Women Leadership Beyond Boundaries Workshop

Why do we do this workshop and how we planned?

      Our group (3) planned to do ''Women Leadership beyond boundaries workshop'' for one week project of Global Citizenship Course. We found that from our group idea which we would like to do for awareness of leadership intelligences that are not aware of their inner skills themselves, to act in their society in their future of life and we would like to apply the resources what we have and to act for social change activities as we are citizenship. 

    Mostly we young women are in Myanmar, according to our norms and traditional cultures, we are too shy to speak out what we have and how we feel and also we are not confidence what to do so even we have ideas. Thus, we aimed to do this project's workshop to aware of their knowledge and skills what they have and what is we called that sorts of skills, how we can act in which kind of tools. 

    We planned to do three hour workshop in the University Compound for University students as outdoor activities workshop. Because of the weather situation, it was rained and that we changed to do in the Building area. 

       

What are challenges?

We faced challenges to do workshop as we could not directly contact to the participants, we could only contact to the principal that we were not know more about participants level and knowledge what they have. And also we used many tools to share to the participants and we need more time to do workshop. And, we also faced for a place, according to the weather condition; we could do the workshop at library balcony compound. And, we had a challenges to adjust our project budgeted funds. 

What are our new insights?

We got as personal new insights such as facilitating skills, team work, building group dynamic, more confidence, and also knowing how to overcome the situation of participants to make more comfortable to participate and speak out in the workshop conversations.

We also got new insights as a social change maker, we received the participants aware of their inner leadership skills and they will apply back in their society, at least they will act in their family as their leadership roles. 

Did we get our learning goal/aim?

We got 18 participants, their interests, more confidence to speak out themselves from nervous and shyness, changed a bit more of their mind-sets and they willing to learn more about leadership intelligences and tools.     

Group (3) Global Citizenship Course

Women Leadership beyond Boundaries Workshop 

There and Back again

When we first arrived and were presented with the course, we were told the Full Flame project marked the ending of the course. At first, I thought it so far in the future that there was no point in worrying about it, then we starting thinking about what we were going to do and what issues we wanted to work with, then finally, the time arrived for us to work on our projects, and we did, and now it’s done.

The Full Flame project is over and with it so is this course. Having arrived at the end after so long, I find myself thinking back on these months and wonder where all that time went. It seems almost impossible that four months can go by so quickly. I remember so vividly, meeting the Danish participants for the first time in Copenhagen, saying goodbye to my parents, the flight to Myanmar, arriving in the blazing sun with heavy backpacks and going to the Global Platform for the first time, our home for several months, and meeting the other participants and the trainers.

It feels so weird, thinking that in less than a week I will be back in Denmark with my family and friends. I’ve of course missed them and I long to see them again, but I feel like I’ve been here so long, it’s become a second home for me. After a while, you just see things as everyday experiences. Going to class and sitting on the floor, going out to buy fruit and snacks, having to share a room. I guess there are things you get used to, but honestly, I’m really looking forward to have my own room and be able to drink tap water again. It’s small things, but there are things I miss, that I didn’t expect and I think, that once I’m back in Denmark, there will be plenty of things from Myanmar I’ll miss too. I’m sure I will come to miss this country and its people, and, one day, I think I want to come back.

Doing this course has been an experience I, personally, very much needed. After finishing school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I’m still not quite sure, but I’ve gotten some ideas and the motivation to do other things. Therefore, even though I don’t know where I’m going, I have gotten the courage to continue on my path and see where it leads me

-Emil

Every individual for environmental consciousness

Human activities are causing many kinds of environmental pollutions for which public awareness is necessary. The Active co-operation of every one, at every level of social organizations is needed for issues concerning environment. Over exploitation of natural resources is a basic concern for everybody. Therefore, we should accept the family planning schemes this will not only reduce the population but also solve the problems of food and rehabilitation.

