Words of Wisdom from the Seliger Ambassador Team INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FORUM SELIGER 2011 Building a Global Team Dear Future Leaders, The handbook will help you to be ready to the unique experience that is on the way. By reading it carefully, you will get more knowledge about the event; know how it can impact your life and how to get the most out of the forum. The Seliger Handbook – Words of Wisdom is divided into 10 parts, described below: 1. Memories from Seliger 2010; 2. Discover yourself and the role of your national identity at Seliger; 3. Define your expectations; 4. How to successfully present and communicate your ideas; 5. Discover your potential; 6. Business Plan; 7. Your Contribution to Seliger; 8. How to get the most out of a discussion/debate; 9. Staying in touch with Seligerians. 10. Preparing for Seliger; Before we begin, remember the official details Seliger is an international project aimed at uniting the world leaders of tomorrow. 700 exceptional individuals will come together to build an international network. Seliger offers you a place where one makes lifelong friends and builds strong networks among today‟s and future business, political, and academic leaders of the world The Forum seeks to set up a global network to promote mutual understanding, cooperation and education among the young people and to foster conditions for them to work together on designing joint international projects and initiatives. To attain this goal the participants of the Forum will be offered an intensive educational program consisting of 4 modules: Mass Media and Public Relations – you will publish your own newspaper, develop innovative pr-strategies for real cases and learn to make a state-of-the- art blogs and webpages; Business and Enterprise – with Russian and international businessmen telling you their stories of success and companies giving you business cases to solve you will get an in-depth knowledge of innovative entrepreneurship;
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Words of Wisdom from the Seliger Ambassador Team
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FORUM SELIGER 2011
Building a Global Team
Dear Future Leaders,
The handbook will help you to be ready to the unique experience that is on the way. By
reading it carefully, you will get more knowledge about the event; know how it can
impact your life and how to get the most out of the forum.
The Seliger Handbook – Words of Wisdom is divided into 10 parts, described below:
1. Memories from Seliger 2010;
2. Discover yourself and the role of your national identity at Seliger;
3. Define your expectations;
4. How to successfully present and communicate your ideas;
5. Discover your potential;
6. Business Plan;
7. Your Contribution to Seliger;
8. How to get the most out of a discussion/debate;
9. Staying in touch with Seligerians.
10. Preparing for Seliger;
Before we begin, remember the official details
Seliger is an international project aimed at uniting the world leaders of tomorrow. 700
exceptional individuals will come together to build an international network.
Seliger offers you a place where one makes lifelong friends and builds strong networks
among today‟s and future business, political, and academic leaders of the world
The Forum seeks to set up a global network to promote mutual understanding,
cooperation and education among the young people and to foster conditions for them to
work together on designing joint international projects and initiatives.
To attain this goal the participants of the Forum will be offered an intensive educational
program consisting of 4 modules:
Mass Media and Public Relations – you will publish your own newspaper,
develop innovative pr-strategies for real cases and learn to make a state-of-the-
art blogs and webpages;
Business and Enterprise – with Russian and international businessmen telling
you their stories of success and companies giving you business cases to solve
you will get an in-depth knowledge of innovative entrepreneurship;
Civil and Social development – discuss the most pressing issues of social
development with the like-minded committed peers and renowned experts, learn
the best practices of the most efficient international NGOs and make a
difference;
World Politics – add new edges to your analytical framework discussing the
future of global development with leading think-tank representatives, career
diplomats and researchers; enhance your vision and ability to predict events in
order to lead and not to follow in tomorrow‟s world
Each module will include lectures and workshops, conferences and panel discussions
moderated by the leading experts and researches in each of the above spheres.
Who is going to be part of our team? Seliger 2011 is open to leaders between the ages of 18 and 35. Young, talented, and
creative individuals from diverse backgrounds with one passion: making a difference on
a global scale
Interested in learning about Russia, utilizing its potential to drive global
innovation and develop mutually beneficial cooperation with the international
community
Entrepreneurial, adventurous, and full of creative energy to develop new ideas,
launch new projects, and make intellectual breakthroughs.
So, let us make it clear – Seliger is a camp! In the forest!
