Mobilization of Young Persons from the Nord Pas de Calais for Reception and Interpretation

Reception of participants coming from all over the world, given that only a minority of them spoke French, was a considerable challenge: reception at the airports and train stations, at the hotels, material organization of the Assembly, individual help to the participants. All of this was possible through the mobilization of 150 young students, 18 to 20 years old, supervised by their professors at the Institut Universitaire de Technologie de Valenciennes.
As all the participants were expected to be able to express themselves in their own language, the Assembly required recruiting more than 200 interpreters. For the most part, they were students on an internship from the different faculties of the Region. This exceptional mobilization was made possible thanks to the commitment of the teaching body.


Student interpreters in Lille

The student interpreters that were mobilized came from the University of Lille III, the ESTICE, the LEA (Applied Foreign Languages) department of the University of Roubaix, the Catholic Institute of Lille and the University of Dunkerque.

"Crossing the different continents of the world in one place: Lille." This awareness, among the student interpreters, of living and sharing a unique event was a starting point to their participation. Their first meeting with our guests from all over the world immediately opened them up to the World Citizens Assembly.
These student interpreters made their knowledge available to the participants, the journalists, and the organizers. They worked on the interpretation during workshops, on the logistics for the material, as well as on the translation work, but also with the participants as guides, interpreters, and advisers.
They took part in this exceptional meeting, demonstrating both polyvalence and professionalism, with a pleasure that they shared with the participants.

Students from the IUT of Valenciennes (North) go out and meet the world

The entire second-year class studying "marketing techniques" at the Institut Universitaire de Technologie de Valenciennes (North) and their teachers made the World Citizens Assembly one of their educational objectives for the school year 2001-2002. As early as the beginning of the school year in September, 150 students had been mobilized for the preparation of the World Assembly in Lille. Their curricula had been inspired by the topics considered for the World Assembly (economic globalization, fair trade, corporate responsibility, etc.). Guided by a team of four students in charge of the project, their teachers, and FPH staff, the students then became involved in the organization of the reception of the guests in Lille.

Some welcomed participants at the airports, at the station, at the hotels, at the Assembly venues, and at the marquee. Others were in charge of orientation at every venue (badges, descriptives). Some helped the workshop facilitators in their work (summaries, secretarial and administrative work, accounting, and Web team) and made photo reportages of all the participants both for the Web site and for the constitution of a photo album photo that was given to every participant at the closing ceremony. For ten days, they were at the participants' side and were attentive to their needs with respect for their linguistic and cultural differences.

"This experience is worth more than a dozen internships!", "This collective mobilization has sealed strong friendships within the class": such were the words that were heard throughout the whole Assembly.
Most students were able to meet, for the first time in their lives, Ecuadorians, Czechs, or Pakistanis. Dynamic, professional, and efficient, these students from the Nord-pas-de-Calais met the challenge of hosting the world at home.


Mis à jour le