Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
L.A is on the house of WYAE si señor!
By tacking orders from Señor Jacob, alias 'my boss' lol I must to write about my first très bon weeks in Bruselas... humm what I can say? well in one hand is the city, I like it, is not my favourite one but is nice, some parts of the city remind us about the Belgium from that time, almost all the sidewalks are from that time, yeap, this kind of square rock frames? girls... you can not use high heals here, is like feet torture. On the other hand, its own Flemish-French style of the city, sometimes is complicated to understand (due everything is write in both languages) but this makes it more interesting. Takes some couple of weeks to 'comprendre' but not impossible to adapt, this is easy. Belgium people are very polite, sometimes you will find a smiley face, which is sometimes odd in Europe (don't take it personal) but at least here you have more multicultural environment (besides Italy and Germany) and easy going persons. I love cultures and met people from everywhere, so this is what I like the most from Belgium.
Food of course! The 'pomes frites' were the first Belgium meal that I tried and they are delicious =P , I recommend 'Tarte' sauce, is my favourite. The ‘gauffre’ are the even better than the pomes frites, is extremely lekker (in Flemish = delicious) the only petite problem is depends on the topping it will cost you 1,20 for each one... I remember that I tried one with: hot chocolate, Chantilly and banana, it cost me 6 euros!!! yea... the food here is expensive in every single restaurant buuuu, but anyway, is worth it.
If you were thinking why WYA, why WYA Europe, why a Costa Rican girl wanted to be part of the crazy staff of WYA in Brussels, well…here you have my honest answer: Firts - after I have finished my master in human rights and democratisation with the EU I was looking forward to get more information about how NGO's and regional systems works, the most interesting is the EU (at least for me), so... I applied and happily, señor Jacob and la señorita Iris, decided to choose me, then my experience begun and still is going on =D. So far I have learned a lot of how the EU institutions work, especially two of the three in the EU system: the Parliament and the Commission, all thanks to señor Jacob and the ‘green book’ (you well get it if you come here, you'll see).
Second - At the moment I'm recording in my memory as much as I can about how works a NGO as the WYA. I was even more interested after I studied the author – which I admire a lot – Mutua who says that the ‘new role of the Civil international organizations such as the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) -are- a new voice for the process and agenda setting’, this new voice started in 1999 and today is represented by the civil society of young people as me, you and thousands of more who are committed with the human dignity, solidarity and peace = WYA in all parts of the globe.
And as last but never the least, I’m exited and happy to attend and met some MEP’s and other interesting people involve in this fight for fulfil human dignity. This will be possible to see, get more knowledge and to share, in the next seminars and conferences at the EU Parliament. I’ll keep you posted, for now: hasta pronto!
Atte: Pura Vida Costa Rica!
Food of course! The 'pomes frites' were the first Belgium meal that I tried and they are delicious =P , I recommend 'Tarte' sauce, is my favourite. The ‘gauffre’ are the even better than the pomes frites, is extremely lekker (in Flemish = delicious) the only petite problem is depends on the topping it will cost you 1,20 for each one... I remember that I tried one with: hot chocolate, Chantilly and banana, it cost me 6 euros!!! yea... the food here is expensive in every single restaurant buuuu, but anyway, is worth it.
If you were thinking why WYA, why WYA Europe, why a Costa Rican girl wanted to be part of the crazy staff of WYA in Brussels, well…here you have my honest answer: Firts - after I have finished my master in human rights and democratisation with the EU I was looking forward to get more information about how NGO's and regional systems works, the most interesting is the EU (at least for me), so... I applied and happily, señor Jacob and la señorita Iris, decided to choose me, then my experience begun and still is going on =D. So far I have learned a lot of how the EU institutions work, especially two of the three in the EU system: the Parliament and the Commission, all thanks to señor Jacob and the ‘green book’ (you well get it if you come here, you'll see).
Second - At the moment I'm recording in my memory as much as I can about how works a NGO as the WYA. I was even more interested after I studied the author – which I admire a lot – Mutua who says that the ‘new role of the Civil international organizations such as the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) -are- a new voice for the process and agenda setting’, this new voice started in 1999 and today is represented by the civil society of young people as me, you and thousands of more who are committed with the human dignity, solidarity and peace = WYA in all parts of the globe.
And as last but never the least, I’m exited and happy to attend and met some MEP’s and other interesting people involve in this fight for fulfil human dignity. This will be possible to see, get more knowledge and to share, in the next seminars and conferences at the EU Parliament. I’ll keep you posted, for now: hasta pronto!
Atte: Pura Vida Costa Rica!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
CEDAW Update - Teresa's Experience (Part 1 of 2)
Today WYAE is excited to hear from Teresa, another WYA intern, who attended the recent 44th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in New York City, USA.
