Sub.: Asian Youth Leadership Forum for Democracy (AYLD) 2017 - Renewing Asian Youth Power for Democracy Venue: Gwangju and Seoul, South Korea Dates: May 13-20, 2016 It is a great pleasure to invite you to the first Asian Youth Leadership Forum for Democracy (AYLD) to be held in Seoul and Gwangju from 13 to 20 May 2017. The Asia Democracy Network (ADN) is organizing the AYLD 2017 in cooperation with, local host, the May 18th Memorial Foundation in Gwangju (15-20 May 2017) and ADN’s local members and partners in South Korea. Under the theme “Renewing Asian Youth Power for Democracy”, participants are expected to share their experiences of social and political engagement and to discuss common challenges to democracy in Asia to come up with a strategic action plan for advocacy and strengthening a youth network for democracy in Asia. Approximately 30 youth leaders (aged 18-30) from South, Southeast, and Northeast Asia will be invited to participate in the AYLD 2017. Please refer to the outline of the tentative program below. Your suggestions regarding the content of the program will be very much appreciated. A more detailed program agenda and background documents for review will be provided for selected participants in due course. The AYLD 2017 will be held in South Korea this year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the June Democratic Uprising of 1987 following the EDSA revolution of People Power in the Philippines in 1986. It will be a historical opportunity for participants to have first-hand experience of the dynamic democratic process in South Korea as shown in a series of candlelight rallies and demonstrations throughout the country since Oct. 2016. All those interested can apply online at https://goo.gl/forms/lip4pwEH5NTBKgDk1 in addition to a submission of a short essay according to the guiding questions. The deadline for application is 1 March 2017. The selected applicants will be notified on or before 10 March 2017 with a more detailed program, background documents. All participants are expected to arrive in Seoul on 13 May (Saturday) and leave Gwangju / Seoul on 20 May (Saturday) 2017. Please contact Soo Yon Suh, Coordinator of ADN asiademocracynetwork@gmail.com if you have any questions or suggestions. For more information click here. In solidarity, Anselmo Lee Secretary General, ADN