Youth Diplomacy Program Discovering and Developing Ethical Behavior in our Community, One Youth Diplomat at a Time

As stated on the Rutland Ethics Alliance website,  “The concept of Ethics is as complex and diverse as the world's individuals and cultures.”  The Alliance goes on further to acknowledge that “Perceptions about what is and is not ‘ethical’ behavior vary as cultural boundaries are crossed. True commitment to ethics involves an understanding the impacts that actions have on others and our surroundings.” http://www.clemson.edu/ethics/rea/home.html

This article presents a program developed by Greenville Sister Cities International (GSCI) that builds upon this premise by helping youth go further with their volunteer talents than “doing the right thing”.  As the Alliance also wishes to impact “mutual Respect and Diversity”, the GSCI Youth Diplomacy attempts, with this program, to reach this goal specifically by impacting youth.

IT STARTED WITH A BIG DREAM

Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954 started Sister Cities International (SCI) so that cities around the world could have direct contact with each other and build relationships that would overcome the tensions of war and distrust and bring world peace and understanding. http://sister-cities.org/ .   Greenville South Carolina http://www.greenvillesc.gov/ started its sister city program in 1984 with Bergamo Italy and, since then, has added Kortrijk Belgium (1996) and Tianjin FRZ China (2001) as well as maintaining relationships with Clermont-Ferrand France, Fukui Japan and Konstanz Germany  http://www.greenvillesistercities.org/

Bergamo Italy -- SISTER CITY ESTABLISHED IN 1984

Beautiful Bergamo, Italy, located in Lombardia Province, has a population of 140,000. The town consists of an ancient portion of town, enclosed in 16th-century Venetian walls, and a lower portion of town that sits on the edge of the scenic Po Valley.  Inbound and outbound delegations established the relationship which includes a partnership with Furman University so that college students can experience a semester in Bergamo.  Italian-owned Trattoria Giorgio and Ristorante Bergamo located in downtown Greenville were inspired by this wonderful relationship.

Kortrijk Belgium -- SISTER CITY ESTABLISHED IN 1991

Kortrijk, with 279,000 residents, is a highly-urbanized area located in Flanders, a Dutch-speaking community within the Belgian state. Because of Kortrijk’s close proximity to Brussels, Paris and London, Kortrijk plays an enormous role in the transportation of persons and goods throughout Europe by air, rail and water. Kortrijk also has a rich tourism industry with many industrial and archeological sites and museums. Kortrijk’s landscape is enhanced by a large network of walking trails, bicycle routes and riding tracks that make it an ideal location to enjoy outdoor recreation. Greenville’s relationship with Kortrijk dates back to 1991 and has included student exchange programs through Furman University and exchanges between local garden clubs.

Tianjin FTZ China -- SISTER CITY ESTABLISHED IN 2002

Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone (FTZ) is the largest free trade zone in northern China. Tianjin Airport Industrial Park and Tianjin Airport International logistics Zone are the primary areas of Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone. The adjacent city of Tianjin is an advanced city. With a population close to 9.6 million, Tianjin boasts a world-class educational network of over 20 colleges and universities and 320 vocational and technical schools producing thousands of well-trained professionals and industrial workers each year.  Tianjin ranks among the top three most technologically advanced Chinese cities.  Greenville’s relationship with Tianjin FTZ (Free Trade Zone) is relatively young, having been established in 2002. During that time, two delegations from Tianjin have visited Greenville.

As the Greenville Sister Cities International (GSCI) mission of “cultural enrichment, business and economic growth, educational development, social and personal relationships with cities around the world and through our Sister Cities programs”, GSCI designed and launched a Youth Diplomacy program in 2010.  It was founded on the premise that diplomacy like ethics is developed early and expressed through our private lives and public action.  The GSCI Youth Diplomacy program was inspired by GSCI Board members who wanted future Greenville residents to be active and positive diplomatic representatives of their community and country.   Building a Youth Diplomat core and encouraging residents to broaden their understanding of world issues and conditions is central to this program.

A GSCI Youth Diplomat is a community member who demonstrates civic knowledge, skill and attitude appropriate to engage in civil dialogue regarding community interests.  With this foundation, they are expected to exhibit clarity of thought, openness, empathy, equality and respect toward community members and visitors.   This positive citizen behavior encouraged by President Dwight D. Eisenhower is promoted by the United Nations, Sister Cities International and the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy as a way to enhance world peace and understanding.

In the next article, you will learn how the Youth Diplomat program is structured followed by highlights of the first year’s program activities.  For more information about this program and other GSCI activities, please contact Dr. Dianne Clarke-Kudless, President of Greenville Sister Cities at gsci.sc@gmail.com or visit our website at http://www.greenvillesistercities.org/

Dr. Dianne Clarke-Kudless

Organizational Psychology

Enterprise Services LLC, Consulting Partner

President, Greenville Sister Cities International

Board member, Rotary Club of Greenville (SC)