention that we have started the
preparations for the 16th WFYS without
financial resources of any type, there were not any
funds remaining from the previous edition of the
Festival. This situation has demanded a lot from the
finances of WFDY that was obliged to invest its own
funds to start all the preparatory process. This
situation was solved later trough the bearing of these
expenses with the NPC of Venezuela in an equal
proportion.
The financial difficulties of several organizations in
all regions to participate or to increase the number of
delegates, was a big problem. Unfortunately several
organizations could not make it to participate for this
kind of reasons. Despite the enormous sacrifices made by
the organizations for their participation, a number of
countries were represented only with 1-2 delegates,
which is a reality that also occurred in the previous
edition of the Festival.
Through the process of participation we could see many
examples of fraternal and selfless solidarity. Apart
from the hosts of the Festival, who contributed also to
the travel assistance of several delegates on bilateral
level, we have to underline the example of the Cuba,
which included in its delegation youth and students from
several other countries, as a true contribution of
internationalism. In the same sense some member
organizations of WFDY took initiatives and supported
delegates from countries in need, or contributed
directly to the International Solidarity Fund (ISF).
We emphasize the positive steps done with the ISF,
namely the saving of 10% of each participation fee for
this purpose despite delays that have occurred during
the preparations of the Festival. We truly believe that
it is important to maintain this measure for next
editions. The movement of the Festival will have better
conditions to start the process for its next edition
taking into count the saved money that remains at the
ISF bank account (around 40.000 USD).
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Besides that this General Evaluation Report has itself
several recommendations for the coming editions of the
World Festival of Youth and Students there are concrete
tasks to be carried out as follows:
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To print a booklet with the Final Declaration of the
16th World Festival of Youth and Students
in the three official languages of WFDY (English,
Spanish and French).
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To ask our organizations in Venezuela to collect all
the audiovisual materials and all kind of
documentation (video, photos, posters, other
materials) and prepare a material with the political
outcome and photos to be distributed massively. To ask
our organizations in Venezuela for the participants
lists by delegation and country as well as the list of
invited and participated guests.
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To organize a complete archive with all the relevant
information regarding the 16th World
Festival of Youth and Students.
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WFDY to evaluate the opportunity to start the exchange
of opinions and evaluations with all Festival partners
to carry out the necessary efforts to find a host for
the forthcoming edition of the Festival upon the
mandate it got from the NPC’s.
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