By Magdalena Offenbeck
September
For the first time in the history of Sciences Po Menton, a group of students was awarded the Millennium Fellowship, a United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and Millennium Campus Network initiative to help young leaders achieve their sustainable impact goals. With our project Tabadol, we aim to facilitate a linguistic and cultural exchange between Sciences Po and Palestinian university students.
Millennium Fellows are university undergraduates selected based on their leadership in sustainable development-related projects that advance their communities' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As Millennium Fellows, we will participate in a semester-long leadership development program to improve our student organizing, partnership building and community impact skills. During the semester, we will continue to develop our project, expanding Tabadol to allow more students in Menton to be paired with a Palestinian exchange buddy and partake in virtual events such as panels and discussions.
After two rounds of applications and additional interviews for the two campus directors, Ellie Carter and I, Sciences Po Menton was among the 8% of applications accepted to the Millennium Fellowship Class of 2022. With a group of 12 students, we will meet throughout the first semester to work on the SDGs, UNAI and improve our leadership skills. With 75% of Millennium Fellowship alumni working in social impact professions after graduation, the program is a stepping stone toward a future social impact career. Additionally, it allows Fellows to meet peers from around the world. 200 campuses in 37 nations are participating this year and will be connected through networking sessions and the weekly webinars Millennium Fellows are invited to join.
Here are co-campus director Ellie Carter’s thoughts on the program:
“Tabadol is the Arabic word for equal exchange of ideas. As such, this program is not just an opportunity for individual language growth but also an opportunity to foster connections and conversations that may not have been possible otherwise. We believe that education is a powerful tool for coexistence and empowerment, which is why we are thrilled to be working toward advancing this SDG and creating chances to learn for students both in Palestine and here at Sciences Po.”
At the MENA Sciences Po branch, the Palestinian Question is widely discussed on and off campus. We learn about the region in many of our classes. We have taken courses on politics, sociology and the history of the Middle East, but many of us are not Middle Eastern, and even fewer are Palestinian. A large part of the student body’s interest in the region was only sparked by reports and books. The first-hand exchange with locals is an essential first step towards understanding a society and culture on a more interpersonal level. While our diverse student body already creates a vibrant platform for cultural exchange, students in Menton often lack direct experience with the region and obtain a superficial academic understanding. Tabadol aims to create a link between open-minded students who seek to learn each other’s languages and discover different cultures. Palestine is isolated from the international community, yet it is a frequently mentioned issue in our field of study. Likewise, many Palestinian students are interested in Europe, its cultures, languages and politics. Building a network between students at Sciences Po Menton and the Palestinian student community will create a platform for mutual understanding and allow students to experience parts of the world that they have often only experienced in a theoretical and academic framework.
So far, Tabadol has successfully connected many students in Menton and Palestine. Many have told us that they were able to form strong connections through weekly meetings with their exchange buddies and even continued over the summer when the official exchange period had long ended. Students do not only participate to improve their Arabic — many students are already fluent or native Arabic speakers. The project is equally an opportunity to meet new people and learn about Palestinian culture while sharing your own and teaching your language.
The Millennium Fellows have completed their first sessions, discussing the meaning of social impact and potential individual contributions to attaining the SDGs. However, sign-ups for Tabadol remain open, allowing new students to become part of the exchange whenever they desire.