Making Friends with Diversity in Globalized Societies

Adam Moscoe
(Age 14, Canada)

“Who are these people? They are taking our jobs. They talk funny, they smell funny.” ¹ “They” are your new neighbours.

As the globalization of society accelerates, and cultural barriers are collapsing as did the Berlin Wall, people of diverse backgrounds find themselves ‘in the same boat’ at work and in life. The need to integrate, not segregate, and respect, not just tolerate, is ever apparent. If today’s youth hope to cultivate a culture of equality and collaborative prosperity on a global scale, they must learn from a very young age the importance of accepting one another’s differences. Meanwhile, bringing together diverse youth is a huge challenge, but I believe that if we work together, today’s youth can achieve the dream of creating “dynamic and harmonious multicultural societies,” hereafter known as The Dream.

Equity means “giving equality to all citizens regardless of faith, colour, ethnicity...sexual orientation...” ² Similarly, healthy diversity requires sensitivity to another’s needs, desires and feelings. It demands civility, the protection of minorities, and peaceful conflict resolution. Diverse societies create environments in which people can achieve their full potential. The Dream will be realized when humans of all colours of the rainbow accept that there is no perfection, no “Master Race.” Finally, we must have faith in today’s children to be catalysts for change.

In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem and Scout Finch had the potential to reverse “time-honoured” prejudices between Blacks and Whites, and contribute to the building of momentum that fuelled Martin Luther King Jr.’s Civil Rights Movement. The children also learned two valuable lessons, which practise and preach every day: to see the world from another’s point of view and to treat others as you would want to be treated.

Meanwhile, how can youth actively strive for a culture of empathy and respect? I firmly believe that the path to The Dream lies in unbiased education and outreach.

Schools have more potential to inspire change than most educators realize. They range from close-knit, xenophobic centres in predominately White towns to houses of extreme multiculturalism in urban areas. This is especially true in Canada, with its high immigration quotas. For example, after a murderous an act of racism, one Vancouver school adopted the acronym ROARS (Respect, Ownership, Attitude, Responsibility and Safety) to promote social justice. Here, schools have a choice: allow ignorance to spark conflict or transform these junior enemies into friends, promising a brighter future. The latter is where I come in, to lead by example.

I am currently developing a program, which I hope will inspire youth all over the world. The project is called “Planet Dynamix” and is founded upon the belief that through intercultural dialogue, we can attain harmonious coexistence, the path to peace in a shrinking world. The three stages of the program are to be integrated into the classroom and be complemented by a marketing and communications campaign to raise awareness among all citizens.

Exploration (kindergarten through second grade): This stage introduces toddlers to the wonders of the world. Emphasis is placed on the socialization process and breaking the barriers between visible minorities through play. Students will also explore music and stories from a variety of cultures.

Development (third through eighth grade): Students will develop healthy debating skills by actively discussing current events and exploring religious beliefs and traditions. The possibilities for cross-cultural activities are endless: visits from community spiritual leaders, a multicultural book club, a music and food festival, sports teams, in which participants are united towards a common goal, leadership retreats to foster co-operation, and a pen-pal program between two distant nations, allowing students to see the world from another angle. Also, the core academic curriculum will incorporate studying international art, literature, history, geography and languages.

Leadership (ninth through twelfth grade): By this point, students will have made friends with peers of diverse backgrounds and are ready to take on leadership roles, under the direction of a mentor, by organizing events that promote social tolerance and making their unique voices heard. These catalysts for change will be strong enough to overcome adversity while pursuing The Dream.

My vision for “Planet Dynamix” is to shape today’s youth into tomorrow’s sensitive leaders. It will rely on financial and political support and on our educators’ dedication to invest in a better future, in the midst of so much poverty, hatred, disease and counterproductive policy-making. Through encouragement and experiential learning, stereotypes can be squashed and racially diverse children will live and work together, setting an example for the world to emulate. They will recognize a Muslim’s need to pray, a Sikh’s need to carry his kirpan, how to deal with tension between Israeli and Palestinian teenagers, how to strengthen school spirit and unity...

Are you ready for change?

¹ Cheney, Peters. “Operation Colour Blind...” Globe and Mail 10 June, 2006 F4

²Source: www.takingitglobal.org