But everything you need will be just at arm’s length!
Comfortable camp tents with mat and sleeping bags
Camp-wide Wi-Fi and electric sockets located around the camp site
Sufficient number of outdoor eco-friendly toilets, shower cabins, and
washstands
24/7 security with access restricted to participants only
3 healthy meals per day
Medical personnel present 24/7
The most outstanding and encouraging environment
Interpreter always ready to re-translate your thoughts and ideas
Why in the woods?
Seliger offers a unique chance to break away from the glass and steel jungles of
big cities and gain a different perspective of your life
No more formal and tiresome conferences. Informal atmosphere of an open
dialogue, the sense of true partnership – that is what Seliger 2011 is about.
Open-air discussions will generate open-end initiatives.
Fresh air, amazing nature and sport will boost your activity
Where and when it is going to take place:
Russia, Tver region, Lake Seliger, 1-9 July 2011
Memories from Seliger 2010 – Reflections from Ambassadors
“Seliger 2010 was for me much more than a Summer-escape from my everyday worries
and duties and a busy day in general. It was an opportunity for me to learn and develop
in a new environment and a fantastic atmosphere as well as meeting endless amount of
great people that I have since shared great projects and moments with"
Christopher Lilholm
“One of the great memories from
Seliger 2010 was the day when we
went for rafting. Rafting was one of
the adventures which was in my 'to
do' list, and to go for rafting on Lake
Trevor in Russia with the youngsters
full of energy and passion was the
greatest experience I could ever had.
We went from one end of Lake
Trevor to the other end on our raft,
and then we got off from our raft to
pick up the fresh berries from the
plants there. Our group was the only
one who went so far, therefore on
the way back, we all got tired enough to move the peddles of our raft. However, we
were lucky to get the help of the Lake police, who came for our help to take us back to
the destination from where we started. It was indeed one of the memorable days of
Seliger Forum 2010 which is hard to forget.”
Sheraz Ali Khan
“One of the strongest memories I have from
Seliger was the model UNESCO to discuss the
validity or not of a universal teaching model
regarding the II World War. During that
afternoon I realized the diversity of arguments
in a sensitive issue as that one. Even more
impressive was the ability of different
sensitivities and sociopolitical cultures to built
consensus and draw proposals. I was dazzled
by that experience.” Tiago Ferreira Lopes
"I do recollect memories of having
spent good time with my group. The
morning breakfast, lunch and dinner
time was amongst the most memorable
time spent in knowing each other,
cracking jokes, singing and dancing.
Our group mates made Indian, Japanese
and Russian delicacies, they were very
fond of sports and so we did all the
activities together. Sailing and
Kayaking were one of the best
experiences we had. Guess what they
kept my name for their football team as
"Team Umesh”. On the first day of
Seliger i had thought how I would
survive..! But I didn't even realize that
7 days passed so quickly..! I was
leaving with Japanese colleagues on the last day, while leaving all our group mates
accompanied us till the main entrance. The last moments were those hugs while saying
good bye and take care to them. Suddenly one of our group mates started crying and so
did others. Everyone got emotional. I was touched by the thought of having touched
their lives so much, that we were crying there .It was a moment where everyone just
wanted to have a "Flashback of Seliger" but nevertheless Life has to go on.! we boarded
the for Moscow and I saw them from the window still waiting near the gate. Wishing us
good luck.“Knowledge, Experience,Love,Emotions,Life, Friends all appear to be
Splendid at this point of time amidst nature only at Seliger .! I am still in touch with
them I really look ahead to meet them again someday. : Umesh Mukhi
Needless to say we naturally hope that Seliger 2011 will be even better
Define your expectations
What you get from Seliger largely depends on what you give to Seliger. The more you
expect to give, the more valuable returns you should anticipate.
How does this work? Let us now illustrate the simple logics behind it
The conclusion is; if YOU are not part of the equation and thereby not part of the
process you will experience only small changes, but if you have an open mind, set
realistic goals and help others achieve their goals, big chances that you will find
yourself achieving much more in return.
