The latest U.S. Department of State issued a Sudan Update.
Two lines caught my interest:
"Partnership and collaboration are essential to our efforts in the region...working closely with the African Union, United Nations, Arab League members, and my fellow Envoys from the UK, EU, France, Russia, and China to ensure success." Who are the treetops?
"We're also directly supporting organizations that will build the capacity of Darfuri development NGOs, identify opportunities for reconciliation activities, and conduct outreach to internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and Arab and nomadic tribes to ensure their voices are heard in the peace process." Can you identify the grassroots?
If you've had the courage to read Half the Sky by Kristof and WuDunn, you'll get the reference to grass and trees (and if you haven't, do add to your summer reading list).
Understanding collaborative process and effort requires delving deeply: How closely will the African Union, U.N., Arab League members and other envoys work to ensure Sudan's success? What defines success and stability for Sudan and its high-conflict, post-conflict zones? How do we begin to understand the stakes and interests the above groups have in any particular region? How will transfer of power work? Does the average citizen have access to this information? It takes commitment and time to understand accurately and well. For the everyday citizen working and living in the U.S., we hope to learn what we can through reports, journals, features, and government blogs at least. To begin, we'll take a walk through the grass, talk, tell stories. This is a good way to start connecting to the rest of the world as global citizens:
1. Learn the stories of IDPs, refugees, and other survivors.
2. Appreciate the risk humanitarian and peacekeeping volunteers endure to work for others. Psychological research tells us that many workers can experience the same physical and post-traumatic perils as the people they serve; they are not immune to kidnapping, injury or death by violence.
3. Don't take my word for it. Read thoughts of a UNICEF Child Protection Officer and what it means to be a global citizen.
4. Once you are moved by these first-hand accounts around the world, you'll be inspired to know what's going on in your own backyard, neighborhood, and community, too. Volunteer or research ways to give locally, to start.
5. When traveling abroad, research the diversity of local ethnic groups, their languages, faiths and customs. Understand a region's historical and imminent conflicts. Suspend premature judgment to optimize learning and understanding. Add a community service component to your plans even if traveling to transitioning and developed nations; preferable length of service is often six months to one year or more.
These basic suggestions remind us that developing multicultural awareness is a life-long endeavor and the ways in this learning process are many.
Photo One: Sudan Aid Recipient. AP Photo. Jerome Daley
Photo Two:Wikimedia Archives
