#aiesec canada

[aiesec-rollcalls]

“We Got The World” by Icona Pop

AIESEC Edmonton

[aiesec-rollcalls]

“Vamos a la Playa” by Loona

AIESEC Toronto

[aiesec-victoria]

AIESEC Chats #1

As a native Victorian and University of Victoria student, I have noticed that islanders are quiet and slow. Recently, I began to notice these traits in myself.

Being a university student, it’s very easy to get lost amongst studies and rest. This started to bother me, so I did something about it – I joined AIESEC Victoria, “… the world’s largest student-run non-profit organization. Providing leadership development and global internships.” 

Living on an island isn’t as easy and relaxing as it seems. The weather can consist of sunshine, rain, hail, and snow within the same day. While the waterway glistens, it also divides apart Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia – leaving islanders feeling isolated and forgotten. However, when we have the chance to take the ferry and view the beautiful coastal scenery, we take it! That’s a plus. 

When I heard about the chance to participate in AIESEC Coastal Conference 2014 in Vancouver, British Columbia, I couldn’t resist the opportunity. Not only was I excited to take the ferry and scout out Orca whales in the distance, but I was thrilled to gain knowledge regarding AIESEC. This was because after I was inducted into AIESEC Victoria in January 2014, I felt lost because I didn’t know my role. What were my duties as a general member (GM), yet as a marketing and communications (MarCom) representative? What are AIESEC Victoria’s expectations of me?

Applying for Coastal 2014 was the first step. As a new and inexperienced member, my fellow AIESEC’ers convinced me to go for two reasons:

1) Coastal 2014 is directed to new members.

2) Conferences are addictive.

My local committee president (LCP) and vice presidents (VP’s) said I would gain incredible skills and make valuable friendships. Hearing this gave my questions perspective. 

Soon enough, conference day arrived and I packed my bags for a weekend-long trip to Vancouver. A flurry of emotions came over me – I was excited, nervous, and a little homesick (Already? I know!) – but once I walked through the hotel lobby and met fellow AIESEC’ers from Simon Fraser University (SFU), University of British Columbia (UBC), Kwatlen Polytechnic University (KPU), and University of Washington State (UW), all the emotional chaos settled. This was because I realized that we, as the five coastal AIESEC local committees (LC’s), we are are here to collaborate as one and build a name for the Canadian west coast.

During the various sessions over the weekend, topics ranged from personal self-reflections to portfolio meetings with other LC members. While networking with experienced and inexperienced members, I was able to grasp concrete concepts of what AIESEC is, and elaborate on my ideas in a group setting.

On the last day of Coastal 2014, everyone broke into their LC and completed a simulation (the LC completes a year's worth of goals within roughly 2 hours). As a MarCom member in AIESEC Victoria, I was given a series of tasks to pitch to the facilitators at the conference. Just thinking about pitching a topic to a stranger scared me! However, having the pressure and support to complete this task allowed me to overcome my fear. As nerve-racking as it was, performing the specific task brought together all the MarCom concepts required to function well. 

At Coastal 2014, not only did I learn and reflect upon my LC and myself, but the coast as a whole as well. The five universities spent hours finding our Coastal “Why?” from collaborating each individual’s goals together: why we are here, why we want to be here, and why we want to stay. This allows the five LC's to focus on our why and engage our individual members, too. Collectively, we came up with, “We do. We share. We inspire," which reminds us daily why we joined AIESEC. Despite the differences in operations between the LC’s, our "why" reminds us of our goals while bringing us together as one on the coast.

"We do. We share. We inspire" - Coastal 2014

- Post written by Alli Flanders

[aiesec-victoria]

Over New Years, 400+ delegates from across Canada came together to engage in leadership development and to learn more about the business of changing lives. What impact will you create? Video product of AIESEC Victoria.

[gm-photography]

The Conference that Changed My Life

Read about a Canadian AIESECer's conference experience in Germany that changed her life and developed her in a short few days.

My story got published on the AIESEC Canada blog! Read all about it (:

[366placestogo]

AND I'M OFF TO EUROPE!

So excited to say that I'm one of 50 delegates worldwide to be selected for the TWIN 2013 conference held by AIESEC Karlsruhe in GERMANY!!! I'll be attending this 10-day conference in Karlsruhe to learn about cultural imperialism. Throughout the conference, I'll be visiting Strasbourg, France, and Heidelberg as well. BUT FIRST, a couple of pit stops in London and Paris! (: STAY TUNED to my adventures on the following sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram (+ personal Instagram)

Flickr

Days to be completed (along with many others unlisted):

56: Pont des Arcs

95: Le Louvre

134: Orsay

208: Eiffel Tower

163: London