Five Ws and One H

Wow! The day is finally here, and all the 6 months of preparation will finally transform into some tangible and real. It was very exciting to spend the last two days with conference facilitators, who were undergoing a training, and that is when the realisation hit us - it’s no more something abstract - we will finally be able to match the names with the faces!

Today is promises to be quite crazy. Facilitators are to prepare for the registration, making sure the participants have all the necessary information and tools for the week. Maryna will be working on the final registration lists. Tomas and Katarina will be at the airport greeting participants arriving from all over the world. Kiryl and Persis will also be helping with pick-ups and the bus loading at Rudolfinum.

Tomas has been greeting the arriving participants for a week now, and we are proud of the great job he has done so far. By the way, he is about to get a job at the Ministry of Environment, and actually needs to be at the job interview today. So, this day will be quite hectic for him - we wish him all the luck!

I guess I now need to pack my bag and head to the hotel, where we all will be spending the next 5 days and nights.

I am very much looking forward to the experience!

Cheers

The Inernational Youth Leadership Conference has been listed as one of the international Model UN Programs in the Database compiled by the Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information of the United Nations. As such, the IYLC has been requested to nominate one delegate for the upcoming Global Model UN 2009. This delegate will be selected among the 17th IYLC participants and nominated in January.

The United Nations Department of Public Information will organize the first annual Global Model UN conference in Geneva, Switzerland, from 5 to 7 August 2009.  The event will target the best university-level students from Model UN programmes currently organized around the world.  The theme for the first conference will be “The Millennium Developments Goals — Lifting the bottom billion out of poverty”.

The announcement today coincides with the start of a mobilization campaign to alert Model UN programme coordinators worldwide about the plans for the Global Model UN.  As part of this campaign, the Department of Public Information will work closely with the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) and a range of other supporters, including the United Nations Foundation.

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Kiyo Akasaka, is a strong advocate of Model UN student conferences as a forum for educating young people about the work of the Organization.  “Forty years ago, my participation in a Model UN conference in Kyoto, Japan, inspired me to work on global affairs and try to make a difference in the world.  It is our hope that the Global Model UN conference will build on lessons learnt and accomplishments of Model UN programmes worldwide to increase support for the United Nations efforts to make the world a better place,” he said.

The annual student conference aims to serve as a model of best practices for Model UN conferences.  It will involve youth in all aspects of the planning process and encourage the organization of new Model UN programmes where they do not exist.  Furthermore, it is expected that the Global Model UN will inspire the next generation of leaders to become involved in national and global issues.

The Global Model UN will introduce rules of procedure that closely represent how the United Nations functions and give students access to United Nations officials prior to and during conference deliberations.  The Department of Public Information will also provide training materials and online tools that will allow participants to collaborate using new communication technologies.  The conference will significantly expand and deepen the Department’s outreach to youth, a group which is a top priority for the Organization.

Approximately 1,000 university-level students between the ages of 18 and 24 will be invited to participate in the conference.  It is expected that the student delegates will be selected by their peers during national-level Model UN student conferences during the course of 2008 and 2009.

The Public Information Department will require all Model UN programmes to ensure that the selection of student delegates is transparent and inclusive, including gender balance and representation of various socio-economic backgrounds.  A quota system will be established for each region (Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Western Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America) to ensure wide geographic representation at the conference.

Model UN student conferences are well established around the world.  An estimated half million or more students from primary school to university in more than 70 countries participate in Model UN conferences every year.  The Department is developing a database of Model UNs around the world, which will be posted on the conference website in the near future.  At present, the database includes more than 400 Model UN programmes.

Model UN student conferences are simulations of United Nations forums, such as the General Assembly and its Main Committees and the Security Council.  They also simulate member State bodies of a range of United Nations organizations, including the specialized agencies and the economic commissions.  During the conferences, the students take on the roles of foreign diplomats, debating international crises, negotiating difficult global issues and drafting and adopting resolutions.

To plan the 2009 high profile Global Model UN, the Public Information Department will collaborate closely with partners with a track record of organizing Model UNs, including universities, United Nations associations and United Nations information centres around the world.  It will seek support from partners to fund conference services and the communications plans for the Global Model UN conference.  Costs for travel and accommodation for the student participants will need to be supported at the national level by the private sector or through other fundraising efforts, particularly for delegates from developing countries.

More information can be found on a new webpage: www.un.org/gmun.

