[Music] you
you
you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] if I were to ask you where you’re from
if I were to ask you where you’re from
if I were to ask you where you’re from how difficult would that be to answer
how difficult would that be to answer
how difficult would that be to answer another question how many of you feel
another question how many of you feel
another question how many of you feel British but also have another cultural
British but also have another cultural
British but also have another cultural background a sort of double or triple
background a sort of double or triple
background a sort of double or triple identity even in fact 46% of the
identity even in fact 46% of the
identity even in fact 46% of the population here in Birmingham has a
population here in Birmingham has a
population here in Birmingham has a migration background Indian polish
migration background Indian polish
migration background Indian polish Pakistani all living with a double
Pakistani all living with a double
Pakistani all living with a double identity just like me for a long time I
identity just like me for a long time I
identity just like me for a long time I felt rather confused about my double
felt rather confused about my double
felt rather confused about my double identity today I would like to share
identity today I would like to share
identity today I would like to share with you how I discovered that having a
with you how I discovered that having a
with you how I discovered that having a double identity can become your secret
double identity can become your secret
double identity can become your secret superpower in fact I believe it even
superpower in fact I believe it even
superpower in fact I believe it even deserves its own special name that’s why
deserves its own special name that’s why
deserves its own special name that’s why I came up with D I P the bolide entity
I came up with D I P the bolide entity
I came up with D I P the bolide entity person when I was eight years old I
person when I was eight years old I
person when I was eight years old I moved I we basically flat with my family
moved I we basically flat with my family
moved I we basically flat with my family from Belarus to the Netherlands we lived
from Belarus to the Netherlands we lived
from Belarus to the Netherlands we lived as refugees in an asylum Center with
as refugees in an asylum Center with
as refugees in an asylum Center with great uncertainty whether we could stay
great uncertainty whether we could stay
great uncertainty whether we could stay or had to go back but after two years we
or had to go back but after two years we
or had to go back but after two years we got the good news we would become real
got the good news we would become real
got the good news we would become real Dutch citizens and this I took very
Dutch citizens and this I took very
Dutch citizens and this I took very seriously during my teenage years
seriously during my teenage years
seriously during my teenage years all I wanted besides not having to study
all I wanted besides not having to study
all I wanted besides not having to study and attention from boys was to be a real
and attention from boys was to be a real
and attention from boys was to be a real Dutch von Johnson’s or Smith okay I’m
Dutch von Johnson’s or Smith okay I’m
Dutch von Johnson’s or Smith okay I’m blue-eyed blonde that
blue-eyed blonde that
blue-eyed blonde that help but my last name shalyah cava and
help but my last name shalyah cava and
help but my last name shalyah cava and my Belarusian mom were not so easy to
my Belarusian mom were not so easy to
my Belarusian mom were not so easy to hide I didn’t want that people would see
hide I didn’t want that people would see
hide I didn’t want that people would see me as a foreigner I was desperate to fit
me as a foreigner I was desperate to fit
me as a foreigner I was desperate to fit in to be Dutch I didn’t want anything to
in to be Dutch I didn’t want anything to
in to be Dutch I didn’t want anything to do with Belarus this changed when I had
do with Belarus this changed when I had
do with Belarus this changed when I had to choose my masters I suddenly realized
to choose my masters I suddenly realized
to choose my masters I suddenly realized that I had something that all these
that I had something that all these
that I had something that all these funny onsens didn’t have a Belarusian
funny onsens didn’t have a Belarusian
funny onsens didn’t have a Belarusian background knowledge of the Russian
background knowledge of the Russian
background knowledge of the Russian language and understanding of the
language and understanding of the
language and understanding of the Belarusian culture while everyone around
Belarusian culture while everyone around
Belarusian culture while everyone around me tried hard to find their niche and
me tried hard to find their niche and
me tried hard to find their niche and their specialization I found mine Slavic
their specialization I found mine Slavic
their specialization I found mine Slavic studies after my Master’s I had this
studies after my Master’s I had this
studies after my Master’s I had this overwhelming urge to get my lost
overwhelming urge to get my lost
overwhelming urge to get my lost Belarusian identity back I needed to go
Belarusian identity back I needed to go
Belarusian identity back I needed to go back to Belarus I found a job as a
back to Belarus I found a job as a
back to Belarus I found a job as a volunteer it Minsk the capital of
volunteer it Minsk the capital of
