På sporet af det danske demokrati

Se alfabetisk deltagerliste med profiler (in English)
See list and profiles of participants (alphabetic)

Sarah Aseru, Uganda
Babu Ram Devkota, Nepal
Hawuleth U Mabuye Faba, Zimbabwe
Irene Sabio Gallego, Spain
Emilio Iglesias, El Salvador
Ahram Kim, Republic of Korea
Linda Knauer, Germany
Zuzanna Krajcikova
Abigail Liparoto, England and USA
Cândido Sara João Milisse, Mozambique
Douglas Musiringofa, Zimbabwe
Yasuhito Suzuki, Japan
Chow Chui Yin, China
Paramita Yonzon, Nepal

Sarah Aseru

Sarah Aseru
Age: 24
Country: Uganda

Tell a story about democracy in your country.

It’s always hard, but when one talk about democracy, people always mistakes you to be a politician. In my own experience, I always tell people that democracy is a way of life, we should be able to know our responsibilities, we should be accountable, tolerant and transparent. We should protect and respect other peoples' rights and participate equally.

What constitutes a democracy?

Democracy should really be part life and be defined as a way of life.

Babu Ram Devkota

Babu Ram Devkota
Age: 25
Country: Nepal

Tell a story about democracy in your country.

Democracy carries a meaning of freedom of speech, easy service from the government bodies and much more. But it is not practiced in Nepal properly.

After I was asked to get passport after selection for this program, I went to the local authority to get it. But for the first day, the local administrator chief was absent. They asked me to come next day. There were student's protests the next day. They banned the authority and public service from working. It continued for several days. After a long practice and attempt I got it. It took more than a week but it is mentioned that "You will get your passport within a single day." I became the victim of malpractice of democracy.

What constitutes a democracy?

Democracy for me is nothing than easy survival. As I have been to rural areas several times before, during and later conflict period, I found people's life in a misery. They are forced to live under poverty.

Politics, being the dominant power in each sector, is unable to carry the sense of democracy for these people. In such condition, what can be the meaning of it? Obviously, it will be easy life, peace, getting service from local authorities easily, getting medicine on time, getting free education and freedom of speech. So, I think some basic rights as mentioned above should be secured which carries the true sense of democracy.

Hawuleth U Mabuye Faba

Hawuleth U Mabuye Faba
Age: 26
Country: Zimbabwe

Tell a story about democracy in your country.

Democracy does not exist for young people like us even at family level, as the adults decide what is right for us. Culturally it is lack of respect to question adults decisions, which makes it difficult even during growing up for us to grasp the practice of democracy. Democracy is still a new practice which needs to be worked on in societies like ours as everyone does things their own way as long as they are in power and interprets it as democracy.

What constitutes a democracy?

Democracy is the full participation of all citizens in political, economic, social and cultural decision-making, through appropriate laws, policies and institutions, processes and attitudes, in a way which promotes equality, the growth of individuals and the wellbeing of communities in the local, national and international spheres.

As a young person democracy is being able to participate fully in my socio-economical and political development in a culture of freedom, equality, respect and tolerance. As a young person being able to say out my views without fear of victimisation or prosecution is democracy. Being involved in formulation of policies and decision making about different issues that affect me, community and national level, is democracy.

Democracy is being young and being able to participate in elections and to choose leaders that can represent our interests as young people on different policies that are formulated.

As a young person democracy is having transparent and accountable leaders who can come back to the community at large and honour up to their actions and decisions. Democracy is young people having freedom of association and coming together to say out their views without fear of victimisation.

Democracy is the protection of young people from abuse by power hungry politicians and respect of human rights of young people and the community at large.

Irene Sabio Gallego

Irene Sabio Gallego
Age: 20
Country: Spain

Tell about democracy in your country.

I belong to one of the Spanish generations that were born and have grown up in peace and democracy. When I was 15 years old, Spain would be demonstrating against the Iraq war. In every city, the vast majority of the population would gather in the streets to protest, and so did the students. At that time I was very naive and I took for granted that the Government would act as the population wanted. However, Spain would support that war and I would learn an important lesson: democracy isn’t perfect, but you can still express your discontent and try to prevent governmental actions that you don’t approve of. All this generated in me a more sceptical approach to politics, but now that I have listened to more people, read more newspapers and studied, I firmly believe that the only way to improve the system is to take part, even if you would prefer to stay aside.

What constitutes a democracy?