There must be planning about the effects and control measures of environmental pollution. Govt. should initiate and help by awareness campaigns to save environment.

After the scientific and industrial revolution in the recent past, there has been immense impact of man on his environment and balance of the ecosystem as a whole/the environment.

Industrialization , urbanisation, deforestation , use of insecticides, pesticides, improper use of fertilizers and chemicals in environment are some contributing factors which challenged the life of man, animals specially birds and other organisms.

There must be planning about the effects and control measures of environmental pollution. Govt. should initiate and help by awareness campaigns to save environment.

There should be the integral part of our educational programmes. Like, we should discourage to use fuel vehicles, until it is not necessary, over use of water, for cleaning and other purposes should be decreased. Rain water harvesting is another example for using the rain water instead flowing out.

Any government at its own level cannot achieve the goals of sustainable development until the public has a participatory role in it. It is only possible only when public aware about the ecological and environmental issues. For example ban the littering of polythene cannot be successful until the public understands the environmental implications of the same.

Public should understand about the fact that if we degrading our environment, we are harming ourselves. This is the duty of educated people to educate the others about the adverse effect on environment. Government alone cannot do anything until unless every citizen is aware of the environmental pollution & their effects.

Everyone needs to make aware and motivate each and every individual for environmental consciousness.

The day before the day..

Four challenging, experimental but good, fantastic and educational months are slowly coming to an end. Today, its 105 days since we left our homes and we only have two days left of this course.

The feeling is a bit surrealistic. Looking back at four month reflecting on everything we have learned, experienced and felt is so overwhelming and it feels like we’ve been living here for years. Time has been running so fast. I clearly remember two months ago, being halfway through the course, thinking we had a lot of time left! And now we are here, the day before our last day.

Keeping focus these last days can be a bit of a challenge. We are so close to the ending and it’s easy to sense that everyone is ready to go home or move on. Mentally, I think we are all almost home. We talk a lot about the things that we miss and looking forward to have or see like food, friends, surroundings and most of all; hugging our families and friends in the airport. We are ready to go home.

Still, it’s a mixed feeling that we only have two days left. Even though we’re looking forward going home, we’re also sad that it’s the end and I don’t think that anyone is ready for the “big goodbye” yet. I think its strange ending a part of your life that you know you never will experience again and saying goodbye to some people you may never see again when you’ve been living together.

It has been some amazing months here. Experiencing a lot, building new friendship cross countries, learning by each other and just living in this very exciting and lovely country.  

Safety Walk

After the 2010 election in Myanmar, the country has opened up to the outside world. Even though Myanmar is developing a lot these years and moving towards democracy there is still some negative sides to the story.

This Tuesday we were invited to do a safety-walk in the rural areas of Yangon together with

Action Aid’s women rights team. A safety walk is a walk in a specific area with the purpose of mapping the safe and unsafe streets for women. We went to Hlaing Tha Yar Township which is one out of seven areas where Action Aid conduct these safety-walks. In this area there is a lot of big factories employing mostly women migrant workers who come to Yangon in the hope of a better life. But the reality for these women are tougher than one would believe.

One of the biggest problems for the women in the area is transportation from the factory to home. When they get off from work it is usually dark outside and because of the lack of streetlights it is unsafe for them to walk on the streets. Besides fast moving traffic, no sidewalk and holes in the road, the possibility of harassment or in worst cases rape is very high and part of everyday life. A new factory law in Myanmar have implemented that the minimum wage should be 3600 kyat, the same as 3 $ a day. This means that instead giving all the workers more money, the factories have fired a lot of workers and thereby the remaining workers got a much bigger workload. This means that the women have to work around two hours of overtime every day, getting home even later in the evening and therefore facing bigger risks.

The factory law also states that the factories have to provide transportation for the women, but the truck only picks up the women going home from work once a day. Meaning that the women working overtime don’t have the possibility to go with a truck and have to walk or take a bus and again facing an even bigger risk than they already do.

