The Follow-up Conference
When
the "Reception Weekend EXPO 2000" finished with some 80 international students
evaluating their promenade around the pavilions, our 25 EXPO trainees started
off their follow-up conference with televised highlight: The presence of their
colleagues, David Korosic, trainee from Italy, and Vanessa Weihbrecht from the
EXPO team in the Sunday morning Talkshow held in the German Pavilion. This Show
already highlighted the topic of the following days: Whether the young people
perceive themselves globally as a "One World Generation" and how they commit
themselves to it.
The conference itself was again two-fold: The first part consisting of an intercultural
re-integration training, the second centring around "applied Sustainability".
Late on Sunday and all day Monday, participants were asked to reflect on their
stay abroad and to exchange among themselves their experiences of cultural differences.
This included the famous "Global Village": Following country presentations by
all participants (dances, slide shows, songs & stories), a fair was organised
where each participant presented his or her culture with typical food and drinks.
Moreover, aspects of cultural re-integration were elucidated as well as was
the question of how to deal with the "reverse cultural shock" participants are
likely to encounter upon their return home.
Tuesday and Wednesday were dedicated to personal commitment to Sustainable Development.
Input on Civic Engagement was given in two introductory speeches: First by Uwe
Möller, Secretary General of the Club of Rome, then by Dr. Felix Gruber of the
German Environmental Foundation.
In the afternoon, a visit to the ZERI pavilion was designated to spark the participants'
own activities. ZERI, the Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives, was founded
by Gunter Pauli, an extremely enthusiastic and passionate "doer". It focuses
on the use of all materials ("no waste is wasted") thus avoiding any refuse.
Gunter Pauli amazed all participants with his convincing story and his visible
will to try (only) the impossible - and achieve it. This day came to a close
with a panel discussion on "German companies and Sustainable Business" which
saw the presence of Cornelius Brökelmann, member of the Team "AIESEC meets EXPO
2000", on the podium. The ensuing Official Dinner completed the day.
On the last day, tools for the implementation of project ideas were given to
the participants. The importance of networks was shown and how they work in
an international environment - like the one just about to be created by themselves.
Moreover, an overview of project management was meant to enable the participants
to take on the challenge of becoming active in their home countries - a wish
that they had shown earlier that day when highlighting the specific problems
in their respective countries and outlining rough ideas of how they would want
to tackle them.
Cornelius Brökelmann
Team "AIESEC meets EXPO 2000"