In Focus
Learning to Live Together, a resource material to nurture ethical values needed to learn to live together in plural societies, is now available for teachers and youth leaders. Read more ...
Highlights
Learning to Live Together
Children in World Religions
Children and Media
Child Rights
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Nicolas Meslaoui
Age: 20 years old
Nationality: Belgian
University: Institut des Hautes Etudes des Communications Sociales, Brussels
Nationality: Belgian
University: Institut des Hautes Etudes des Communications Sociales, Brussels
How long have you been with GNRC and what got you involved with it?
I have been involved with GNRC for over two years. I was invited to a conference about human’s dignity that was organized by GNRC. I was actually invited by a friend’s parents who are professors in Islamic studies.
Which experience with the Arigatou Foundation that motivates you the most to work for children?
I was very motivated by the third GRNC forum in Hiroshima (2008) and the Youth for Peace workshop in Geneva (2009).
What are the challenges that you find in your efforts as a peace builder?
The challenges that I find are in the area of youth recruitment and the organization of activities. It is sometimes difficult to get the youth here to join us, specially if they are not interested in the problems of the world.
Do you have a message for other youth out there?
There are a lot of people in the world who need our help. And as youth, we can make a difference and change the world. It is not necessarily a big amount of money to help others; helping our families, our friends, our surroundings…it is there that all of it starts. Sharing our opinions and discover other cultures as well as other religions are part of the process to open our minds and to understand others. There is no need to lose hope because anything is possible. There are thousands of people who dream of a better world. If we work all together, we will live in a more dignified world. We have to stop listening to people who say that we are dreamers and Utopians. It is not true. We have the rights and reason to believe in a better world. It is time to act!
What activities have you done to bring the message of Learning to Live Together manual with GNRC in your regions?
I created a youth group in Louvain-la-Neuve in November 2008 by using the methods of Learning to Live Together.
Youth activities by Nicolas
Jocelyn, Dora and Nicolas organized their first activity in November 2008. The activity incorporated ice-breakers, the presentation of GNRC and games that helped reflect on diversity. In May 2009 they organized another activity with 16 youth from Belgium to learn about each other, discuss issues regarding racism and discrimination and to consolidate their youth group. The meeting was very successful and they are planning to have more activities in the coming months.
Read the first activity report
See motivational video prepared by Nicolas, Dora and Jocelyn for their youth group