Today's world can be described as a "global village". Despite
the growing potential for contacts between people of different origins
and backgrounds, the level of understanding amongst the different cultures
in the world remains insufficient and provokes conflict.
and cultural diversity:
of cultural diversity is based on UNESCO's
approach of the concept. According to the Universal Declaration
on Cultural Diversity adopted by UNESCO in 2001, it is crucial to
foster awareness of the added positive value of cultural diversity.
lies in the understanding that pluralism is more than the cohabitation
of various supposedly homogenous entities living side by side, but
it reaches every element constituting society up to the very identity
of each individual. Both societies and individuals are made of many
different influences and origins, which can change during the course
of time. It is by accepting this diversity and its ever changing nature
that we can stop defining human relations in terms of 'us' and 'them'
which induce clearly separated ethnic, religious or otherwise defined
communities. Migration, trade and communication have brought the world
together - and not since yesterday! Closely looking at history we
realise that it is the way we are looking at the constituting elements
that is changing, and not the fact that societies have always been
subjects to countless influences. Many of modern day conflicts are
related to the perception of identity, to the question of belonging
to 'one group' or 'the other' and extremists of different sides eloquently
deepen the artificial divides.
voluntary service projects, as organised by CCIVS member organisations,
can have a positive influence in furthering another vision of diversity
and help ensure harmonious interaction amongst people and groups.
They can help foster a deeper understanding of the concept of cultural
diversity beyond easy stereotypes. In order to fulfil this mission
the organisations, project hosts and project co-ordinators need to
have a high awareness of the issues at stake and develop capacities
to follow the processes leading to a more differentiated cultural
to intercultural learning in a globalised world:
The three day training
was embedded in a context of various trainings and seminars on cultural
diversity since 2005 and a number of seminars on regional cooperation
between the EU and Eastern Europe and within Eastern Europe since
2003. The training developed a number of proposals for follow up projects
to be implemented in 2008 and beyond. Click here
for the full report.
MODULE ON CULTURAL DIVERSITY:
size can fit all: How to seize the chance for intercultural learning
in international voluntary service
In 2005 CCIVS organised
the Asia Europe Young Volunteers Exchange (AEYVE)
with the support of ASEF for the 4th time, with the theme "Voluntary
service and Cultural Diversity: a collective strength to transform
society positively". The training sessions particularly focused
on the methodologies used to prepare volunteers for a stay in the
other continent. The concept of cultural diversity was also introduced.
As a follow up of
the project a first draft of a training
module was developped. It includes exercises about intercultural
learning in workcamps, and is to be used by workcamp leaders. This
module is part of a bigger project which comprises a
seminar in the Czech Republic in April 2006, followed by "laboratory
workcamps" in the summer and the production of a CD-ROM that
will be disseminated through member-organisations.
more information about intercultural learning and volunteering, you can
have a look at the following sites:
In the section cultural
- what to keep in mind as a volunteer you can find a few useful
links related to intercultural learning.
trainers find some tips for the implementation of preparatory sessions
for volunteers in the CCIVS publication Looking
Council of Europe
& European Union Training Youth T-kit on intercultural learning:
Council of Europe
"All Different, All Equal" campaign: http://alldifferent-allequal.info/
Council of Europe:
White Paper on intercultural dialogue.
website that allows you to share your vision of intercultural dialogue
and to submit examples of best practices. In 2005 intercultural dialogue
became one of the Organisation's priorities for the years to come.
In 2006, the Committee of Ministers launched the preparations of a
White Paper on intercultural dialogue which is expected to be published
in November 2007: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/intercultural/default_en.asp
In order to advance the Alliance of Civilizations, the UN Secretary-General
established a High-level Group of eminent personalities and tasked
this group with generating a report containing an analysis of the
rise in cross-cultural polarization and extremism and a set of practical
recommendations to counter this phenomenon. The group produced a report
which takes a multi-polar approach within which it prioritizes relations
between Muslim and Western societies.
Click here to download the report in seven languages: http://www.unaoc.org/repository/report.htm