How Travel and Encounters Open the World
Since 1993, I have been passionate about Scout meetings, which have a wonderful mission: To bring people of different backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles together to form friendships. These meetings are transformative because they teach us to treat each other with peace and respect. By traveling and experiencing together, we learn to expand our tolerance and become more open to the world. Events in the 90's were the beginning, in the last 23 years I have organized and led many international encounter weeks and trips to countries like France, Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Germany. During my studies I traveled with groups to Siberia, Morocco, Turkey and in Germany.
Encounters of inestimable value
The key to success is for people to meet and talk. In a world often marked by prejudice and mistrust, such encounters are invaluable. They build bridges between cultures and pave the way for dialogue based on understanding and empathy. When we take the time to reach out and share our stories, we discover that our differences enrich us and our similarities unite us. Encounters create an atmosphere of trust in which we can inspire and learn from each other.
Defuse conflict and recognize common ground
The significance of travel and encounters goes far beyond personal enrichment. They contribute to peace and international understanding. Learning about other cultures and experiencing the diversity of the world fosters appreciation for the uniqueness of each person and their traditions. This mutual recognition can defuse conflicts and encourage people to work together to find solutions that are in everyone's best interest.
Build bridges of friendship
At a time when technology is bringing the world closer together, the message of encounter and dialogue is paramount. There is a famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi that beautifully sums up this idea: "Be the change you wish to see in this world". If we focus on actively building bridges and bringing people together, we can make a positive difference in the world. Every encounter, every conversation, every journey together can lay the foundation for a peaceful and respectful world where tolerance and openness to the world thrive. Let us use the power of encounter to build a better future together.
