Janiel on the unexpected

There are times when unexpected events happen, and they usually have a fifty percent chance of being sour or sweet. That seemed to be the theme of this past weekend during our Human Rights Weekend at Goedgedacht. Before the weekend began, I was quite skeptical about what the trip would entail, only because we weren’t being given details on what to expect. As a result, I formed my own ideas of what a typical human rights weekend would be like. As most of my other peers, we assumed boring, cliché classes and workshops about what to do and how to make the world “better.”

Bam! I was caught off guard when I got to see the amazing and racially diverse people I would be spending my weekend with. I knew this weekend was about taking and giving, through sharing our stories and life experiences… this was evident during our hour and a half bus ride to the olive farm we would be staying. There was a crisp feeling that lingered among the air as we got assigned to our new roommates, settled in, had dinner and then met up for the beginning of everything. Our first activity of the evening was to divide ourselves into five different African countries. These countries were all apart of the United Nations. And the weekend would comprise of each country being given a task, and to see how and what they could accomplish within a certain time. But there was a catch. Whoever was the youngest in the room was going to be dealt a special task for the weekend. It’s interesting to see that sometimes we think that people who are young, usually have the least knowledge; not because they aren’t as smart, but because they haven’t gone through enough to know enough. I know personally, I’ve thought such things. In the end, it turned out that I was the youngest out of a group that consisted of roughly 50 people. At this time, all my misconceptions about ‘young people’ went right out the window.

Janiel in her role of Kofi Amman

My weekend instantly got a little crazier. Janiel Green was no longer my name. I was now, Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations. My duties included: ensuring the punctuality of all who joined us that weekend, maintaining order and peace among each country and between countries, be an overseer of all activities, and in the end, judge each country on the basis of giving away a billion dollars from the world bank. My most important task was to be non-biased during the entire weekend; to guarantee a fair chance to each country and each individual.

At times, any spectator, including myself would think that certain countries were going to explode into flames because of the inability to make decisions as one. Amid other factors, I noticed that group activities were a challenge for just about everyone at different times. It was also interesting to see which members from particular countries would attempt to sway my thoughts and views. Intertwined with the entertaining activities, there was much to be retained. Many times, people assume that human rights are only a single layer in depth. We fail to realize that we can all be a perpetrator, a by stander, a victim, and a healer. Over the weekend it was emphasized that not because you are not having your own human rights devalued, doesn’t mean you aren’t contributing to someone else’s rights being stomped on. After hearing my fellow co-educators speak about their own experiences, it was evident that simply being able to define what a human right was wasn’t enough. It was our responsibility to take what we have learned and spread it. Even if it means starting awareness within your own family and then expanding into your community.

At the end of the weekend, I almost felt guilty for making assumptions about the trip to begin with. I can honestly say that the weekend went a lot sweeter than expected. I personally enjoyed being able to see each country work on challenges and make comparisons between their different techniques. During the three days, I was constantly asked if I wished I had been placed in a group/country, rather than dealing with the role of playing Kofi Annan. I repeatedly gave the same answer, which was: unexpected events happen endlessly, so it was my duty whether or not I wanted to enjoy seeing and experiencing the weekend from a different point of view. It was up to me if I wanted to expand upon my leadership skills and it was up to me to have been placed in such an unexpected situation and jump into my role as if I knew about it prior to my arrival at Goedgedacht.