If the women are one of the lucky who gets a seat in truck, it is very crowded and trucks usually drive insane. But that’s not all. There has been cases where the last woman have been raped by the truck driver.

When they get home to their bungalows or hostels they still don’t feel safe. The bungalows are easy accessible and intruders are not fare away. So where are the women safe?

This is the story of the negative side of democracy and opening a country up to the outside world, to big international companies who do not take the necessary responsibility of their workers.

The safety-walk made a big impression on all of us and made us think about how the companies take advantage of the marginalized and vulnerable women who don’t have any other possibilities. Therefore it is important to take action and help the women in this extreme tough and unfair situation, as Action Aid does with the Safety-Walks as a part of their new Safe City Campaign.

FULL FLAME: HOW WAS IT?

The past 2 weeks we have been working on our final project at the global citizensship course. The name of the project is full flame and it is our chance to create social change i society! 

We were a part of a group working with the terms governance and furthermore good governance, as we thought this was the right time having the latest election in mind and not to forget the very beginning of a democracy. 

To introduce the thoughts about how to do good governance we created a fun and educational boardgame, targeting the youth of Myanmar. 

But how is it to create social change in Myanmar? 

In one word Challenging. 

First of all having to find an achievable aim. As there a so many important issues to work With here in Myanmar, it was difficult making  something that was realistic but still reaching out to a bigger audience. 

And With that comes a new question: how do you find your audience? 

Of course it was easier to find the active supporters because of our network here at global platform, but finding and involving the less political and activistic youth was a Challenge.

That ment that our product was very much suited for the political and activistic youth, which worked out really well in the end! 

Overall there has been a lot of factors that we had to have in mind during the full flame because of the situation in the country, but luckely we have good local friends helping us understand the culture and the norms.

It has been really exciting and fun to be able to do something actively our selves after spending time in the classroom seeing other people do social change. Now we were the ones acting out, and setting our mark on this course.

The end of GCC and goodbye to Myanmar!

The Global Citizen course has almost come to and end. And in four days we will be on the flight back to Copenhagen. It is such a strange feeling having to say goodbye to Myanmar. Before I came here i couldn't imagine that i would feel this belongingship to a country after staying there for four months.

Experiencing a culture so different from what I am used to was in the beginning very exciting but also overwhelming. Eventhough Myanmar is different from Denmark in so many ways, i feel this connection to the country. I don't feel like a tourist when i walk around the streets anymore. I feel kind of at home. So eventhough i am looking forward to go back to Denmark I will definetely feel sad about leaving Myanmar.

If I think about what I have learned from the last four months, the biggest lesson has been understanding the cutural differences. Spending so much time here and really getting to know Myanmar has changed my perspective a bit. I am not looking at my own country in the same way as before i came here. On one hand i feel a lot more thankful for being born in Denmark. But i also feel that some people in Denmark could learn a lot from the burmese. About being more open to strangers, and about kindness and sharing.

In four days i will not only have to say goodbye to Myanmar. I also have to say goodbye to the people i have spend every single day with over the last four months. It is an intense experience going to another country with people you don't know and spend all your time with them. Sleeping in the same room, spending your sparetime together, go travelling together. You get to know eachother in a speciel way, which i think is very unique. It makes you develop!  

Frederikke

All endings leads to new beginnings, or do they?

105 days since we all moved away form our normal life settling in at the Global Platform meeting our new friends, the trainers, the staff, the program, the new life for the next four months. We all came with different agendas and now is the big question: did we met them?

I can only speak on my behalf, what the others have obtained are their story to tell. Me? I came with the hope of getting knowlegde, tools and courage to make a difference in society. An unrealistic goal perhaps but rather aim high then not have any goals. 

