Gurgen Balasanyan wanted to harness the power of youth exchange in building tolerance between Armenia and Turkey. After completing the Global UGRAD [11] program as an exchange student himself, he returned home to Armenia and started a program that brings youth from both countries together in dialogue and promotes a heightened commitment to civic action.
In September 2009, Gurgen and his colleagues founded the Youth Initiative Centre [12] (YIC), an organization with a broad mission of including young people in decision-making, fostering volunteerism, and establishing intercultural cooperation. YIC now has more than 170 participants, 30 volunteers, and 8 staff members. IREX interviewed Gurgen, now age 22, to learn more about the branch of YIC that focuses on youth exchange to build peace between Armenia and Turkey.
Why is cross-cultural dialogue with Turkey important for you?
Youth in the two countries have almost no opportunities for direct communication, which provides fruitful ground for political propaganda and for government maneuvers. Closed borders pose a threat by making prejudices the main factors for people to determine the viewpoint towards their neighbors, even when they have so much in common. We should give the youth in Turkey and in Armenia the chance to come together, to get to know each other, and to experience other lifestyles.
Why is cross-cultural dialogue important to the youth who participate in YIC?
Recent research we conducted with the Middle East Technical University in Ankara (with results to be published) shows that even a single direct contact with Turkish/Armenian youth drastically affects their position towards the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations. We want the youth to have personal views on the Turkish-Armenian relations and be active in bringing those two realities closer. This will surely quicken the process of finding common ground to solve the historic conflicts and to develop future cooperation with this neighbor that is so close, yet so far apart.
What has been one of the most memorable or rewarding moments during the program?
One time, a group of youth from YIC participated in a Turkish-Armenian civic youth dialogue program, "Two Sides of the Mountain." The program, initiated by AEGEE Ankara, gave youth the floor to "discover" each other and to dwell on possible initiatives to bring youth on two sides of the border closer to each other. One of the most memorable moments during the program was the cultural evening in the village of Vakifli, in the Hatay region. Participants from Armenia and Turkey together presented each other's culture, danced to traditional songs, played folk music instruments, and wrote a common song with both Armenian and Turkish lyrics, once again symbolizing the similarities we share. I will never forget the shining eyes among the participants and the villagers performing the song and seeing the Armenian and Turkish flag next to each other.
Why were you inspired to start this organization?
Over a cup of tea, other youth workers and I were talking about the youth work reality in Armenia, especially outside the capital. Youth outside the capital generally have limited opportunities in terms of:
- Getting a space to come up with initiatives and find support for their goals;
- Exercising their potential and volunteering locally and internationally;
- Finding alternative education opportunities;
- Experiencing intercultural communication and direct access to the outer world.
What inspired us to start the organization was seeing so many enthusiastic and talented youth around us who needed assistance to become more confident in the impact they could have in making their community a better place to live.
How did your experience as a UGRAD fellow affect your life goals?
The most important lesson I learned during the program was not academic at all; it was the insight into human power - the power of believing. I learned that if you want to succeed in anything you need to believe in what you are doing and make others around you believe in it too. The program reaffirmed my and Gandhi's motto for life: "Be the change you want to see in the world." I believe in the uniqueness of all individuals and their power to challenge and to change.
The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Eurasia and Central Asia [11] is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs [13], U.S. Department of State, and implemented by IREX.