If the shoe fits

Waving his team-mate’s sandal in the air, Umair Yousaf proceeded to explain to participants at a Commonwealth workshop what a 'good practice' is.

Defining the term as 'a model for positive behaviour' Mr Yousaf, who works with AIESEC, a youth organisation based in Pakistan, used this shoe analogy to demonstrate how good practices in one country may not be applicable in others.

"Whilst people across the world have different sized feet, so too do people come from different cultures," he said.

As long as there is what Dr Fatiha Serour, Director of the Commonwealth Youth Programme, termed 'flexibility for replicability' there is no reason why people across the world cannot benefit from sharing models of 'shoes' - good practices - as long as they take account of differences that exist.

"Today's world is a time of sharing knowledge and information, which are basic ingredients that can bring about development in a number of areas," said Farzana Ayub, 23, who works as a Regional Youth Caucus representative in Pakistan.

"Governments, civil society organisations and NGOs can achieve more by working together, but they must recognise differences in culture, race and attitude and accept them as strengths. In doing so, good practices can be shared across the world.

"As long as there is a common respect and understanding of societies, different groups can learn and benefit from each other."

This idea of promoting respect and understanding was central to this workshop for young people from Commonwealth Asian countries, which took place in Chandigarh, India, between 11 and 14 August 2008.

At their meeting in Malta in 2005, Commonwealth Heads of Government affirmed the importance of promoting tolerance, respect, enlightened moderation and friendship among people of different races, faiths and cultures. They then requested the Commonwealth Secretary-General to explore initiatives to promote mutual understanding and respect - the overarching theme of the youth workshop - among faiths and communities in the Commonwealth.

Don McKinnon, then Secretary-General, consequently set up a Commission on Respect and Understanding headed by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, which produced a report - Civil Paths to Peace - focusing on the problem of group-based violence and its impact on communities, and advocating solutions based on individuals' multiple identities.

After endorsing this report last November, Heads also requested that "options be explored for drawing Commonwealth young people in practical ways into efforts to support the recommendations of the Report."

In response to this request, the workshop was a step towards engaging young people, governments and civil society in promoting peace and understanding across the Commonwealth.

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