We have prepared for you a really busy “work hard – play hard” conference schedule, which means prep time before the simulations will be limited. That is why we suggest that you do some reading beforehand making sure you are on top of things during the simulations. Below, you will find a list of links we suggest for reading:

United Nations Security Council Simulation

a)   BBC: UNSC Profile - Link
b)   BBC: Profile of South Ossetia - Link
c)   BBC: Q&A Conflict in Georgia - Link
d)   BBC: Timeline Georgia - Link
e)   Charter of the United Nations (Articles 22, 26, 33 - 37, 39, 40 – 54)  - Link
f)    UNSC Resolution 1808 (2008) - Link
g)   UNSC Resolution 1781 (2007) - Link
h)   Statement by the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council at a Ministerial Level – Link
i)    Council of Europe: Conclusions on the situation in Georgia - Link
j)    European Parliament Resolution on the Situation in Georgia - Link
k)   Council of Europe conclusions on the situation in Georgia - Link

International Criminal Court Mock Pre-Trial

a)    Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court - Link
b)    BBC: Profile Sudan - Link
c)    BBC: Q&A Darfur Conflict - Link
d)    ICC Prosecutor presents a case against Sudanese President Al Bashir - Link
e)    Summary of the case - Link
f)    Trial Watch – Profile of Omar Al-Bashir - Link

Model European Parliament

a)    European Union Institutions and other bodies - Link
b)    European Parliament: An Overview (incl. Organisation; Powers; Political Role) - Link
c)    Mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol - Link
d)    Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council - Link
e)    (Amending) Directive 2004/101/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council - Link
f)    Questions & Answers on Emission Trading and National Allocations Plans - Link

Panel Discussions are arguably the most inspiring and exciting part of the IYLC. Through the diversity of viewpoints held by the panelists and the inquisitive approach adopted by the IYLC participants, they tend to unveil rather sharp angles of issues that appear quite smooth on the outside. The one may argue that there is no good in revealing such angles, but at Civic Concepts we prefer an objective truth to a subjective silence, and do not believe in taboos that inevitably hinder our common strive for a better world.

It is no secret that the leadership patterns of the 21st century are quite different from those customary in the past. This in it’s turn brings challenges and opportunities that need to be explored and discussed. One of the aspects of leadership of relevance to a contemporary world is gender. That is why we decided to hold a panel discussion titled Leadership and Gender, which we hope will cover a range of subjects, including existing stereotypes on gender in leadership, as well as way of overcoming barriers on the way to equal participation.

We are grateful to our panelists, who will be joining us for this interesting and important discussion. Let me introduce them to you.

Dr. Belle McDonnell

Dr. Belle McDonnell has a distinguished twenty-five year career combining business expertise with teaching experience in psychology, education, organizational development and motivational counseling. Her experience includes substantive training or working with trainers in developing strong interpersonal and personnel management leadership skills in a multidisciplinary team environment.

She has significant experience and knowledge in applying social science research (qualitative and quantitative research methods, evaluation) on findings from demonstration projects and the overall coordination of management for NGO’s, for-profit organizations and education/academic settings.

Prior to joining the faculties of University of New York (Prague), Anglo American College, University of Northern Virginia (satellite) and Vysoka Skola Financi in Prague, Czech Republic, she held various academic and executive management positions. These provided managerial support to staff on research projects documenting program approaches, results, lessons, and proven practices. She is a skilled media relation professional and free lance journalist with expertise in developing media strategy for regional and international sectors of business and non profit organizations.

Dr. McDonnell holds a PhD in psychology from Saybrook Research Institute and Graduate school in San Francisco, California where she specialized in designing and delivering training in multicultural principles and innovative teaching strategies for adult and adolescent learners.

Yvonne Davis

Yvonne R. Davis, President and CEO of DAVISCommunications, is an internationally recognized leadership development coach, sought-out speaker, hard-hitting political columnist, and award winning journalist with 19 years of professional experience. Having traveled to over 50-countries, she is an expert in cross-cultural and global emerging markets, she understands what drives positive change in government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations in challenging times. With an impressive background in communication theory and application, leadership and business ethics, and comparative politics, she creates and implements crisis management and negotiation strategy initiatives that are utilized by the public and private sectors. Ms. Davis is a former appointee of President George W. Bush, and is currently appointed by Governor M. Jodi Rell of Connecticut to the position of Commissioner for the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. An expert in leadership, politics, and international relations, Ms. Davis has been featured and interviewed by The New York Times, BBC, NPR, and many other public media resources worldwide. She is a featured columnist for the Huffington Post, and Arab News. She also writes Op-ed pieces for the Hartford Courant and is featured in Tribune newspapers nationally.

