Infobooklet. Summer 2018

Transcription

1 Infobooklet Summer 2018

2 Bridge the gap between the arab and world WHY THE NOUR PROJECT? Because we live in a multicultural society, where people from many different cultures live side by side, it is important that we aim to create a peaceful environment where people understand the differences of another culture and accept each other. Reaching an understanding of the Arab culture enables people to have a nuanced opinion, instead of blindly following the picture that the media paints. HOW DOES THE PROJECT WORK? The Nour Project is an initiative by AIESEC in the Netherlands, and aims to create mutual cultural understanding between the Western and Arab world. Our goal is to challenge prejudices and to bridge the gap between the Western and Arab culture. We do this by sending a number of highly motivated students to a country in the MENA region (the Middle East and North Africa) twice a year. The programme is more than just spending a couple of weeks abroad, which is why the Nour Project is unique. To prepare, the students will participate in a Preparation programme. After the project, the students will take part in the reintegration programme, where they share their experiences of their time in the MENA region. In this booklet you ll find more information about the different stages of the Nour Project. The last pages of the booklet consist of practical information about the deadline, costs and requirements. NOUR INFO BOOKLET - 3 western Nour Project

3 THe project THE PREPARATION PROGRAMME To prepare the students for their summer or winter abroad, we provide them with trainings on a professional and cultural level during the Preparation Programme in the months before going to their destination. THE EXPERIENCE During the months July and August or January and February, the students will go on a Project in a country in the MENA region. NOUR INFO BOOKLET - 4 THE REINTEGRATION PROGRAMME To complete the cultural exchange, back in the Netherlands the students share their experiences by giving presentations at a high school at the Arab Experience Day and present their story at the Arab Experience Evening. The students also get the chance to share their stories in their own creative manner.

4 Preparation Programme The aim of the Preparation Programme is to provide the Nour Participants with experience and knowledge on a cultural, as well as on a professional level, for their time in the Arab World. It takes place from November to December (Winter programme) or April to May (Summer programme). It consists of 8 to 10 workshops, lectures, and trainings given by various companies and experts. One should think about a workshop creative writing by de Correspondent, a lecture by documentary maker Floor van der Meulen or a workshop by experts on the MENA-region. During this period, the participating students will also be working on finding a suiting Project. In total, the Preparation Programme will approximately demand about five hours a week. Most of the trainings will take place on Saturday or Sunday, so that students are able to attend the trainings without missing any university lectures. Often, meetings take place in Leiden, Amsterdam or Utrecht. NOUR INFO BOOKLET - 7

5 THE EXPerience The Summer Project will take approximately 6-8 weeks between June and September, depending on your availability, so there is no study delay. The Winter Project lasts 4-8 weeks, taking place in January and February. The project is a tool to work with locals and truly dive into the Arab culture. The projects are chosen by the Nour Participants themselves during the Preparation Programme and are mainly developmental: working at SOS Children s Villages in Jordan, helping at children s summer camps in Morocco or advocating for women s rights. We also have other options such as writing a local NGO s business plan in Tunesia or helping make the Rammadan a festive month for people who cannot afford it otherwise. These are all examples of the projects of the past few years. NOUR INFO BOOKLET - 8 During the weekends the students are free to travel and explore the country! While abroad, the participants update their friends and relatives, and others that are interested, by regularly writing blogs about their experiences and discoveries or other expressions via social media. The links to these blogs will be posted on the Nour Project Facebook page throughout the projects. This blogging contributes to the Nour Project s mission: Building bridges between the two cultures and create multual understanding.

6 reintegration Programme After their Arab experience, the Nour Participants spread their newfound knowledge and their experiences back in the Netherlands. The purpose of this is to fulfill the mission of the Nour Project of creating mutual understanding between the Western and Arabic cultures. This happens firstly through giving presentations at a high school on the Arab Experience Day and in a mosque at the Arab Experience Evening. Furthermore, the stories of the participants will be published online throughout these months. NOUR INFO BOOKLET - 11 The Nour Participants will have the opportunity to invite friends and family to the Arab Experience Evening. During this day the students will each share their experiences in a creative way to an audience of 150 people in a Mosque. The Reintegration Programme will take on average 3 hours a week in the two months after the exchange.

7 practicalities SAFETY Every year we carefully choose our countries of destination and judge whether the political situation is stable. We have contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Dutch Embassies and the local AIESEC organizations abroad. When the situation in a country changes to unsafe, we will think of a back-up option for the Nour Participants. COSTS 299 as the regular AIESEC exchange fee, for the Nour Project this is including the costs of the preparation programme Flight ticket: price varies Cost of living, which is generally lower than in the Netherlands NOUR INFO BOOKLET - 12 WHAT DO YOU GET? Around 10 professional preparation activities A personal student coach of the Nour team that guides you in choosing a project Pick-up from the airport Arranged housing by the local AIESEC entity (note that the rent on some destinations is excluded from the Nour fee) Optional social activities organized by the local AIESEC in your country of destination.

8 how to apply To apply for the Nour Project, it is required to study in the Netherlands, and to be older than 20. Both Dutch and international students can apply, but you have to be available to take part in the Preparation Programme, Summer Project and Reintegration Programme. To apply, fill in the form that you can find on the website. DEADLINE: 1ST OF MARCH Do you want to know more about the Nour Project, or would you like to keep updated? Kwww.aiesec.nl/nour BNour Project Vnour.aiesec NOUR INFO BOOKLET - 15

9 Colofon DESIGN Maud van den Oetelaar TEXT Mats Reijman Maud van den Oetelaar OFFICE International House Kaiserstraat GN Leiden T: PHOTOGRAPHS All photo s in this booklet are made by Nour participants Powered by