Countries in Asia Pacific
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Continued Learning and Action Program (CLAP)

The CLAP initiative under IMCS Pax Romana has empowered young Catholic leaders across Asia Pacific through online workshops focused on social justice and action. By building the capacity of student leaders, it continues to inspire meaningful change and strengthen grassroots leadership in the region and beyond.

Inspiring Young Catholic Leaders for Social Change: The Impact of the CLAP Initiative

IMCS Pax Romana Global Initiative for Students Empowerment, Action & Solidarity (GISEAS) is an initiative created for the revitalization of the Global Catholic Students community. CLAP is one of the flagship programs of IMCS Pax Romana under the global initiative which is focused on capacity building of masses of student communities on various social concerns through online workshops.

IMCS Pax Romana Asia Pacific secretariat has conducted online capacity building programs under the CLAP initiative since 2020 in the Asia Pacific region. Being true to the main objective of the initiative, CLAP sessions have been able to reach out to a big number of grassroot leaders from IMCS national movements as well as other organizations. As Asia Pacific Catholic students, we are humbly proud that the CLAP initiative has been able to contribute to the capacity building of the young leaders of other like minded organizations in Asia Pacific, as well as other regions.

As a democratic organization, thematic areas & also the methodologies followed in the sessions are being decided through the consultation of the IMCS member movements in Asia Pacific.

This program has provided student leaders from national movements with opportunities to learn more about social justice issues, analyze their current context, examine their social action approaches, redefine their spirituality of action, and seek clarity for better action through virtual interactions and expert assistance.

Continued Learning and Action Program (CLAP) workshops were done virtually every month for twice a week with different topics. The workshop facilitators started each session with the understanding, analyzing the issues and ending the workshop with tools to act as young leaders. All sessions had a significant impact on the participants directly and indirectly.

Objectives:

01

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the prevailing circumstances and their multifaceted impact on marginalized communities, encompassing social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions.

02

Identify and analyze critical issues and challenges that demand attention and action.

03

Evaluate the effectiveness of existing initiatives undertaken by movements and civil society organizations in addressing these issues.

04

Formulate innovative strategies and approaches to address identified problems and challenges.

05

Enhance the capabilities and capacities of student leaders, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to drive positive change within their communities and beyond.

Active programs

Leadership Development:

Online and In-Person Workshops:

Process and Outcome:

1. Online and In-Person Workshops:

IMCS CLAP will offer both online five-day workshops and in-person five-day workshops.

2. Participant Limit:

Each workshop, whether online or in-person, will accommodate a maximum of 35-40 participants. 

3. Capacity Building:

The primary objective of IMCS CLAP is to enhance the capacities of key leaders within national movements. This includes equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to influence policies, oversee follow-up programs, and catalyze student-led actions

4. Leadership Development:

IMCS CLAP also seeks to identify and nurture the emergence of second-line leaders within the movements, ensuring a sustainable and robust leadership pipeline.