News from the Asian-Pacific Children's Convention: Winter 2016

One World is the official E-newsletter of the Asian-Pacific Children's Convention and the BRIDGE CLUB International Organization

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Peace Ambassador Applications

The APCC will once again invite former Junior Ambassadors to Japan as Peace Ambassadors for the 29th APCC during the summer of 2017. The BCIO has recently launched a new program to empower young professionals who wish to pursue global careers, as well as students. Therefore, experienced professional members are also encouraged to apply for the PA position. Former JA's who have taken part in the APCC between 1989-2012 are eligible to apply.

The guidelines and applications are different for countries with BC and for countries without BC, and there are 3 steps in the application process.

Each step has different deadlines and all documents must be submitted by these deadlines for your application to be considered complete. These include:

Short Essay - by Dec 20, 2016
Application, Letters of Recommendation, & Resume/CV - by Jan 20, 2017
Action Plan - by Feb 15, 2017

Click for full details and the application: http://www.apcc.gr.jp/cms/bridge/Sample%20PA%20application

BCIO Head Office Member Applications

The BRIDGE CLUB network is filled with many talented leaders making notable differences within their BCs. And it is meaningful to run BCIO with global perspective brought by multinational leaders. Therefore, BCIO will give continuity in inviting few former Peace Ambassadors as a BCIO Head Office Member to experience the management of the PA Program.

Click for full details and the application: http://www.bcio.org/2016/11/guideline-for-2017-bcio-head-office-member-application.html

DEADLINE: Send completed applications to office@bcio.org by 18:00 Japan Standard Time on Monday, January 10, 2017

BCHK Annual General Meeting On 27th August, BRIDGE CLUB Hong Kong (BCHK) held its Annual General Meeting starting with a summary of the 28th APCC by PA Matthew Wong, and the JA. The delegates had an awesome time in Fukuoka and we specifically shared our joy and new passion to strengthen the linkage between our new and existing members. Continue Reading...

Social Media Campaigns Across the BC Network:

Project #BCPdiaries from BC Pakistan

by Muhammad Moiz Ashraf Qazi, BC Pakistan

Inspired by Humans of New York, Project #BCPdiaries was created to show the capabilities of the members of BC Pakistan, with the aim to bring everyone together and further stimulate each other to stand up against all odds.

Under this project, past JAs, PAs, and volunteers shared their experiences with the APCC and in their life. They also describe the complications they faced and how they overcame them. This project enabled them to reflect back to their past, extract the pros and cons out of them, and then share these experiences with others.

The outcome was very notable; people learned about BRIDGE CLUB Pakistan, the extraordinary individuals of BCP, and the APCC. Another benefit of this project was that it helped BCP grow its volunteer network. Read #BCPdiaries here: http://www.facebook.com/BridgeClubPakistan

#Onedayonesharing from BC Vietnam

by Van Nguyen Thi Truc, BC Vietnam

This year could be the most successful

year for BRIDGE CLUB Vietnam (BCV) thus far; we achieved an award for the 2015 Common Activity and began many large-scale projects. After BCV’s first online meeting in March, BCV launched an inter-BC project called #Onedayonesharing.

BCV came up with this project to allow every member to have a voice about their memories from the APCC and show their gratitude to the APCC and their host families. This can also be regarded as a starting point for those who intend to one day become a Peace Ambassador, as they can reflect upon how the APCC has changed their life.

This was BCV’s first PR campaign using social media, specifically Facebook, to target inactive members and grow a reputation in Vietnam. After just a month, we received nearly 30 APCC stories and our Facebook page gained a 400% boost in interaction. Through this effort, we reconnected with 6 former JA, who have now become active in BCV.

#Onedayonesharing has marked a milestone in the early development of BCV. Let’s celebrate all that BCV has done and wish us all luck on this journey! Visit the BCV Facebook Page

EDITORIAL: Diversity & Inclusion
by Jacob Saiki, BC Hawaii

In 2013, Harvard Political Scientist Ryan Enos conducted a study investigating how exposure to racial diversity influenced political opinions. Put briefly, Enos would place two Spanish-speaking Latino men on commuter trains in Boston, Massachusetts (a predominately white area) and survey passengers on their views on immigration-related issues. Enos’ team found that exposure to “very minor, noninvasive demographic change” decidedly shifted passengers’ political views towards more exclusionary policy attitudes that included opposing immigration to the United States.

This study is just one of a great body of research illustrating how humans react when we come in contact with those who are different from us, and let’s just say that the findings don’t really make us look good. Our natural inclinations to preserve and protect (sometimes at the expense of others) has served us well in some ways, and disastrously in others. In a world that is quickly becoming more multicultural and multiethnic, it’s imperative that we find a way to celebrate our diversity and value everyone.

As the world becomes more fearful and divided, it is more important than ever that we remember our international friendships and cultural experiences that have given us a unique perspective on society. Enos’ study emulated the sort of interactions we too often have with those different from us; they are surface level and devoid of any depth. Prejudice wins when we let the demons in our head inform us of the realities of the outside world. Please join me in remaining intentional in our efforts to spread the OMOIYARI spirit as Everyday Ambassadors.

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