What is it about?
Recent research carried out by British Council shows that Europe’s next generation of leaders are truly concerned about (inter)cultural relations. In response to their concerns, the British Council has initiated Intercultural Navigators – a project that will deal with the challenges that we face in this multicultural world.
Intercultural Navigators will develop groups of future influencers and leaders in Europe who can easily navigate within and between different cultures – who are aware of their own cultural backgrounds and who are able and open enough to accept, respect and understand other cultures. The project is organised in partnership with a diverse group of institutions and experts working in the area of leadership development and intercultural literacy from the UK, Europe and Africa.
The Intercultural Navigators project is now running in 18 European countries with 30–70 participants in each country, who will all come together in a global on-line community and share experiences and knowledge in the field of intercultural dialogue. Participants will be supported to effect change in their own countries, institutions and communities based on participation, consultation and the creation of an enabling environment.
Who are the Intercultural Navigators?
The Intercultural Navigators Programme brings together those with a desire to make a significant positive contribution to society; people who want to learn, are open minded, curious, and willing to share their own experiences and at the same time actively seek new perspectives. The programme aims to achieve a balance of diversity in terms of religion, gender, disability, ethnicity, class, sectors (private/public/civil society) and geographical balance (rural/urban and regional/provincial), in order to reflect and impact across society at country level.
What is the content of the training like?
A wide variety of skills, tools and techniques have been introduced, strengthened and practiced during the training. These include: Appreciative Inquiry, Ubuntu, Questioning, Systems Thinking and Conflict Management. They will be applied in a number of different contexts, within the participants’ spheres of influence. The project is delivered in partnership with organisations already making a difference across the countries taking part in the project. The experiences are structured into 12 workshop days.
What will happen after the training?
After the training period the Navigators will design, develop and implement their own projects around the theme of intercultural dialogue. They are encouraged to team up across national borders and professional sectors according to their field of interest and passion. The British Council will provide support in identifying and approaching potential partners and by offering a virtual platform for finding the right co-Navigators, ideas and inspiration. The British Council will be able to support some of the best projects also financially. This is the most crucial and significant part of the Intercultural Navigators programme as the participants get to spread the benefits of their new knowledge, skills and spirit to wider audiences!
What is the Intercultural Navigators programme aiming at?
The Intercultural Navigators project aims to turn “communities of interest into communities of action” by mainstreaming the essential navigation skills between and within cultures. We aim to make an important contribution to the creation of a more tolerant and inclusive Europe, establish networks and foster relationships at an organisational and individual level that will exist long after the conclusion of the project. We want to put intercultural dialogue at the forefront of the thinking and planning of any person or organisation that partakes in the project establishing an important legacy that will significantly benefit the development of the new Europe.
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