volunteer it Minsk the capital of Belarus where I had to promote the Dutch
Belarus where I had to promote the Dutch
Belarus where I had to promote the Dutch culture my mother couldn’t believe her
culture my mother couldn’t believe her
culture my mother couldn’t believe her ears I took you away from there no
ears I took you away from there no
ears I took you away from there no you’re going back but luckily I didn’t
you’re going back but luckily I didn’t
you’re going back but luckily I didn’t have much time to explain myself as
have much time to explain myself as
have much time to explain myself as within two weeks I was back in Minsk the
within two weeks I was back in Minsk the
within two weeks I was back in Minsk the moment I stepped foot there I felt like
moment I stepped foot there I felt like
moment I stepped foot there I felt like coming back home three things happened
coming back home three things happened
coming back home three things happened when my double identity being Dutch and
when my double identity being Dutch and
when my double identity being Dutch and Belarusian helped me to change myself
Belarusian helped me to change myself
Belarusian helped me to change myself and develop myself and make a difference
and develop myself and make a difference
and develop myself and make a difference in Belarus the first thing had to do
in Belarus the first thing had to do
in Belarus the first thing had to do with me bringing my Dutch experiences
with me bringing my Dutch experiences
with me bringing my Dutch experiences and connections to develop social
and connections to develop social
and connections to develop social entrepreneurship there
entrepreneurship there
entrepreneurship there many conscious Belarusians who
many conscious Belarusians who
many conscious Belarusians who desperately wanted to help people in
desperately wanted to help people in
desperately wanted to help people in need elderly people people with
need elderly people people with
need elderly people people with disabilities or young mothers but just
disabilities or young mothers but just
disabilities or young mothers but just didn’t know how back in the Midlands I
didn’t know how back in the Midlands I
didn’t know how back in the Midlands I had the chance to learn about social
had the chance to learn about social
had the chance to learn about social entrepreneurship in theory and in
entrepreneurship in theory and in
entrepreneurship in theory and in practice I was convinced that with the
practice I was convinced that with the
practice I was convinced that with the right practical tools knowledge and
right practical tools knowledge and
right practical tools knowledge and support many would be able to start
support many would be able to start
support many would be able to start their own social business and change
their own social business and change
their own social business and change many lives together with a Belarusian
many lives together with a Belarusian
many lives together with a Belarusian friend we received funding from the
friend we received funding from the
friend we received funding from the Dutch government to start a social
Dutch government to start a social
Dutch government to start a social entrepreneurship training program called
entrepreneurship training program called
entrepreneurship training program called sock starter and during soak starter we
sock starter and during soak starter we
sock starter and during soak starter we educate sexy belly wishes on social
educate sexy belly wishes on social
educate sexy belly wishes on social entrepreneurship we connected them to
entrepreneurship we connected them to
entrepreneurship we connected them to potential clients and we organized the
potential clients and we organized the
potential clients and we organized the study trip to the Netherlands during
study trip to the Netherlands during
study trip to the Netherlands during this study trip they had the chance to
this study trip they had the chance to
this study trip they had the chance to learn about the Dutch entrepreneurial
learn about the Dutch entrepreneurial
learn about the Dutch entrepreneurial climate and they got inspired to bring
climate and they got inspired to bring
climate and they got inspired to bring some best practices back home one
some best practices back home one
some best practices back home one example I forgot about a very good
example I forgot about a very good
example I forgot about a very good example that I would like to share with
example that I would like to share with
example that I would like to share with you is how two of our participants
you is how two of our participants
you is how two of our participants organic Mila how we connected them to
organic Mila how we connected them to
organic Mila how we connected them to the very first client the office of the
the very first client the office of the
the very first client the office of the United Nations in Minsk
United Nations in Minsk
United Nations in Minsk you see Olga’s and lyudmila’s mission is
you see Olga’s and lyudmila’s mission is
you see Olga’s and lyudmila’s mission is to make Belarus accessible all buildings
to make Belarus accessible all buildings
to make Belarus accessible all buildings in Belarus accessible for people with
in Belarus accessible for people with
in Belarus accessible for people with disabilities thanks to their hard work
disabilities thanks to their hard work
disabilities thanks to their hard work the office of the United Nations in
the office of the United Nations in
