Global Changemakers

Andreas speaks of his rewarding experiences with Model ASEM, his CAP:

My name is Andreas Wiese. I am a Global Changemaker from Germany currently studying in France. I want to use this opportunity to write about “Model ASEM”, a CAP which I organised last November in the French cities of Paris and Le Havre. Model ASEM brought together 58 youths from the whole of Europe and Asia. The objective of this CAP was to foster interaction between youths from these two continents and to enhance intercultural exchange between Europe and Asia by these means. Equally important, Model ASEM aimed to raise awareness about the problems and challenges of our time which impact both continents and which, if not dealt with adequately, would massively impact our future.

The idea for Model ASEM was born on an autumn day in 2008. From then onwards, the preparation of this CAP was a significant part of my life throughout the year of 2009. The organisation of this event can be divided into four main periods: 1. Finding partners and sponsors, 2. finding participants, 3. arranging the programme, 4. the event itself.

1. Finding partners and sponsors:

Money is certainly the most delicate aspect when it comes to the organisation of such a large-scale event and it was clear right from the start that that fundraising efforts would have to be immense. Consequently, there is no doubt that our sponsors were essentially the ones who finally allowed this CAP to become a reality! After a few nerve-wrecking months in late 2008 and early 2009, Model ASEM could call the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union, the City Hall of Le Havre, the Asia-Europe Foundation, the French bank BNP, Vietnamese Airlines and the Port of Le Havre its supporters – not to forget that Gaby accepted my CAP application which added the British Council and our Global Changemakers network to this respectable list!

2. Finding participants:

The goal was that the participants of Model ASEM would represent the cultural diversity of Europe and Asia. This meant that the word had to be spread.  Many Global Changemakers were a truly great help in advertising for Model ASEM in the remotest corners of Asia and Europe. Thank you for all your support! In the end, we received a great number of impressive applications from nearly all European and Asian countries, out of which we selected 60 to come to France last November.

3. Arranging the programme

Once sponsors and participants had been found, the organisation of the actual programme started: This meant in practice the arrangement of accommodation, transportation, conference venues and social events. In collaboration with our partner, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we guaranteed that all participants would receive French short stay visas. Equally important, we started to look for facilitators and speakers who would conduct the different parts of the programme.

4. The event itself

Would all participants arrive? Would the ordered food be provided on time?  Would all buses pick us up at the right place and time? I was very nervous before the CAP started and consequently more than relieved to see that everything was working out smoothly. Missing paper in the copying machine and too little food for one dinner remained the only incidents during the six days of the event.

On Tuesday, November 10th, we officially inaugurated Model ASEM in Paris. After visits to the French National Assembly and the castle of Louis XIV in nearby Versailles, we were welcomed by the Paris office of the British Council for a dinner reception in the evening. The next day, we moved to Le Havre. On that day, the discussion of the most pressing issues which impact Europe and Asia at the present point was on the programme. Participants first gathered in a general session and split into smaller working groups later. In the evening, we organised an intercultural night so as to foster intercultural exchange in a more informal manner. The next days, these workshop sessions continued and participants talked about how these issues affected their own lives while drafting solutions for a potential contribution to their mitigation. For the cultural programme on these days, we went to Fécamp, a place on the cliffs which borders the English Channel, enjoyed a dinner reception at the Palais Bénédictine in this town and had a guided tour of the port of Le Havre, one of the biggest harbours in Europe. On the last day, we went to Rouen which is a historically very significant place. On Sunday, November 15th, participants departed from France.

As a testimony, some words from the participants:

• “I loved the informality because it really gave everyone a chance to relax and be creative.”

• “I really enjoyed Model ASEM. The discussions were pretty interesting and after some days I did not flush any longer and got used to speaking in front of the group.”

• “This was one of the best weeks in my life.”

• “I expected invigorating discussions, a better understanding of the difficulties of reaching an agreement, learning about other cultures, little sleep and a thought-through intercultural programme. Model ASEM exceeded these expectations.”

• “Thank you so much for the wonderful, exhausting, fascinating, funny, interesting, intense and unique week.”

To organise this CAP was a unique experience. Once it was over, it left me totally exhausted but very happy, relieved and satisfied at the same time.