A doctoral candidate for the Thierry Graduate School of Leadership in Brussels, Belgium, Ms. Davis also holds a Master of Science in Leadership and Business Ethics from Duquesne University and a Master of Art in Political Science from the University of Connecticut, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and Political Science from the University of Hartford, graduating magna cum laude. She completed the Masters Class, “The Art and Practice of Leadership,” at the John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Leadership Program at Harvard University. A love for languages, she studied French for eight years, and currently studies Italian with a private tutor and Arabic at the Hartford Seminary.

Natalie Thompson

Natalie d’Aubermont Thompson is a Team Leader at Chatham Financial Ltd, focused on leading business development and marketing efforts in Europe. Prior to joining Chatham, Natalie was the Associate Director of the International Center and Admissions at the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University and worked for the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development in Washington, DC as their NGO & Policy Coordination Officer. She holds a BA in both International Relations and Spanish from Tufts University and an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

It’s the Tuesday night calling! Tuesday night, ladies and gentlemen is the Cultural Night – Your opportunity to “express” your culture to the IYLC Community. Culture can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Cultures form a part of our identity and the places where we come from. This is the night where you get to dance, sing, present, talk, share and do anything you want that you would like to display about your country’s culture ( Sil Vous Plait! Please! Avoid those long Presentation speeches especially as it gets early in the morning and people want to stay awake! )

So…well…here are a few things you could do 

Sing: Music can heal the world. Music is undeniably the greatest cross border exchange and international peoples relaxation and enjoyment parameter and factor   If you have songs to sing – Cultural Night is the Night you can! Btw – Vickie sings well and Matt too - Matt! You will be missed and your guitar too and that gypsy soul song – We shall bask in the glory.

Dance: Right from Indian to Bulgarian, we had some real interesting dancers last time, real wacky, funny and new stuff on the dance scenario

Yes – Souvenirs: I still have that wacky map of Korea and that little frog lapel pin from Puerto Rico. I also appreciated those debating society pens and that real good American candy: P Whoever got that

Pictures and Moving Pictures (Short Videos): Pictures are awesome ways to present stories to the world – powerful means indeed. So if you have interesting clicks – don’t hesitate – bring it on! Good Short Documentaries ( Approx 5 Min Duration ) can also be premiered. Participants had really interesting videos the last time 

Challenge the World: One of the real interesting things that a few participants did in the previous IYLC was to involve everyone in short trivia and activities…one of which happened to be this quiz (The most impressive question from the quiz – Locate Korea (Ah Yes South Korea) in the world map, please note that this particular world map can be appropriately described as the combination of weird but however wacky – One of those things)

The Clause for Awesome Ideas: Your thoughts and imagination are beyond the lines written here…the realm of potential and possibility in you is a reality. You are welcome to be as creative and entertaining you can to a fun loving international crowd!

Cheers to Culture: IYLC Oi! Oi! Oi! 

Peace Harshvardhan 

We live in a world of scarcity and abundance, the two sides of a coin, the blue skies versus the dark night. In this debate, of scarcity and abundance in the pursuit of our answers, we derive the passion of change – a word so powerful that the very question can blind us. The change I believe we need is in something, we call Humanity. The greatest scarcity in the world is not money nor is it food…it is humanity. The very essence on which human society has grown and built itself is something which is gradually and rapidly dissolving into a mixture of absolute chaos and insignificance.

Humanitarianism is, I believe, the foremost frontier of idea and thought that can sustain a civil society. Where this sense of being does not exist; societies, cultures and nations cannot thrive together. In this “International” world, this is our opportunity, this is our possibility and it is in our potential to do and be – a part of that change and that process of awakening. As someone once said- any change significant has always been initiated by a small group of people, I believe it is in these small opportunities that we undergo the process of unshackling our minds from the bonds that confine us.

Initiatives like the International Youth Leadership Conference bring together young people from across the world, irrespective of the number there are always people of potential, leadership, absolute fun and awesomeness! And the conference facilitates an understanding that grows to friendships that you will cherish and which will last a lifetime. It is perhaps one of those small things that the IYLC does for us. It sparks off cross cultural understanding and harmony between small groups of young energetic individuals, however small the change - is significant and powerful and something that you will remember forever embedded with the cobblestones and beautiful mists of Prague, the beautiful capital of the Czech Republic. 

Looking Forward,

Harshavardhan 

The College of St. Scholastica offered its support to Tamta Zhorzholiani, an IYLC participant from Georgia currently pursuing her studies at this renowned US Midwest institution. Civic Concepts International would like to thank St. Scholastica and its Vice-President for Student Affairs Prof. Steve Lyons for providing this generous support to this promising young leader.