the office of the United Nations in Minsk can call itself the best practice
Minsk can call itself the best practice
Minsk can call itself the best practice model globally as a barrier-free
model globally as a barrier-free
model globally as a barrier-free workspace today I continue promoting
workspace today I continue promoting
workspace today I continue promoting social entrepreneurship in Minsk Belarus
social entrepreneurship in Minsk Belarus
social entrepreneurship in Minsk Belarus by a similar but a logic program called
by a similar but a logic program called
by a similar but a logic program called best for all and here again the
best for all and here again the
best for all and here again the connections to the Dutch partners
connections to the Dutch partners
connections to the Dutch partners experiences and experts is key the
experiences and experts is key the
experiences and experts is key the second thing I found was that the
second thing I found was that the
second thing I found was that the Belarusians I connected with didn’t have
Belarusians I connected with didn’t have
Belarusians I connected with didn’t have a clear Belarusian identity which is not
a clear Belarusian identity which is not
a clear Belarusian identity which is not really strange if you know a little bit
really strange if you know a little bit
really strange if you know a little bit about their history Belarus belonged to
about their history Belarus belonged to
about their history Belarus belonged to other kingdoms and the Soviet Union for
other kingdoms and the Soviet Union for
other kingdoms and the Soviet Union for a very long time
a very long time
a very long time another problem had to do with their
another problem had to do with their
another problem had to do with their language there is a beautiful Belarusian
language there is a beautiful Belarusian
language there is a beautiful Belarusian language it is just not very often
language it is just not very often
language it is just not very often spoken Russian language is the dominant
spoken Russian language is the dominant
spoken Russian language is the dominant language in Belarus I thought I could
language in Belarus I thought I could
language in Belarus I thought I could help as an outsider with an outsider
help as an outsider with an outsider
help as an outsider with an outsider perspective and position so I got
perspective and position so I got
perspective and position so I got together with Martha who is also a DI P
together with Martha who is also a DI P
together with Martha who is also a DI P only an American television VIP and you
only an American television VIP and you
only an American television VIP and you see the good thing about being at the AP
see the good thing about being at the AP
see the good thing about being at the AP is that you can switch back and forth
is that you can switch back and forth
is that you can switch back and forth between two identities so we use this we
between two identities so we use this we
between two identities so we use this we started a blog writing and illustrating
started a blog writing and illustrating
started a blog writing and illustrating a blog called it’s Belarus babe and we
a blog called it’s Belarus babe and we
a blog called it’s Belarus babe and we started to write about everything that
started to write about everything that
started to write about everything that makes Belarusian spell Aleutians their
makes Belarusian spell Aleutians their
makes Belarusian spell Aleutians their obsession with potatoes their love for
obsession with potatoes their love for
obsession with potatoes their love for the countryside and of course the
the countryside and of course the
the countryside and of course the Belarusian language this blog turned
Belarusian language this blog turned
Belarusian language this blog turned into a book called it’s Belarus babe and
into a book called it’s Belarus babe and
into a book called it’s Belarus babe and it’s been received quite well in Belarus
it’s been received quite well in Belarus
it’s been received quite well in Belarus it has raised many positive and some
it has raised many positive and some
it has raised many positive and some negative emotions but no matter what
negative emotions but no matter what
negative emotions but no matter what emotions it raises the book does what it
emotions it raises the book does what it
emotions it raises the book does what it was set
was set
was set you night spell Aleutians today I have
you night spell Aleutians today I have
you night spell Aleutians today I have written seven books all in Belarusian
written seven books all in Belarusian
written seven books all in Belarusian and English language all of them with
and English language all of them with
and English language all of them with the purpose to unite Belarusians lack of
the purpose to unite Belarusians lack of
the purpose to unite Belarusians lack of tourism whether it was a third challenge
tourism whether it was a third challenge
tourism whether it was a third challenge I thought I could tackle who else than a
I thought I could tackle who else than a
I thought I could tackle who else than a DI P can promote Belarus as an
DI P can promote Belarus as an
DI P can promote Belarus as an attractive tourist destination to the
attractive tourist destination to the
attractive tourist destination to the Dutch and the Europeans so now we’re
Dutch and the Europeans so now we’re
Dutch and the Europeans so now we’re writing and crowdfunding a social
writing and crowdfunding a social
