START WITH YOUR OWN CULTURE BE AWARE

By Sr. Divina Pratya

Relationship to each other is the basis for change. And building relationships with people from different cultures and backgrounds, is the key to build diverse community that is strong enough to achieve a common goal.

And in order to build brotherhood and togetherness with people from different cultures, we need to build a strong and caring relationships based on trust, understanding, and shared goals.

Why? Because the trust relationship is glue the designer. At the time of the challenging issues facing the community and difficult moments, we hang in there together. We support each other to stay with the effort, even when it was disappointing. We need to reject the efforts of those who use the technique of divide-and-conquer - putting one ethnic group against another.

Each of us is like the relationship of a wheel. Each of us can build relationships and friendships around ourselves that give us the strength needed to achieve community goals. If any man builds a network of diverse and strong relationship, we can come together and solve the problems that we have in common. How to learn to understand other cultures?

By Sr. Divina Pratya

 

It may seem strange that to learn about people in other cultures, we start by becoming more aware of our own culture. Why?    
About their own culture, then we will be better at listening to others’ talk about them.
Or, if we understand how discrimination has affected us, then we might be more aware of how it has affected others.

How we build relationships with other people in different cultures?

There are many ways that people can learn about other cultures and build relationships at the same time. