UN Day

Post By Olivia Caudle:)

March 19, 2018: Today has been filled with valuable learning and networking opportunities. We had the privilege of visiting the United Nations (UN), as well as the World Health Organization located in Geneva, Switzerland. We began our adventurous day by heading to The Palais des Nations (United Nations) by tram around 8:30am, and from there we met up with our private tour guide. 

The International Child Welfare class during their lecture at the UN

For those who may not know, the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) is the second largest United Nations center after the United Nations Headquarters in New York. “The UNOG contributes significantly to the Organization’s efforts to maintain international peace and security, to advance disarmament, to protect and promote human rights, to eradicate poverty, to implement sustainable development practices and to provide fast, effective humanitarian relief in emergencies – to mention just a few of the tasks. A large number of dignitaries and high-level delegations come to UNOG every year to participate in bilateral exchanges, intergovernmental meetings, conferences and other events, making UNOG a centre for information sharing and exchange (www.unog.ch).” 

At Hotel De Geneve, I was fortunate to have met Pietro Stefanini, a representative from London, who is a researcher and advocacy coordinator for the Palestinian Return Center. I also met his colleague, Omar Kachouh, who is also based out of London and is a delegate.

Pietro Stefanini (left), Olivia Caudle (middle), Omar Kachouh (right)

Walking from the entrance to the Council Chamber, where many important historical negotiations have taken place, 

there was a feeling of grandiosity with the tall ceilings and the breathtaking view of the park and Lake Geneva. Once we finally made it to the Council Chamber there were immaculate murals by José Maria Sert. 

Outside of the United Nations

The view of the park and Lake Geneva from the United Nations

Maryville College Senior, Kameron Graves, noted how the architecture and murals really displayed the message of the United Nations: “that what harms human nature is war and hatred. The only way we can overcome it and make progress is through solidarity of all men.” This was displayed through the mural on the ceiling. Kameron also felt that the United Nations relayed the overall neutrality of Switzerland.

The mural on the ceiling of the Council Chamber (UN)

Cheryl French, who is a sophomore at Maryville College, was blown away by how huge of an organization the United Nations was. Prior to visiting the UN, she felt that she had formed some negative opinions, however, after touring and learning first hand she gained an entirely new outlook. Cheryl also said that the work, time, energy, security, and collaborative effort that goes into each meeting at the UN was eye-opening, and made her realize just how huge of an issue some of the problems are that we are facing today.

The set-up for meetings in the Council Chamber (UN)

Post By Olivia Caudle

Check out our video!

Check out our video! It is only a preview of good things to come! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHRMmY_Kdes&feature=youtu.be

Pictures

We are going to start uploading batches of pictures by our various group members! Not every picture will have captions so if you're interested in finding out more information about what is in a particular photo please leave a comment and we will respond promptly.

We will do a lot of these batch uploads! This is just the first.


Cheryl French

Stephen Prizo

Anna Zander

Dave Peters

Reflections on the Humanitarian lifestyle

It is ever so lightly snowing in Switzerland today, and not far outside of Geneva we are sailing past the countless vineyards that lay like a blanket on the landscape. Each plot of farmland is gridded with long sprawling rows of vines, and the farm houses and barns speckle the hills that roll themselves into the steep mountain barriers far off in the distance. I’m sitting the back row of this bus filled with students, and the scenery on either side of the highway is magnificent. It feels like the perfect time to reflect and process all the things we’ve seen and learned in the past four days. We came to Switzerland to learn about international child welfare, but I feel like I’ve learned more about myself than anything else. We’ve been exposed to a barrage of facts, stats and data, stories, ideas and concerns, and general information about child welfare. We’ve visited organizations who are on the forefront of the humanitarian effort on a global scale. We were welcomed to learn at places like the United Nations, the World Health Organization, F.S.M. (Doctors Without Borders), the Red Cross/Crescent Society, and the World Food Program. It was important to me personally to learn about who is doing what, and in which ways, for the people and children that are suffering around the world. I needed to affirm that I had a place in that battle. By the way, since I’ve last mentioned what’s happening outside the bus, we’ve passed a castle that was perched on the side of a snow-covered mountain, and we are currently driving through a tunnel underneath what I can only assume is a large mountain. Wait, never mind, it wasn’t a large mountain at all. In fact, it seemed like we just drove underneath some farmers field. Strange. Either way, we can speculate about the odd-to-me Swiss tunnels a later point. Where was I? Oh, yes, I was purging a reflective idea about the humanitarian efforts being executed around the globe.

