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November 26, 2006
Message from the president of AIESEC International
It is time to raise SNs...
It is time to provide more individuals more unique experiences...
It is time to boost up our organizational performance...
The time is now!
It is time to provide more individuals more unique experiences...
It is time to boost up our organizational performance...
The time is now!
Visit the Global People Development community
Visit the Global Exchange community
And watch the message from the PAI...
(you have to be logged in AIESEC.net in order to see it)
Posted by Kiko at 22:46 | 2 comments
CEE stories live from Moscow
Just looking at my last post and realizing have not been the best blogger lately :) Getting back to Estonia, the last few weeks took me to increasingly cold Vilnius, traditional London, beautiful Slovenia, I spent amazing moments in Bosnia discovering recent history as well as travelled for 3 days to spend great time with amazing people discovering my new horizons and currently sitting in an amazing city of Moscow after coming back from Red Square and recording a short AI dance performance in front of Kremlin to a surprise of many people passing by. But, promise is a promise right directors ? :)
In Slovenia I had a chance to see one of the most beautiful places in the middle of mountains, lake Bled (so that makes it two beautiful lakes in two months) which is something that needs to be seen, strong recommendation ... In Bosnia I had walked the streets of one of the most diverse cities I have seen, tested by the war and violence in just more than 10 years ago and also seen small but beautiful town Mostar with a bridge that connects over two sides of a river as well as two worlds and two stories. Had a chance to see a movie about Sarajevo that explains it all, maybe it was my Nafaka, who knows ...
Than I did something I would not do the second time, took a train from Sarajevo to Dnepropetrovsk in Ukraine (monday night to thursday morning) which was definitely something I will remember for a while challenging but beautiful at the same time. I have met and found friends in New Horizons conference, I have realized that AIESEC spirit can overcome just about anything that can seem to be challenging at first and I have met one of the most believing and passionate people in AIESEC.
Everywhere meeting great AIESEC people with a common goal and varying possibilities, skills, knowledge and conditions to realize it. But all trying their best which is what it is all about at the end. Things can go in many directions and sometimes surprise us with events we would not ever expect. And not always everything we find or experience is pink. But this is also life, this is also AIESEC, the only difference is how we approach these and are able to come out stronger, wiser and more capable to make the seemingly impossible happen. You know, at the end of the day it is about our everyday experience, about who will we become and what we will do, at the end of the day it will be us AIESEC people that are living our AIESEC and alumni experiences and who will define if we are successful or not in achieving what we want to achieve as an organization with the words leadership in its identity.
Sending greetings from beautiful and inspirational Moscow, three more countries to go, three more countries to discover, three more stories to tell :)
In Slovenia I had a chance to see one of the most beautiful places in the middle of mountains, lake Bled (so that makes it two beautiful lakes in two months) which is something that needs to be seen, strong recommendation ... In Bosnia I had walked the streets of one of the most diverse cities I have seen, tested by the war and violence in just more than 10 years ago and also seen small but beautiful town Mostar with a bridge that connects over two sides of a river as well as two worlds and two stories. Had a chance to see a movie about Sarajevo that explains it all, maybe it was my Nafaka, who knows ...
Than I did something I would not do the second time, took a train from Sarajevo to Dnepropetrovsk in Ukraine (monday night to thursday morning) which was definitely something I will remember for a while challenging but beautiful at the same time. I have met and found friends in New Horizons conference, I have realized that AIESEC spirit can overcome just about anything that can seem to be challenging at first and I have met one of the most believing and passionate people in AIESEC.
Everywhere meeting great AIESEC people with a common goal and varying possibilities, skills, knowledge and conditions to realize it. But all trying their best which is what it is all about at the end. Things can go in many directions and sometimes surprise us with events we would not ever expect. And not always everything we find or experience is pink. But this is also life, this is also AIESEC, the only difference is how we approach these and are able to come out stronger, wiser and more capable to make the seemingly impossible happen. You know, at the end of the day it is about our everyday experience, about who will we become and what we will do, at the end of the day it will be us AIESEC people that are living our AIESEC and alumni experiences and who will define if we are successful or not in achieving what we want to achieve as an organization with the words leadership in its identity.
Sending greetings from beautiful and inspirational Moscow, three more countries to go, three more countries to discover, three more stories to tell :)
Posted by Jarda at 22:15 | 0 comments
November 24, 2006
Live from Suomi
Lights on, lights off
No, this post is not about the infamous game that reared its ugly head at a conference some time ago. This is about the coolest working space I have ever been in - the Network Oasis in Joensuu, Finland where we are having an ECOLEAD partners workshop. One of the features is the motion activated lighting system - lights on when you come in, lights off when you leave. What you do when the lights go on depends in some part on you and also on the space you find yourself in.
Network Oasis was designed to encourage interaction, collaboration and innovation. As soon as you enter, you can see where your colleagues are on a live projected plan of the building and you can also access their profiles, how long they have been there and a wealth of information about them on the touch screens that are in strategic places all around.
There is a creative meeting room, perfect for brainstorming with green floors, high chairs, colourful markers and clay. Once you have some brilliant ideas, you can have a round table discussion about it in the blue room next door. For quick decisions and those dictators among us, there is another room where one person sits at the head of a rectangular table, in a comfortable chair and the rest are perched on small stools at the sides.
If you have always wanted to feel that you are going somewhere at work, you can grab a colleague or two and get into the train compartement-like rooms. They are soundproof too, for those deep discussion that you only get into when you are on your way somewhere with friends.
Those who don't want to work in the open space areas (blue and quiet open space for the concentrated ones, orange and noisy open space for the ummm... ER team) can use the offices that even have a bed for that afternoon nap.
Then there is the fully equipped kitchen, the auditorium with triple projectors for IC-style presentations, the sleek cafeteria area with a fireplace and of course (it is Finland after all) a sauna.
The only thing they miss? A ping pong table!
