Avoiding the next crisis: youngsters for future leadership.
ANTWERP, DWORP, March 5-8, 2009 — AIESEC, an
international student-run organization with over 28.000 members, organizes
a 4 day international conference about leadership and personal development.
During these 4 days, participants will cooperate in several workshops,
group sessions and seminars, given by companies such as PriceWaterhouseCoopers
and Streetwise.
In times of economical recession, it is hard for students to enter
the labour market. Because of continuous pessimism and the decrease
in job opportunities, students and recent graduates might get demotivated.
However, not everyone is despondent! Every year AIESEC – world’s
largest student-run organization – organizes its Belgian Leadership
and Development Seminar, simply BeLDS.
The event is hosted by AIESEC University of Antwerp - one of AIESEC’s
local committee located at the University of Antwerp - and will take
place in Dworp, Brussels from 5th until 8th of March. During this
4 day event participants from all over the world will learn about
leadership and its impact on society by attending seminars, group
sessions, workshops and team building activities.
By facilitating topics such as empowerment and leadership, AIESEC tries to create the positiveminded and pro-active leaders society needs. Self-development seminars such as BeLDS offer its participants the perfect experience beside their academic studies, creating highly motivated graduates who enter the labour market with an entrepreneurial spirit.
“When thinking about BeLDS 2008, I must say that it was highly
inspiring and motivational. The most important thing I’ve learned,
is that no matter what the circumstances are, you can reach whatever
you want by personal effort!” says Yorick Van Alphen, Vice President
Project Management 2008-2009.
“I think that by organizing conferences such as BeLDS, people
will learn how to take matter in their own hands. I also believe that
these are the people we need to secure our future!” says Dennis
Moons, Organizing Committee President BeLDS 2009.
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Economy or Environment- Which is the real crisis of our times?
Saturday November 8th, De Panne, Belgium –
300 Belgian and international youth gathered on Saturday evening at
the Belgian coast to have conversations around the crises of our times
and the role and response of youth to these challenges that face a
generation. The panel discussion was hosted by AIESEC, the world’s
largest international student-run organisation.
Daniel Schaubacher, representative to the European Institutions for the European Bahá’ì Business Forum, stressed the importance of ethics in business, describing the need for “a return to values based leadership”. He was joined on a four-person panel by corporate representative, Juan Bossicard, Community Affairs Coordinator for Microsoft EMEA and an alumnus of AIESEC in Belgium, financial-sector representative Gaspar Ndabi (26), a Tax & Legal Consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers and former President of AIESEC in Tanzania, and an AIESEC member from Romania, currently on internship in Belgium, Raluca Anghel (24). The panellists shared their knowledge and passion around the topic of youth change and impact, and were the driving force behind the insights and discussions that emerged.
Now that the financial crisis has been put in the spotlight,the question is if our focus hasshifted from other pressing issues that still deserve our attention: “We hear about the financial crisis every day, but have we forgotten about the environmental crisis we are also currently facing? We need to play a more active role and be aware of our responsibilities as tomorrow’s leaders” said Vishal Jodhani (24), President of AIESEC in Belgium. From the comments of the panellists and participants from the audience, the idea of sustainability in thought and action emerged as a recurring theme in the search for solutions to these crises.
The core purpose of the discussion was to make the youth more aware
of the impact of their actions in the long run and to realise their
role and responsibility in society. They were brought together at
student organisation AIESEC’s largest annual national conference,
where they spent three days in seminars around leadership development,
skill-building and strategic conversations. The impact the organisation
hopes to make through these activities is in developing responsible
and socially-aware qualities in their young membership, who will go
on to have an indirect positive impact on society in coming years.
AIESEC Alumnus Martti Ahtisaari wins Nobel Peace Prize
Celebrating 60 years of activating leadership, AIESEC congratulates alumnus and Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari for his bold commitment to peace.
For the first time in 60 years, AIESEC is honored to congratulate an alumnus, and champion of the AIESEC vision of peace, for being awarded the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize.
“Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari is a role model AIESEC alumni. His lifelong commitment to peace, participation and diversity reflects the best of 60 years of AIESEC history, enabling the leaders of positive change our world needs. On behalf of over 30,000 young people in more than 100 countries, I congratulate Martti Ahtisaari for his contribution to peace and the fulfillment of humankind’s potential” , said Juan Cajiao, President of AIESEC International.
Joining AIESEC as a young student in Finland in 1963, Martti Ahtisaari was immersed in an international environment that pre-empted his future as a global peacemaker. With his role in peaceful negotiations, Martti Ahtisaari has embodied bold leadership, forging international co-operation in seemingly intractable circumstances. Reflecting on his early engagement with AIESEC, Martti Ahtisaari welcomes the world to work more closely with young people in the pursuit of peace.
"I support the valuable activities of AIESEC in Finland and internationally. Therefore I encourage organisations and companies to find out more about AIESEC and support the work of these young people. " said Martti Ahtisaari.
As an AIESEC alumnus, Martti Ahtisaari joins over 800,000 former members, including fellow statesmen Junichiro Koizumi and Jan Eliasson. Today AIESEC has grown into a leading platform for young people to truly discover their leadership potential—and a real training ground for the world’s next influential leaders.
“As a true leader of positive change, AIESEC thanks Martti Ahtisaari for his actions in bringing hope for a peaceful world to the young people of today” , said Juan Cajiao.