The College of St. Scholastica

The College of St. Scholastica is a Catholic Benedictine institution and the only independent private college in northeastern Minnesota. The College was founded in 1912 by a group of pioneering Benedictine Sisters who offered college courses to six young women. Today St. Scholastica educates more than 3,250 men and women and has graduated more than 16,000 alumni. The beautiful St. Scholastica campus provides a small, friendly community that enables each student to participate in a variety of activities. A 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio makes it easy for students to seek individualized academic assistance and encouragement. The College offers 19 intercollegiate athletics programs and more than 50 extracurricular offerings. The activities and services of the Student Affairs division foster a diverse, challenging and mutually respectful environment which provides opportunities for students’ holistic growth, and the integration of curricular and co-curricular learning.

St. Scholastica is consistently recognized for excellence by U.S. News & World Report magazine. The magazine’s 2008 “America’s Best Colleges” ranks St. Scholastica in the Top Tier of regional universities in the Midwest. St. Scholastica has been called a “hidden gem” by the Washington Post.

Murdoch University (Australia) and Ryukoku University (Japan) have joined their efforts to offer support to Vichara Chhy, an IYLC participant from Cambodia stuying in Japan and currently undergoing an exchange program in Australia. We are thankful to both institutions for their shared committment to leadership development and their unity in making the IYLC experience a reality for Vichara.

Murdoch – a leading Australian university

Murdoch University is located in Perth, Western Australia. With a student population of over 15,000 including 3,000 international students Murdoch is a dynamic, modern university with a national reputation for excellence in teaching, research and student satisfaction. Murdoch provides an education that encourages students to think independently and critically and that is designed to foster those qualities of imagination and independence of mind on which professional and personal development depend. Their research work has national and international relevance which, in turn, informs and strengthens their teaching programs, keeping students at the leading edge of their discipline and aligned to current and future industry needs.

Ryukoku – the oldest university of Japan

Ryukoku University, established in 1639, is the oldest university in Japan, and located in Kyoto, the nation’s centre of history and culture, and a former capital city for more than 1000 years. Under the spirit of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, the university has been developing to meet the social demands of the times, and now is a comprehensive university with a student population of over 20,000, encompassing seven faculties such as Literature, Economics, Business Administration, Law, Science and Technology, Sociology, and Intercultural Communication, and also a Junior College.

“Both Universities believe that the International Youth Leadership Conference will provide Vichara with a great opportunity to grow as a citizen of the world. We are proud of her attendance, representing three countries, Cambodia, her home country, Japan where she has been receiving university education, and Australia where now she is enjoying further education as an exchange student. We are also pleased to know that your university in Japan, Ryukoku University, jointly support your conference trip with us. We wish her all the best in her activities at the IYL Conference in Prague”, says Takeshi Moriyama, the coordinator of the Japanese Exchange Program at Murdoch University.

One of the most distinguished Czech scholars and publicists, Professor Jan Urban, is confirmed to conduct a workshop at the 17th IYLC. Professor Urban will share his expertise in the field of journalism and mass media, and will talk about his unique international experiences and the highlights of his fascinating career. We thank him for offering this opportunity to our participants, and are impatiently looking forward to his appearance at the IYLC.

A lot of you might be in Prague before the conference starts and I thought it would really be absolutley handy for you to have a small insight into prices of random stuff in Prague. Prague is not an expensive place ( Unless you really want to live “the posh life” and go to all the expensive places and get your purse/wallet/pocket absolutely ripped off! ). The touristy places as always and as everywhere do have touristy prices but still pretty much managable and decent. :-) 

Here are some random estimates: 

Beer: 24Kc to 40 Kc 

Metro tickets: 18Kc, 20 Kc, 26Kc etc 

Sovineir T Shirt: 200Kc to 350Kc

Water!!: 25 to 40Kc!

Lunch/Dinner: 90 to 250Kc ( Pizza: from 80Kc, )

WIne: 40Kc to 60Kc 

Coke: 20Kc to 35Kc 

Mc Meal: 75Kc to 100Kc 

Coffee: From 30Kc 

Sovineir Hoodie! : 500 to 700Kc   

Hostel Overnight: 350 to 500Kc 

A Walk in the streets of Prague: Free

Moments in Charles Bridge: Priceless 

This was a random list of prices for what I had paid when I was there If things change - I am really not responsible Anyway! Cheers to Praha and the Cesky Koruny or in other words the Czech Crowns. I would really advice you to convert your Euros to Crowns at the airport. If you manage not to: The hotel does have an exchange counter and change points are available in the city but If I were you I would convert them at the airport. The Czech Republic has its own currency and IT IS NOT THE EURO. A few shops do accept Euros but do get ready to get a rip off of an exchange rate for the stuff you buy - if you dare to bring the euro. 

Hope the stuff is helpful. Nz Dravi! Its dinner time here