Sorry, Winnie
Besides having the chance to explore the brand new Network Oasis, we also had the chance to cook up some exotic dishes in the kitchen.
Since coconuts and palm trees are only a few hours' drive from home in South Africa, I have always had a slightly different view of exotic - things like the Winter Olympics, fur coats and outdoor ice rinks. But no matter how you look at it - cooking bear meat is pretty out there!
Yes, Bear Meat. My sincerest apologies to Winnie the Poo, Yogibear and teddy bears all over the world.
Bear meat is a delicacy, even in this part of the world. A steak in a restaurant can cost up to 200 Euros. One of the workshop organisers' brother has a hunting licence, she brought us a small part of the result and this is what we made:
Meatballs from bear, pork and beef:
700g minced bear meat
700g minced pork
700g minced beef
2.5dl bread crumbs
6 eggs
1l milk
2tbs salt
1. Mix milk, salt and bread crumbs. Leave for 15 mins.
2. Beat eggs and add into the mixture
3. Mix meat into the mixture
4. Make round balls with wet hands
5. Fry in butter in a frying pan
6. Eat BEAR.
GRRRRRR.
(Disclaimer: I asked if they are not endangered around here. They are not.)
No, this post is not about the infamous game that reared its ugly head at a conference some time ago. This is about the coolest working space I have ever been in - the Network Oasis in Joensuu, Finland where we are having an ECOLEAD partners workshop. One of the features is the motion activated lighting system - lights on when you come in, lights off when you leave. What you do when the lights go on depends in some part on you and also on the space you find yourself in.
Network Oasis was designed to encourage interaction, collaboration and innovation. As soon as you enter, you can see where your colleagues are on a live projected plan of the building and you can also access their profiles, how long they have been there and a wealth of information about them on the touch screens that are in strategic places all around.
There is a creative meeting room, perfect for brainstorming with green floors, high chairs, colourful markers and clay. Once you have some brilliant ideas, you can have a round table discussion about it in the blue room next door. For quick decisions and those dictators among us, there is another room where one person sits at the head of a rectangular table, in a comfortable chair and the rest are perched on small stools at the sides.
If you have always wanted to feel that you are going somewhere at work, you can grab a colleague or two and get into the train compartement-like rooms. They are soundproof too, for those deep discussion that you only get into when you are on your way somewhere with friends.
Those who don't want to work in the open space areas (blue and quiet open space for the concentrated ones, orange and noisy open space for the ummm... ER team) can use the offices that even have a bed for that afternoon nap.
Then there is the fully equipped kitchen, the auditorium with triple projectors for IC-style presentations, the sleek cafeteria area with a fireplace and of course (it is Finland after all) a sauna.
The only thing they miss? A ping pong table!
Sorry, Winnie
Besides having the chance to explore the brand new Network Oasis, we also had the chance to cook up some exotic dishes in the kitchen.
Since coconuts and palm trees are only a few hours' drive from home in South Africa, I have always had a slightly different view of exotic - things like the Winter Olympics, fur coats and outdoor ice rinks. But no matter how you look at it - cooking bear meat is pretty out there!
Yes, Bear Meat. My sincerest apologies to Winnie the Poo, Yogibear and teddy bears all over the world.
Bear meat is a delicacy, even in this part of the world. A steak in a restaurant can cost up to 200 Euros. One of the workshop organisers' brother has a hunting licence, she brought us a small part of the result and this is what we made:
Meatballs from bear, pork and beef:
700g minced bear meat
700g minced pork
700g minced beef
2.5dl bread crumbs
6 eggs
1l milk
2tbs salt
1. Mix milk, salt and bread crumbs. Leave for 15 mins.
2. Beat eggs and add into the mixture
3. Mix meat into the mixture
4. Make round balls with wet hands
5. Fry in butter in a frying pan
6. Eat BEAR.
GRRRRRR.
(Disclaimer: I asked if they are not endangered around here. They are not.)
Posted by Jeanne at 16:20 | 3 comments
November 23, 2006
The sounds of the AI Office
Sound #1 The IS Developers: The sound of Silence
Sound #4 The phones and computer keyboards: A part of the environment
-Mairi arranging the coming country visits
-Me being called by the Coordinators of different partnerships or Petr from some bus, train, plane or very soon spacecraft, as he tends to be on the road we changed to call when he is travelling as then he has time to talk.
-Many people more that I don't know of, but they make the phone ring
-Everybody typing non stop
So... if you want to know what is happening in "The Kitchen" go to the IS Team Cooking Blog (cooking.myaiesec.net). There you can have all the updates on our new IS and the adventures of the IS team with the IS Developers. It is very much for the techie population around, but it is written quite simple so other mortals can understand as well :)
The System developers are in our office since last Monday for a month... and surprise... they are silent. As they are most of the day inside the board room (that following the entire cooking analogy they decided to call "The Kitchen") getting all the necessary input from our IS team to develop our new system we don't notice them much, nor they notice much of us outside...
Sound#2 Laura and Gabiza singing
We realize the IS developers and IS team are still here when a couple of times a day they come out very quietly for a cup of coffee or print outs... and probably they know we are alive as they can hear Gabiza and Laura singing.... oh, and let's not forget Damaris who sometimes joins the choir, so as Dey. Laura accepts her singing desease, so as Damaris and Gabiza will deny it I bet... but she can't as she doesnt even hear herself singing and hhhhmmming with the headphones on all day very loud, making me wonder how can her ears tolerate (same as Ondro). Oh... Abhishek is in auditions for the singing club.
Sound#3 Desai missing Gee
Of course the person suffering the most because of the abscence of the IS team "out here" is Amit Desai, who is missing Gee his ping pong partner, and who you can hear screaming with elegant indian accent the exact second the door opens "Geeeeeeee!!!!!", "Geeeeee duuuuude! When can we play?" and Gee goes by, leaving Desai the hope to play at lunch, the time when the sound of the ball is accepted by all the office, and doesn't drive some close to insanity.
