Si se necesita un momento catalítico para galvanizar a un gran número de personas, Yemen ha estado en medio de ese momento durante algún tiempo.. Aunque las cosas llegaron a un punto crítico, al menos en sentido figurado, en febrero cuando el país celebró sus elecciones presidenciales. A pesar de que sólo hay un candidato en la boleta, Los yemeníes acudieron a votar., palabras, 'por qué?’
«We participated. We showed that Yemen is different from other countries. And it is our only choice. It is either this, or succeeding in a different way, but in that way, people will die. The elections are also a way of asking if people want Saleh [former president] or not and to prove he is not wanted,» said twenty-year old Marwa, a youth activist who took part in the demonstrations that led to the ouster of Yemen’s former autocratic ruler, President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
For youth such as Marwa, no sólo era la primera vez en sus vidas que votaban, but also they were given the opportunity to engage in the actual electoral process. Antes de las elecciones, el Proyecto de Medios de Vida Comunitarios financiado por USAID otorgó una subvención a la Fundación Holool, una organización yemení sin fines de lucro dedicada a combatir el desempleo y la pobreza, por entrenamiento 1,000 Los jóvenes se convertirán en monitores y observadores electorales.. Tener un propósito múltiple, El proyecto electoral proporcionó empleo a los jóvenes y al mismo tiempo los educó sobre los procesos electorales.. According to a Holool Foundation and its non-profit partner, Resonate! Yemen Foundation’s report about the project, another aim of the activities was to bring the voices and ideas of young Yemenis into the public discourse as they are major stakeholders. Three-quarters of Yemen’s population is under 30 years of age and 46-percent under age 15.
«When I was at the voting station, El periódico estaba frente a mí pero me quedé allí mirando [como si tratara de decidir por quién votar]. 'Estás bromeando?!’ said one girl who was watching me, ‘What is this election for anyway? Sólo hay un candidato!,'» said Marwa, quien sirvió como monitor de las elecciones. «I told her that I knew that, pero aun así era importante porque al votar, we are showing to other countries that we can follow democratic processes and we are doing it to save Yemen.»
durante las elecciones, Los jóvenes del proyecto alternaron entre ser supervisores u observadores electorales., para que puedan obtener el máximo beneficio de la experiencia.. Easily identifiable with their elections’ uniformes, youth stationed at 313 randomly chosen election centers discussed issues with voters and encouraged them to go through with voting. También, otra novedad para Yemen, Se estableció un sistema de SMS para que el público pudiera informar sobre cualquier corrupción., fraude o violencia en las urnas. Youth monitors reviewed the messages on screens with large feeds and filtered them to the relevant election center.
Para mensajes de preocupación, Los observadores juveniles llamaron al centro electoral para que los observadores investigaran las acusaciones y tomaran medidas.. También se publicaron mensajes en un sitio web para que los votantes pudieran mantenerse actualizados sobre las elecciones en tiempo real..
«Al principio, Pensé que nadie participaría y no entenderían. [cómo utilizar el servicio de SMS]. Me quedé impactado al ver al público participar.. Fue la primera vez en Yemen.. Me sentí orgulloso y hablé con mis amigos al respecto y me dijeron que nos dijeran cómo participar la próxima vez.,» said Marwa. «In total we received 9,000 SMS. Incluso los EE.UU.. El embajador se sorprendió! Pensé que si recibimos tantos SMS cuando solo hay un candidato en las elecciones — entonces, ¿Qué pasaría si participara más de un candidato??!»
For a first, overall the February election went off well although monitors did report that 16 centers reported incidents of encouraging potential voters to boycott the elections, 7 election centers reported the bribing of voters and 8 election centers reported voter intimidation. Other incidents involved the lateness in the opening and closing of polling stations. After a year of protests, the early presidential elections marked a beginning of a two-year transitional period for Yemen. During this period it is anticipated that a national dialogue will be held, constitutional reforms will take place, elections laws reviewed and conclude with parliamentary elections.
«Un día, I will be President – although Ambassador or Minister will be ok, también! I could become Minister of Defense,» said Marwa. «People keep saying it’s difficult, but I want to do it because when I was younger I wanted to go into the military, but the only job given to women was checking bags at the airport. I wanted to be a Captain. I want to be high up so I can have more influence.»
As a representative of youth activists, Marwa proves that Yemeni youth require only the basic of opportunities to become engaged in the political discourse that will lead their country on the path of democratic systems. Youths demonstrated through their efforts, innate talent, capacity for hard work and commitment to the task at hand. For the Community Livelihoods Project, it was also an opportunity to fulfill its mandate combining an intensive works program while helping develop the skills of good citizenship.