This is the first time I have time to sit in front of a computer and write without any pressure. The sun is shinning very brightly and there is an atmosphere full of enthusiasm all around Yıldız Technical University, located in Istanbul.
I am attending 5th World Youth Congress 2010, held in Turkey. I am participating as a young journalist. This event is described in the official webpage as ‘an organisation gathering young people from all over the world on the issues of Youth and Development’.
It has been very interesting since I arrived to the university, on the 31st of July. Meeting young leaders, getting to know about their respective countries and what they are doing in order to change their communities is something that is changing my global perspective. I see so much interest in making the world a better place, working especially in developing countries.
Yesterday I decided to interview a few delegates, in order to know their own goals and expectations of the congress are (Come on, they are future leaders of the world!)
So these were the results I got:
“I hope that I can gain more skills related to my role (as a young journalist). Another very important thing would be working together on order to become a part of the change by giving solutions to world’s biggest problems”.
Febi Purnamarasi, Indonesia
19 years old
Young Journalist
“Well I am an environmentalist. The biggest expectation I have is getting new friendships, networking, collaboration with people from all over the world, new ideas from the workshops and to get a deeper knowledge of Istambul”.
Edvin Pacara, Albania
27 years old
Activist
“My first expectation is to get contacts that I can pass in Germany, to involve more people so they can make projects together with my town”.
Friederike Pöschl, Germany
22 years old
Activist
“I organize cultural festivals in my hometown, we give a space to people to develop themselves and get a space to say what they want. I would like to experience in this congress what it would be like working with people from other countries”.
Andres Fernando Martínez, Ecuador
21 years old
Activist
The motivation and the spirit are obviously there. Will the results turn out to be as positive?
I will keep you informed about the results!
(Andrea Arzaba, August 2010)
Cool - tell them all about Nigeria’s matchsticks and the victory over Guinea worm…
Make the best out of it Andrea! I have some friends there working as young journalists too.
hey, Im kında proud you’ve put my name on your artıcle and ıt also appeared on yesterday’s newspaper. yeayyy….
anyway, Im so lucky to be ın thıs congress. ınspıte of those complaınts durıng the congress, Im enjoyıng ıt very much. and thıs congress has opened up my mınd. I want to make a change because Im stıll young (I’m 19 y.o. anyway). and I’d lıke to contrıbute more to my country and I’ve realızed that I should keep my culture well because many partıcıpants here are ınterested wıth my culture.
and for Andrea, keep on wrıtıng!
I know we’re good journalısts
gracıas <3
Sounds like a very interesting initiative, make the most of it!
and please, keep interviewing them and share with us the most important comments you get
Hi Andea, I can feel enthusiasm and good vibes from your post. They say it is a half of the victory.
You are right - engaged, educated and enthusiatistic youth are our future. So keep them coming
.
I love such events buzzing with ideas, opinions and exchanges of all kinds
Wow! Love it!
Thank you guys! I will be writing very soon about it
looking forward, Andrea. What were the outcomes?