Sound#2 Laura and Gabiza singing
We realize the IS developers and IS team are still here when a couple of times a day they come out very quietly for a cup of coffee or print outs... and probably they know we are alive as they can hear Gabiza and Laura singing.... oh, and let's not forget Damaris who sometimes joins the choir, so as Dey. Laura accepts her singing desease, so as Damaris and Gabiza will deny it I bet... but she can't as she doesnt even hear herself singing and hhhhmmming with the headphones on all day very loud, making me wonder how can her ears tolerate (same as Ondro). Oh... Abhishek is in auditions for the singing club.
Sound#3 Desai missing Gee
Of course the person suffering the most because of the abscence of the IS team "out here" is Amit Desai, who is missing Gee his ping pong partner, and who you can hear screaming with elegant indian accent the exact second the door opens "Geeeeeeee!!!!!", "Geeeeee duuuuude! When can we play?" and Gee goes by, leaving Desai the hope to play at lunch, the time when the sound of the ball is accepted by all the office, and doesn't drive some close to insanity.
Sound #4 The phones and computer keyboards: A part of the environment
-Mairi arranging the coming country visits
-Me being called by the Coordinators of different partnerships or Petr from some bus, train, plane or very soon spacecraft, as he tends to be on the road we changed to call when he is travelling as then he has time to talk.
-Many people more that I don't know of, but they make the phone ring
-Everybody typing non stop
So... if you want to know what is happening in "The Kitchen" go to the IS Team Cooking Blog (cooking.myaiesec.net). There you can have all the updates on our new IS and the adventures of the IS team with the IS Developers. It is very much for the techie population around, but it is written quite simple so other mortals can understand as well :)Posted by Mo at 12:02 | 0 comments
November 22, 2006
Few thoughts ...
A post that is two weeks old, lost it somewhere and got reminded that it mind be good idea to publish it, thanks Svitka :)
...
Currently sitting on a train from Maribor to Ljubljana in Slovenia, full of impressions after visiting 1st LC meeting of LC maribor, LC that has a long history, challenging present and uncertain future. On invitation from LCP I came to speak in frontof few new members and current EB to try to give in 30 minutes all the beauty that AIESEC had for me in past 5 years, all theinspiration, development, challenges and experiences I had. Just 30 minutes for all of this, just 30 minutes to help people seewhat took me 5 years to discover. Why? Because it helps. It helps the overworked EB that puts so much hope in the new generationand tries to make things happen after some of them are in AIESEC for few months. It helps to new people that have big question marksin their heads. How much time? What is AIESEC? What will I do? Am I able? Will I manage? Will I like it? All these questions andmany more that will come and that are integral part of every AIESECers mind now matter what position and how much experiences he or shehad before.
All around the world new members, old members, OCPs, team leaders, EBs, MCs all are going through this, it is the timeof the year when face of majority of local committees completely changes with new people coming in. They are our future. They arewhat will stay when we are alumni for a long time. They are people that will lead AIESEC in the future. Or ... will they?
Every year one thing makes me excited and sad at the same time. Excited because I see so much potential, curiosity and energy. Sad because I know that most likely, over half of these people will not be in AIESEC in less than one year ...Why? Good question ... What helps people to stay? What to do to change this? How not to lose this energy, potential, passion and allthese people that can, but will never do? I know there are many answers to this and the retention debate has been spoken about manytimes in the past.
But still let me share few thoughts coming from my experience for all you people around the world that now have a beautiful chance to influence what the future of your LC, country and ultimately of the people around you will be.
- be there for the people : be available to help understand what is AIESEC. Why YOU are there. Why have YOU stayed. Be there when they have questions that nobody else can answer and challenge them to find these answers together.
- make things simple : AIESEC, what we do, concepts, initiatives, identity, all these things do not need to be complex, hard or fluffy. They have very real and practical implications, find them yourself and give them to others. Make it simple, make it practical, connect itto tomorow and the days after. Connect it to you and your experience. Explore it together and discover yourselves in it and become excited how simple and inspirational this is.
- get excited together : be a team. Newies, EB, OCPs all are part of LC team. You have different roles, tasks and responsibilites but same goal to make your LC more performing, sustainable and exciting committee. Take pleasure from small successess first. Enjoy the timespent together working, achieving, challenging and laughing together. Enojy overcoming obstacles, things will no be always easy but whenelse to learn how to deal with these challenges than right now, in AIESEC.
- speak and communicate : most of the problems I have seen in AIESEC were while people stopped listening, understanding and talkingto each other. Challenges, misscommunications, problems, different points of view, happy moments, successess they will all be there as part of your experiences. Everyone has them. Speak about them, explore and share them, find solutions and live this together.
- set high goals and strive to achieve them : no one likes to fail, and we want to learn how to make things happen right non only speak about how things can be. And that is different. It takes time to explore dead ends, time to find the right ways to achieve the goals. But ... that's why we are in AIESEC :)
- enjoy the experience : it will never come back. It is just for once. Make things fun. Play. Experiment. Create. Laugh. Inspire. Laugh about yourself, the experience about your mistakes and successess. We are here to enjoy as well, never forget that.
- choose your approach : choose your attitude. You have 365 energy units for your year. Do you use them to achieve? Do you use them foryour learning and learning of others? Do you use them to create something and leave things behind for people to come? Do you use them to inspire and give confidence? Do you use them? Or ... do you waste them to complain, doubt, make others feel bad and less confident on theirway to self-discovery. Your choice, no one else will make it for you ...
- discover AIESEC : look around and see the beauty of available opportunities. See them and use them. For you, for the others. Get inspired and inspire.- think about the future of you, others and your LC/country : what are you leaving behind? people, energy, inspiration, finance, sustainable processess that work, experiences that are quality and quantity, challenges that are met and goals that are achieved? Good ...this should stay behind you. Find focus and assume that responsibility ...
