[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] everything begins for the conversation
everything begins for the conversation
everything begins for the conversation whether it’s the chatter inside your
whether it’s the chatter inside your
whether it’s the chatter inside your head or those external everyday
head or those external everyday
head or those external everyday conversations that we all have for me it
conversations that we all have for me it
conversations that we all have for me it could be a Hello with the postman an
could be a Hello with the postman an
could be a Hello with the postman an exchange with my fellow swimmers before
exchange with my fellow swimmers before
exchange with my fellow swimmers before we dive into the freezing sea it could
we dive into the freezing sea it could
we dive into the freezing sea it could be a chinwag
be a chinwag
be a chinwag over a coffee in my local cafe where
over a coffee in my local cafe where
over a coffee in my local cafe where they really do know my name all of these
they really do know my name all of these
they really do know my name all of these encounters matter because they give me a
encounters matter because they give me a
encounters matter because they give me a sense of belonging a sense of place and
sense of belonging a sense of place and
sense of belonging a sense of place and the reason why all of these
the reason why all of these
the reason why all of these conversations these exchanges matter
conversations these exchanges matter
conversations these exchanges matter it’s because they fulfill our
it’s because they fulfill our
it’s because they fulfill our fundamental needs to connect our words
fundamental needs to connect our words
fundamental needs to connect our words matter language matters we only have to
matter language matters we only have to
matter language matters we only have to look across to America or to the UK with
look across to America or to the UK with
look across to America or to the UK with brexit and you can see how easily words
brexit and you can see how easily words
brexit and you can see how easily words can unite and they can divide whether
can unite and they can divide whether
can unite and they can divide whether you’ve had to move countries or you’ve
you’ve had to move countries or you’ve
you’ve had to move countries or you’ve chosen to move countries out of choices
chosen to move countries out of choices
chosen to move countries out of choices or necessity it can be a very alienating
or necessity it can be a very alienating
or necessity it can be a very alienating very disconcerting experience I’m sure
very disconcerting experience I’m sure
very disconcerting experience I’m sure there people in the audience tonight who
there people in the audience tonight who
there people in the audience tonight who have made that transition so you imagine
have made that transition so you imagine
have made that transition so you imagine for a moment when everything that is
for a moment when everything that is
for a moment when everything that is familiar is gone all of those landmarks
familiar is gone all of those landmarks
familiar is gone all of those landmarks that make you feel at home your
that make you feel at home your
that make you feel at home your community is completely vanished and you
community is completely vanished and you
community is completely vanished and you have to start again
learning a language then can be a
learning a language then can be a lifeline a new language neatly be a
lifeline a new language neatly be a
lifeline a new language neatly be a barrier but I see it more as a carrier a
barrier but I see it more as a carrier a
barrier but I see it more as a carrier a carrier into a new life of possibilities
carrier into a new life of possibilities
carrier into a new life of possibilities and it’s a little bit like a dance you
and it’s a little bit like a dance you
and it’s a little bit like a dance you have to learn the steps because if you
have to learn the steps because if you
have to learn the steps because if you imagine inside your head you already
imagine inside your head you already
imagine inside your head you already have a data bank of knowledge of images
have a data bank of knowledge of images
have a data bank of knowledge of images of words in your own language so
of words in your own language so
of words in your own language so learning anew
learning anew
learning anew which gives you extra steps you just
which gives you extra steps you just
which gives you extra steps you just have to get them in the right sequence
have to get them in the right sequence
have to get them in the right sequence obviously it’s not as easy as that but
obviously it’s not as easy as that but
obviously it’s not as easy as that but it’s a process many years ago I spent
it’s a process many years ago I spent
it’s a process many years ago I spent some time in France and I won’t tell you
some time in France and I won’t tell you
some time in France and I won’t tell you about all of the cultural blunders the
about all of the cultural blunders the
about all of the cultural blunders the linguistic blunders what I remember most
linguistic blunders what I remember most
linguistic blunders what I remember most about that time 30-plus he hid this
about that time 30-plus he hid this
about that time 30-plus he hid this later
later
later it’s astonishing how time flies at the
it’s astonishing how time flies at the
it’s astonishing how time flies at the moments of connection not the mistakes
moments of connection not the mistakes
moments of connection not the mistakes at all in later years when I came back
at all in later years when I came back
at all in later years when I came back to Dublin
to Dublin
to Dublin that was another transition and getting
that was another transition and getting
that was another transition and getting used to a different society a different
used to a different society a different
used to a different society a different way of doing things I did make one
way of doing things I did make one
way of doing things I did make one fundamental error I assumes coming from
fundamental error I assumes coming from
fundamental error I assumes coming from the teeming metropolis my city London
the teeming metropolis my city London
the teeming metropolis my city London that the cultures would be the same
that the cultures would be the same
that the cultures would be the same never assume that they are totally
never assume that they are totally
never assume that they are totally totally different
totally different
totally different I had many conversations with people in
I had many conversations with people in
I had many conversations with people in companies individuals and what I came to