The notion I want to explore is how reason begs us to examine the risk versus reward factor when it comes to putting one’s life on the line to help people in a country where conflict is a perpetual problem. How can we justify or reason with ourselves for denying a life of luxury and promise, to spend our short time on this earth in a war-torn or drought-ridden country to help -- in a hopeless fashion -- those who can longer help themselves? I think the answer to that question presented itself in a class that I’m currently taking back home at Maryville College. We’ve spent the last several weeks discussing the difference between the meaning of life versus the meaning in life. Secularistic philosophers, who believe that life has no ultimate meaning beyond our daily lives, often speculate not on the meaning of life, but what it means to have a meaningful existence in the little time we have in this reality, a meaning in life.  One philosopher’s words resonated and rolled around in my head this week when considering the dangers of humanitarian work. Irving Singer, an American professor of philosophy who taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, defined the difference between a meaningful life and a life of significance. Singer said that to have a meaningful life, one must simply feel fulfilled. He stipulates that fulfillment in one’s life is contingent on one’s belief system, and no other person can determine or judge what makes someone feel fulfilled. Meaning, if someone feels fulfilled in their life to sit around and playing video-games until their life is over, that person has led a meaningful life. Singer also describes the next tier of a meaningful existence by describing what it means to live a life of not just meaningfulness, but significance. Singer describes a significant life as one in which a person spends their time caring more for others than one’s self. By this standard, everyone single person who spends their time caring for others more than for themselves is living the most significant and meaningful life possible. I can’t see myself being content at the end of my short life if I haven’t spent my time striving for a significant existence. See what I mean? I feel I’ve learned more about myself than anything on this trip, so far. To end this blog post I will update you on my current location. We have arrived in Bern and I am having a cappuccino while chatting with two beautiful locals about the German tapas menu that I do not understand. We are laughing and smiling, and we are all jacked up on caffeine.

International Redcross Museum

After a nice, long night of sleep and breakfast in the beautiful Hotel De Geneva MC students headed out to the International Red Cross Museum for a private tour. Riding the tram for the first time was exciting for all of us as we were able to take in the city of Geneva in a new way. After arriving at the museum the tour quickly began. We moved through the various exhibits and learned about the many humanitarian efforts completed by the Red Cross/Crystal/Crescent throughout history. Some of the breathtaking exhibits featured art pieces created by individuals who suffered through concentration camps and refugee camps. Relics from past tragedies lined the halls. Interactive exhibits also gave us a chance to experience the aid hands on as well as hear the stories from survivors. The mind blowing amount of help that the Red Cross has provided throughout the years was eye opening and aroused a desire to help in all of us. Overall this was a very humbling experience for all. Looking forward to continuing our adventures tomorrow! 

We have arrived!

We have arrived, and we are in the thick of it now! Our group of explorers from Maryville College are currently wondering around Geneva after a long night of travel. Our plane landed early this morning before our rooms were ready, and after a quick orientation and luggage drop-off, we were free to explore the city. Little to no sleep will not disparage our first day in this beautiful city during this first morning. Unfortunately, there weren’t a lot of options for food so early in the morning on a Saturday, but we made it work, had a meal, and have currently broken off into smaller groups. Some of us are shopping, some sipping a café, etc. etc. Wish us luck as we power through the hardest part of traveling, jetlag. We have arrived, and we are in the thick of it now!