AIESEC is the world's largest youth-driven organization is an international platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential and make a positive impact on society. In cooperation with companies and universities, AIESEC has been developing young leaders with international experience for sixty years. Thier innovative development process comprises exceptional leadership experience and global internship programme. Focusing on the building of networks of personal contacts and the exploration of one's own future directions and aspirations, AIESEC employs an innovative approach in the initiation and development of young leaders of the future.
BLACK (Building Leadership and Cultural Knowledge) Program is to arouse in the participants the awareness and appreciation of their culture and the culture of others while developing essential leadership skills. At the end of the project each participant would have experienced and learnt more about his culture (local and national) and the culture of at least 6 other countries from at least three different continents. The objectives of the project are, to develop leadership skills in youth through skill enhancement, theoretical and practical training enabling them to become the ‘leaders of now’ which they are now. More so, to provide learning experiences that would help enhance youth having a greater appreciation of their culture and the culture of others. Among her objectives is to help increase cultural tolerance among youth and thereby aiding global peace.
A closing seminar (Global Village Day) will be organized during the last month of the project. The Global Village is an event that aims to expose the most interesting aspects of cultures and traditions of all countries participating in the program. The idea is that "we are all citizens of a single country: the global village." It is an event open to the public and allows anyone interested to participate and know people from different backgrounds, learn something about their own culture and the culture of others.
Speaking with our reporter the Local Committee President, AKINSOLA Oladapo 400level student of the department of Geography said, ‘Culture is an instrument wielded by leaders to produce leaders, who, in their turn, will manufacture still more leaders. Project BLACK is leadership delivered through the avenues that culture has created, AIESEC IFE is proud to be associated with this noble cause. The project is aimed at building true leaders who learn to respect and also embrace the culture of other people despite our differences.
However the Project Director, NWOSU Ebuka 300 level Microbiology OAU complements by saying, ‘Working and being friends with youth from other continents has tremendously challenged my world view thereby making me a true global villager.’
The Local Comittee Vice President External relations, Mr. FETUGA Adebayo 500 level Chemical Engineering, ‘AIESEC envisions peace and fulfillment of mankind’s potential. The first step towards world peace is understanding and tolerating alien cultures. Project BLACK gives young students the opportunity to meet other young people from different parts of the world and learn their culture and ways while also introducing their own culture and ways to the foreigners. It also aims at activating the mind of the youths towards responsible leadership.
Local Committee Vice President Project – ADEGBULUGBE Oluwole Computer Engr 500 level OAU said, ‘AIESEC is constantly providing opportunities for young people to exercise their creativity. BLACK gives over a hundred young people the chance to do something new, innovative, exciting and socially responsible. The students are appreciating meeting and being exposed to other cultures and peole from as far off as the other end of the world. I am so happy when i see the glow on their faces.’
A Participating Student of Moremi High School as secondary school in Ife Mathew Olawole said, ‘It feels so good to be able to experience firsthand cultures and practices only seen in movies and magazines and also meet other youths with different perspectives about life from different parts of the world.’
Another participating Student from Obafemi Awolowo University International Secondary School Iyanu Sorinyan said, ‘The BLACK project has made me more aware of my culture and heritage and how people outside Africa see us. I think we should have more projects like this which help to correct the wrong impressions about Nigeria and Africa as a whole.’
Tam Anakin 2nd year Chinese University of Hongkong Geography and resource management is a student on exchange progamme (Intern) in Nigeria, AIESEC members are opportuned to engage in exchange programmes said, ‘Project BLACK is definitely a meaningful experience for me. Leadership and culture are very much related. Getting the chance to educate the Nigerian youth about these two issues that are critical to a countries’ development makes me feel proud. During my observation and involvement in the project, I really realize the meaning of global citizenship by connecting to the local youth. Coming for this project has made me realize that Africa is very different from what is shown on the NEWS. Africa is rich in culture and the people here are really nice and great. I’ll definitely visit more African countries because of this experience.’
Another participating Intern Sunny Wang of York University Canada 4th year sociology, said ‘When I read about the porject BLACK, I had no doubt that this project is going to be the one for me. Leadership and culture are certainly correlated. BLACK was the program that would certainly promote this. Working with Nigerian students has been a challenging and life changing experience.The program is carried out on Saturday mornings. For us, Saturday is the day where we are allow to wake up late and be lazy. However, I don’t see this kind of reality here. Every time we get to the schools, there is always some students waiting for us. While teaching them others cultures apart from Nigerian culture, I saw a thirst for learning and knowing from the students. The students were more passionate and more excited than us. I felt embarrazed in the beginning. Later I learned that I need to prepare very well before doing a presentation. I need to take into account that these students have experienced different teaching curriculum. What I know might not be the same as what they know. The project is not just about us teaching them, it is also about us learning from them. For instance, the students showed us their ethical dance and songs. It was full of symbols for me. Every movement, every color, every song, there is a meaning to it. Africa is so rich. This is something that is foreign to the western media. Africa students are hard working. This is what we don’t see in the newspapers. Africa must be experienced by oneself. No one can teach you what Africa is or how Africans look like. You must experience by yourself, ‘ he concluded.
Afolabi Oni
OAU 08036126690
oniafolabidteacher@gmail.com
NOTE: AIESEC is a name no more an acronym and has no full meaning
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