I felt I was surrounded by senselessness and injustice mainly created by the goverment and my own lack of action. So when I took a gapyear from studies it was with the purpose to switch out the two negative emotions with hope and fighting spirit. A search of the internet lead me to Mellemfolkelig Samvirke's folkschool abroad. The description of the program intrigued me where terms as governance, active citizenship, global citizenship, campaign strategies, human rights and gender equality (plus traveling) was stressed. 

Now the course has come to an end and now the time is to look back at the four months and decide if the personal goal has been reached or maybe is something new has been added?

Through educetion, discussions, meeting different people and experiencing that your voice do mean something I got the courge back. 

My plan is to go back with all I have learned and involve myself in the refugee situation because I believe that all humas are equal. 

But as my headline suggests there are always a risk that ones hopes and ideas are not acted out. Life has a way of not wanting to be planed. But I very much hope that the feeling inside me of wanting to be an active citizen stays so that this ending will lead to a new beginning.   

HOW DO YOU DO ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP?

Due to the inequlity and injustice we still face in the year 2016, there is still A lot we as citizens of the earth can do to improve our globe. Luckely there's a big number of people already doing benefitial, developing and improving work, and maybe a even bigger number of people wanting to engage in such kinds of projects(me including). 

People belonging to the first group of people i mentioned above(the ones already doing active work) may wonder why people as myself, belonging to the second group of people(the ones wanting to engage) dont do anything about it. 

I Think I may have the answer for that.

Active citizenship can be many things, but i believe that the term is most commonly used if you engage in protests, demonstrations, debates - things that all requires a more  provocating mindset. I dont argue that the above-mentioned things aren't active citizenship,

But in my opinion active citizenship Can be so much more. But it took me some time to realize. 

Beforehand i was trying to identify myself with the role as a protester, because i thought that was how you did active citizenship, and i wanted to become an active citizen. But i found it very difficult, due to the fact that i'm just not that kind of person. This resulted in me having a non-succesful experience with doing active citizenship, and therefore losing the courage and the motivation. 

With the rest of the global citizenship course I have, during my time in Thailand, visited A lot of organisations working as active citizens. We have amongst others met with Forum Asia working with human rights, AAPP  With political prisoners and thai Peace foundation working to promote development in the ghetto-area of Bangkok. 

Seing how these organisations work, and how each organization worked diffrently totally widdened my perspective. Experiencing an Ngo from the inside made me realize how important the people behind the demonstrations and campaigning also are in order to reach out with the message, and also how important they are as active citizens. 

Now i found a type of active citizenship i could identify myself With and one i could actually achieve.

With other words, i found out the importance of always having to have yourself A 100 percent with you when you start up something. Finding your own way is they key to succes. You can so easily get Lost in translation, because so many people constantly influence you. But being honest and true to yourself gets you so much longer. 

// Ida 

Thailand - "The Land Of Smiles?"

Today Thailand is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. Most people experience Thailand as the picture above; a white sand beach, clear crystal water, palm trees and a kind population. But maybe there are more to it than just this bounty feeling?

The 22th of May 2014 was the day of the 12. Military coup in Thailand since 1932. From 1932, the military have dominated Thai politics and military coups have been so frequent an event that in the latest years it has become a natural part of the people in Thailand. The resent military coup shows no future signs of change.

Before of our trip to Thailand, we did not have a realistic idea of the political situation; it was a holiday destination as it still is for many people. As many Danes, our original impression of Thailand was a tourist destination, a place with no worries, a paradise. We did not know anything about
 the conflict between the two main groups in Thai politics, the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts. On top of that, we did not know much about the extent of corruption in Thailand as in most of South Asia.
We were briefly introduced to the political situation and the current problems in Thailand before our trip, which made us notice signs on these issues when walking the streets of Bangkok in the first week of our trip. Additionally our new and more realistic image of Thailand was strengthened when we visited a number of organizations, working with Human Rights and refugees both in Bangkok and in Mae Sot.

