In a Ted-ex-like format, Sciences Po students captivated the audience by showcasing how they traversed limitations through travel and exposure to different cultures. Piroshin, a member of the Indian community in South Africa detailed racial abuses in South Africa. Marianna started her own NGO at age 18 to assist victims of human trafficking in Latin America. Originally, from India, Nikita got the courage to cross to Pakistan, against all warnings from family. Indeed, some of the greatest borders are the psychological ones that we place on ourselves.
Author: k-co squared
In Defense of Millennials
This generation is tasked with fixing the massive issues previously created – ongoing conflicts and wars, social security insolvency, an underway environmental disaster, economic crisis, and rigidification of social mobility. Millennials can be better generalized as a generation that thinks critically, is unafraid to challenge the status-quo, and is the most educated, travelled, and connected group. In the workforce, they defy business as usual by preferring to work under their own rules, use freedom and flexibility for innovation, and take risks for the greatest gains.
On Foreign/Local (Dis)Advantage
Life as a foreigner working for an international organization in developing countries versus life as a local resident are very different worlds. While Kosovars struggle with low wages or unemployment, foreigners working in Pristina enjoy high status, wages, and security in their host country.
First Impression Snippets of Prishtina
Prishtina has the air of a serene and young city – due to its large youth population of university students, children, new infrastructure and architecture, and fast pace of growth and development. As an Albanian-American at UN Women, I am now in a curious in-between state: technically a foreigner, but closer to the people, which puts me in a unique position of trust and understanding with the warm Kosovars.
One Billion Rising
This Valentine’s Day at the #onebillionrising gathering in Paris’s Place de Trocadero overlooking the Eiffel Tower, students of Sciences Po, NGOs, and supporters gathered to denounce violence against women – dancing in the rain in strength against one of the most oppressive situations that women face.
All Together: Making a Difference through International Relations
Many, including I, used to think that the UN is the ideal place to make a difference on the global scale. Upon a closer examination, the UN has many shortcomings. But on a broader perspective, one sees its true value. The UN works to make a difference for the people struggling the most using partnership with civil society and individuals on a global level.
Journeying through India
Walking through the open-air markets in Delhi India, one is bombarded by the sights, sounds, smells. The colors of the clothes in the markets, the smell of the hot fried food on the streets, the shouting of sellers inviting customers, the roaming dogs (or undisturbed cows in the case of Vrindavan)… One witnesses the highest level of affluence next to the most despairing poverty. While India faces unprecedented levels of poverty, the diverse people of India – from the children to the elderly women – show true strength, spirit, energy, and vitality that inspire and awe me.
“Rather Radhe” – On Spirituality
The temples and ceremonies of Vrindavan are spectacular – beautifully ornate, lit up, and resonating an energy of majesty and divinity. The atmosphere triggers the feeling of a world festival. As we approach the center of the temple complex, I feel the beatings of the drums and tambourines run up through my bare feet on the ground. Excitement grows as people funnel in upon the black and white marble checkered floor and columns in the midst of chanting and music.
The photo that launched a gang intervention
As the men approached the bus, the monkeys jumped on and crawled all around it, with us inside. Thrilled at seeing monkeys for the first time in India , my colleagues and I were delighted. Then some of us made the grave mistake of taking out our cameras and photographing the monkeys… The psychological stress of being surrounded in such a predicament is high.
Selfies and “Madam, please”
The children of India won over my heart. Whatever school we went to in whichever village we visited, they greeted us with precious smiles. I felt inspired by their energy, welcome, care, and vitality. However, children in India face terrible labor exploitation. Out of all issues that I have witnessed in India, this one breaks me.
K-squared 