companies individuals and what I came to
companies individuals and what I came to read on this was there’s a big gap
read on this was there’s a big gap
read on this was there’s a big gap disconnect if you like and what I wanted
disconnect if you like and what I wanted
disconnect if you like and what I wanted to do is an extension of my work I
to do is an extension of my work I
to do is an extension of my work I wanted to do something that would be
wanted to do something that would be
wanted to do something that would be useful would be value Winston Churchill
useful would be value Winston Churchill
useful would be value Winston Churchill said we make a living by what we get we
said we make a living by what we get we
said we make a living by what we get we make a life by what we give
last year I set up something called the
last year I set up something called the multi cultural exchange essentially it
multi cultural exchange essentially it
multi cultural exchange essentially it brings non native language speakers
brings non native language speakers
brings non native language speakers together and we follow if you like it’s
together and we follow if you like it’s
together and we follow if you like it’s an informal program of personal
an informal program of personal
an informal program of personal development combined with creative
development combined with creative
development combined with creative thinking really looking at different
thinking really looking at different
thinking really looking at different needs within the group and I have
needs within the group and I have
needs within the group and I have learned so much from them in fact it’s
learned so much from them in fact it’s
learned so much from them in fact it’s probably the reason that I’m able to
probably the reason that I’m able to
probably the reason that I’m able to stand here now and I’ll share some of
stand here now and I’ll share some of
stand here now and I’ll share some of those insights with you they’re like
those insights with you they’re like
those insights with you they’re like courageous explorers because quite often
courageous explorers because quite often
courageous explorers because quite often the mountains that they have to climb
the mountains that they have to climb
the mountains that they have to climb are really high and there’s so many
are really high and there’s so many
are really high and there’s so many obstacles in the way and we have people
obstacles in the way and we have people
obstacles in the way and we have people evolved
evolved
evolved nationalities and a few of them I’d like
nationalities and a few of them I’d like
nationalities and a few of them I’d like to talk to you about now Alexandra for
to talk to you about now Alexandra for
to talk to you about now Alexandra for her connection is everything
her connection is everything
her connection is everything relationships when she came to island
relationships when she came to island
relationships when she came to island from Poland she saw it as shedding an
from Poland she saw it as shedding an
from Poland she saw it as shedding an old skin and creating if you like a new
old skin and creating if you like a new
old skin and creating if you like a new one but she knew how tough that outer
one but she knew how tough that outer
one but she knew how tough that outer skin was would determine how well she
skin was would determine how well she
skin was would determine how well she would do she said the best form of self
would do she said the best form of self
would do she said the best form of self development is to go learn a new
development is to go learn a new
development is to go learn a new language and a new culture Livia Livia
language and a new culture Livia Livia
language and a new culture Livia Livia said living through another language
said living through another language
said living through another language made her reexamine her own culture how
made her reexamine her own culture how
made her reexamine her own culture how things were done in Spain different
things were done in Spain different
things were done in Spain different traditions but also helped to integrate
traditions but also helped to integrate
traditions but also helped to integrate here and the work that we’re doing has
here and the work that we’re doing has
here and the work that we’re doing has helped her reshape her thinking given a
helped her reshape her thinking given a
helped her reshape her thinking given a different focus Adrian who describes
different focus Adrian who describes
different focus Adrian who describes himself as an introvert but in actual
himself as an introvert but in actual
himself as an introvert but in actual fact we’ve learned differently because
fact we’ve learned differently because
fact we’ve learned differently because he’s really if you like transformed into
he’s really if you like transformed into
he’s really if you like transformed into into another type of person what he is
into another type of person what he is
into another type of person what he is found with what we’re doing is that it’s
found with what we’re doing is that it’s
found with what we’re doing is that it’s created what I would call a parallel
created what I would call a parallel
created what I would call a parallel community or not I would call he called
community or not I would call he called
community or not I would call he called it that because it sits outside his
it that because it sits outside his
it that because it sits outside his family absolute his friends outside the
family absolute his friends outside the
family absolute his friends outside the Moravian community what it does is give
Moravian community what it does is give
Moravian community what it does is give him soar elsewhere he can express
him soar elsewhere he can express
him soar elsewhere he can express himself freely develop different ideas
himself freely develop different ideas
himself freely develop different ideas and the other person I’d like to tell
and the other person I’d like to tell
and the other person I’d like to tell you about is Santiago Santiago is a
you about is Santiago Santiago is a
you about is Santiago Santiago is a writer and as you might imagine a writer
writer and as you might imagine a writer
writer and as you might imagine a writer is very particular with their words he’s
is very particular with their words he’s
is very particular with their words he’s a perfectionist he loves to get
a perfectionist he loves to get
a perfectionist he loves to get everything exactly right one day we had
everything exactly right one day we had
everything exactly right one day we had had fairly lively discussion a lot of
had fairly lively discussion a lot of