All of this made us think how it is possible to travel to a country, not knowing anything about what view of humanity, form of government and values of the decision-makers in the country. Some would perhaps call it naive tourism. When we came to Bangkok, we lived at the backpacker area around Khaosan Road. It is a place made for the tourist; western food, bars, souvenir shops, travel agencies and so on. There is no sign of the authentic Thailand. Even if we had stayed in this area for a week, we would not have known anything about the real life of Thai people. This is perhaps the perfect example of naïve tourism.

But is it ok to be a naive tourist?
We think that as a tourist you have an influence on the countries you choose to visit. If you know the context then it is possible to take a stand and support whom you believe in. When you return home, you can also spread awareness of the real story.
Of course, you cannot save the whole world as a tourist and it is totally okay to relax on the beach and enjoy life. But maybe it’s not too much to ask, knowing a bit about the basic history, politics and culture of the country you travel to. Or just be curious about your surroundings.
If you choose to take that responsibility, you become a global citizen.

During two weeks in Thailand, I had learnt many knowledges, experiences and new insights. I had learnt many different organizations or communities as AAPP (Assistance Association for Political Prisoners), Forum Asia, Youth Connect, Thai Peace Foundation and TBC (The Border Consortium) and received knowledges in human rights, education system, political situation, culture, economic, historical, border country situation and migration in Thailand.
There are many education foundations for Myanmar refugees and migrators which is in Mae Sot, Thailand and Myanmar Border. From Youth Connect Foundation, what I had received about was many students from Myanmar are striking for their family needs and they don't have a chance to study for their education. Now, I felt that I would like to share what I had learnt about before to them. I will find a chance to do as a volunteer to share knowledge and experiences to them.

          During two weeks in Thailand,we had learnt and got new experiences,knowledges,environment and new insights.We had many challenges what is happening everything,and everywhere in the world.We had a chance to learn human rights,education system,political situation,culture,economic,historical knowledge and border country situations in Thailand.We had learnt about many different organizations or communities,Thai Peace Foundation,Forum Asia in Thailand and AAPP(Assistance Association for Political Prisoners),Youth Connect and TBC(The Border Consortium),what are they working for.

Thailand is monarchy country and ruled by military currently.There are many international schools and universities that students from all around the world come to Thailand.There are many education foundations for Myanmar refugees and migrant workers.I had got a chance to observe in one of the education foundations, “Youth Connect Foundation”,which is in Mae Sot,Thailand and Myanmar border.We had a time to share our knowledge and experience to each other.Thai culture is quite closed to Myanmar.Thai people are mostly polite and respect to elder.

We also went to Myawady “Friendship Bridge”,and local market,Myanmar and Thailand border,which is in Mae Sot,Thailand.Many people from Myanmar and Thailand use Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge for official crossing.But there are many people who still cross the river even it is illegal.We had  seen economic situations of the border.

We had to divided into four groups and made a presentation for each group,as facilitators and also as participants.We had learnt that what should a facilitator have and what are the real difficulties of a facilitator.We had to learn new insights and inspirations from this trip,that made me to think about what is “Active Citizenship ”,and what are they doing.Now,I can find the result,it's just “Act Local,Think Global”

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)

If some of the participants from our Global Citizenship Course where of the opinion that human rights is optained and a living reality in our world, you would think differently after our visit at Forum Asia the 6th of May.

During a afternoon session at Forum Asias headquarter in Bangkok, we all got some very interesting and new insight into the objectives of the organization, and the extensive problem they are up against. The basic aim of the organization is to promote and protect all human rights all over Asia. A task which is not simple, and requires brave, ambitiouse and engaged members to operate their way through the different and often critical political fields of Asia.

And since Forum Asia covers not only one country, but a entire continent they need to work together and cooperate with other Human Right organizations and defenders all over Asia. Only by a collective voice Forum Asia is able to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights and democracy in Asia and beyond. They are stronger together and through that combined power they reach and engage with states and other stakeholders at national, regional and international levels.

