You Got Your Dream. Now Let's Work Towards World Peace

As some of you may know, I am from Cameroon and a 2008 Hansen fellow. I thought I would write you all one last message as you all prepare to take on your final journey back to your various countries. On this wonderful day when you are gathered together to celebrate your Hansen success, I have decided to talk to you about the benefits of being a Hansen fellow and what important lessons I have learned in the one year that has expired between that day and today. I want to extol the crucial importance of imagination.

When reflecting back how it all started, I feel very elated and lucky. It was 2:38 am Tuesday night July 1,2008 Douala international airport Cameroon, I was leaving home for San Diego State University and as I said final goodbyes to my parents, family and my friends and I stepped to the Boeing 760, I knew my life would change forever. When I arrived at the San Diego airport, I felt very very special. Rachael Weathers was already there at the airport ready to pick me up. I remembered this nice smile she gave me and said Karl? And I said yes. She was really an amiable person and she drove me to the Hansen institute, the place where my inspiration actually began.

Even though I lost my baggage and only received it at the end of the program, Bonnie and Ron were exceedingly very gracious to me. They made sure that I got everything that I needed. Bonnie took me for shopping and I picked up whatever I wanted to get. She is really a sweet mum.

I feel very blessed to have met intelligent, ambitious and likeminded youths from different countries, cultures and backgrounds. I could never imagine that a small group of thoughtful and committed youths can change the world. I learned that real leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determination -coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success. The Hansen summer institute (HSI) equipped me with new strategies and knowledge for conflict prevention, management and resolution and the promotion of durable peace and above all the sustainment of development in Africa in general and Cameroon in particular. Travelling became a big part of my life soon after the Hansen program. I have built a box of friendship. So today, I wish you nothing better than similar friendships and tomorrow, I hope that even if you remember not a single word of mine, you remember those of the trainers, Ron and Bonnie as is a tale, so is life, not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.

Keep in mind that you will receive a Hansen certificate. There is an invisible handwriting on the back of the certificate and in case you will not have lemon juice to decode it, I can tell you what it says "You are brilliant and you can change the world.'' This extraordinary time when we are globally aware of each other and the multiple dangers that threaten civilization has never stopped. This can be deduced from what is happening in Indonesia, Iran, India, Pakistan...you name it. All these happenings calls for action and as young leaders, this is our century and it is time for us to act and lead.

I would like to express once again my gratitude to the Hansen institute for this beautiful gift which means so much for us all. For me personally, this is one of the most valuable gifts I have ever been blessed with. It shows me that we are on the road to a better future and that we must keep the momentum and fight stronger and harder till the very end. This certificate or award does not mean that we have gained victory but that we must focus our efforts now more than ever. We have taken the first of many steps towards achieving future peace.

At the end of the day, one very important lesson the Hansen summer institute taught me was really the meaning of ''destiny.'' Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved. Never never never give up in your dreams of world peace. When the world says ''give up,'' hope whispers try it one more time. Ladies and gentlemen, let us not only talk about peace, let us make peace. Now that you have successfully come to the end of the program, one of the important things you must do is to keep the network momentum. Share your experiences and challenges and explore opportunities for collaboration. Keep the flags of the Hansen summer institute flying wherever you go. May peace prevail (always remember that).

Have a nice trip back and I wish you all very good lives.

Karl Ngoye (Your Cameroon Hansenian)

Anna's Intern Corner 06/01/09

Happy June everyone!  I hope this post finds everyone well! 

As some of you may or may not know, I graduated from SDSU this Spring, and technically I'm no longer the "intern," however; I figured I could write you all one last message and leave you with some pearls of wisdom.

As you all prepare to embark on this crazy journey, take a deep breath, and prepare for the whirlwind that is the Hansen Summer Institute.  Without a doubt, this experience will change your life.  Take pictures and live in the moment because this is such a meaningful experience, and once the program ends, you will wish you had paid more attention to every minute detail.

Don't sweat the small stuff, and keep disagreements to a minimum.  You will find many things to disagree about, but you will find so many more that you agree on.  Although many of your countries have been fighting for centuries, you may find that your differences fall by the wayside after this spectacular program.  You will make lifelong friends during this program.  Keep in touch.

Stay up late discussing politics, family, or whatever you choose.  Get to know each and every participant in the program.  But don't stay up too late, because the program is quite rigorous.  I can tell you that coffee will be your friend by the end of this program.