The CEDAW was established in 1982, and is composed of 23 experts on women's issues from around the world. The Committee
The Committee consults with countries party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979). In ensuring implementation of the Convention at the national level, members are elected to stand for roughly 4-year terms.
This is Teresa's story.
The CEDAW was established in 1982, and is composed of 23 experts on women's issues from around the world. The Committee
The Committee consults with countries party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979). In ensuring implementation of the Convention at the national level, members are elected to stand for roughly 4-year terms.
This is Teresa's story.
*****
During the month of July, we, WYA interns, have attended the CEDAW Conference at UN about the discrimination against women. We had have the opportunity to deeper understand the effort of many countries to improve the conditions of the women. I had the opportunity to share my opinions, to discuss and to learn more talking with one of the Member of The Cedaw Committee and she has appreciated the enthusiasm of the young women! I’m happy about my experience at UN because I have open my eyes about the problems of the world and the big issues and about the many different answers that the countries gave to answered them.
CEDAW Update - Teresa`s Experience (Part 2 of 2)
My name is Teresa Diaz (Spain) and I am doing the North America internship. This summer I had the opportunity to participate in CEDAW at the UN.
CEDAW 09': Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. What does it means? … From my point of view, the goals of CEDAW are really good, but what about the procedures for it? Looking for security and health of every woman is laudable, the problem that I could infer is when they determinate as a solution some destructive solutions. That is what I assume from one conversation that I had with Silvia Pimentel (an expert of the committee). She argued that abortion is the best resolution in order to reduce the number of women's death that exposures themselves to illegal, hence, unsafe abortion. She was arguing that the legalization of abortion will be the solution. I absolutely disagree with it, so I decided to use a graphic example in order to explain to her my position. Is like having a big garden with many trees, they are ill, a bacteria is making them die, and if we are good gardeners we will not cut the leaves. The problem is not there, but in the roots. Cutting the leaves we just put a temporary solution, a short-term measure, but going to the roots, where the truth of intrinsic dignity of every single person is, we can rescue and heal our garden.
Moreover, what all the interns could realize was that many countries are working so hard in order to achieve all the goals of CEDAW. I could never imagine the huge and tremendous number of data about human trafficking. We cannot forget that it is a reality of our days and sometime, at least for me, because my country, my background, this reality is hidden. Moreover, it is remarkable the huge effort of many countries that are working hard in order to achieve the elimination of this degrading practice.
In conclusion, from my point of view attending CEDAW has been a very positive and illustrative opportunity to learn how countries are working together trying to apply in their own national laws an international agreement.
CEDAW 09': Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. What does it means? … From my point of view, the goals of CEDAW are really good, but what about the procedures for it? Looking for security and health of every woman is laudable, the problem that I could infer is when they determinate as a solution some destructive solutions. That is what I assume from one conversation that I had with Silvia Pimentel (an expert of the committee). She argued that abortion is the best resolution in order to reduce the number of women's death that exposures themselves to illegal, hence, unsafe abortion. She was arguing that the legalization of abortion will be the solution. I absolutely disagree with it, so I decided to use a graphic example in order to explain to her my position. Is like having a big garden with many trees, they are ill, a bacteria is making them die, and if we are good gardeners we will not cut the leaves. The problem is not there, but in the roots. Cutting the leaves we just put a temporary solution, a short-term measure, but going to the roots, where the truth of intrinsic dignity of every single person is, we can rescue and heal our garden.
Moreover, what all the interns could realize was that many countries are working so hard in order to achieve all the goals of CEDAW. I could never imagine the huge and tremendous number of data about human trafficking. We cannot forget that it is a reality of our days and sometime, at least for me, because my country, my background, this reality is hidden. Moreover, it is remarkable the huge effort of many countries that are working hard in order to achieve the elimination of this degrading practice.
In conclusion, from my point of view attending CEDAW has been a very positive and illustrative opportunity to learn how countries are working together trying to apply in their own national laws an international agreement.
*****
That was Teresa, an intern from WYA's New York office. To read more about WYA's work at CEDAW, click here to read impressions from Casey Downing, our North American Director. In the coming months, your very own WYA Europe blogmaster will be attending the 52nd Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, Switzerland, to assist Rebecca Austen, our Director of Advocacy. The CRC programme is set to run from Monday Sept 14 through to Friday October 2. See you there!
Monday, August 10, 2009
A second update from the office!
