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Success StoriesCanada-Poland: Youth Working Together |
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| In May 2003, York university students visited Krakow, Poland for a 10 day conference on "Media and Tolerance in Society". This student cultural exchange, organized by Jagiellonian and York university students served to build ties between young people from both sides of the Atlantic. |
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| The second part of the conference, when young Polish students will be visiting Canada, will take place in Toronto in May 2004. Following is Silvia Borzellino's story about the exchange: |
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| Silvia Borzellino & York University students in Poland: It's funny how quickly a thought can turn into an idea, an idea into a project and a project into an experience! In January 2003, I embarked on creating an exchange between Canada and Poland with Michal Steckiw, a friend who lives in Poland. |
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| Much had to be done to get this 10 day conference in Krakow to work. With time and a lot of hard work from the Canadian and Polish participants and myself, things began to fall into place. Soon, funds were being granted by CIDA, workshops on tolerance in the society and on the media were designed, plane tickets were being booked and before I knew it, the seven Canadians were headed to Krakow, Poland to facilitate this project. The week ran exceptionally smoothly and the workshops were a tremendous success. |
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| And if the success of the conference itself wasn't enough, I was also given the opportunity to meet the Canadian Ambassador to Poland, Mr. Ralph Lysyshyn, on multiple occasions, and with the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Ms Louise Fréchette, visiting the Jagiellonian University, and was even invited to participate in a very exclusive round table discussion with Polish dignitaries and the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bill Graham. |
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The outcome of my experience in Poland was amazing and life changing. I have gained tremendous experience and acquired memories that are imprinted on my life forever. I would like to motivate other students in Canada and Europe to engage into such bilateral projects.
For more information on this Student Cultural Exchange Project check out: www.yorku.ca/cpce.
By: Silvia Borzellino, Project Coordinator, Canada-Poland Cultural Exchange
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