Do your best to abide by the rules and the code of conduct, they are there for a reason and really do serve your best interests.  Be kind to Bonnie and Ron and the two graduate assistants, they have worked so hard and this program really is their pride and joy.

Most of all, I encourage you to be brave.  Try things you never could have envisioned yourself doing before.  Share a secret about yourself.  Be strong and make this program worthwhile, because you will truly get out of it what you put into it.

Good luck to all of you, I wish you only the best.  Hopefully, I will get to pop in sometime during the program.  Safe travels, and again good luck!

Anna

Pakistan: The Bigger Battle

As war rages through the Swat valley with the government finally having grown a spine and doing what it should have done long ago by fighting the Taliban; an even bigger battle is now being waged. The bigger battle is to care for what is perhaps the largest single sudden movement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the history of the nation; with numbers on the move getting revised upwards almost hourly. According to the 1998 census there were 1,257,602 people living in the valley, a decade later there are perhaps 1.5 million and it is possible that between one third and a half of that number are fleeing for their lives. Thus between half and three-quarters of a million people are going to need food, shelter, water, medical care and, most importantly, security; within the next ten days to a fortnight. As if this were not enough – and no government anywhere would find an adequate quick response to numbers of IDPs of that magnitude – we are already host to a large refugee population that shows no early sign of going back to where they came from. Perhaps to our fortune both the provincial government of NWFP and the UNHCR as well as other NGOs and national organizations have long experience of handling refugees and IDPs and it is obvious that the machinery of care is already clicking into gear.

It is difficult to conceptualise the sheer scale of the refugee and IDP burden that Pakistan has borne for decades and continues to bear today. As rolling news channels cover the latest influx, the last wave of human unhappiness disappears into a cloud of unknowing there to be administered and managed by the agencies whose job it is to do so. For instance, how many will remember that in early March this year the Pakistan government signed a pact with the UN refugee agency to continue to host 1.7 million Afghan refugees until 2012 – another three years hence? Under the agreement the UNHCR will raise $140 million from the international community to fund the Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) programme, which includes development projects aimed at boosting employment prospects, reviving agricultural and irrigation systems, repairing farm to market roads, improving crop and livestock production, and marketing produce. Which is all very well and we are pleased that the UNHCR is helping us with the hosting of Afghan refugees as they are – but the fact remains that they are still in Pakistan, are here until at least 2012 and with the way things are going in Afghanistan today the likelihood of them wanting to up-sticks and wend their way home – ever – is slim.

Within the month it is possible that the total number of refugees and IDPs of all sorts and origins within Pakistan is going to top three million, and one of the world's poorest countries will be hosting one of the worlds largest populations of displaced persons. Most refugees and IDPs do eventually return to their homes, and as long as the army does the job thoroughly and cleanses Swat of the Taliban cancer, and as long as the politicians do not discard their newly-grown spinal column, then the Swatis can go home. Their home will have been substantially damaged by warfare, and they are going to need post-conflict reconstructive help for decades to come – which will be neither cheap nor easy to fund. The rueful irony is that we would never have got to this position but for bungling and gutless governance. No wonder the rest of the world looks at us and shakes its head in bemused puzzlement.

Anna's Intern Corner 05/04/09

Just a quick note!

I wanted to let you all know that there is a new link on the Hansen website where you can view research and articles written by Hansen fellows.  Just go to the home page, and on the right hand side there is a link for "Research by Hansen Fellows," click on that and you can see articles by Davor and Tatiana.  Also, there are links next to their names on the alumni page that will open up the same articles.

For any of you who have written articles recently, feel free to email them to Bonnie and she will get them up on the site!

Hope you are all well!!

Anna

Greetings from Tatiana (Moldova)-The World is Our Playground

The world is our playground!

Hi everybody! Here I am…chillin’ after the Queensday party …sitting in my favorite coffee company, drinking my favorite hazelnut latte, browsing through all the possible online information to reminisce the beautiful memories and experiences that Hansen left me with.  Why now? ‘Cause unbelievably it has been almost one year…and time flies…this is what Sara reminded me some days ago on facebook…I don’t wanna get all emotional right now…but to be honest I wish I could see everybody joined together once more…can we make it Ron, Bonnie? :-) Silly question but coming from my heart…

Just to bring an update…things are going well for me…just recently landed a new job at the Nicolaas Witsen Foundation in Amsterdam, an organization bounding to my work in public policy what I was doing in Moldova. In addition, still studying Dutch…hope to make it through one day and master it as I would like it…it is really difficult but my language skills are not disappointing me! Traveling has become a big part of my life – for this summer I plan to visit a lot of special places, which are on my “bucket” list since the Hansen experience. And yes…maybe not all in one this year…but I would like to visit South America and Australia too! Hope not to go over my budget.

