World Regional News
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Your Up with People experience: Participate in the ‘2010 Youth Summit on Green Entrepreneurship’ 
Last week, Bruce Roudebush, Up with People’s Director of Business Development Europe represented Up with People during a preparatory meeting for the “2010 Youth Summit on Green Entrepreneurship” organized by the Generation Europe Foundation. Generation Europe wants to empower young people to find the sustainable entrepreneurs within themselves. The Youth Summit, to be held in Brussels, 8th-10th of December 2010, will bring together 100 young people from around the world with 100 entrepreneurs, academics and representatives of the public and private sectors. Participants will dialogue and share inspiration through creative, interactive sessions and discuss business ideas, also benefitting from master classes in green entrepreneurship. They will also learn about and share innovative work methods and effective tools to help create a sustainable future. In the lead up to the Youth Summit 2010, the Generation Europe Foundation has launched activities designed to reach out to young people and other stakeholders. Up with People alumni have gained experience in areas being addressed by the summit… understanding that ‘entrepreneurial’ applies not only to business development. In fact, Generation Europe also uses the term more broadly, to imply creative thinking, innovation, initiative and ‘a way of being’… in short, making a change in the world! As alumni, you have the chance to acquire visibility before and during the summit, by participating in the debates on-line and acquiring recognition to participate in the Summit. Depending on our level of involvement and expertise, Up with People could potentially also be called upon to organize a workshop or set up an info-stand, next to the venue, to promote our activities. Generation Europe is clear in explaining that they have ambitious objectives, but in the spirit of co-creation, the Youth Summit 2010 team is partnering with leading organizations and networks involved in youth, sustainability and entrepreneurship. The online Co-Creation Community is an online platform which serves as an incubator where members can develop and build partnerships, projects and relationships or explore green business ideas. The members of this community will rate each other’s contributions to the ongoing dialogue and debates – the more valuable ideas and information are shared, the more “wealth” will be created. Instead of money, they are using “Ants” to value the quantity and “Owls” to value the quality of contributions that resonate with members’ values, inspire or entertain – all the qualities communities need to prosper. Members of the community will also vote for the candidates they want to represent their countries and regions in the Youth Summit 2010. Thanks to this, we really would like to invite Up with People Alumni to be actively involved in the discussions and debates, in fact they could even attend the summit in December, at Generation Europe expenses if, of course, their projects or ideas are rated enough. By setting up this partnership, Up with People could benefit from Generation Europe Foundation’s existing extensive international youth network of 6,000 members in 60 countries. Generation Europe has showed a strong interest in collaborating with us also in our future events, so this could be a very first step for a fruitful partnership.
http://www.generation-europe.eu/summit2010/ http://www.generation-europe.eu/ |
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Chris, who travelled with CAST E 1989, considers himself a global citizen and a proud Canadian by birth (Ottawa, Reflections from Kabul: The Beginning Dear Friends, It has been close to four months since I returned to Afghanistan to begin my year long assignment as a Senior Development Officer with the Canadian Embassy in Kabul. Now feeling fully immersed in my new environment, I thought it timely to share with you my observations and reflections on the experience to date. I plan to build on this introduction as the days, weeks and months reveal new people, places and events. Creating a personal newsletter was not as easy as I initially conceived it to be. Here barely a third of my term, I feel as though I could already write a novel on my reflections so far. Upon my return, I may just do that. I grappled with a basic question: “How does one best harness all those disparate and cumulative impressions and distill them in a way that allows people on the other side of the world to literally “feel” the experience in a mere few pages?” No easy task, but I would rather embrace this small challenge with gusto than keep it all bottled inside. This is the final result. I hope the words that follow now and hereafter will, at a minimum, stimulate a deeper appreciation of the inspirations, challenges and opportunities facing not only aid workers and diplomats but, more importantly, Afghans themselves in this turbulent yet fascinating country. At a more personal level, I wanted to offer you a direct window into my world here as I have so far experienced it. As a servant of the Crown, I will gracefully abstain from sharing any personal views on the current mission itself or the conflict. As time passes, those views may change or become more entrenched. Though I profess having strong opinions on many issues, sharing those here at any length is beyond the scope and space of this newsletter. Besides, some things are best left for lively discussion over a cup of coffee or a pint of beer. I dedicate this newsletter to my Milums… Christopher Braeuel, Kabul, Spring 2010 It all began with a choice and a decision