writing and crowdfunding a social conscious travel guide to Minsk called
conscious travel guide to Minsk called
conscious travel guide to Minsk called Minsk in socks with the mission to
Minsk in socks with the mission to
Minsk in socks with the mission to promote mints and Belarus as an exotic
promote mints and Belarus as an exotic
promote mints and Belarus as an exotic tourist destination in Europe I have
tourist destination in Europe I have
tourist destination in Europe I have spoken about the good experiences I had
spoken about the good experiences I had
spoken about the good experiences I had however it is not only positive being a
however it is not only positive being a
however it is not only positive being a di P can be quite challenging as some of
di P can be quite challenging as some of
di P can be quite challenging as some of you may know fitting into one culture
you may know fitting into one culture
you may know fitting into one culture can cause anxiety and stress it can make
can cause anxiety and stress it can make
can cause anxiety and stress it can make you feel alone and not fitting in
you feel alone and not fitting in
you feel alone and not fitting in anywhere I found this beautiful Tibetan
anywhere I found this beautiful Tibetan
anywhere I found this beautiful Tibetan saying that made me feel better many
saying that made me feel better many
saying that made me feel better many times and that made me rethink of what
times and that made me rethink of what
times and that made me rethink of what home actually means and it goes like
home actually means and it goes like
home actually means and it goes like this everywhere where you have friends
this everywhere where you have friends
this everywhere where you have friends is your motherland and everywhere where
is your motherland and everywhere where
is your motherland and everywhere where you receive love is your home but back
you receive love is your home but back
you receive love is your home but back to the secret superpower research has
to the secret superpower research has
to the secret superpower research has shown that people with a double identity
shown that people with a double identity
shown that people with a double identity and bilinguals are less restricted to
and bilinguals are less restricted to
and bilinguals are less restricted to one worldview and more open and adaptive
one worldview and more open and adaptive
one worldview and more open and adaptive to change they have a greater
to change they have a greater
to change they have a greater understanding and appreciation for
understanding and appreciation for
understanding and appreciation for people of other cultures the good in
people of other cultures the good in
people of other cultures the good in thinking in solutions
thinking in solutions
thinking in solutions because they can tap into two different
because they can tap into two different
because they can tap into two different languages and worlds another strength of
languages and worlds another strength of
languages and worlds another strength of di peace is one of being a bridge
di peace is one of being a bridge
di peace is one of being a bridge between two nations offering experiences
between two nations offering experiences
between two nations offering experiences expertise and new ideas to another
expertise and new ideas to another
expertise and new ideas to another country the world is getting smaller and
country the world is getting smaller and
country the world is getting smaller and smaller and soon many of us won’t be
smaller and soon many of us won’t be
smaller and soon many of us won’t be able to identify oneself with one single
able to identify oneself with one single
able to identify oneself with one single nation or culture which in my opinion is
nation or culture which in my opinion is
nation or culture which in my opinion is a good thing for the ones out here who
a good thing for the ones out here who
a good thing for the ones out here who don’t have a double identity don’t worry
don’t have a double identity don’t worry
don’t have a double identity don’t worry interact with the IPS and learn from
interact with the IPS and learn from
interact with the IPS and learn from them
them
them of course it’s never too late to move
of course it’s never too late to move
of course it’s never too late to move abroad and become a cool d IP yourself
abroad and become a cool d IP yourself
abroad and become a cool d IP yourself but if you are a di p don’t neglect who
but if you are a di p don’t neglect who
but if you are a di p don’t neglect who you are and the identities you’re
you are and the identities you’re
you are and the identities you’re carrying with you you don’t have to do
carrying with you you don’t have to do
carrying with you you don’t have to do what I did move to Belarus eat potato
what I did move to Belarus eat potato
what I did move to Belarus eat potato with every meal or a right crazy comic
with every meal or a right crazy comic
with every meal or a right crazy comic books but I would like to encourage you
books but I would like to encourage you
books but I would like to encourage you to use your double identity as your
to use your double identity as your
to use your double identity as your strengths as your own secret superpower
strengths as your own secret superpower
strengths as your own secret superpower to do beautiful things in this world
to do beautiful things in this world
to do beautiful things in this world thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
Be First to Comment