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nti-corruption campaigns are gaining momentum in many countries of Asia. In Pakistan there is the case of Najam Sethi; in the Philippines there is the Sandigan junks graft raps, while in Indonesia the case of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) vs. the National Police is dominating media coverage.

All this made me think back  to the International Youth Camp (IYC) 2015, hosted by Transparency International Cambodia, during which I was a member of the Indonesian delegation. The camp took place in January 2015 and included 33 young activists from countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Selection of delegates was based on their previous backgrounds showing a strong concern for the future of their countries and a commitment to making a difference. It was amazing to observe anti-corruption enthusiasm coming from the youth delegations of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines.

Local and international guest speakers were also invited to share knowledge about anti-corruption efforts. All participants shared best practices from each of their countries, and discussed the importance of setting up and maintaining a vibrant anti-corruption international youth network afterwards.

The choice of Siam Reap as conference host was perfect. Its a relatively small town with an assortment of hotels to choose from, yet the participants did not stay in hotels. Instead, they stayed in several mixed-country camps.

The camp was a big opportunity to gain new experiences and knowledge. It was the first to be conducted in Asia-Pacific, it was an amazing opportunity for participants to learn how to stand more effectively against corruption and unite across the region for larger impact.

Participants also agreed on a joint initiative and set up the Youth Movement for Transparency in Asia (YMTA), a perennial platform for representatives from each country to meet regularly to exchange ideas and carry forward future joint projects to promote transparency and integrity across the region.  

Annette Kleinbrod, head of the People Engagement Programmed at Transparency International said: '€œIf well implemented, the YMTA will not only benefit the people directly targeted by the activities but also give good impetus to the larger anti-corruption movement'€.

The Indonesian delegation agreed to develop Komik Anti-Korupsi (KAKI) as a way of raising awareness about anti-corruption among young children, helping get complex messages across in a medium they could understand; comics.

Thanks to Forum of Youth Scientists Indonesia (FOSCA), currently the comics have been distributed to hundreds of students in Greater Jakarta, while in Borneo the comics have been published in local newspapers. The KAKI'€™s activities in other parts of Indonesia are ongoing.

Anggi Nurqonita

Jakarta