All of these I would recommend to you. Or maybe just a few. Or just one or none. Your choice, as you wish :) This all was and is AIESEC for meand maybe you can find yourself somewhere there as well, no matter if you are in AIESEC for few years or few days. To LC Maribor, to MCs, EBs and members all around the world all my best in making it happen ...
Hugs,
Jarda
...
Currently sitting on a train from Maribor to Ljubljana in Slovenia, full of impressions after visiting 1st LC meeting of LC maribor, LC that has a long history, challenging present and uncertain future. On invitation from LCP I came to speak in frontof few new members and current EB to try to give in 30 minutes all the beauty that AIESEC had for me in past 5 years, all theinspiration, development, challenges and experiences I had. Just 30 minutes for all of this, just 30 minutes to help people seewhat took me 5 years to discover. Why? Because it helps. It helps the overworked EB that puts so much hope in the new generationand tries to make things happen after some of them are in AIESEC for few months. It helps to new people that have big question marksin their heads. How much time? What is AIESEC? What will I do? Am I able? Will I manage? Will I like it? All these questions andmany more that will come and that are integral part of every AIESECers mind now matter what position and how much experiences he or shehad before.
All around the world new members, old members, OCPs, team leaders, EBs, MCs all are going through this, it is the timeof the year when face of majority of local committees completely changes with new people coming in. They are our future. They arewhat will stay when we are alumni for a long time. They are people that will lead AIESEC in the future. Or ... will they?
Every year one thing makes me excited and sad at the same time. Excited because I see so much potential, curiosity and energy. Sad because I know that most likely, over half of these people will not be in AIESEC in less than one year ...Why? Good question ... What helps people to stay? What to do to change this? How not to lose this energy, potential, passion and allthese people that can, but will never do? I know there are many answers to this and the retention debate has been spoken about manytimes in the past.
But still let me share few thoughts coming from my experience for all you people around the world that now have a beautiful chance to influence what the future of your LC, country and ultimately of the people around you will be.
- be there for the people : be available to help understand what is AIESEC. Why YOU are there. Why have YOU stayed. Be there when they have questions that nobody else can answer and challenge them to find these answers together.
- make things simple : AIESEC, what we do, concepts, initiatives, identity, all these things do not need to be complex, hard or fluffy. They have very real and practical implications, find them yourself and give them to others. Make it simple, make it practical, connect itto tomorow and the days after. Connect it to you and your experience. Explore it together and discover yourselves in it and become excited how simple and inspirational this is.
- get excited together : be a team. Newies, EB, OCPs all are part of LC team. You have different roles, tasks and responsibilites but same goal to make your LC more performing, sustainable and exciting committee. Take pleasure from small successess first. Enjoy the timespent together working, achieving, challenging and laughing together. Enojy overcoming obstacles, things will no be always easy but whenelse to learn how to deal with these challenges than right now, in AIESEC.
- speak and communicate : most of the problems I have seen in AIESEC were while people stopped listening, understanding and talkingto each other. Challenges, misscommunications, problems, different points of view, happy moments, successess they will all be there as part of your experiences. Everyone has them. Speak about them, explore and share them, find solutions and live this together.
- set high goals and strive to achieve them : no one likes to fail, and we want to learn how to make things happen right non only speak about how things can be. And that is different. It takes time to explore dead ends, time to find the right ways to achieve the goals. But ... that's why we are in AIESEC :)
- enjoy the experience : it will never come back. It is just for once. Make things fun. Play. Experiment. Create. Laugh. Inspire. Laugh about yourself, the experience about your mistakes and successess. We are here to enjoy as well, never forget that.
- choose your approach : choose your attitude. You have 365 energy units for your year. Do you use them to achieve? Do you use them foryour learning and learning of others? Do you use them to create something and leave things behind for people to come? Do you use them to inspire and give confidence? Do you use them? Or ... do you waste them to complain, doubt, make others feel bad and less confident on theirway to self-discovery. Your choice, no one else will make it for you ...
- discover AIESEC : look around and see the beauty of available opportunities. See them and use them. For you, for the others. Get inspired and inspire.- think about the future of you, others and your LC/country : what are you leaving behind? people, energy, inspiration, finance, sustainable processess that work, experiences that are quality and quantity, challenges that are met and goals that are achieved? Good ...this should stay behind you. Find focus and assume that responsibility ...
All of these I would recommend to you. Or maybe just a few. Or just one or none. Your choice, as you wish :) This all was and is AIESEC for meand maybe you can find yourself somewhere there as well, no matter if you are in AIESEC for few years or few days. To LC Maribor, to MCs, EBs and members all around the world all my best in making it happen ...
Hugs,
Jarda
Posted by Jarda at 14:50 | 2 comments
Postcard from AIESEC in Pakistan
Hey,
today we received a very nice postcard from AIESEC in Pakistan that just made our day. Thank you very much guys. We love you too :)
Posted by Kiko at 14:12 | 3 comments
November 19, 2006
Nigeria : unique and challenging
He who survives in Nigeria can survive anywhere in the world! My trip to Nigeria started very well, but later on allowed me to live the most difficult experiences of my life. I arrived to Abidjan international airport on October 22 to have the pleasure to see I was traveling first class (thanks you Simone, you are the best travel agent of the world:). I checked -in quickly enough to enjoy the comfort of the VIP lounge.
During the 12 days of my visit, I’ve been through everything: I have been close to a plane crash, I’ve traveled 28 hours by road to chair the national conference, I have been a first hand witness of a crisis that resulted on the firing of the whole MC team by the LCs, have been packed at the back of an old bike in the heart of Lagos, going to a meeting with a CEO of a company making 1, 2 billion dollars turnover, I have eaten Eba and Egusi soup, I have had stomach aches for 48 hours, and so on.
