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Final plenary session and closing ceremony |
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Mr. Johan Bontje, Chief Facilitator, invited the representatives from the groups of session 3 to present their collective dreams and tell about their proposals for actions. Each group, represented by one or more participants, shared their consolidated findings, as written down in this report on page x on the interactive workshops in session 3. The result of this session was a very open and enthusiastic interactive happening. Mr. Atem Ramsundersingh presented the consolidated findings of the Conference which you can read on page x. Mr. Jan Willem Kirpestein mentioned to be touched by the enormous positive effect of bringing so many different people together through a process of intensive dialogue and personal encounter. He said: 'It clearly shows the importance of creating a global platform for dialogue and encounter.' In all of our actions, we must seek to be living examples of the changes we wish to see in the world. In this final session participants elaborated in their dreams straight from the heart. There was a lot of laughter and also tears when people shared their experiences and felt being understood. The diving into the deep by means of dialogue made people who are in daily life sometimes called opponents, feel strongly connected with each other. This gave a special touch to the closing session. A few participants gave some suggestions for the next conference. The presence of a spiritual leader, Swami Veda Bharati, the meditations he led and the talks he gave, contributed to a deeper dimension of the dialogue process. It was suggested that on the next conference a spiritual leader of all major worldviews would be given an opportunity to do the same. In this conference woman and men felt equally at case in expressing their dreams, ideas and feelings. Woman often took the lead in tackling sensitive issues. Woman often took the lead in tackling sensitive issues Next time woman will be given a more prominent place on the conference programme. Many participants, often regular conference goers, were pleasantly surprised that this conference was not about speeches and generating lots of paper! As a matter of fact for many it was an experience of real personal encounter and dialogue. This report can not tell all stories, but to give an impression: A young German woman told how she grew up in New York and how her youth was pleasant till the 'Holocaust' movie was presented at her school. From one day to another nobody of her fellow students in high school spoke to her anymore. In the beginning she did not understand why. A teacher noticed what was going on and decided to organise a 'Dialogue' between her and one of her most vocal opponents. That helped. During the closing session she shared how it felt to be neglected and testified that a dialogue is important to create a better understanding amongst people. Servant leadership is all about humility A Muslim woman from the United States of America expressed the change in her life after September 11, 2001. Her testimony during the first day of the conference made a deep impression. During the closing session she told how the conference had helped her to transform her anger into positive action by joining the community of practice planning to organise an international platform for moderate Muslims. Another participant shared a story about his struggle to escape extreme poverty when young. The first five years of his childhood he was naked. Till he was 15, he did not even have a blanket to cover his body at night. He worked as a servant and a teacher. He was determined to go after his dreams. He eventually graduated from the university. He met Mr. Nelson Mandela and worked together with Mr. Kofi Anan. During the closing session he shared his vision on leadership. 'Servant leadership is all about humility. Be like Nelson Mandela. Start from the inner self. Do realise that everything in this world is connected.' Everything in this world is connected A participant from Israel spoke about the persecution of his family. His father and mother had to flee three times since 1940. Every time when they felt secure, they got threatened again. Finally they arrived in the United States of America. They survived the war with their three sons. But, they lost all members of their family. Their brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties were killed in the Holocaust. But despite all of this, he told the participants, he brought up his children never to hate other people. He taught them to stay a worthy human being at all times. The conference showed, over and over, that personal encounter and dialogue can bridge the gaps between political interests as well as religious worldviews. For as Nelson Mandela said: 'Deep down in every human heart there is mercy and generosity.' Participants experienced that through intensive dialogue, the boundary lines between people faded away. Deep down in every human heart there is mercy and generosity Closing ceremony Mr. Phil Lane, a hereditary Chief, member of the Yankton Dakota and Chickasaw tribes, a former Professor of Education, and an international leader in human and community development, showed his gratitude to Encounter and its facilitators by performing an impressive sacred ritual closing the formal part of the conference. His final words: 'In all of our actions, we must seek to be living examples of the changes we wish to see in the world. By walking the path, we make the path visible'. In all of our actions, we must seek to be living examples of the changes we wish to see in the world After that Mr. Jan Willem Kirpestein asked the participants to join him in a moment of silence. |
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