Global lesson | Auckland News | Local News in Auckland

Kieran Nash hears about a young Aucklander's mind-opening experience learning about the different people who share our world.

Tess Parker's world is a smaller place than that of most other 17-year-olds. The Titirangi resident has recently returned from a seminar camp in Geelong, Australia, where she learned all about other cultures and discussed global issues.

The community-minded teen mixed with 21 other 17- and 18-year-olds from as far away as Brazil and Italy to learn how to take apart the cultural barriers that often lead to misunderstanding, fear and racial stereotypes.

Tess says she had some "insane" discussions on topics ranging from abortion and euthanasia to child soldiers and global warming during the three-week camp run by international summer village programme CISV.

One of the highlights of the trip for participants was putting themselves in the shoes of a child soldier.

"We did this amazing simulation where we got woken up early in the morning to people screaming at us. They were making it like we were child soldiers. It was really awful that early in the morning."

Tess says the best thing to come from that early start was the discussion that followed. "Everyone expected a 10-minute discussion, but we ended up sitting there for two and a half hours."

She says the main purpose of the camp was about building intercultural understanding and responsibility. "It's pretty epic. It had a huge impact on me because I realise how isolated we are here in New Zealand. We think we know about the world, but we don't really."

Tess says the organisation is non-political and non-religious. 

So what inspired her to join the scheme?

"I've always been centred round helping people and and doing what I can. I come from a very liberal family so it's in my blood to take up with these sort of things."

Indeed, it is. Tess' siblings have either been through the programme or are still involved - Tess went to Geelong with her twin sister, Georgia. Her 20-year-old sister has completed the programme and her 9-year-old brother has just started.

Although other countries provide funding for participants, New Zealand is not so lucky. Kiwis pay their own way, usually through fundraising.

Tracey Cumin, a group leader, has been involved since she was 11 years old.

"It really is an amazing organisation. It's good for people to know it exists," she says.

Although keen to make a difference, Tess remains realistic about changing the world.

"One of my favourite things about CISV is that it will not change the world. But the people in it might." The next CISV mini-camp is coming up on February 26-28 at Bethells Beach.

For info, see www.nz.cisv.org