DAY 2

Day two of the symposium primarily focused on recommendation-work from the participants, but also invited a number of people to speak about youth and the need for civic engagement. CEO Citizenship Foundation UK Andy Thomson inaugurated the session titled ‘Global Citizenship’ and essentially defined what it is to be a young global citizen in this day and age.

“A global citizen is not quite someone who is a citizen from Nepal or Pakistan. So when people talk about global citizens – they ignore the borders we inhabit. There is more that brings us together as a community of human beings than that which divides us by our countries. I’ve been going to different countries and finding people I can identify with, people who are more like me than the man I live next door to,” he said. He added that “I’ve been going to different countries and finding people I can identify with, people who are more like me than the man I live next door to.”

Pakistani educationist Dr. Barnadette Dean (ex-principal for Kinnaird College) presented a quick round-up of the education system in Pakistan since the country’s initial years, and reasoned why/how we are here today. “Sadly most of our governments have focused on trying to make us loyal patriotic citizens of our countries. Sometimes they tell us we cannot interact with people in our own region. For instance, we are taught that India is our enemy and Afghanistan we have to be strategic with,” she stated while speaking about lack of global initiatives in the region. “Our education system should also allow you to do social action projects. Colleges and universities need to make the curriculum more intellectually engaging and challenging,” she continued.

Thereafter, Next Generation Report Task Force Member Bangladesh Mr. Nazim Farhan Choudhury spoke about what it is to be a global citizen in Bangladesh. “My little nephew celebrates Pooja, Eid and Christmas. Is he only a reflection of a Bangladeshi citizen? What does the average Bangladeshi identify with? Everybody wants to be a global citizen – but what is the ground reality for us?” he asked the audience. He then spoke about a few important youth initiatives in Bangladesh including the Jaago Foundation and One Degree Imitative.

Next up on stage was Pakistani Google Representative Badar Khushnood, who looked at how the social media and networking perspective could assist us in achieving our goals faster, while giving the example of Google maps and recent floods. Day two wrapped up with more talks from Google Pakistan Young Afghan Activist Ms. Maihan Wali, Mr, Abrar-ul Haq and Director GCC Mercy Corps Qatar, USA Ms. Sarah Warren.

The Regional Symposium finally wrapped up with thrilled speakers and an enthusiastic young audience, feeling super challenged to address the pertinent issues at the societal level in their countries, with the idea of active youth citizenship being key to all other ideas. Participants also later enjoyed fun performances from both Pakistani music band Noori and Mr. Abrar-ul-Haq.