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We Are One

Country

Malaysia

Region

Eastern Europe and Central Asia, South East and East Asia, South Asia, Western Europe

Programme Summary

This initiative centred around a 5-day dialogue that took place in Malaysia in the summer of 2007 in an effort to bring together young people from Asia and Europe toward a common vision of multiculturalism and peace. Implemented by the World Youth Foundation (WYF) in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Youth and Sports, the "We Are One" process led to a Plan of Action including recommendations for why and how governments, the media, non-governmental organisations, and related stakeholders should work in close partnership with youth organisations toward appreciating diverse cultural backgrounds and traditions. Core goals included:

  • Creating awareness of cultural differences at local, national, and international levels, as well as identifying existing common ground.
  • Increasing intercultural dialogue and building bridges between young people from different faith and ethnic groups.
  • Encouraging initiatives in the field of Asia-Europe youth co-operation through the development of action-oriented youth initiatives aimed at promoting understanding of diverse cultures.

Communication Strategies

"We Are One" drew on face-to-face interactions in order to catalyse dialogue between young people from diverse cultures. Young people from Asia and Europe came together under one roof to get involved in constructive engagement about the challenges they face in creating awareness and promoting cultural understanding, to forge partnerships based on the principle of mutual respect, and to map out their roles as ambassadors of cultures. The 5-day workshop, which took place in Melaka, Malysia (a place described by WYF as "the cultural melting pot"), involved presentations by professors and government officials, youth conversations, interactive (entertaining) activities, and cultural experiences.

Prior to the first day of the dialogue, participants had a chance to stay overnight with Portuguese, Hindu, Chinese, and Muslim families; this was a strategy for sparking respectful sharing of ideas that was to follow in the workshops. In addition to paper presentations and youth exchanges of ideas, intercultural games and craft demonstrations from the various countries were tools for encouraging exploration of different values - as well as places of common ground.

This process led to a youth-generated Plan of Action, which may be viewed on the We Are One page on the WYF website. This document provides specific recommendations for promoting multicultural understanding - especially as it affects youth - specific to each of the following groups: Government, the media, educational institutions, NGOs, private organisations, and religious groups. Here are a few of the suggestions: develop and broadcast more television programmes that promote cultural diversity at prime time (e.g., by using celebrities to draw in a young audience), establish a website portal as the basis for a youth network that promotes multicultural understanding and that links to the members' blogs, organise video-conferencing sessions between young people and the media from different countries, involve youth in national-level committees in charge of developing the education curriculum, provide funding for youth organisations to develop intercultural exchange programmes, and create avenues for constructive debate and dialogue for a better understanding of other religions and faith traditions.

Development Issues

Youth, Intercultural Understanding.

Key Points

Launched in 1994, WYF is an international NGO that promotes research, development, and documentation of programmes working to benefit young people worldwide. WYF is headed by Rt. Hon Datuk Ali Rustam, who is also the Chief Minister of Melaka, Malaysia. Since its inception, WYF has provided a platform for the interchange of ideas among youth organisations both locally and internationally by organising various seminars for youth on areas such as population, HIV/AIDS, human rights, education, environment, and globalisation.

Partners

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Contact

Varsha Ajmera
Chief Operations Officer
World Youth Foundation (WYF)

Physical address:
No. M1-2-35 World Youth Foundation Complex
Lebuh Ayer Keroh
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 584

Melaka
75760
Malaysia
Tel: 606 2320911/0912
Fax: 606 2323911

Source

Email from Varsha Ajmera to The Communication Initiative on July 24 2007; and We Are One page on the WYF website.


Placed on the Communication Initiative site July 21 2008
Last Updated July 21 2008

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