International Congress (IC) in India with over 600 delegates from 110 countries all converging in one location, to share ideas, share thoughts, share inspirations and passion for this organisation, for society and for humanity.
Walking into a session room in IC is one experience, which cannot be described accurately in words, pictures or videos. It is one, which can only be experienced. Walking into a room with over 600 delegates from 110 countries, each country at the beginning of the conferences sitting together, shouting their country chants and displaying their country proudly and with vigour. 7 days later, at the end of the conference new friendships where forged, new country partnerships, people where inspired or inspired others. We acted as one, not separated by race, country, colour or language, everyone mixed sitting together acting as one global plenary set on taking the organisation to its new levels, to higher levels that have never been reached before.
The main aspect, which united us all in ideas, thoughts and direction, was the formulation of our 2015 mid term ambition. Something which is not taken lightly but yet was created by all delegates from IC + all virtual delegates and other members from around the AIESEC network. This is a great feat, which is not seen, in many if any global organisations today.
IC also enabled us to learn from each other, and sharing knowledge and ideas on how each of us could improve in ourselves and also improve AIESEC in our own respective countries. The true essence of a global learning environment.
The sessions also provided us with training and knowledge on how to Lead a team, and understand a team as well as ourselves and where we fit in with our current teams at the moment and how each team can change as time progresses.
All in all IC was about the sessions, about 2015, but most importantly it was about connecting. Connecting each country, each growth network, each person with the national plenary. Being able to see how diverse, how deep AIESEC is, and how far it reaches around the world. Being able to see the passion in peoples eyes, and also being able to feel it in how they spoke and what they want to do in the world, not just in AIESEC but also outside of AIESEC to help create a world which is better, one which is one they want to live in and one which they want their children to grow up in, and then for them to change it some more to create a better one. You can see the power, you can see AIESEC but most of all you can see the passion and drive, which makes each and every one of us stand out from the crowd. Standing out, standing up to make a difference, because we believe, believe in a better world….
Opening Ceremony
So you place over 650 people in a room, from over 100 countries, with over 20 externals and partners and you have a room full of excitement and a crazy atmosphere filled with anticipation for the next 7 days of International congress. Welcomed on stage by the President of AIESEC International, the Conference Committee President, National President of AIESEC India, and various other dignitaries from government and our Global Partners was definitely an event which we as delegates all remember. Being given a taste to Indian classical dancing, Bollywood dancing, and also the ancient Indian style of fighting was also some of the highlights of the opening ceremony. It gave us as delegates a small taste of what we where in for, for the next week. And as a delegation we where very excited for the following week!
Global Village
Imagine walking into this massive tent with over 100 stalls representing each country in the AIESEC network! Each stall home to the countries food, cultural knowledge, and toys and with each of the participants dressed up in their countries national/cultural clothes. Walking around and being able to visit each of these countries and experience their culture, food and also meeting with them and getting to know more about each country is something which you cannot experience anywhere else. Countries such as Denmark, Armenia, Bulgaria, and Puerto Rico just to name a few. Each country also had the opportunity to perform their country-dance on stage for all to see. Taiwan performed an aboriginal dance to show its culture and heritage to the global plenary of AIESEC. Global village also provided AIESEC Taiwan a perfect opportunity to promote Taiwan as a destination for travel especially as we have the International Floral expo coming to our country in the next few months.
India Night
Having an International Congress in India would not be the same without being able to experience the Indian culture, clothes, dancing and performance that India has to offer. So as such the organising committee put together an Indian Night, for all the delegates of IC. A night where we all dressed up in our Indian clothes, and participated, embraced and enjoyed the splendour that the Indian culture had to offer. From the fine food, which we ate, butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, lamb biryani and much more. Fire breathers, an also a traditional puppet show from the Rajasthan province in India.
We also danced the night away, learning dances from Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, dancing the beat of the dhol (traditional Indian music drum). It was like many other nights in IC a truly memorable night, but also each of the delegates got to sample a unique part of India and her culture which she had to offer.
Youth 2 Business Forum
The Youth to Business Forum is a day long event at the Indian School of Business that provides an avenue for global business to converse with global youth. Through a series of parallel workshops, panel discussions and talks, 600 young leaders from over 107 countries & territories long with students from premier institutions like the Indian School of Business, and over 45,000 virtual participants will talk to 250 business leaders from over 100 organizations from around the world. In the presence of eminent dignitaries, and national and international media houses, they will seek to bridge the gap between them on
a multitude of issues like labour mobility, harnessing youth innovation & responsible business. IE business school was the main sponsor for the day and each of the delegates contributed their thoughts to this one question. This one question that shaped the direction of a book. A book, which will be published, by IE and excerpts will be published in the wall street journal. The question ‘How can our energy and experience connect to create fresh solutions for our communities?”
110 countries
1 question
600 co – creators
3 tracks
10 spaces
88 simultaneous conversations
191 flipcharts
600 individual reflections
792 ideas, conclusions and questions
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