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One World Week connects people and cultures in Wageningen

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March 22, 2023

A cultural catwalk, a human library and a sign language workshop. These are just some of the activities that are part of the twelfth edition of the One World Week, from 20 to 24 March 2023. The events are open to WUR students and employees and to all citizens of Wageningen.

“One World Week is about celebrating diversity and strengthening connections,” says Lisa Nguyen, Diversity & Inclusion project leader at the Student Service Centre. She organizes the event together with students. “During this week, people connect with fellow students and colleagues, with people they haven't met before.”

Flowers and prejudices

On the first days of the week, connections were already formed. At the Human library, for example, where participants could 'borrow' people who talked about topics that are important to them. “Afterwards, several participants exchanged telephone numbers,” Nguyen noticed. During a flower workshop – the theme of this One World Week is ‘Connect and bloom’ – and a clay workshop, participants not only got their hands dirty, but also got to know new people.

Workshop OWW.jpg

Different forms of diversity are part of One World Week, including neurodiversity (autism and giftedness), cultural diversity, gender and (dis)abilities. A culture fair will take place in Forum on Wednesday evening, where Indian, Indonesian, Chinese and Cambodian student associations will present various aspects of their culture. On Thursday, participants learn more about the Netherlands with the activity ‘From windmills to wooden shoes’. On Friday afternoon, WUR employees can take a closer look at prejudices during the workshop ‘Unconscious (gender) bias’.

Outside your bubble

“People are often in their own bubble, but during this week people from different backgrounds come together”, says Nguyen. She hopes that One World Week will contribute to a more pleasant work and study environment through small gestures of kindness and connection: “Ask about someone's well-being, and genuinely listen to the answer. Say hi to people and start a conversation in line for coffee. I hope that we continue to connect with each other not only during One World Week, but also afterwards.”

One World Week 2023 programme