Ajla Siljak did a two week internship with IARS during February 2010 as part of a British Council sponsored ‘Intercultural Navigators’ Programme. Ajla said: "The main aim of the British Council’s ‘Intercultural Navigators’ programme, apart from creating young leaders, is helping and teaching young people how to accept differences. This means encountering and overcoming differences, stereotypes and prejudices.
I have been part of this programme and have travelled from my home country Bosnia to London. I set myself a task of experiencing as many different things as possible. If the aim of the whole project was to be surrounded with as many differences as possible and accept them as they are, then I can definitely state: mission accomplished!
I’ve spent 2 weeks with an amazing group of young people from IARS who were able to share my ambitions and were very welcoming in accepting me as a part of their community. Apart from my colleagues in the office, I met many other volunteers and participants of the projects that IARS delivers. It was a new experience for me to see the problems young people face in London; it was definitely stimulating to see that many friendly people talking about issues openly and honestly.
To be honest, the reason I chose IARS was precisely because it is youth-led and deals with the issues I’m interested in and have experience in. Now, after 2 weeks, I can undoubtedly say that I made the right choice. I spent time with the Youth Advisory Board to the Serious Youth Violence Board working with the London Metropolitan Police. I witnessed openness and honesty about how young people viewed the police and how they want to address certain issues.
In addition to observing projects and taking part in discussions to learn about the social issues young people face in London, I also got the chance to offer my own analysis on the situation. I did this through writing an article where I described the situation in my country and the issues every young person deals with, and compared this with London. This article will be published as part of IARS serious of publications. It will be a good opportunity for youth in the UK to get familiar with other societies and become more aware of their own.
Since a few people I met at IARS told me that they would like to come to Bosnia and Herzegovina and get a better picture of what’s going on there, I hope I will continue my cooperation with IARS and to visit me in my home country. I think there is great value in international cooperation and shared experience.
To sum up, I’m so glad I have had such a positive experience from this programme and that I met so many amazing people. My experiences combined with my input, not to mention a little sight seeing, have amounted to a very diverse experience. With reflection on my original aim it is mission accomplished!
Ajla Siljak
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