Reading the info posted on the blog…I really find it interesting even being an alumni…and I hope that is also helpful to Hansen participants of 2009. You know guys…being born and raised in Moldova provided me with a unique perspective of society. I am a citizen of a country that even after 18 years of independence, is still described by poor governance lacking knowledge and skillful diplomacy that could advocate innovative reforms. Probably…having every day the picture of the other side of the coin made me consider the choice of my dual-degree in economics and the choice of my professional goals in non-profit sector, which eventually consolidate my critical thinking and provide me a professionally-focused attitude. In HANSEN I noticed a personal approach…not just a standard student program “gathering” to talk…but more to share and relate on each other’s experiences, apply the knowledge in our daily life… that opens us opportunities of the 3 C’s – collaboration, cooperation and coordination.

When reflecting back how it all started…I get the picture when I first left the Chisinau airport (I need to add here my trademark question…“do you know where Moldova is?”), I had a killing stomachache that came from all those emotions and excitement that I was embarking on. The flight from Europe to US…was pleasantly tiring…I am feeling blessed that I met such special people out there, people with peripheral views, ambitions, intelligence and commitment in fulfilling their goals - starting from the organizers and ending with the participants. When stepping on the escalator of the SD airport…and seeing our names waiting for us…I felt that I am special and awaited! I first asked myself…is it really happening to me…just like that question, Bonnie, that I asked you at the Dean’s reception of the SDSU…are we SPECIAL?  And yes since that day…I realize that we all are…everything that is happening in my life comes from the positive energy and firm goals that I would like to pursue in order to make this life worth living! The Hansen program helped me to enhanced my knowledge in world peace and boosted my self-confidence in bringing an impact on my surrounding environment through things that I can do as I community leader and simple human being. This program taught us how to talk about our own perspectives when understating peace and promoting cooperation in a whole new format, where by bringing an informal setting we are committed and ready to be a part of the policy playground of this world. As I have said in my 2008 Hansen application…it is indeed an experience about pursuing a goal of opening young people’s minds for different perspectives in bringing new ideas for a sustainable future, by giving an opportunity to unlock true potential and see the bigger picture. A picture excluding economic crisis, conflicts and misery and includes the simple communication among cultures and people with different beliefs, ideas and visions. It was so easy to talk to people that until the program started, were thousands of miles far from me…and just like that…once...decided to be a part of the Hansen family…and make a difference, show their peers what a huge impact a simple 3 weeks program can bring.  I am aware of the fact what I am writing here…it is not utopian thoughts that I would fill out the content of this blog…I really see a potential in all those that got a chance to live the Hansenian dream…and I really appreciate the effort, interests, support and care of all those people that made it possible!  To the attention of the 2009 Hansenians: like Haseeb said “try to have as much interaction as you can with the other fellows during these three weeks”! Talk with each, share your knowledge, talk about perspectives, give advices…it will not just be about visiting the most hot spot of the Californian coast…concentrate on dialogue and ask what you don’t understand, participate in discussion, emerge, make friends, have a quality presentation (it is quite important!), keep in touch after the program ends, spread info about Hansen and write an update on yourself…what I am actually doing right now! Embrace diversity and foster a win-win situation! Don’t be shy to get in touch with either my generation or previous generations of Hansen alumni to share ideas or exchange experiences! Use collectivex (the social networking software) and not only! Maybe we even get different generations together one day! 

Thank you guys for getting to read my fresh-typed-in thoughts till this point! I will try to be much more active and bring some news-feed more often – now I have a lot of witnesses for my promise! J

Many warm thoughts and hugs from a girl that started with a simple dream and pursues her goals – just like Hansen reiterated us! I am happy to be a part of the network of informed, inspired, committed and independent leaders!

Keep in touch!