For me a democratic system is one that includes everybody, values equally every element of the system and allows them to participate in an equal basis. In order to have a real chance to participate, it’s necessary to have some freedoms guaranteed and to be informed, so that you can be responsible and hopefully consequent with your choices. And the end, which ever kind of democracy you talk about, you will see that it’s a two-side thing, because you are given the rights, you have to make responsible use of them.

Emilio Iglesias

Emilio Iglesias
Age: 24
Country of origin:  El Salvador

Tell a story about democracy in your country.

Three years ago, in the last elections for mayors and deputies, I was part of the bureau receiving votes. Our electoral law says that at the end of the day, all ballots must be set aside. Suddenly, one of the ARENA party teamwork approached us and told us that they had just received some indications from the principals, and that the ballots would not go to be cancelled this time! When I realized what they were trying to do, I immediately got in touch with the other people responsible for carrying the polls and we submitted a request to the prosecutor. Finally we won the battle! Working together, we didn’t allow this case of corruption in our town!

What constitutes a democracy?

I think democracy is a system of government with four key elements: 1. A political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections. 2. The active participation of the people as citizens, in politics and civic life. 3. Protection of the human rights of all citizens. 4. A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens.

Ahram Kim

Ahram Kim
Age: 23
Country: Republic of Korea

Tell a story about democracy in your country?

Korea is a quite new democratic country, because of the government by army until the late 1980s. However, it has experienced an enormous development, although there is still a lot of problems that I can watch. In my opinion, Korea has been in a second democratic wave, and I think my generation is right in there. We did not experience the poor economic and political condition compared to adults. When they were university students, their main job was a demonstration. But the circumstances have changed, so it is very weird if you are interested in that sort of political issues. Every student seems to be interested in only their lives and economic wealth. The attitude to North Korea has been changed similar to it. Actually, it seems to be worse since Koreans choose the new government last year.

What constitutes a democracy?

Equality and diversity, especially in the Korean situation. I think equality never came to my country, and that is the main problem of Korean democracy. Everybody wants to be in the top and it makes them be the same.

Linda Knauer

Linda Knauer
Age: 24
Country: Germany

Tell a story about democracy in your country.

I was born in the former German "democratic" republic, GDR. I was 6 years old as the wall came down and I never experienced this "democratic" system for real, but my parents told me a lot and for now I am pretty happy that I am not forced to live in this state. Like the GDR you can find lots of other states which affirm to be "democratic", but it isn’t very difficult to find arguments that they aren’t. And I must say, I actually felt the closest contact to the democracy I live in, when I travelled through these countries which aren’t able to offer their citizens such a democracy. When I compared my home country with other countries like Russia or China, I often realized that it isn’t self-evident that everybody can find and mention there own meaning and thoughts without any bad consequences of the government. In that moment I became aware of how lucky I am, that I do not have to risk my life for my personal freedom of speech.

What constitutes a democracy?

Free inhabitants who live in a state where you can find freedom of speech, freedom of press (media) and free elections.

Zuzanna Krajcikova

Zuzanna Krajcikova
Age: 23
Country: Slovakia 

Tell a story about  democracy in your country.

In our daily lives in family, we discuss decisions, listen to each other and make decision together so that the solution brings the very best to most of us, if not all of us.

What constitutes a democracy?

People. Definitely. People who are able to compromise, to listen to one another, respect each other and sometimes even do favours for one another.

Abigail Liparoto

Abigail Liparoto
Age: 21
Country: England and USA

Tell a story about democracy in your country.

I am happy to be living in a democracy. All of my friends say they are happy to be living in a democracy. We feel democracy in England is based on collective participation in voting and the right to run for public office. However, I didn't vote in the last election and neither did many of my friends, so I start to question to what extend is it a democracy.

What constitutes a democracy?

Equality and mutual respect lies at the heart of democracy. Without this protection of the individual there can be no real collective good or true democratic process. The equal access and opportunity to participate in the community is essential to the ethos, irrespective of whether it’s applied on a macro or micro scale. However, as I had alluded to in my previous answer, it is not enough to have the right to participate but the actual participation that makes something a democracy.

Cândido Sara João Milisse

Cândido Sara João Milisse
Age: 25
Country: Mozambique

Tell a story about democracy in your country.

