Youth conference on volunteering and dialogue in Jeddah, or the quest of concrete solutions.
Second day of Youth conference here in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
After a first day of inspring speaches during the opening ceremony and around themes such as peace-building and humanitarian action, we turned today to sustainable development. We then had an attempt to answer the question of how to promote intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity.
The speakers' inputs were completed by a more cultural perspective throughout the visit of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. We were invited to visit this impressive academic campus which is the fruit of a thousand days journey : its foundation and construction took less than four years ! It has international and dialogue-oriented visions that make it a very special place. They also have there a museum on the history of Islamic science which was most appreciated by all participants.
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We scouts have a living culture and desire of fostering dialogue among our respective societies and among our world scout community. Though we scouts of the world have extremely diverse backgrounds, we share common values and methods that can make us pioneers of global dialogue. Can we make this dialogue become more than a personal exchange ? Could this understanding of differences be not only the key for a better mutual understanding but also the tool thanks to which we create the better world we wish ? I believe so.
An unimaginable number of stereotypes have been broken down since we've arrived here in Saudi Arabia. But this is, after all, only a start. Tomorrow will be closing ceremony of this three days conference. The real start comes after when our scout delegation will split back up around the world. Let's be messengers of peace.