Post in English for @people

This post I decided to write in English, cause it s mainly about AIESEC and definitely Barca will appreciate that I will share this in language she understands;) Many people were asking why it Southern Cone together and not separated Argentina Chile and Uruguay- so I will explain :)..
Soooo

As we are in transition process and putting first ideas into our plan, I m getting to know the AIESEC reality here better and better..This region is really young, Southern Cone has just 2 years of existence. Before Argentina, Chile were existing separately, but were very low performing. As these countries had great economic potential, and quality education system, AI wanted to support somehow the region.. So MCPs on IPM decided to invest money, train people that will come to these countries and will try to wake it up. But there not enough money, neither people to invest in all countries, so they decided that will create Southern Cone comprised of these 3 countries.

It was called “leverage project” and it was not just for Southern Cone, but also Thailand and Spain. AI selected several experienced members, trained them and sent them to these countries, where they were supposed to build up quality basement for AIESEC for next generations.
And 2 people came also to Southern Cone..These were our predecessors 2 years ago that had strong will and strong vision to start something really great, Last team went on and now it is up to us to move it even further.
I have to say that during transition I was very impressed, how much work can be done in 3 countries in 2 years..

While listening to our predecessors, I felt amazing responsibility for next year. It is their belief in the region in the people that is motivating us and kicking our asses to DO something..and not just something..SOMETHING !!
I regret we (my former MC) did not pass this motivation and passion to our successors in Czech Republic..I did not feel that we were proud of our country of our people, of our LCs and of the job we have done.. there is not so much energy in things we are doing .. could be diferent if we would value our XP more..:(

I had already one meeting with OCP of a project from Buenos Aires, I suggested some things in the project and directly after the meeting her LCP was writing me that "thank you so much for the advises, we already planned how we will implement the suggestions" and I said to myself "wooooow, this is so amazing..!!"

Members here are seeking for ideas, for experience they follow your advises and are eager to work and achieve things..In Czech Republic generally they first look for all possible obstacles and way how it can fail..

What was for me also very interesting, how they are taking accountancy, compendiums and legality serious.. Compendium of Southern Cone has around 100 pages and there is everything- starting from membership criteria to the point, that MC has to send agenda to OC before the conference J.. Each LC has their local compendium and work with it- it is very alive thing that is in place at every general assembly..

People know the compendium and read it, and follow it.. ( How many Czech members have read their local compendium? .. the question is, if it is needed.. if the members are accountable without it, it s ok..) In Czech Rep. membership criteria are very easy to meet and then it is very hard to loose the voting right- MCs and LCs are afraid of taking the voting right from the members/LCs once they have it (cest vynimkam).. Here? You did not meet criteria- ciao! Sorry, no voting, no second chances. Then people value the rules much more and if they want o achieve something they need to fulfill some things..

some interesting points that I got to know from talks with members here:

- they have an LC library!!- LC is buying interesting books and people can borrow it (they have some policies for that) but this was for me very intersting

- PBOXes have much mooore developed learning area as in our porjects, they have in goals that each month they will attend seminars/meetings/ workshops in external world to on one side network with people form the same issue, on the other side get to know more about the area they are inetersted in.. they also made a partenrship some CSR educating comapny and members inetersted can attend their courses cheaper..

- they are organizing "breakfasts" for companies- (breakfast here means around 11a.m.:)- they just invite companies that they had meeting with to meet ote companies, finalize discussions and close the contracts.. also interesting idea :)

- the relevance of "issues" is here much higher than back home.. here poeple really believe in changing the society-they are working with "social entreprenurship", CSR and business entrepreneuship as we are..as in latin america there are huge differences between rich class and poor clas, and middle class is really small, these "social leaders" that will help society are here really needed..it is very ineresting for me to get to know the ideas of the projects, read about interns experience or talk with interns that are here about their XP-quite high percentage of them is working in NGO sector, and the JDs are really interesting! (e.g. they are preparing issue conferences, educating people, fundraising, writing and delivering projects, building partnerships.. very creative work) and Foundations that exist in latin america are relly willing to give a loot of money to these kind of projects- there are organizations that are funding TN fees and interns salary. First you have to apply, describe the JD and then the best TN JDs get the money.. interesting also..

This is just some sharing after 2 weeks of being here :).. anyway even when some things are better here, there are maaany things that are amazing and working in our country!! I m very proud of coming from Czech Republic, sharing A LOT here.. miss Czech Republic, miss our members, our LCs, and miss my MC team!!

Now some cultural things

People talk a loooot.. so much that I usually forgot was the point of the discussion and where is the discussion leading.. :) I m cutting it a lot, asking to the point, trying to shape it somehow and they tell me “You are too direct”.. :-S

Spanish.. ajajajaaaj.. all the GN speaks one language!! That was impossible for me before, in CEE- we had some similar words... just imagine you could go to Serbia, Russia, Hungary and everywhere talk the same language as native..that is amazing.. but as far as I do not speak Spanish, now it is quite big obstacle- but not that huge until now- I was meeting just people that speak English (of course not in restaurants or shops but in AIESEC) but LCs in Chile do not speak that much English, and some in Argentina as well.. so I need to learn as fast as possible.. It is not easy, but also not that difficult..

And people are daaancing and they do not need litres of alcohol - they dance without it- just naturaly.. and guys especially.. I was impressed! Reagatton and salsa we danced at flat at each party and our guys CAN lead girsl in dance!! Finally I do not have to lead the dancer but I m dancing with somebody, who is more skilled than I am :D.. (..but- have to admit that "to be be lead my man" was at the beginning a bit difficult and not natural for me..:)

That is it for now.. :)