The experience of two maltese students who participated in forum in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
World heritage was the major theme of a forurn which was held in Dubrovnik, Croatia between the 25th and the 3lst of May. Twenty three countries participated and Malta was represented by two students from the Junior College, Connie Dimech and Clifford Caruana, who were accompanied by the co-ordinator of the Systems of Knowledge, Mr. Louis Scerri. The World Heritage includes all those things which we have inherited from our ancestors, heritage which makes us unique people, people with an identity. During the same time, this heritage links us with other people and makes us understand cultures of different countries. Although there is only one heritage which belongs to everybody, there are many identities. This is why this heritage helps so that the races of all the countries can be jonned together to form a better world. This aspect helps us to respect other people and to feel responsible towards all those sites which are not ours. Education has an important role in this aspect. It is important that every person is educated about what we have inherited from our ancestors so that he grows conscious of the importance of the cultural heritage in today's world. Wisdom and respect are the ways to peace and tollerance. It is vital that one meets people from every corner of the world so that we are able to create a bridge between all the countries and thle world will become a whole world, a united one.
This forum was planned to reach several objectives. Luring the time that the world is always becorning more materialistic, when the world of science is always advancing, the new generation is not paying enough attention to the precious heritage which if once destroyed, will never return. It is very important that the generation formed by youths and children, who are the men and women of tomorrow and the future rulers, will be educated and taught in favour of the protection of World Heritage, both locally and globally.
Another thing which elnerged during the forum was the idea of the introduction of education in schools about world heritage. Teachers who accompanied the students in Dubrovnik, had various discussions about this topic. Students also gave their opinions about what they think is best for the learn during lessons about this subject. World heritage is a common method to link the people of the whole world together. This is not an easy thing to do. This is why it is necessary that a chain between students, teachers and experts about this subject is created so together, with the work of Unesco, we will be able to form a world full of monuments and cultural sites that will not be in danger of being destroyed. In today's world, it must be a command to every person to feel responsible for his cultural heritage and towards other people's heritage. Because we are a member of this world, we must have conscious towards the things which belong to the world. The responsibility starts when a person first feels responsibile for himself, than for the others and finally for the things around him. Like this, those things that we have inhelited will remain the gem that everyone can enjoy.
In the forum, six different workshops were presented to the students and they were able to choose one according to their own interests. All the workshops had the aim to serve as a method of preservation to the world heritage. By journalism one can give a message to the society because in today' s world, both the spoken and the written language have a great influence on the citizens. By reading articles in the newspaper or hearing educated programmes on radios, everybody will be able to appreciate his own cultural heritage and the others' as well. Journalism and photography work hand in hand. Often we see photos of beautiful cultural sites which are being destroyed by those persons who cannot appreciate the values of life.
The Internet can be one of the ideal solutions for the conservation of our heritage. The students can be given a chance to see the cultural treasures that exist worldwide on computer programmes . The other three workshops were the maritime workshop, the young restorers' workshop and the young architects' workshop. The sea is part of our heritage and urgent actions must be taken before it is destroyed and with it will be destroyed three fourths of the world. The architect's work is important because by his work, the heritage for tomorrow's generations are to be born. Finally, one must not forget that person to whom the restoration of the endangered world heritage sites is confided . These workshops reached their aims because the students had a better opportunity to look more precisely at the world heritage. They were also able to understand their contribute of the heritage's restauration and preservation. Lastly, one can draw a conclusion that we ourselves are gaining an advantcage if we preserve this unique world heriatge. As one of the representatives of Unesco, Breda Pavlic, said, every person has the right to live his life in peace and freedom. So let us start ourselves from our surroundings. Let us be proud of our heritage so that it will be a solution to the unity of all the people in the world. Let us work for a united world!
Connie Dimech