During the 12 days of my visit, I’ve been through everything: I have been close to a plane crash, I’ve traveled 28 hours by road to chair the national conference, I have been a first hand witness of a crisis that resulted on the firing of the whole MC team by the LCs, have been packed at the back of an old bike in the heart of Lagos, going to a meeting with a CEO of a company making 1, 2 billion dollars turnover, I have eaten Eba and Egusi soup, I have had stomach aches for 48 hours, and so on.
Nigeria is the country I know better among the ones I’m visiting; still I was not expecting such an emotive visit. The encounter with Nigeria will definitely remain one of the moments I'll cherish all my life; such talented and bright minds getting along with crap and mediocrity was thrilling.
I've seen delegates showing up to the morning plenary with more than two hour late, but working eight hours in a row without eating or even drinking a glass of water! I've seen people attending sessions until 11 pm without complaining! Waking up to realize there's no water for a bath, no breakfast available but still go for the morning plenary with a broad smile.
On personal level, I learnt more on how to build a supportive environment and help others feel comfortable and energized.
As I leave Nigeria, I can’t help thinking about the key lesson I learnt here: Love is all that matters, the rest is vain. If you read these lines, you are lucky. Cherish this moment and make something of every minute of your life. Identify your way to give and receive love. Mine is a total dedication to each and every AIESEC country I visit.
Posted by habib ewane at 03:24 | 2 comments
Abidjan: life despite war
I reached Abidjan International airport at 10: am to receive the most unexpected welcome parade: thousands of people dressed up in white clothes and parading on the road. As I was telling myself I certainly did no deserve such a VIP reception, I quickly learnt a top musician just passed away and was given a presidential tribute.
To become such a national icon, the deceased 33 years old singer promoted a philosophy of life called sagacity, meaning wear fancy clothes, drink only champagne smoke big cigars, show off in the streets by throwing big bank notes on the floor so people can testify your success and worship you!
This country should be awarded the excellence price for enjoying participation. May be it has to do with the external environment. Cote d’Ivoire is supposed to be on war status, but never before it has been so productive in the domain of arts and music.
Split into two since the rebels took over 60% of the country four five years ago, it has two governments with universities functioning in both regions with the same academic calendar and the same lecturers, making it possible to have degrees recognized in both sides of the country.
The situation is so normal that some Ivorian even think no one wants the end of the “war”, apart from the population, and even! Politicians are satisfied with their share of the national cake, and they would bite whoever jeopardizes it. In the rebels’ zone, simple sergeants found themselves appointed colonels in less than one month, and want the guarantee they will keep the same status (with the prestige and fortune that go along) before they drop their arms.
On the government side, ruling Abidjan is an unexpected source of satisfaction, so no way those requests can be accepted. Since the conflict started numerous international mediators, including head of states have committed to bring the enemies on the negotiation table, but they all failed. The only way-out is the elections, but no one knows when they are going to be held.
The three local committees of AIESEC operate in the same city, Abidjan, the political and economic capital, but the influence of politics is very visible in the organization. No prevision can be made beyond 2007, as everyone is afraid of the presidential elections dragging the country back to darkness.
To become such a national icon, the deceased 33 years old singer promoted a philosophy of life called sagacity, meaning wear fancy clothes, drink only champagne smoke big cigars, show off in the streets by throwing big bank notes on the floor so people can testify your success and worship you!
This country should be awarded the excellence price for enjoying participation. May be it has to do with the external environment. Cote d’Ivoire is supposed to be on war status, but never before it has been so productive in the domain of arts and music.
Split into two since the rebels took over 60% of the country four five years ago, it has two governments with universities functioning in both regions with the same academic calendar and the same lecturers, making it possible to have degrees recognized in both sides of the country.
The situation is so normal that some Ivorian even think no one wants the end of the “war”, apart from the population, and even! Politicians are satisfied with their share of the national cake, and they would bite whoever jeopardizes it. In the rebels’ zone, simple sergeants found themselves appointed colonels in less than one month, and want the guarantee they will keep the same status (with the prestige and fortune that go along) before they drop their arms.
On the government side, ruling Abidjan is an unexpected source of satisfaction, so no way those requests can be accepted. Since the conflict started numerous international mediators, including head of states have committed to bring the enemies on the negotiation table, but they all failed. The only way-out is the elections, but no one knows when they are going to be held.
The three local committees of AIESEC operate in the same city, Abidjan, the political and economic capital, but the influence of politics is very visible in the organization. No prevision can be made beyond 2007, as everyone is afraid of the presidential elections dragging the country back to darkness.
Posted by habib ewane at 02:31 | 0 comments
November 17, 2006
P-I-N-A-R and Mairi are back!!!
Hey Happy People around the globe!
Our half-empty office is getting little by little fuller again! This week our lovely Mairi (WENA Director) and P-I-N-A-R (Director for Strategieee) came back from their exciting country visits! Although Mairi came just for a week, it is still veeeeerrryyy nice to have her back at least for a bit :)
During the physical absence of our dear Directors, the “metamorphosed” presence of them is always here in the office with us – in a form of our personalized “Every Day Starts Today” coffee/tee Cups :). We keep them all together in a visible place so we can see names of Ryan, Araz, Mairi, Habib, Jarda and Pinar everyday and feel that they are always with us :).
When Directors are back, we even have a ceremony of transforming their “Cup-form” presence into real physical presence by officially presenting their Cups to them. See photos of Mairi and Pinar of this “ceremony”, hehehe :)))))))
P-I-N-A-R is back :)
Mairi is back :)
Keep smiling!
With love from Rotterdam,
Laura miau :)
Our half-empty office is getting little by little fuller again! This week our lovely Mairi (WENA Director) and P-I-N-A-R (Director for Strategieee) came back from their exciting country visits! Although Mairi came just for a week, it is still veeeeerrryyy nice to have her back at least for a bit :)
During the physical absence of our dear Directors, the “metamorphosed” presence of them is always here in the office with us – in a form of our personalized “Every Day Starts Today” coffee/tee Cups :). We keep them all together in a visible place so we can see names of Ryan, Araz, Mairi, Habib, Jarda and Pinar everyday and feel that they are always with us :).