Seliger can help you in various ways by:
- Providing you with tools, insights and inspiration within your topic
- Allowing you to debate and learn in a global forum
- Discuss and share business ideas
- Get more familiar about Russia and Russian culture
- Develop your team and presentation skills
- Become updated on latest world trends
and to some extent understand them and why they take place
- Become part of a highly competent global team
Understand differences in cross-cultural communication
Represent your country
- Build and enlarge your network
Seliger can NOT and does NOT promise you a job, but Seliger helps you develop in
ways that will strengthen you in your future life, career and even improve your CV.
How to successfully present and communicate your ideas
Discover your unique knowledge and how you can transfer it constructively to
others
At Seliger you will face several opportunities to present your ideas, your work and your
reflection. No doubt that quality and substance matters most and that others on Seliger
are to a large extent capable to avoid judging the book by its cover – but having
developed good presentation skills still matters even to an extremely qualified and
analytical audience.
If this was not the case, then ask yourself why the world biggest consulting firms put
such a large emphasis on their presentations – their clients are typically profitable
businesses who in some cases know even more about the industry they talk about than
the consultants do.
First of all there is a difference between having good presentation skills and being a
good communicator – We try to help you to develop to become the last.
Why? Presentation skills are just instrumental rule of thumbs
Make it clear and simple
Make it interesting
Make it relevant
Make it worth listening to
Make it short
On the contrary, a good communicator is someone who understands the above, but also
who can communicate on different levels and platforms than just on a PowerPoint slide.
Finally, a good communicator is also able to:
Attract audience and find support/participation before speaking
Adapt to the context of communication
Listen to the audience
Engage the audience
Make yourself interesting, people are listening to YOU
Involve the audience
Ensure and follow-up with the audience in the future
Last point is crucial, because many very experienced presenters give the most
interesting speeches and presents the message so beautifully – like turning science into
poetry, but they forget to send out those slides they promised with valuable information.
Deliver your promises to your audience, make that beautiful speech and if you assure
someone in your audience to bring examples or more information at a later stage – take
note and DO IT!
“You do not only turn science into poetry but also turn poetry back into science”
Having people listening to you is like a compliment, when you promise them something
and you do not give it to them, then do not expect them to support your idea or listen to
you again in the future. It does not matter how good presentation skills you have, but
ignoring this point will not get you very far.
Being a good communicator is not just about being confident/showing confidence and
speaking clearly and having some fun jokes, although they are important parameters.
Not everyone is fun, fascinating, witty, amusing, entertaining and so on and if you are
not born a comedian– don‟t be! Be yourself and accept yourself.
by being true to yourself you are also true to your audience and you will get much more
respect this way than trying to be funny.
A good communicator is as prepared as possible and in situations without time for
preparation a good communicator must also master the art of improvisation and how to
present under pressure. Everyone can master the art of communication, but not everyone
can dazzle a large audience and not everyone needs to, but usually the biggest obstacle
to public speeches is YOU.
Do not judge yourself to hard, start presenting ideas in small groups then bigger groups
and you will most likely realize it was not as hard or difficult as you expected.
Remember everyone is to some extent nervous, if they are not – they are probably not
committed to what they are talking about. Direct this nervous energy into a greater
enthusiasm – because it is a lot more interesting to hear people talk about this they are
sincerely enthusiastic and interested in than things they are not.
Now a few practical considerations before you begin:
What would you talk about?
o Is the audience aware of the issues you are presenting?
What do you know about your audience (cultural and educational background)?
o Do they know you?
What is the goal of your presentation?
o How will you reach your goal?
What will they learn from your presentation?
o How will you make sure they do?
Discovering your Potential
First, you need to determine what do you like - something that excites you, that
if you happened to meet a stranger who showed a meager amount of interest, you could
talk about it for hours! Well, maybe that much, but you get the point. These things have
a way of striking a chord and resonating throughout your life, so be careful and
objective, but most importantly - listen to your heart!
Sit down calmly and answer the next question. What are my hobbies? What do I
already like to do? What are my favorite subjects in school? What subjects do I make
good grades in? Do I like teamwork or work alone? If teamwork what kind of it (sport
activities, workshops, projects, charity…) How would my friends describe my