Tatiana (your Moldovan Hansenian ;-)

About a year ago I was selected in this program called Hansen Summer Institute. I had no clue of what to look forward to but the apprehension of being one of the lucky few who actually got selected was tempting and the idea of going to Southern California was superb. Now I had no clue where San Diego was(ahem ahem) because I had heard of L.A and had cousins living in Orange County but had no clue that San Diego existed. I first thought that it was a small town in California but then whenever i used to ask anyone who had visited California, they were like its a beautiful place.

It was June 29th, 2008 when I took my flight from Peshawar to Doha where I was to meet up with two other Hansen fellows from Pakistan, Hira and Anam, from where we had to take our flight together to Washington D.C. I had never met them before and had only talked to them three four times prior to our first encounter. All three of us had no clue of what to look forward to but our excitement level was sky high. Our Flight together to D.C was an experience I would never forget and would require another blog but to put it short it was surely the best flight of my life.
When we reached San Diego we were greeted by the Prof.Ron, Chuck and a Hansen fellow from 2007 who were holding placards with our names on them. That was sign of relief because after traveling 22 hours of air travel and having no clue of what was about to happen to us, seeing that someone is there to receive us was the best feeling ever. Atlas in safe hands!!! =)

Now if I go into details of every second of my trip, it would take ages before I get done and the ride down the memory lane would make me miss all my friends so much that its best I stick to things that’ll help the new Hansen fellows in getting a fair idea of what to look forward to.
Its a very intense program....That's what one of the Hansen Fellows from 2007 told me...i didn't know what he meant by that until i experienced it myself....It's more of a journey to self discover your own potential, your limitations, your leadership skills. The idea of meeting people from all over the globe was quite exciting but scary at the same time because you have no clue what they will like dislike...but i think we clicked the moment we met each other....everyone was so friendly and we figured out that we are more common then we could even imagine...actually the program is designed in such a manner that it allows you to have maximum interaction with other Hansen Fellows.

Oh and you have to speak a lot during the program...So in case you have some public speaking fear, you'll be so over it by the time the program ends. You would be able to grow as a person and develop skills that'll help you a lot in future. What is needed is that you should respect other view points and be open to positive change. Only then would you see the pure essence of this program.

Try to have as much interaction as you can with the other fellows during these three weeks...I think me and a couple of my friends used to sleep real late so that we don't miss out on anything while we are sleeping. So instead of going to bed at 10, stay up and enjoy with your friends. Most of our discussions were at the pool side late at night. I remember at first only two three of us used to sit there and talk but then the numbers grew and near the end almost everyone was at the pool at night.

Oh and don't give your Program Coordinator Bonnie lamb a hard time because she's like a mother to us. So in case you do bug her, expect any of the old Hansen Fellows to drop by any second and teach you guys a few manners haha I know most of us hated the 10.30 curfew time but i guess it was for our own betterment. They too have a responsibility and we should help them out and act nice rather then give them a tough time. In our time everyone complied with the cerfew timings because when didn't, Bonnie lamb was not the person you wanted to meet up with when you returned. She gets that scary haha :)

Oh and Graduate Assisstant is my friend Max this time from Russia....He's a very sweet soul...One of the most decent persons i ever got to meet....and the Intern Annnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaa......well she's a sweetheart!!! I think some of these Hansen friends are more close to me then my friends back home. And whenever we get the chance to talk (which we do almost every other day), we never run out of stuff to talk about.

That's about it for now...if anyone of you as any queries about the program or any other thing, don't just bug ma'am all the time with your mails haha you can always mail Anna or you can mail me at qazisahib@gmail.com. I'd be more then glad to help you guys out in anyway i can.


Best,

Haseeb Qazi, =)
Hansen Fellow '08

Anna's Intern Corner 04/15/09

Hi Friends!

This week I've been reminded how interconnected our family is and how much we have in common!  So many of our fellows have already met during previous programs and are meeting up at conferences after Hansen.  It is always exciting to hear how our web of peace-makers is growing.

I was also reminded of how alike we are, no matter how far apart we live.  I posted a comment on facebook about a singer/songwriter that I enjoy listening to, and promptly got a note back from Haseeb in Pakistan saying how he really likes the same artist.  I really encourage all of you to get in touch via facebook before the program to get to know your fellow participants.

Also, don't be afraid of how different you might be, because I assure you, you will have much more in common than you realize.  Last year, our favorite Kenyan told us about how much she liked Usher and we realized that no matter where you live, music seems to transcend all barriers.  However, I am sure that you will all have much more than music in common!  Get to know each other and I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

-Listening to Gavin DeGraw in California,

Anna