Wednesday’s Global Nomad: Subhash

Subhash may look like your average college student, yet while his classmates are on holiday he is travelling around the world giving a thought-provoking presentation about youth activism and community service. As the founder and executive chairman of the Sarswati Foundation, in addition to writing for the Huffington Post and other publications, Subhash is creating the change that he wants to see in his native country of Nepal and around the world.

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What made you start this venture? Why are you doing this?

From a young age, my mother always taught me to serve and help others. Despite our modest living, she would go out of her way and means to help the less fortunate in our village in western Nepal. I imbibed such values from her and have carried on to this day. I have decided to dedicate my life to serving people who do not have a voice in our communities.

I am more focused on helping war affected and so called “lower caste” Nepalese communities. My big focus at this point is to build a school for war-affected children in my village. I started Sarswati Foundation and I am working on building first Peace School in Nepal. 

What do you hope to achieve?

I want to see all Nepalese children getting good education and all families getting good living means. The hardworking and honest people deserve better and I am contributing towards that dream at micro-level. 

How long have you been working on this?

I have been actively involved in community services for the last five years now.

What is the most interesting discovery you have made since starting this project?

I have come to meet wonderful people from around the globe. They have been my constant supporter. I have also ben amazed by people’s commitment to help others half way round the globe.

Where do you see this project in 10 years?

I hope to expand my Peace School concept in every part of Nepal and beyond in less than 10 years from now.

When did you start traveling?

I first travelled outside Nepal in 2006 to the United States. SInce then I have been to Europe and many parts of Asia as well. 

How and why did you travel for the first time?

I came to study in the United states. 

In what places have you lived and what languages do you speak?

I have lived in Nepal and United States. I speak Nepali, Sanskrit (little) and Hindi. 

What’s your favorite city so far?

Amsterdam. Its so open yet civil and majestic.

If you could only take one item with you to travel the world (other than your passport), what would it be?

Books and Books..

Give us your global nomad profile:
window or aisle? Window
boat or plane? Plane
train or bus? Train
walk or bike? Walk
metro or trolley? Metro
tropical, temperate, polar? Temperate 
hotel, hostel or local’s apartment? Hotel
must have fashion piece when traveling? light clothes
explore/map or tour guide? Explore/map

Global Nomad nepal
Dell Social Innovation Competition

Fellow global nomad Subhash is competing for the Dell prize of $50,000 for his project Sarswati Peace School: Building Hope for Nepalese Children. Please vote before March 4th!

competitions
Wednesday’s Global Nomad: Toyin

Toyin aka Standtall, is a Nigerian blogger and activist who writes about gender inequality, social empowerment and feminism in her blog Gender and Me. In 2009, she received a BlogHer Scholarship and was invited to speak at the BlogHer Conference in July 2009 about her blog and how it is changing the lives of many women and girls throughout Africa.

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What made you start this venture? Why are you doing this?

I am an activist that is keenly interested in and working on gender equality, women’s rights, feminism, ICT for Development and security. I am doing this because I believe the world will be a better place if we address all these challenges and difficulties we are faced with.

What do you hope to achieve?

I believe in women’s rights, a transformed Africa, a changed perspective and mindset on gender issues, and a continent that will use all of its natural resources to develop itself. I am currently on a study fellowship with King’s College on Peace and Security for African Women so I can gain further knowledge to help push forward the changes I wish to see in the world. When these changes start to happen on a larger scale, when leadership in Africa is about people and not self, I believe I would have achieved something tangible in line of my work for what I stand for.

How long have you been working on this?

Since my university days which was 11 years ago. I got much more involved and focus on activism after my university education.

What is the most interesting discovery you have made since starting this project?

I have discovered that not everybody who is passionate about an issue necessarily practices what they preach.

Where do you see this project in 10 years?

I believe that there would be a tremendous change in Africa regarding all the issues mentioned in 10 years time.

When did you start travelling?

Since 2004

How and why did you travel for the first time?

I travelled to Ghana in a luxury bus with all staff of Baobab for Women’s Human Rights where I was working then for a staff retreat and strategic planning.

In what places have you lived and what languages do you speak?

I have lived in Nigeria and I am currently living in London for 6 Months at the moment. I speak Yoruba [my local language] and English.

What’s your favorite city so far?

Chicago

If you could take only one item with you to travel the world, what would it be?

Laptop.

Give us your global nomad profile:
window or aisle? window (despite not liking to fly)
boat or plane? plane
train or bus? train
walk or bike? walk
metro or trolley? metro
tropical, temperate, polar? temperate
hotel,hostel, local’s apartment? hotel
must have fashion piece when traveling? earrings
explore/map or tour guide? tour guide

Nigeria Global Nomad
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

New music clip!