When I agreed in the Spring of 2009 to assume responsibility for managing Canada’s education development portfolio in Afghanistan, I knew I would experience one of the most intense, challenging and enriching years of my life. I also knew that the chance to help young Afghans gain more access to better education may not pass my way again in this lifetime. As news of my decision broke, reactions among friends, colleagues and strangers varied from shock (“Are you crazy? Do you have a death wish?”) to cautious blessings (“Well you have my support if it’s what you want to do…but please be careful…”) to respect and appreciation (“That’s great, go forth and make a difference.”). Irrespective of individual views, I understood where each was coming from and, in equal measure, why I had made the decision in the first place. Ann Frank once said: “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before trying to improve the world.” As a devout global citizen committed to development, these words resonated strongly with me. The time was right to do the right thing, and the opportunity was there. I grabbed it. I was well aware of the potential risks to my personal safety. Having studied the history of decades of conflict in Afghanistan, spoken with friends who served there, and having kept abreast of regular news updates, I was purged of any naïve thoughts to the contrary. Despite the obvious risks, I was not deterred or afraid, and there are a few basic reasons for this. First, I was driven by a higher goal to contribute to the rebuilding of a country that desperately needs assistance. I saw myself as having two choices. I can either rest on the sidelines, observe the crisis from afar with cold indifference, trepidation or hopelessness, or I can be part of an effort to try and give the next generation of Afghans a fighting chance at a better future. For me it boiled down to a burning sense of moral and professional duty, and not even the risk of injury or death was going to extinguish that fire. My second reason stems from disillusionment with the Taliban and the devastation they have inflicted over the years. In lieu of trying to build a free, functional and prosperous society, they rule by terror and oppression and offer no hope for young Afghans aspiring to live in peace and with opportunities to eke out a decent livelihood. While the Taliban did provide some stability in the aftermath of the civil war, the regime is hardly a solution for the future. Do the majority of men, women and children of this country not deserve a better alternative? For me it is simply worth being on the right side of this struggle, and the perils are secondary. Lastly, there is a side of me that truly believes a higher power is watching out for me and, whatever calculated risks or dangers I may encounter, I will be protected. Call it faith or blind confidence, it is what it is.
Arriving to my new world
Having arrived in Kabul in the early morning of January 7th, the unique feel and smell of the air immediately brought me back to my first visit the previous summer. There was a damp, heavy mist that was somehow pleasant and welcoming, and the tall, snow capped mountains piercing the clouds were worthy of an oil painting. As I was escorted from the airport to the Embassy in a bullet proof vehicle with tinted windows, sporting my armored vest, my jet-lagged eyes were once again drawn to the dusty streets and chaotic bustle of locals with their bicycles, carts and donkeys preparing for the long day ahead. At that moment, I had a brief flashback to the afternoon I signed my acceptance letter at headquarters, thinking: “I’ve come this far, let the journey begin…”. Upon arriving at the Embassy, surrounded by sand-filled bags, barbed-wire, armed guards and bomb-detecting canines, it was a short while before my soon to be predecessor whisked me downtown for a 9:30am meeting with officials at the Ministry of Education. I dropped my bags off in the entrance of the Embassy and off we went. As I gradually settled in to my new life over the following weeks, each day presented a new affirmation that I had made the right choice to return for a longer mission. I was meeting interesting, dedicated and motivated individuals from all walks of life. Bright and committed Afghans working as teachers, engineers and project managers for the national government and local non-governmental organizations, fellow diplomats and international aid workers from across the globe and the United Nations, and young Afghan students with desire, ambition and an admirable glimmer of faith in their eyes. I was immersed in an inspiring culture of raw energy and commitment, mixed with a dash of refreshing optimism. Everyone knew why they were here, what was expected of them and what they had to accomplish in the interest of the country and its people. The spirit was infectious and I found myself adapting with equal vigor. The long work days seemed to pass effortlessly and the adrenalin was high. It wasn’t long, though, before my adrenalin took a temporary detour and I was confronted with a dark reality of life in Kabul. It was the day my eyes were opened. January 18th: The day my eyes were opened