had fairly lively discussion a lot of free thinking pretty high-level stuff
free thinking pretty high-level stuff
free thinking pretty high-level stuff everyone was really chatting and really
everyone was really chatting and really
everyone was really chatting and really engaged at the end of it we turned and
engaged at the end of it we turned and
engaged at the end of it we turned and looked at me and he said
looked at me and he said
looked at me and he said I know what you’re doing here my heart
I know what you’re doing here my heart
I know what you’re doing here my heart began to pound and I was quite worried
began to pound and I was quite worried
began to pound and I was quite worried because sometimes sometimes things get
because sometimes sometimes things get
because sometimes sometimes things get quite emotional I said all mine I take
quite emotional I said all mine I take
quite emotional I said all mine I take thee listen to what’s been going on I’ve
thee listen to what’s been going on I’ve
thee listen to what’s been going on I’ve contributed to the conversations here
contributed to the conversations here
contributed to the conversations here I’ve understood everything and then
I’ve understood everything and then
I’ve understood everything and then there was a deadly silence and his face
there was a deadly silence and his face
there was a deadly silence and his face transformed biggest smile and he said we
transformed biggest smile and he said we
transformed biggest smile and he said we might be doing it in English when you
might be doing it in English when you
might be doing it in English when you get those moments for me it makes my
get those moments for me it makes my
get those moments for me it makes my heart sing you know that somebody has
heart sing you know that somebody has
heart sing you know that somebody has moved over and they’ve got that they’re
moved over and they’ve got that they’re
moved over and they’ve got that they’re engaged in what they’re doing they’re
engaged in what they’re doing they’re
engaged in what they’re doing they’re not thinking that they’re thinking in
not thinking that they’re thinking in
not thinking that they’re thinking in another language they’re just talking
another language they’re just talking
another language they’re just talking they’ve got the steps of the dance
they’ve got the steps of the dance
they’ve got the steps of the dance really flowing the multicultural
really flowing the multicultural
really flowing the multicultural exchange has three guiding principles
exchange has three guiding principles
exchange has three guiding principles connection collaboration and confidence
connection collaboration and confidence
connection collaboration and confidence because that’s the ultimate destination
because that’s the ultimate destination
because that’s the ultimate destination connection I think is so important
connection I think is so important
connection I think is so important because no matter how much technology
because no matter how much technology
because no matter how much technology advances there is always going to be a
advances there is always going to be a
advances there is always going to be a need for that connection but human
need for that connection but human
need for that connection but human warmth the kindness the face-to-face
warmth the kindness the face-to-face
warmth the kindness the face-to-face interaction that we pray for and it is
interaction that we pray for and it is
interaction that we pray for and it is funny because in this world where more
funny because in this world where more
funny because in this world where more and more connected to technology but
and more connected to technology but
and more connected to technology but where ever more disconnected and what
where ever more disconnected and what
where ever more disconnected and what people want is engagement firstly I
people want is engagement firstly I
people want is engagement firstly I don’t get it the second guiding
don’t get it the second guiding
don’t get it the second guiding principle is the sharing of intellect
principle is the sharing of intellect
principle is the sharing of intellect and skills I don’t mention attitude
and skills I don’t mention attitude
and skills I don’t mention attitude because courageous explorers have it in
because courageous explorers have it in
because courageous explorers have it in them in abundance and obviously then we
them in abundance and obviously then we
them in abundance and obviously then we come on to confidence the final story
come on to confidence the final story
come on to confidence the final story I’d like to tell you is the story of
I’d like to tell you is the story of
I’d like to tell you is the story of indian-born a shop he came from India in
indian-born a shop he came from India in
indian-born a shop he came from India in 1970 when his son
1970 when his son
1970 when his son was born in 1979 just 1% of the births
was born in 1979 just 1% of the births
was born in 1979 just 1% of the births registered were of ethnic origin that
registered were of ethnic origin that
registered were of ethnic origin that figure rose to 17% the same year that
figure rose to 17% the same year that
figure rose to 17% the same year that his son who was openly gay or is openly
his son who was openly gay or is openly
his son who was openly gay or is openly gay son of an immigrant became tisha
gay son of an immigrant became tisha
gay son of an immigrant became tisha Island is changing but I believe it’s
Island is changing but I believe it’s
Island is changing but I believe it’s down to us we have a collective
down to us we have a collective
down to us we have a collective responsibility to facilitate inclusion
responsibility to facilitate inclusion
responsibility to facilitate inclusion to have those conversations and this is
to have those conversations and this is
to have those conversations and this is why conversation matters and we can do
why conversation matters and we can do
why conversation matters and we can do it one conversation at a time somebody
it one conversation at a time somebody
it one conversation at a time somebody put this very succinctly and I ever
put this very succinctly and I ever
put this very succinctly and I ever heard it the other day so I can’t claim
heard it the other day so I can’t claim
heard it the other day so I can’t claim it as my own line but they said don’t
it as my own line but they said don’t
it as my own line but they said don’t just invite me to the party invite me to
just invite me to the party invite me to
just invite me to the party invite me to dance
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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