And as we spoke with the organization that afternoon, we realized how important this work is, in order for Asia to move towards better circumstances and prospects, where especially the freedom of expression and the freedom of gathering can create the foundation of a unrestricted and fair continent.

... But how do you do that?
Small steps and small successes. You need to keep that in mind, when dealing with such a big issue. But what Forum Asia does is for example to focus on different programs. At our visit we were told about The Human Right Defenders (HRD) programme, which aims to equippe HRD with leadership skills and strengthen their advocacy actions in a harsh enviroment, that is marked by threats and intimidation.

Admirable people. Both the ones at the offices and those acting all over Asia. I believe that we all left the headquarter with that in mind. And a desire to not only use, but also appreciate our Human Rights. Freedoms everyone should be in possessions of.

//Freia Bille

How to make a long-lasting change?

That is a question I often aske myself. I think a lot of us dream about making a change. Making a difference. Being somebody, doing something. 
I dream about it.
But how to go from a dream to a reality?

In Bangkok not everybody is blessed with a home in a skyscraper or with a well paid job. Some live in communities close up with their neighbors, with streets like a labyrinth, dogs, cats and kids running around. Small shops here and there. Some have a job and some do not. People come and go in the community. It is not a place you voluntarily make to your permanent home. Some even call it a slum.

But Thai Peace Foundation saw the communities potential. 
This should not be a place to be ashamed of. This should be a place with unity, opportunities and knowledge. But how do you break down a bad history, a bad-told story?
You move in with the people of the community. That is what Daniel and his family did. That is what the interns do. That is what the volunteers do and that is how Thai Peace Foundation work.
Thai Peace Foundation is build on the believe that you can not be distenced and an expert telling people what to do unless you live with them. You share their sorrow and pain their celebration and happiness. You need the local insight and knowledge to know what is needed and how you can help and you need to work with the other resident. If you want to the change to last. 

Thai Peace Foundation makes programs based on the needs of the community e.g playing football with the young boys. At first the boys were fighting on the football field but then Sprite, the football coach and local volunteer, told them to play football instead. But fighting is the only thing we know, the boys responded. I believe in you, Sprite told them. And from that day they played football. This little example shows that with a bite of love and belive you can make a change but Sprite would never have been able to move the boys had he not been living among them.
Christine, a former intern and now fulltime worker (and angaged to Sprite), runs programs for the kids in the community as well as a girl club called Young ladies Club. One problem in the community is that the young girls become sex-workers to earn money. Thai Peace Foundation can not stop this but they can give them knowledge in safe sex, healthy relationship and help. Thai Peace Foundation is very much aware of the systems but instead of trying to change the communities all ready existing systems they try to work with them. Planting a seed for the future.

We asked Daniel and the others what it takes to get the communities trust. Time and patience they all answered. But I also think it takes a lot of dedication and maybe also some personal sacrifices. Meeting the people of Thai Peace Foundation has really inspired me. They work by becoming, and loving, the people of the community. They don't force the "correct way" of living. 

And by doing this, they really make room for long-lasting change. 
//Signe B.

Dry-zone and the fellows

Last week the entire course went to the dry-zone area in the middle of Myanmar.

After a 12 hour bumpy bus ride we arrived to the quiet countryside, where we stayed for the next 3 days. During these days we experienced the small communities, local people and different cultures. In this post we are going to share about our meeting with the fellows, who are the local volunteers of the area devoting their lives to improve and develop their villages.

The fellows are villagers who participated in the fellowship-program, facilitated by Actionaid. In this program the fellows are being empowered by the tools ActionAid provides, as well as learning how to empower the rest of the community. When working to change and improve a community it is important to know where power comes from and how to use it.

There is the power within (yourself), the power with (with others), the power to act and the power over (others).

For the fellows it is very important to have power within, because they will be facing a lot of challenges in their work to improve the living standards of the community.