When Directors are back, we even have a ceremony of transforming their “Cup-form” presence into real physical presence by officially presenting their Cups to them. See photos of Mairi and Pinar of this “ceremony”, hehehe :)))))))
P-I-N-A-R is back :)
Mairi is back :)
Keep smiling!
With love from Rotterdam,
Laura miau :)
Posted by Laura Adomaityte at 13:13 | 1 comments
Reporting from South East Asia
Many of you have been asking me when I would update my blog, so fear not, the blog is back in action :). Since my last post I have now been to Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand, and now I am back in Malaysia about to head off for the Pacific leg of my tour of AP.
Ni hao mah... Arewah-lah
First off was my visit to Malaysia, which after a comfortable bus ride, I was greeted to the sight of the KL Towers. A beautiful way to arrive to KL. Many of you may be look at the title of this part and wonder what on earth am I talking about... Ni hao mah... Arewah-lah????? One of the most interesting things that I encountered in Malaysia was the three distinct ethnic groups of Chinese, Indians and Malays, which make up the bulk of Malaysia's population. Each group brings its own unique culture which adds to the diversity and richness of Malaysia. [Read more]
Traffic, spirits and VIP treatment in the Philippines
I left Malaysia for the Philippines, and flew in to an obscure airport in the middle of nowhere in what is Clark Airport. Like the budget airlines in Europe, Air Asia tends to fly to obscure locations where you have to then travel further to your final destination, but the plus side is 20 euros between KL and Manila (or should I say just outside of Manila) is not bad at all. Manila is a very very busy city, and so far from all the cities I have traveled to so far, they have the most talkative taxi drivers. [Read more]
Kembali ke Indonesia (Returning to Indonesia)
After leaving Manila, next stop was Indonesia. Personally one of the most exciting visits for me considering that I used to live in Jakarta for 6 years. Returning to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was like a blast from the past. In a lot of ways it looks exactly like it did to me when I was 9 years old first moving to Indonesia :). I then became very excited on the drive to the MC house as I came within 15 minutes of my old place in Tebet (district within Jakarta). Seeing all landmarks again brought me back to my times in Indonesia. Like any blast from the past it also made me realise how much things have changed in my own life. [Read more]
Getting my hands dirty in Bangkok
After being well fed and a quick flight I was arriving in the fantastic new airport in Bangkok. By far this must be the most impressive airport that I have visited so far! Just opened a month ago you could hardly notice that this is a country which experience a coup a couple of months ago. Infact it was hard to notice that a coup had happened at all from an outsiders point of view. What is immediately obvious however is the deep respect that people have for the King. [Read more]
The whole entry can be found at http://ryan.nomadlife.org/.
Ni hao mah... Arewah-lah
Traffic, spirits and VIP treatment in the Philippines
Kembali ke Indonesia (Returning to Indonesia)
Getting my hands dirty in Bangkok
The whole entry can be found at http://ryan.nomadlife.org/.
Posted by Ryan at 08:54 | 0 comments
November 14, 2006
Re-design of the AI office
About a month ago Dey decided that our office needed an interior face-lift. He cleaned, re-arranged desks, chairs and filing cabinets and dotted the office with green foliage. If you haven't seen the office (in its new or old form) check out our new virtual tour that we uploaded online on the AI website (http://www.aiesec.org/ai/team/virtual-tour/).
Just another random day in the office ;) heehee
Michelle
Just another random day in the office ;) heehee
Michelle
Posted by Michelle at 12:37 | 3 comments
November 12, 2006
Some things stay the same...or don't they?
It's the first time I am blogging in AI's blog...after 1 year and 6 months of being in the office where several AI teams have brought their dreams, creativity and excellence and have created something exciting! just spend some time to stay silent, reflect and realise that!
As the office is changing its "habitants", new people are coming to work for International Meetings and Projects, I did realise that there is definitely a feeling of "home" that is developed after some time with the office itself..not due to the long hours spent but due to the memories and feelings that it brings to me...
It is definitely amazing to be the Vice President Finance of AI...but the most exciting is being the AI VPF for a second year in a row:-) The ability to make a change, see the way that the organisation progresses in only a few months and see the area of my job as well changing so rapidly that sometimes is becoming too fast for me to realise!
If you think that being an AI VPF is spending days and nights on excel sheets, analysing numbers and making reports...then you are wrong! or, lets say half wrong;-) Just the past months the amount of interaction that I had with brilliant people, professionals in their field and fully competent to deliver and create has been amazing! From organising the meetings with our Supervisory Group, meeting potential Investment Managers for AI's Reserves, sharing opinions with other "Finance passionate" people around the world is just a few examples of what it means managing a 1 million plus budget and trying to create a better future for the next terms.
The time is coming that things will change again, in a few weeks the AI applications will open and a bunch of young enthousiastic leaders -like myself a couple of years ago-will apply in their dream to make a better AIESEC:-) I am looking forward to that moment! I am looking forward to see where AIESEC will be in September 07, as I am sure it will be once again better than ever!
Take care all of you,
Petroula
As the office is changing its "habitants", new people are coming to work for International Meetings and Projects, I did realise that there is definitely a feeling of "home" that is developed after some time with the office itself..not due to the long hours spent but due to the memories and feelings that it brings to me...
It is definitely amazing to be the Vice President Finance of AI...but the most exciting is being the AI VPF for a second year in a row:-) The ability to make a change, see the way that the organisation progresses in only a few months and see the area of my job as well changing so rapidly that sometimes is becoming too fast for me to realise!
