It has been a while since I wrote my last blog, as I have been extremely busy, and still am in the middle of a period in which many deadlines and examinations are scheduled.
Many of us are however already catching the christmas fever which makes it more difficult to focus on the many assignments.
The pressure that this causes is alternated by the varience of the program. We (the second years) went on a excursion to the Hague last week where we visited the Humanity House and the Netherlands Insititute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), a nice combination of theory that we dealt with in class and how this was practiced in reality.
The Humanity House introduces one in an interactive way to disasters and conflicts. These issues are obviously covered daily in the news. Tthe Humanity House makes one truly experience how it is to be victim of such a disaster or conflict. After finishing the journey of a refugee it was an odd feeling to step out of the door, and again have all the rights and liberties which are, for many not even a question but for refugees something to only dream of.
The second and last scheduled visit of the day was to the NIMD. The NIMD support cooperative initiatives of political parties to implement monitor or improve the function of a democracy in their nation. In addition, the NIMD helps political institutions put democracy into practice and the development of party programs, as well as to strengthen the relation between political parties, civil organizations and the media.
A general presentation was held to introduce us to the NIMD. After this there was time for questions and discussions. Many of us were interested in the way the NIMD acts, and the decisive elements in the choice to support a nation. A discussion arose about NIMD’s role in Egypt, where the institute currently functions in the setup of a democracy.
Besides all the knowledge that we gained about the NIMD, we saw in what sort environment the institute operates, an instructive moment taking into account that some of us might be employed in such a setting.
Wishing you a merry Christmas!