During 16 years my country was in a civil war. It wasn't exactly a civil war, because the fight was between to political parties. Many people passed away during this period. Many schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, houses and other infrastructure were destroyed by the war. People were dying because of hunger, poverty, bad sanitation and many diseases around the country. Then at one time both political parties started the conversation to stop fighting, and they agreed to make peace. In 1992 we finally had peace. In 1994 we had the first democratic election in my country. It was a dream coming true, because for the first time people could choose the leader to govern the country. And until now, we can choose democratically the person who must be our president.

What constitutes a democracy?

Democracy is active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life, protection of the human rights of all citizens, and also equalities of gender. We have democracy when we can choose our leader, who will represent us in parliament and tell how they conduct in office. Citizens asking for accountability and receiving currently answers, being invited to participate in decision-making forums and also citizens free to choose which party to support. In democracy, all citizens are equal under the law.

Douglas Musiringofa

Douglas Musiringofa
Age: 23
Country: Zimbabwe

Tell a story about democracy in your country.

From a young person's perspective, I believe that young people are not being given an opportunity to express themselves freely and give their ideas openly in decision-making scenarios. Youths are being represented by people who are old and who do not have experience on what young people go through. The chance for young people to stand up in e.g. local authorities is very limited and in some cases not there at all.

What constitutes a democracy?

1. A political system for choosing and replacing the government / authority through free and fair elections. 2. The active participation of the people, as citizens in politics and civic life. 3. Protection of the human rights of all citizens. 4. A rule of law in which the laws and procedures apply to all citizens.

Yasuhito Suzuki

Yasuhito Suzuki
Age: 21
Country: Japan

Tell a story about democracy in your country.

A nuclear power plant was going to be constructed in my friend's home town. He and his neighbour decided to conduct a campaign to collect signatures. Finally, the government changed their plan and the nuclear power plant was not constructed around this area. As people decided what they wanted and that became real, I think that was democracy.

What constitutes a democracy?

The right that people chose their leader and change their leader when they want to and sometimes make decisions is democracy. If all the people could do what they want to, it would be the best society, but it is impossible because sometimes, what one person wants to do is what another person does not want to be done. So we have to make rules in order to solve problems and to make rules we have to judge. There are too many people in one society and it is not efficient to make rules by all the people in the society so we choose leaders who can think our society and make rules. That can become decisions by majority. To avoid that, leaders have to discuss the problems and what kind of rule they are going to make and judge not for the majority but for the society. In this system, it is really important to choose the leader. Everyone has the right to choose the leader, except the people who cannot judge such as children. As people have influence for what they are going to do, all the people have enough knowledge and intelligence to think about their society. Otherwise, the society will go to the wrong way.

Chow Chui Yin

Chow Chui Yin
Age: 20
Country: China

Tell a story about democracy in your country.

Democracy is in our everyday life, one would be criticised if one is autocratic and so on. Democracy as a concept and practise is deep in every Hong Kong person’s mind. So it’s pretty hard to pin-point out something that's democracy. We discuss every issue together, we have channel to voice our opinions, we can question authorities, we have to right to get a response from an authority and we can contact journalists to dig deep into issues where there are doubts about right practises. In our university, there is a student newspaper who watches over the school and we have a student union to represent us, also we have a board right outside the university to post whatever opinions.

What constitutes a democracy?

Democracy is a means towards fairness. Voices to be heard. Methods to decide the outcome after that, everyone gets their needs rationally satisfied after a fair conclusion was attained meaning. Majority doesn't always win. There has to be room for minority not only to express, but gets something and some fair share as well. It's definitely way more than voting. How seats are distributed is again important. Minor details affect a lot. But I'd say, anticorruption is important in order to attain and make sure democracy works. Journalism is again important, there should be a free expression for every one, and there should be a power sharing within the government. I can only sum it up as it is here now. But everyone should live that out instead of talk and preach about it. the concept of democracy is still to be discussed.

Paramita Yonzon

Paramita Yonzon
Age: 24
Country: Nepal

Tell a story about democracy in your country.

I am currently assisting in the MS country program building local democracy in Nepal and we are currently working on the "Democracy Bus Campaign" right now. I travelled with the bus to the rural areas of Nepal where the six campaigners carried out various awareness campaigns telling and informing people about democracy as a way of life whether through forum theatre, informal civic class or through a civic learning games. It was interesting because we got to meet various people and hear their views on democracy and also share our views on it.

What constitutes a democracy?

There are a lot of things that constitutes a democracy. Usually, when we talk about democracy, people talk about their rights, but we usually forget our duties, and I think that is equally important.