Versión en Castellano

January 5, 2008

It is both timely and significant that the European Commission has named 2008 as the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. Its purpose is to celebrate the continent’s cultural diversity while also highlighting the need for greater intercultural communication.

Similarly, at the end of January, BFIS and the American School of Barcelona will be co-hosting with the US Consulate General, a round table symposium for directors of international schools in Barcelona, along with their country’s respective cultural ambassador. The event, “Preparing Global Citizens for a Collaborative Future,” will take place at the North American Institute. Its goal is to forge new collaborative relationships based on the exchange of resources, knowledge and practices that are consistent with the development of true global citizens.

The world is in need on an educated citizenry who will choose to live, learn and lead in ways that support life. Benjamin Franklin and other members of the international school community are uniquely positioned to collectively impact this vision. We have the opportunity and responsibility to cultivate such open-minded citizens.

Our goals for this symposium also include the generating of a range of inventive ideas and action items such as partnerships with major cultural institutions, a youth leadership round table, interleague sports, and a city-wide arts festival.

It is befitting that BFIS take the lead in convening—for the first time—Barcelona’s international schools to define a sense of hopefulness for the future. It is part of what schools do when they strive to become extraordinary.