The first challenge went unanswered. See if you can guess this one…

The rules are simple: from the 10 second clip provided, name the style of music and its country of origin. You do not have to name the music artist. First person to guess 6 correct will win a gift, complimentary of the Casa.

Let the games begin!

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

In the spirit of the Winter Olympics, which begin this Friday…and just because we had so much fun the last time, Casa di Culture is back with another global game!

Unlike last time where it involved photos, this time we are doing music. Our lives, work and travel are so intertwined with beats, rhythms and sound. Let’s see if your ear is tuned to the sounds of others.

The rules are simple: from the 10 second clip provided, name the style of music and its country of origin. You do not have to name the music artist. First person to guess 6 correct will win a gift, complimentary of the Casa.

Let the games begin!

music global game Olympics
Wednesday’s Global Nomad: Esra’a

Esra’a is the young Executive Director behind the non-profit ’web-olution’ MidEast Youth. Esra’a grew her project from a dorm room idea into a globally recognized social platform.

MidEast Youth uses the power of the internet to bring social change and freedom of expression to the youth of the Middle East. More than 21 countries from the region are represented, along with 8 religions which makes it “the most diverse platform for intellectual dialogue in the Middle East.”

Why are you doing this?
I’m doing this because I want the next generation to grow up in societies where human rights in all their forms are respected and tolerated. I cannot allow myself to be surrounded with injustices while doing nothing about it. The work that I do is my responsibility - we all have a responsibility to fight for our rights and the rights of others.

What do you hope to achieve?
I want for my projects to help change people’s lives for the better. I want to achieve justice for people whose rights are abused on a daily basis.

How long have you been working on this?
4 years, but I have been thinking about it all my life.

When did you start traveling?
At the age of 3.

How and why did you travel for the first time?
It was by car to visit family in Saudi Arabia.

In what places have you lived and what languages do you speak?
Bahrain and Switzerland (for schooling.) I speak Arabic and English. Learning many others but in no way fluent. Would consider French to be a third language.

What’s your favorite city so far?
Tehran.

If you could only take one item with you to travel the world (other than your passport), what would it be?
Laptop.

What is the most interesting discovery you have made since starting this project?
Historical details of ethnic and religious minorities in the region.

Where do you see this project in 10 years?
Globally recognized platform for cyber activism in the Middle East.

Give us your global nomad profile:

window or aisle? window

boat or plane? plane

train or bus? bus

walk or bike? bike

metro or trolley? metro

tropical, temperate, polar? temperate

hotel, hostel or local’s apartment? local’s apartment

must have fashion piece when traveling? does my flip camera count? it’s quite fashionable

explore/map or tour guide? explore/map

mideast esra'a non-profit Middle East

HAPPY 65TH BIRTHDAY MR. BOB MARLEY!

For anyone unfamiliar with legendary musician, artist and activist Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley (February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981), take some time out today to get acquainted.

This Jamaican born visionary passed on early in his life, but his music, which was always consciously charged, continues to live.

Just as we strive to do at Casa di Culture by promoting travel, diversity and sustainable living, remember one of Marley’s most beloved songs that affirms, ‘One love, one heart’.

Abba Kiarostami, Filmmaker

Abba Kiarostami, Filmmaker

This is definitely the season of film festivals; and quite a few international film festivals here in the States.

The Freer and Sackler Galleries, which belong to the Smithsonian consortium of museums, has been hosting an Iranian Film exhibition since January. I was fortunate enough to catch a special presentation film by Iran’s most famous director Abba Kiarostami. The work that was previewed, entitled Ta’ziyeh/The Spectators, was simply but uniquely the presentation of The Ta’ziyeh, a theatrical form of Islamic musical drama, usually performed by everyday citizens, in towns and villages throughout Iran. The play dramatizes the notorious battle of Karbal in 680, when Muhammad’s grandson Husayn was murdered along with his followers.

There is nothing unordinary about the filming of the religious ritual; however, with this director it’s all in the presentation. The Spectators was presented on three separate screens, and the audience could only enter once the movie began rolling. The jumbo screen to the right showed the men’s section of the theatre, focusing on their expressions and movements. Similarly, the left jumbo screen focused on the faces of the women. The middle screen, which was significantly smaller and the only color screen, broadcasted the performance.

This experience was unique in that we were spectators of the audience within the movie. Furthermore, Persian rugs were placed on the floor, so the movie-going audience was forced to view from below. Interestingly enough, it also created a bit more intimacy among the audience.

If you happen to be in the Washington, DC area this month, there are two more Iranian films that will be previewed. Please check here for more information.

Daydreaming in Ethiopia!

Daydreaming in Ethiopia!

CDC Spotlight: New Naturalista

Interview by the friendly people at New Naturalista.

Thank’s again for the feature.

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