If you think that being an AI VPF is spending days and nights on excel sheets, analysing numbers and making reports...then you are wrong! or, lets say half wrong;-) Just the past months the amount of interaction that I had with brilliant people, professionals in their field and fully competent to deliver and create has been amazing! From organising the meetings with our Supervisory Group, meeting potential Investment Managers for AI's Reserves, sharing opinions with other "Finance passionate" people around the world is just a few examples of what it means managing a 1 million plus budget and trying to create a better future for the next terms.
The time is coming that things will change again, in a few weeks the AI applications will open and a bunch of young enthousiastic leaders -like myself a couple of years ago-will apply in their dream to make a better AIESEC:-) I am looking forward to that moment! I am looking forward to see where AIESEC will be in September 07, as I am sure it will be once again better than ever!
Take care all of you,
Petroula
Posted by Petroula at 21:35 | 1 comments
November 11, 2006
They are almost here...
It's been a busy busy week in the AI office. I haven't really stopped one second, and visibly no one else has. In the buzz of the office you can hear many things going on simultaneously. Phones ringing, different languages being spoken, all sorts of topics, ping pong playing of some people relaxing, sometimes cricket, discussions of a meeting or even Spanish lessons. And now we are only a few people in the office...
Sometimes though, people that come to visit us get surprised by the silence in the office. With so many people in the office and so many things going on, if you need to concentrate you will put your headphones on, pretty loud and listen to music while you concentrate on your work which can be... the design of a new process, of a new system, a use case, a shortlist, a partnership proposal, or whatever... sometimes we all have our headphones on and the silence is reigning, and if someone comes in the office only Laura sitting close by the door will notice the arrival of the visitor, which will make the others notice too.
The IS developers will arrive in our office in the middle of next week. Three young men, from India, will come to our office everyday during their first visit to Europe, to develop... the new! the ultimate! new AIESEC system! It is common also to get this kind of visitors in the office: accountants, consultants, auditors, developers, partners that will come to work on a specific issue with someone in the office and will most likely get submerged in the AI environment.
Last week we had a guy visiting to work with Laura in the instalation of a new system to manage the accounting. He was witness to the frustration of several AI members that had struggled through the day to open a bank account. Somehow openning a bank account has not been an easy thing for us, which has produced a large amount of jokes and ironic comments that made this Dutch man laugh about what probably is for him a routinary normal thing.
But no visitor is causing so much movement in the office as these shy (that's what we were told) Indian guys coming.
Many people in the office have something to do related to the developent of the new system. The IS team has forgotten the word "weekend" to deliver work that is leaving us all open mouthed. The effort and perfection they demand of themselves is amazing, and they are managing all our parts to put together something that will be new and unique.
For me the development of a new partnership menu, of a new way to deliver GEPs, the preparation of Exchange Strategic Meeting is very exciting. No GPM (Global Partnerships Manager) has done it before and I have the chance. Busy, hectic and exciting times in the AI office.
Sometimes though, people that come to visit us get surprised by the silence in the office. With so many people in the office and so many things going on, if you need to concentrate you will put your headphones on, pretty loud and listen to music while you concentrate on your work which can be... the design of a new process, of a new system, a use case, a shortlist, a partnership proposal, or whatever... sometimes we all have our headphones on and the silence is reigning, and if someone comes in the office only Laura sitting close by the door will notice the arrival of the visitor, which will make the others notice too.
The IS developers will arrive in our office in the middle of next week. Three young men, from India, will come to our office everyday during their first visit to Europe, to develop... the new! the ultimate! new AIESEC system! It is common also to get this kind of visitors in the office: accountants, consultants, auditors, developers, partners that will come to work on a specific issue with someone in the office and will most likely get submerged in the AI environment.
Last week we had a guy visiting to work with Laura in the instalation of a new system to manage the accounting. He was witness to the frustration of several AI members that had struggled through the day to open a bank account. Somehow openning a bank account has not been an easy thing for us, which has produced a large amount of jokes and ironic comments that made this Dutch man laugh about what probably is for him a routinary normal thing.
But no visitor is causing so much movement in the office as these shy (that's what we were told) Indian guys coming.
Many people in the office have something to do related to the developent of the new system. The IS team has forgotten the word "weekend" to deliver work that is leaving us all open mouthed. The effort and perfection they demand of themselves is amazing, and they are managing all our parts to put together something that will be new and unique.
For me the development of a new partnership menu, of a new way to deliver GEPs, the preparation of Exchange Strategic Meeting is very exciting. No GPM (Global Partnerships Manager) has done it before and I have the chance. Busy, hectic and exciting times in the AI office.
Posted by Mo at 15:28 | 1 comments
November 01, 2006
Business as an Agent of World Benefit (BAWB): Management Knowledge Leading Positive Change
A Global Forum that was convened by:
The Academy of Management, The United Nations Global Compact & Case Weatherhead School of Management
This was held October 22nd-25th at Case Western Reserve University (in Cleveland, OH) and online uniting top business leaders and educators to focus on ways of doing business that are both profitable and succeed in addressing the world’s most pressing social needs.
I was extremely fortunate to be a part of this.
To hear prominent speakers like C.K. Prahlad (Prof - University of Michigan), Ray Andersen (CEO of Interface Inc.), Patrick Cescau (CEO Unilever) etc. and also interact with top leaders in business and education sector was an amazing experience. I wonder how many people at my age could have got such an opportunity!
Ray Anderson, CEO of Interface Inc. had an opening speech on the theme and also on how his organization is viewing sustainability. It was extremely interesting and amazing to hear that.
(Interface is one of the world's largest manufacturer of carpets and is focused on environmental sustainability)
Bobby Sager, Founding chairman, young Presidents Organization Peace Action Network had a great touching talk one of the evenings about how the YPO is working and he told something which highlights a completely different angle of seeing things.
He said:
"Anyone can count the seeds in an apple. But no one can count the apples in a seed."
Also, I was one of the facilitator along with 6 other ex / current AIESECers to facilitate sessions on paper - research conversations by different authors. To facilitate a bunch of professors and leading business people on this was a memorable experience!
