AIESEC France at IC 2006

Day -1:
The Opening Ceremony took place in a big concert hall in the middle of Warsaw. The entire ceremony took a little longer than everyone expected, but it was still an interesting experience. We listened to few key note speeches from representatives of the government and corporate sector of Poland and enjoyed traditional polish dances and modern ballet performances.
Day 0:
The ultimate experience however, happened the following day, at the Global Village (GV). GV was organized in the center of Warsaw and offered the public an opportunity to get acquainted with 95 different countries and their unique cultures. Each AIESEC country had a 3x3 meter stand, which they decorated with flags, country maps and spiced up with traditional food. In the middle of the GV, there was a huge stage, where we watched some incredible live performances and danced on AIESEC songs.
Something special happened during Global Village. In one split of a second, I felt an incredible surge of passion and love for everyone around. This is when I realized how fortunate I am to be part of an organization that shares the same culture and identity across continents, while celebrating and living its diversity at the same time. More importantly, I started questioning again the role that I am currently playing and the role I will play in the future.
At IC, I am not only learning, but I am also re-clarifying my vision and purpose in life. During these four days, I met some incredible change agents who have realized that society is expecting from them to step up and make a contribution. I met people who challenged themselves by leading AIESEC’s expansion in countries such as Afghanistan, Qatar and Bahrain. These people were able to choose between a corporate career in any of AIESEC’s Global Exchange Partners (Alcatel, DHL, ABN Amro, etc.) and a leadership experience in a developing country… and they choose the latter for a reason. These people found meaning in their life after understanding that their role must reflect the needs of society. These are the people that AIESEC produces – globally competent and locally driven agents of positive change.
But what is a change agent? It’s a person who identifies a burning issue in society and aligns his personal vision with the change that he wants to see in that society. By demonstrating his commitment to that change and acting on it, he is inspiring people and making them aware of the role they need to play in society. A change agent is ultimately the one who is making people around him believe in the power of change. His legacy are the people who will continue the commitment to making the world better a place to live.
Now let me ask you a question: What is YOUR unique contribution to society? How are YOU making the world a better place every day? What is the change that YOU want to make?
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posted by Meto