The power within have to overcome all of the personal obstacles and resistance from the family, neighbors, friends and so on. According to most of the fellows, building trust to the local community is the hardest task they face. In some cases it can take 5 years even gaining their respect. Both because the community has to believe on the fellows intentions for the greater good, but also because they need to risk and invest some of their energy for the course.

They also need the power with, in order to work together with the villagers, not forcing solutions on them. Only by working together as a unit, they will be able to accomplish their goals, as no man can change the systems alone.

Very importantly, they also need the power to act upon their ideas and hopes for the future, otherwise nothing will change. The fellows need the contacts and social respect to reach not only the other citizens, but also the authorities on a higher level.

The fellows main tool for achieving the different kinds of power as described above, comes from the training given by ActionAid and is called the Villagebook. The villagebook gives some tools for problem solving and village planning. The fellows create the villagebook together with the rest of the community. It contains important information about the village, the problems they are facing and how to solve them. Making them aware of the common problems they are all sharing, and thereby helping them to come up with a joint solution.

To sum up, our meeting with the fellows showed a real life example of both the theory we have learned in the sessions, and also how ActionAids programs work in practice.

A very inspiring experience!

Turning Tables with GCC

This week we are working with a group called Turning Tables. Through music they are empowering young people by giving them a voice. They are helping young people to create music, videos, cd's and documentatries focusing on issues in Myanmar.

In our lessons with turning tables we have learned basic music tools, have been challenged and pushed out of our comfortzone by singing, composing and writing our own song. Especially for the danish participants it has been a challenge to let go of the danish perfectionism. As a dane you often feel uncomfortable expressing yourself through music and dancing if you don't feel like it's perfect. The burmese participants don't have the same perfectionism so it's easier for them to let go and have fun. Danish people can learn a lot from that. The lessons with turning tables and the burmese as an inspiration have helped the danes to let go a bit more and have fun.

The lessons have definitely brought the whole group closer together. When creating music together and for some being in their stretching zone, you will see new sides of people. When having to make music in a group you will have to listen to eachother and work as a team. This has strenghtened us as a group.

This friday we are making an event where we perform the song we have created and recorded this week. At the event there will be snacks and drinks and we will also preform some danish/burmese songs for the staff at the global platform.  

How to find yourself

People all over the world are looking for themselves. They look in the magazine, their TV, their idols, their parents, their friends, their psychologist, in their surroundings. But I know where to look: go travel.

Coming to Myanmar and experiencing a different culture with a different history, cultural and social values and a different way of living has made me more aware of what I come from. Attending a course that focus on being a global, active and informed citizen has made me more aware of my obligations and responsibility toward all people. So now I have an idea of my foundation and a direction in life. But is this the way of getting to know yourself? 

A little bit I think.

If you look for your history and roots don't look where you always look. How will you find your answer if you look in the surroundings you been made in and has made yourself. 

They didn't know what to give you to begin with. 

Travel outside them. Meet yourself in what you are not, in surroundings that are not familiar. You will discover what kind of glasses you see the world through. I have discovered that I come from a very structured society. There are a system for collecting garbage, taking public transport, conservation of old buildings, paying taxes. Not much is left to chance. 

I am kinda a product of my society and it can be seen in my personality, my expectations and what I take for granted. Here in Myanmar their society is much less structured and from an outsider it can seem very chaotic. But still things happen in their own way. Their society and their history can also be seen in them. I find the people of Myanmar so relaxed and so helpful. Wherever we go people are helpful and they often don't expect anything in return. This hospitality and immediacy I will take with me home. So even though I have only been in Myanmar one month I have discovered some of my roots, some of my personal boundaries and something I like to change. 

And fortunately being an global citizen gives mw a hole world to travel in and a connectedness that will always follow me. 

// Signe B

Chaung Tha Beach

During these four months when we are attending GCC there will be some weekends when we are off. This spare time will be used for exploring Myanmar, visiting our families (at least for the Burmese participants) or just relaxing at the platform.