I recall walking to work on the morning of January 18th from my humble quarters to the Embassy a short distance down the road. The Afghan National Police and Nepalese Gurkhas greeted me with their usual warm and friendly smiles, the sky was blue and the temperature strikingly warm for a Kabul January. As I was entering the Embassy yard, I suddenly began to hear the echo of multiple snapping and cracking sounds in the near distance. It reminded me of the rifle fire I used to hear when training at the ranges with the Canadian militia back home many years ago. I didn’t think anything of the noise and moved on. As I proceeded casually through the gate, one of the security personnel burst through the door behind me, rushing past me with a cold sweat, yelling insistently: “Everyone inside the Embassy, now!”. I knew at that point that my ears had not deceived me. Something was going down and it wasn’t good. As I entered the main building of the Embassy, I ran to the second floor and onto the balcony of a colleague’s office to see what was transpiring. The sound of actual gun-fire began to escalate and the sounds were emanating from all directions. Afghan construction workers on roof-tops outside the perimeter were casually looking on as though it was just another day in Kabul. I then heard a loud blast in the distance, one you could feel, followed by an upward stream of thick, white smoke that seemed over 100 meters high. Within 10 minutes, another explosion occurred producing a similar burst of smoke. I learned shortly thereafter that it was suicide bombers who had detonated after exhausting all their ammunition fighting the Afghan National Army in the downtown core. That morning a group of twenty or so Taliban insurgents from the South had executed one of the largest and best coordinated attacks in Kabul since 2004. Their target was the Afghan authorities and the violence that ensued lasted close to eight hours with several buildings blown up, many injured, dozens dead and the city centre in a state of complete pandemonium. The city was peppered with Army tanks and armoured vehicles, the National Army and National Police working in tandem to try and control the mayhem. We were expectedly confined to the compound that day and, as I was sitting on the bench in the garden trying to process the day’s events, a young local staff member passed me on her way home for the day. “Are you all right, Chris ?” she asked, sensing my deep contemplation. “I’m doing okay, thanks”, I responded with a half-baked smile. As she continued walking, she turned back and remarked with a pleasant smile, “ This is the life here, you will get used to it…”. That night I lay in bed thinking about how dispassionate I had often felt back home during the evening broadcasts of violence in Afghanistan, Sudan and other fragile states. Now that I was living in one, the reality hit me and I began to feel what it is like to witness such violence first hand, albeit from a slight distance and in the confines of my workplace. I had no second thoughts and I was neither afraid nor deterred. It did, however, open my eyes wider to an obvious reality I had lost sight of in my first few weeks of freshman utopia: that for every hundred people I meet who are willing to rebuild the country over many years, there are a few who will try and bring it down, and when you least expect it. “Damn cowards”, I thought to myself. I guess we’ll just have to fight back harder by doing more and better for the cause of good. Life in Kabul
Driving around Kabul on any given day is like a fast-track journey through time. The city has a certain historic charm to it, though at any moment one can observe the battle scars of decades of war on the bullet ridden walls and crumbled buildings. The streets are always busy with vendors, merchants, police, soldiers, children, farmers on donkey-carts and pedestrians moving in and out of traffic as though oblivious to the chaos around them. The rich ethnic and cultural diversity of the city is visible in the distinct features of its many inhabitants. Hazaras, Tajiks, Kuchis, Uzbeks, Turkmens, Pashtuns, Nuristanis, Baluchis and others have all made Kabul their home over time and all seem to interact in harmony. My impression of Afghans so far has for the most part been very positive. They are a generous and resilient people and I'm inspired by the determination of many, particularly those with whom I work closely, to create positive changes in their country. Despite living in the third poorest nation in the world, the bonds of friendship and family keep many alive with a sense of purpose. It often makes me wonder why it is that in a society with so little I see more smiling faces than I do on any given day back home, a land of plenty. I do, however, sense behind the friendly Afghan smiles an obvious and natural fatigue with the quarrels and conflict that have crippled this country far too long. The locally engaged personnel I work with on a daily basis are bright, erudite and keen to advance in life. It is my hope that they will one day be able to contribute their intellectual resources to a stable nation willing and able to embrace their talents and ambitions. Development in Afghanistan, like anywhere else, will only be sustainable if the current and future young generations have the opportunities to make a meaningful difference. I, along with other foreign aid workers and diplomats, are simply here to help work with them to give those opportunities a fighting chance. When I leave the Embassy compound on a work day for meetings in the city with officials at the Ministry of Education or with local implementing partners, or to visit a school, I’m routinely accompanied by two bodyguards in an armoured vehicle. The rides are always pleasant and, over time, I’ve become well acquainted with the men responsible for keeping me safe each time I venture outside the wire. To no surprise, I’ve gradually developed a deep respect and reverence for those men entrusted with keeping me alive and secure each day. They will tell me with a humble smile they are simply doing their duty, but I never take for granted why they are here and that my ability to do my job depends on them. Sometimes, during a placid evening after a long day’s work, we’ll take time to laugh and bond over beers and cigars before retiring.
