IHEYO Conference, Paris 2005

Gea Meijers

Co-organised with La Ligue de l'Enseignement, and with a focus on interculturalism and young active citizenship, International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organisation (IHEYO)'s fourth annual international humanist youth conference took place from 9th to 14th of July in Paris.

Around 50 young humanists and human rights activists gathered for a week of intense collaboration, inspiration and fun in a programme that was a mix of cultural activities, practical training, workshops and interesting in-depth debate. There were games and there was fun; and at intercultural evenings participants exchanged experiences, pictures, food and beverages from their home country.

The conference was mainly financed through funding from the Council of Europe. So while a majority of the participants came from European countries, there were also participants from the other continents. 18 countries were represented in the gathering - Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, India, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine and the US.

IHEYO President Gea Meijers was accompanied by IHEU's First Vice President Sonja Eggerickx, and board member of the European Humanist Federation, Suzy Mommaerts at the inaugural session. Conference organisers Lars-Petter Helgestad and Frederik Dezutter set the tone for the discussions: "the idea of interculturalism is an active approach. It is about inter life stance dialogue, about exploring our commonalities and differences, and working with other groups towards realising common universal values that respect the rights of humans".

Speaking at the plenary session on interculturalism, Dr. Rik Pinxten, Professor in anthropology and President of the Humanist Alliance in Belgium, explained that the meaning of culture is not clear cut: the shift from countryside and small village level to globalised urbanization is taking place, in effect, leading to multiculturalism. We are all becoming more globally connected, it is therefore essential that we live, practise, negotiate and learn to behave in an intercultural context. Intercultural education should be an important focus for Humanism. Mr. Kjartan Selnes, sociologist and member of the Special Council on Ethics and International Relations in the Norwegian Humanist Association, also talked about the process of globalization and its impact on our cultural identity: globalisation makes us all superficial and similar to each other, and creates the danger that we lose our cultural identity. We need to try to protect cultural diversity and be liberal and tolerant towards other societies, especially in political and social life.

There were discussions in smaller groups around the topics: 'global citizenship', 'human rights and minorities',
'your organization's contribution to society' and 'introduction to Humanism'.

Dr. Marc Campine, a Belgian researcher in Comparative Philosophy and Humanism, and Dr. Dominique Verte, a Belgian researcher in Social and Cultural Agogics, explored the concept of active citizenship. Dr. Dominique Verte talked about the conditions for creating successful active citizenship in practice. On one of the afternoons the participants divided into groups to brainstorm on project ideas they would like to implement.

The last day of the Plenary Sessions gave a chance to discuss matters that were of practical importance: Silvia Geise, one of IHEU delegates to the Council of Europe, a representative of the French National Agency for the European Youth Programme, and David Lopez, international coordinator within la Ligue de l'Enseignement made presentations on opportunities and challenges in Europe.

Then over the next few days the participants developed projects around the previously identified themes: networking, information learning, public relations, local projects, promoting interculturalism and capacity building. A jury consisting of three IHEYO Executive Committee members and Else Rijke who works at Hivos (Humanist Institute for Development) as well as the groups themselves voted on the awards.

The award winning project was the one which proposed to Train Humanist Trainers. This project aims to provide a
one-week training in which volunteer workers aged between 18 and 35 will be provided both with theoretical background and practical skills on the topic of humanist teaching techniques. The project aims to improve the quality of volunteer work by spreading humanist teaching techniques, and to institutionalize humanist education. The diversity of the cultural backgrounds of the participants and the trainers represents a focal point in the process of sharing of good practices and in establishing a fruitful intercultural dialogue. The project is planned for one week in July 2006, to be held at the European Youth Centre in Budapest.

Memorable and Enriching

It is amazing when a girl from Serbia, one who has never known a world without hatred, war and fear, discusses Humanism, nationalism, cultures, religious fundamentalism and terror with a young man from Belgium or from Norway - one who has never seen a gun in his life. We then know that it is a good conference because these are the experiences and encounters the participants will never forget. It teaches us all that Humanism needs to be pulled away from a focus on local self-satisfied successes and has to be put within the broader worldwide context of solidarity and action.

Gea Meijers is President of IHEYO