Thursday, August 23, 2007
First day of IC
Yesterday the conference finally started with the first sessions. The day was focussed at “Achievement”. After watching the Electrolux presentation we started with a nice game that we shall definitely use for the introduction of the next generation of AIESECers. Talking about what achievement meant for us personally the delegates discussed what we would like to achieve and how we see our role in AIESEC.
The agenda continued with talks about how we see our own generation (generation Y) compared to former generations like that after the war and “baby boomers”. Gabitza then gave us a long plenary session about the AIESEC way, so about vision, values, the impact we will have and other elements like English as the sole official language. The proactive part was about comparing different organizations and which would be needed most. Cadbury Schweppes closed the plenary before we went out to dinner. Rob, the WENA GN director, presented us in a very basic way how to measure AIESEC’s success; the soccer team of Manchester United functioned as an example.
Since it was the first day it was easy to follow – mainly because it was very basic and easy. J
The interesting part took place in the evening. Hajo, Nadine, Kathrin, Jonas (who visits the conference), Neda and I had a meeting with the MENA MCPs and Tamer (GN director). It was the best meeting since last year that we had with the MENA countries about the extensions Germany would like to start.
Jonas and Neda talked about the current state in Iran; they will apply for Official Extension during this IC. A lot of questions followed their introduction. Kathrin was next in giving an update about the Ofek team and their journey they had at the end of July. I closed with an update about Palestine. The questions that were asked were mainly about which other students’ organization exist, how visa and NGO regulations look like as well as the economic situation. Especially the last one is very important since MENA is afraid that if we once will become official and full member we might have to close down in the future because of lack of support from the economy. Another important issue is the media approach. Being afraid the extension could somehow be misunderstood we are asked not to publish anything, even not as part of general information about our LC.
After that long day I went directly to bed. J
More information about the conference I will give you later; right now I am sitting in the morning plenary and try to wake up. So sorry for a more boring report of yesterday…
All the best from Istanbul