Amongst that was facilitation of the topic of "New Metrics: Measuring our Many impacts" This was about triple bottom line research papers and one of them was by ASQ (American Society of Quality) who are putting forward their thoughts on a new ISO quality standard that should be in place by end of the year 2008 or early 2009.
The entire global forum agenda was based on Appreciative Inquiry and so in the design phase, I was in this group for seeing how can this work and thoughts around this. Extremely enriching and exciting to see how this is going to be taken forward. To be a part of actually designing this was a huge learning point.
Also Brodie had a speech on how do youth view this and views on how can educators play a role towards increasing the awareness around this. Everyone was in awe! :) It was excellent!
Overall, great ideas that were designed to be executed to understand CSR from different angles and also to see how different aspects of society are viewing and working on this.
Another exciting experience was to be at the Harvard club in New York to meet one of AIESEC in the US alumnus. Its a really cool place to be there. You need to be there to witness the atmosphere. Also interesting was to hear Dick Kramlich, who is one of the top venture capitalist in the country to hear his thoughts around entrepreneurship and venture capitalism for India and China. A lot to learn - I must say...
Things have been extremely hectic on this US trip - but has been very enlightening and interesting! Being a part of the AI ER team is truly exposing me to such an incredible experience at such an age...
Posted by Amit Desai at 02:11 | 1 comments
CEE adventures revisited ...
Sitting in a university/MC dorm in Talinn, Estonia, taking a few moments to share my impressions from last week and a half (seems to be much longer though as so much has happened) before calling it a night and going to sleep just to wake up for another beautiful day that this journey is full of.
After missing train from Skopje to Budapest spent one more day in Serbia, somehow this country is becoming a cornerstone of my travelling, I feel like I have been in every step of their recruitment so far :) After arriving into Bratislava spent great few days with the MC, LCPs and LC members, met my only Czech DAI predecessor and talked AIESEC, life and business, delivered visit and co-created plenty of ideas for yet another AIESEC country, met with an inspirational EBBF member to talk about vision, impact and importance of what AIESEC is doing every day.
I have left Slovakia tired but happy to sleep overnight at the Stanstead airport in London, surprised to find that I was not the only one with a similar idea. Sleeping bag in my back pack that became my life, appartment and piece of home I cary with me although he's a bit overweight while confronted with the scales of low cost airport cariers. Friday arrived to Baltic Energy and having a unique chance to share undesrcribable spirit, passion and great effort done by all facis, delegates and one unique conference manager-chair couple. Feeling the energy, taking some time to think about myself and AIESEC, having great conversations, meeting Derek, a person that has meant so much for me during my times in AIESEC and reconnecting with 4 czech AIESECers somehow present at one conference without knowing about each other before ...
Travelling to Riga and drinking Mojito among the skylines of the city after consulting, advising and supporting AIESEC Latvia on their efforts to achieve so much with limited time and resources in place and speaking with the MC that gave rest of their energy left after full week to speak about the future of their AIESEC country.
When I look back on this post, there is so much that has happened in last week, in last month that was the first month of my 2 and 1/2 month adventure spent among passionate and hard working AIESEC people proudly shouting, who rocks the house ! Lots of people ask why AI, how can you give so much, why have you chosen to do this? For me the answer is more clear than ever, where else would I have a chance to live, give, learn, grow and help as much as right now. Often we don't see what is in front of our eyes every day, all the great experiences we live everyday, all the experiences that will stay with us forever all the unforgettable moments we are able to live and people we are able meet, all thanks to one special organization that only little over 20,000 call their home so far, organization with a vision, ambition and relevance for the world as well as for anyone who ever was part of it ...
Stay tuned for more posts, from Baltic to Balkans soon ...
After missing train from Skopje to Budapest spent one more day in Serbia, somehow this country is becoming a cornerstone of my travelling, I feel like I have been in every step of their recruitment so far :) After arriving into Bratislava spent great few days with the MC, LCPs and LC members, met my only Czech DAI predecessor and talked AIESEC, life and business, delivered visit and co-created plenty of ideas for yet another AIESEC country, met with an inspirational EBBF member to talk about vision, impact and importance of what AIESEC is doing every day.
I have left Slovakia tired but happy to sleep overnight at the Stanstead airport in London, surprised to find that I was not the only one with a similar idea. Sleeping bag in my back pack that became my life, appartment and piece of home I cary with me although he's a bit overweight while confronted with the scales of low cost airport cariers. Friday arrived to Baltic Energy and having a unique chance to share undesrcribable spirit, passion and great effort done by all facis, delegates and one unique conference manager-chair couple. Feeling the energy, taking some time to think about myself and AIESEC, having great conversations, meeting Derek, a person that has meant so much for me during my times in AIESEC and reconnecting with 4 czech AIESECers somehow present at one conference without knowing about each other before ...
Travelling to Riga and drinking Mojito among the skylines of the city after consulting, advising and supporting AIESEC Latvia on their efforts to achieve so much with limited time and resources in place and speaking with the MC that gave rest of their energy left after full week to speak about the future of their AIESEC country.
When I look back on this post, there is so much that has happened in last week, in last month that was the first month of my 2 and 1/2 month adventure spent among passionate and hard working AIESEC people proudly shouting, who rocks the house ! Lots of people ask why AI, how can you give so much, why have you chosen to do this? For me the answer is more clear than ever, where else would I have a chance to live, give, learn, grow and help as much as right now. Often we don't see what is in front of our eyes every day, all the great experiences we live everyday, all the experiences that will stay with us forever all the unforgettable moments we are able to live and people we are able meet, all thanks to one special organization that only little over 20,000 call their home so far, organization with a vision, ambition and relevance for the world as well as for anyone who ever was part of it ...
Stay tuned for more posts, from Baltic to Balkans soon ...
Posted by Jarda at 01:13 | 0 comments