An eye-opener to diversity

The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship is a summer programme that brings together students from central Asia, Europe and the US to discuss issues regarding globalisation and international relations.

Thanks to financial assistance and support from the US Embassy in Malta I was able to take part in this US State Department-sponsored programme, which was held over a period of three years at Wake Forest University, North Carolina.

In between heated debates, the lectures were a daily treat, with topics ranging from the power and influence of think-tanks to the use of the internet in the run-up to the US Presidential elections. The programme gave us insight into current affairs and issues in America. It also enabled students from the various countries represented on the programme to air their views and opinions regarding these topics.

Earlier this year, the State Department, with the help of Wake Forest University staff, organised a reunion conference for the students who had participated in all three years of the programme. The reunion was held at the American University of Bulgaria, in a small city called Blagoevgrad, just outside Sofia.

The organisers decided to be original and asked all the participants to submit their own ideas on topics to be used in the debates and lectures. This ensured the conference was organised by the students, and reflected current world issues that we felt were important. It also allowed us to discuss our ideas for follow-up projects, some of which have already been implemented.

At the reunion conference, in addition to foreign lecturers, some students also volunteered to give talks or to head discussion groups. This continued to enhance the idea of a hands-on conference in which we, the participants, spearheaded the whole event. Although some may think that by doing this the quality of the debate and discussion may have suffered, I felt the contrary was true.

Unlike other similar events I have participated in, the group of youths attending the conference were all able to relate to the topics being discussed. This made for heated debates, where we all learnt from each other's experiences and knowledge.

Although some of us had not seen each other since the summer programme, the reunion allowed us to confirm the saying that true friends don't need to keep in touch to remain good friends. After months, and in some cases, years of not seeing each other we were still the best of friends. This was apparent as we all left the conference with a fair bit of sleep to make up for after our marathon nocturnal conversations about our lives since our first encounter.

Reunions such as these are not merely the getting together of a group of friends for a social occasion. It allowed us to assess our past against that of our peers. It made us think about all we have achieved over the past years, and in some cases, even decades.

Subconsciously we all compare ourselves with others, and evaluate how much more we feel that we may have achieved compared to our friends and colleagues. Reunions also give us the opportunity to reset and revaluate our life goals, both short and long-term, with the aim of having a so-called better future.

When I came to describe the programme at the end of the fellowship three summers ago, I did so by using the word 'humbling', because in spite of being such a small nation, I felt we take so many things for granted, such as the freedom to be and do what we like, and our high standard of living.

The programme revealed many facets of other people's lives that I was not aware of, gave me the opportunity to visit places, meet people and participate in activities that I might never have had the opportunity to experience otherwise. It not only broadened my horizons but also enabled me to learn a great deal about myself.

I urge anyone interested in an experience that really opens one's eyes to the diversity that exists on our planet to keep an eye out for any announcements of a potential future Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship summer programme.

For more information on the programme, view the website http://blogs.bftf.org/.

The US embassy would also be very happy to answer any questions about the programme, so for more information do not hesitate to send an e-mail to the embassy on usembmalta@state.gov.