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Home > WCO 2004 > Korea Events > Youth Seminar |
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Youth Seminar |
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Augmenting the Culture Competitions in Korea and in collaboration with UNESCO, World Culture Open organized the inaugural Youth Seminar on September 14; a forum that gathered over thirty secondary school students and teachers from seven Asian countries for three days of intensive dialogue, relationship building, and interactive learning. During the Youth Seminar, participants explored a variety of intercultural communication techniques, tested newly learned conflict analysis and resolution skills, and discussed the need to create forums for intercultural and inter-religious dialogue in Asia.
Session I featured Patrick Sciarratta, the Executive Director of Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, hosted an interactive session on exploring ways to effect social change on an international level as educators, activists, or NGO representatives. Session II featured the Executive Director of Pakistan 's Interactive Resource Centre, Mr. Waseem Mohammad, in a delightfully interactive look at Interpersonal Conflict, our visceral response to it, and creative arts-based approaches (i.e. painting, role-playing) with which to process interpersonal conflict. Michael Shank, WCO's Director of Public Affairs facilitated the remaining sessions: Session III, IV, and V. In Session III, in small groups participants examined the reasons behind the emergence of conflict and how unfulfilled basic human needs (i.e. meaning, connectedness, security, action, and recognition) can also lead to conflict. Session IV illuminated positive, constructive approaches to conflict resolution and explored the feasibility of peer mediation and restorative discipline models for the classroom. Session V highlighted the need for future peacebuilding initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region with a specific focus on the creation of additional forums for intercultural and inter-religious dialogue.
The Youth Seminar emphasized the value of Asia 's vast cultural diversity, and the concomitant need for intercultural dialogue and exchange, the Youth Seminar initiated the first step in a series of conferences and seminars. It was clear that the Youth Seminar tapped into a movement that is ready and willing. As one teacher put it, "I found it extremely enriching. The exchanges and sharing will definitely be brought many steps further as a fair number of project collaborations are in store. Once again, our heartfelt thanks." |
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