Life on a compound is a unique experience and you can eventually acquire a taste for the familiar surroundings, though some may find the monotony painful and stifling to a degree. My daily world is surrounded by dust-ridden roads, concrete barriers, check points, sand bags, barbed-wire, guard dogs, soldiers and police. Co-existing with this reality, however, are daily reminders of life’s splendor. Those subtle pleasantries that keep you sane. Each morning as I walk outside my quarters to embrace the day, I am greeted by small stray cats eager for some attention and the Spring lilac bushes are never shy to show off their fresh aroma that reminds me of home. The blue skies are serene and invigorating and there is never a shortage of birds willing to sing up a storm. As the day welcomes the evening, the deep orange sun strikes the vast, surrounding mountainscape until it descends through the distant haze into obscurity. It is always a pleasure to witness. The regular haunting sound of the daily calls to prayer resonates throughout the neighborhood and often times you can hear the stray dogs in the distance chiming in as the religious chants echo over and over again. Each day I awaken and each night I retire, I take the time to reflect on these small pleasures. They keep me human. Here in Kabul, we are able to relax each Friday and this is received with relief and jubilation every Thursday evening. With a rigorous work schedule and ample overtime throughout the week, Fridays are deemed sacrosanct and we use them to get our bearings, decompress and reconnect with ourselves and each other. For those of us with talents and hobbies, there is ample time and opportunity to bond with likeminded people and to nurture your craft. I personally enjoy playing percussion, either with fellow band members or solo. I typically begin my Friday mornings catching up on the week’s world news, with BBC and Al Jazeera being my favourite sources, and listening to my cherished jazz CDs from the 1950s to present. If the sun is shining, as it usually does, then I enjoy a leisurely read of The Economist or the Foreign Affairs Journal by the pool side adjacent to our recreation centre. The peacefulness of such moments is priceless and I savour each minute in solitude. By mid-day my body is craving some physical activity. Friday afternoons are often reserved for street hockey and we enjoy playing together or against teams from the local military bases. It is good fun and great for team-building and friendly relaxation. When I have additional time and peace of mind, I do my best to learn Dari, the local language. Typically, my Friday evenings are reserved for reading my favourite books, listening to the sweet sounds of Brazilian Bossa, and skyping with friends and loved ones, especially my Milums, Evisa, in Syracuse. What never ceases to amaze me, though, is how truly fast these cherished Fridays pass by. I have yet to experience a Friday that felt too long.