Working in WYA Europe these weeks is hectic enough to keep us busy; after a successful Viviamo! Summer Camp, our new intern intake has jumped right into preparing for The HUMAN Project: Education for Life and Dignity. This is WYA Europe’s own celebration for WYA’s 10th anniversary to complete a Decade of Dignity and Development, and we will be connecting European youth with diplomats and academics on the topic of citizenship and human dignity in education.
For us Italian speakers, Cono and Edoardo (a friend of WYA) have made a short video diary of their Viviamo! experience – take a peek!
Brussels really is the heart of Europe – our office is ten minutes away from Parliament and though our working language is English, our work sometimes pushes our backgrounds in Italian, Polish and German! Sometimes we are glad that our more talented interns (*ahem Gerlinde) can speak seven languages - don't tell her this, but we always hope that she answers the phone, just in case!
In our free time the four of us are still very much tourists. This past weekend, Cono, Alessandra and Gerlinde visited Rotterdam to see the Fit For Free Dance Parade, and then cooled down on the beach in The Hague. Michal went to visit a friend in Leuven, an hour away from Brussels With some beginner’s luck, I’ve found Brussels interesting enough to stay for the weekend, though I’m not sure how ambitious we might all be, as Gerlinde has suggested we all rent a car soon…who knows?
If you’re interested in the Human Project, stay tuned for an update in a few days! More information can be found here!
Until next time…ciao!
For us Italian speakers, Cono and Edoardo (a friend of WYA) have made a short video diary of their Viviamo! experience – take a peek!
Brussels really is the heart of Europe – our office is ten minutes away from Parliament and though our working language is English, our work sometimes pushes our backgrounds in Italian, Polish and German! Sometimes we are glad that our more talented interns (*ahem Gerlinde) can speak seven languages - don't tell her this, but we always hope that she answers the phone, just in case!
In our free time the four of us are still very much tourists. This past weekend, Cono, Alessandra and Gerlinde visited Rotterdam to see the Fit For Free Dance Parade, and then cooled down on the beach in The Hague. Michal went to visit a friend in Leuven, an hour away from Brussels With some beginner’s luck, I’ve found Brussels interesting enough to stay for the weekend, though I’m not sure how ambitious we might all be, as Gerlinde has suggested we all rent a car soon…who knows?
If you’re interested in the Human Project, stay tuned for an update in a few days! More information can be found here!
Until next time…ciao!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Save the Human Race // Human Project
Here is a cool song from a friend of World Youth Alliance in Europe...that illustrates pretty well in its own way the Human Project spirit!
Check this link to listen and the myspace page http://www.myspace.com/starfoam.
Enjoy,
François
Check this link to listen and the myspace page http://www.myspace.com/starfoam.
Enjoy,
François
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Welcomes... new interns are arrived!
Alessandra, Gerlinde, Eric and Michal...
These are the 4 brand-new WYA E interns, ready to spend a great summer in Brussels, where as Iris everytime says: they will find the EU, the beer, the chocolate but over all great experiences.
I will continue to give them precious advices as the "oldest" intern for another month, but it is time for me to start resigning my duties... Thank you to everybody have helped me in these three months, and above all thank to Iris and Francois, the best DO and D you can have in the world. I will not forget...
I resign and Eric, Chinese-Canadian future UN Secretary General, will take my place as the blog writer. Then, good luck Eric and good luck to all you guys, in front of you there is "The HUMAN project", it will be hard to organize but at the end you will have fun as usual in WYA.
I will continue to give them precious advices as the "oldest" intern for another month, but it is time for me to start resigning my duties... Thank you to everybody have helped me in these three months, and above all thank to Iris and Francois, the best DO and D you can have in the world. I will not forget...
I resign and Eric, Chinese-Canadian future UN Secretary General, will take my place as the blog writer. Then, good luck Eric and good luck to all you guys, in front of you there is "The HUMAN project", it will be hard to organize but at the end you will have fun as usual in WYA.
Cono
Well these are certainly big shoes to fill, and before I am finished practising my UN superpowers I will need to learn my French!
Just a short introduction to our new interns; we have Michal from Poland, Alessandra from Italy, Gerlinde from Austria and myself, a Canadian that got lost on his way to London...
From our first day arriving, overnight and lost in a new city to exploring Brussels during the Belgian feast day, our intake is definitely ready for adventure, no matter what comes ahead!
Stay tuned to hear more in the coming weeks, and all the best wherever you are!
Eric
Just a short introduction to our new interns; we have Michal from Poland, Alessandra from Italy, Gerlinde from Austria and myself, a Canadian that got lost on his way to London...
From our first day arriving, overnight and lost in a new city to exploring Brussels during the Belgian feast day, our intake is definitely ready for adventure, no matter what comes ahead!
Stay tuned to hear more in the coming weeks, and all the best wherever you are!
Eric
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