The Road Trip to Brussels
This week, I took my second work trip with Sumit and Jared to our third country together: Belgium. Sumit drove, and I learned yet another fascinating thing about him. When he’s not boxing, meeting royalty and political leaders, or reading constitutional law, he’s listening to reggae. It was the perfect soundtrack for our road trip on a hot, sunny, summer day-- weather that's a miracle for both Belgians and the Dutch. When we arrived in Brussels, the capital of the European Union, I was immediately struck by the stunning architecture that the city is renowned for. And at the International IDEA base we were warmly welcomed by everyone. There was excitement in the office, we were spoiled with tea, coffee, soft drinks, and snacks in their conference room. The highlight of my arrival was reuniting with my dear old colleague and friend, Jule. When I peeked into her office, she leapt up from her desk and hugged me. Her space was beautiful, filled with light and an amazing view. She was so happy, I could tell that she’d been loving her first few weeks as a full time employee, and her joy was contagious.
Our primary purpose for visiting Brussels was to attend a crucial meeting on our new civic education project. The four-hour session was intense but incredibly productive and engaging. Jared and I led the team through key questions to identify the essence of the program, envision its structure, and gather information necessary for drafting a funding proposal. We unanimously agreed that the cornerstone of civic education should be a comprehensive understanding of democracy and constitutionalism. Our discussions underscored the importance of not only defending these principles but also embedding them in everyday life. Additionally, a significant part of our conversation focused on tailoring each educational program to the specific context of its audience. For each partner country we asked ourselves: Who are they fighting with? What are they fighting for? In one country, it’s sovereignty and elections, while in others it’s about strengthening defenses and guardrails in hybrid democracies.
Despite delving into many gritty details and minutiae, the overarching theme of our meeting was identifying the values that underpin a democracy beyond just elections. We explored defenses against majoritarianism and discussed how to ensure that our programs promote a balanced power dynamic. A big concern about ensuring participation from both sides of the political aisle was alleviated when one member pointed out that both sides have a vested interest in ensuring that if the opposition gains power, it doesn’t become too dominant. Thus, our goal of creating a civic education program that is unifying rather than divisive is feasible. By focusing on common values and interests, we're aiming to foster a sense of shared purpose and mutual respect among participants. And I must say, there's a lot of potential. The meeting concluded with a clear vision forward, and Jared and I felt confident that we had everything we needed to craft a compelling project funding proposal for the following week.
After the meeting, we took a leisurely walk through one of Brussels' many charming gardens and enjoyed a delicious lunch with our Brussels colleagues. The vibrant flowers and tranquil atmosphere provided the perfect backdrop for reflecting on our productive day. When I shared my background and prior experience at the CEELI Institute, I was delighted at the responses. CEELI was not just a familiar organization to my Brussel-based IDEA colleagues, the Institute is considered a highly respected and valuable entity in the field, particularly amongst IDEA's Eastern Partnership countries. It meant a lot to hear that the place I loved to work, and the people I hold dear, have created such a glowing and well-earned reputation for themselves. There's magic and positive change happening in that Villa. Jule and I also had the chance to catch up; she shared her adventures in the city, her summer plans, and we tried to figure out a weekend for me to visit her. I do hope it'll be soon.
When we parted ways with our counterparts in the evening, I sensed a genuine investment in the civic education project. It’s now up to Jared and me to translate the substantive progress we made into a successful project proposal. Overall, our road trip to Brussels stood out to me as a testament to the power of collaboration, the beauty of the city, and the joy of reconnecting with old friends. Here’s to many more sunny days and successful projects ahead.