Parting words
As I sit here writing my final words for now, I’m reminded of the wisdom of an aged philosopher who once remarked: “He is a blessed man who does not grieve over the things he has not, but rejoices over the things which he has…and, if one cannot rejoice over that which he has, he should at least be thankful for what he has escaped.” If I should wish to leave you with any lasting food for thought, it is this. Regardless of the trials and tribulations you may face, or the despair you may sometimes feel, truly cherish the life you have each day and value everything in it. There are millions in Afghanistan and across this precious chunk of shared real estate we call “our world”, who would risk their lives to have the very peace, freedom, opportunity and prosperity we routinely take for granted. We’ve been privileged to reach the upper echelons on Maslow’s hierarchy, yet we somehow remain sheltered from the plight of those straddling the lower levels. Take a moment to reflect on this next time you receive notice that your property taxes have risen a few percentage points, or you didn’t get that promotion this time around, or your stock portfolio took a beating. After a mere four months, this country has opened my eyes wider still and any illusion I may have had of returning home the same man has vanished. The year ahead will take me to Kandahar in the South and other provinces in this vast land. As the days, weeks and months reveal new people, places and events, it will be my pleasure to share those experiences with you as I have here. I wish you all the very best and look forward to reconnecting. As they say in Afghanistan: Tashakkur zindabayshin wa bamaani khuda (thank you and farewell for now).
As a follow up on the many and ongoing requests we receive from our alumni in which you ask for concrete ways to help European admissions for the July 2010 and the January 2011 casts, we would like to indicate 3 specific ideas for your action to help make a difference! Social Media Tools - Guidelines
I want to share those production notes from director and producer MA Shumin (www.mashumin.com) about the UWP Commercial producation in Berlin, Germany with you. I feel honored to know this many dedicated and talented alumni and foreigners who invested all their energy, time and efforts to make this commercial happen. The filming on March 27th was certainly a very stressful 11,5 hours - for many of us connected with hours of waiting in the cold before their chance of seconds of fame - but it was so rewarding! Following people have been involved: Producer / Director: MA Shumin Here are the production notes: http://notesfromtheeastvillage.blogspot.com/2010/03/up-with-people-commercial-making-of.html And here is the commercial:
Dear Friends, We are very excited that we have about 70% of our students coming from 20+ countries, thus giving the students a great opportunity to learn from one another. As you may recall, we had a cast in Europe for 10 weeks last fall and that tour had tremendous success for all parties including our sponsor Vattenfall who were celebrating their 100 Anniversary with a five country 14 city tour of which UWP was a part. During the tour we received great support from many of our alumni who like you are now wondering when we’ll return to Europe., I want to reassure everyone that we are planning to go back to Europe as early as one year from now… Many of you also know we have a relationship with MCI (based in Brussels) , who help us handle all of our recruiting and admissions counseling activities in Europe. This relationship plus our desire to be back in Europe regularly has led us to invest in more resources and representation in Europe. First of all, it is my great pleasure to announce the appointment of Robert Cygnaeus to the International Board of UWP as the Chair of the European Advisory Board. Robert is an alumnus from Sweden who has never lost his passion for the organization and has already sent two of his children through the Program. Robert attended his first Board of Director’s Meeting last week in Colorado and has already made significant contributions to the organizations strategy. It is also my pleasure to announce the appointment of Bruce Roudebush as Director of Business Development for Europe, based in Brussels. Bruce’s role will be to rebuild our presence in Europe and help us identify the best sponsors and partners for our future tours there. Bruce is also an alumni, (who also worked for UWP in Europe for several years after travelling as a road staff member with his wife Kate) his oldest son Michael is traveling right now with Cast A 2010, and his daughter is planning to travel this coming summer. Please help me welcome both Robert to the Board of Directors and Bruce to the Business Development Team of Up with People they will be work closely together and with other members of the Advisory Board going forward, as well as with Kristina T’seyen and her team from MCI. Send students to have the Up with People experience via Kristina & her team, and bring an Up with People cast to your town via Bruce…they will be happy to hear from you. Thank you and I wish you and your families well
Sincerely
Alain
Contact Details
Student Recruitment & Admissions Sponsorship Development MCI Brussels Brussels kristina@associationhq.com BRoudebush@UpwithPeople.com |
“I recall the words of J.Blanton Belk in my Cast Yearbook. He encouraged everyone after theiryear of travel to continue being leaders in their communities, countries and the world. He challenged us to be "sparks" and "flames" that could ignite peoples' hopes and longings for world peace. Mr. Belk's words inspire me to this day.”- Christopher Braeuel
