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January 9, 2009 - Cultural Diplomacy: A YCI Alumnus' Perspective
I am a YCI alumnus and am currently studying International Development at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. In October 2008 was fortunate to attend a conference in Berlin, Germany entitled Cultural Diplomacy in Africa: A Forum for Young Leaders. When I found out in August about the conference it seemed like a perfect fit for me – at the beginning of the year I spent ten weeks in Tanzania as a YCI volunteer, before working in youth leadership development at a summer camp and beginning my Masters degree in September. Not surprisingly, then, when I heard about the forum I was keen to attend. Fortunately, after applying, I was selected as one of 40 international delegates to attend.
The forum focussed on cultural diplomacy – defined broadly as cultural exchange between individuals or organizations – between Africa and the rest of the world. Over five days a series of panel discussions, presentations, lectures and seminars exposed us to a variety of ways in which cultural diplomacy can, and does, occur in areas such as art, music, sports, educational exchange and business. It was hosted by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, which is headquartered in Berlin.
Throughout the week I was reminded of YCI and how so much of what we were discussing is inherent to the organization. Certainly the programming that YCI undertakes in communities is extremely important. However, perhaps equally important both for volunteers and community members is the huge amount of knowledge that is gained from intercultural exchange. Some of my most profound and memorable moments in Tanzania arose in informal environments, through my interaction with the many Tanzanians with whom I was fortunate to build relationships. I do not think it is coincidental that the most successful YCI programs with which I was involved were the ones in which I built the best relationships with participants.
While the forum’s programme was informative, the highlight of the trip was without a doubt my fellow delegates. The forum was itself an exercise in cultural diplomacy, as it brought together people from seventeen different countries to speak, debate, argue, laugh and learn together. I made a number of good friends from the event, and really cherished the opportunity to hear a variety of perspectives on a wide range of issues. This certainly exposed me to some new ideas and I learned a great deal. Aside from Canada (represented only by me), the other countries from which people came were: Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Egypt, the Seychelles, Mozambique, Libya, the United States, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, China, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Denmark. It was quite the international group!
One lesson I took away from the experience is that Canada does not play as large a role in the world as it could. I was disappointed to realize how little most delegates, all of whom were talented and educated people, knew about our country. I came to realize that this was because they had little reason to notice Canada internationally, which I think is a shame because I know how much Canadians have to offer to the world. This emphasized to me how critical it is to have organizations such as YCI, both to provide assistance in areas in which it is needed and to build a positive image of Canada in the minds of people across the globe.
I hope that I did a good job of representing our country to the other participants. I know for a fact that I was able to expose some of them to new information about Canada and Canadians, while also learning a great deal about their countries and cultures. And in the end, I think, that is what cultural diplomacy is all about.
- Mark Norman, T8-10A Alumnus | | | |
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