This weekend the 25^th to the 27^th of March the Danish participants decided to go to a beach called Chaung Tha Beach. In order to get there we had to go for a seven hours long and bumpy bus trip from Yangon. Slowly moving away from traffic noise and street kitchen inferno and exchanging it with the sound of waves and windy walks at the beach. We wanted to escape the big city life for a weekend and take advantage of the climate in Myanmar. Especially because we do not have the weather conditions to swim in the ocean and lay by the beach to sun tan in rainy Denmark.

And so our bags were packed with swimwear, sun lotion and towels, matching our expectations. But as we entered the beach Friday morning we realized that we were the only ones with that intention. The beach was filled with people of all ages, but none of them were pale foreigners trying to get a sun tan. Instead it was Burmese people playing in the ocean, eating seafood and hiding in the shadow. Obviously it was difficult for us to hide, but instead we had the pleasure of so many friendly greetings, curios children and group pictures, making the trip even more exiting.     

And still there was plenty of time to enjoy the peaceful beach life before we were heading back to the busy city. All together a very fun experience and at the same time a relaxing weekend, where we gained new energy for further adventures.

// Julie Lassen & Freia Bille

Life at the Global Platform

Welcome to the Global Platform! 

There are many Global Platforms all over the world, but ours is here in Yangon, Myanmar. 

When you enter the Platform you immediately feel at home. The dining hall, which is the first room you enter, and also the place to gather, is bright with colors and inspiring because of the motivational art on the wall.This is the place where we eat, discuss and have a nice cup of coffee over a card game. Going up the stairs you will find several dorm rooms and on the top floor a beautiful balcony. 

Since the platform is a place where people come and go, it is always full of life, and sometimes really crowded ;). Everybody in the platform is equal, meaning that we don't distinguish between staff, trainers and students. We are all together. 

Everybody once in a while needs personal space to breathe and reflect on the many impressions. This there is also room for! 

Compromise is a big part of living at the Global Platform. You have to pay respect to cultural, religious and social differences which appears in the daily life. It can be difficult to understand others way of living, but also important in order to make the daily life succeed. It is important to remember that you need to pay your respects to the differences, but also be true to your own values. You should compromise but not change. 

With that said, you learn a lot about your own culture by being confronted with something that is totally different. This is something you will bring with your home from the Global Platform. 

Why GCC?

Some might think we are crazy for attending to this four month-course in global citizenship. Who chooses to leave their comfortable home with family, friends and the usual surroundings that you know and love?

WE DID!

Off course, there’s a lot of motivations to why we are here!

First of all, you need to have the courage to take a risk by stepping out of your monotonous life and experience yourself in a whole new light. When you are living in and learning about a new culture you are challenged in the way you think, the way you act and the way you feel. 

But these challenges are a good thing because it will bring you closer to who you are as a person. You will learn how to make a change and participate in your own way. So, don’t hold back because of your fears and don’t be scared to take the risk. 

You will be able to contribute, participate and overcome your personal challenges.

Another great motivation for this course, was the opportunity to not only attend a folk high school-programme but also combine it with travelling. This is a great possibility to experience new cultures on a more personal level. 

That is why we are here, all of us.

Even though the course only contains participants from Myanmar and Denmark it’s more about cultural exchange in a global perspective, which was also a big motivation of this course.

The opportunity to learn more about cultures, historical backgrounds and citizenship both globally as well as local. To gain new knowledge about acting as a global citizen and understanding the different traditions and social norms every culture have. 

This will give us a better opportunity to understand and respect other peoples way of thinking, living and their behaviour. But at the same time it will also give us a better perspective of ourself and our own culture, which we can only obtain by the meeting of other people and other cultures.

Sometimes, when seeing the injustice and unfairness of the world you want to act, but don’t know how. This course will help us to act.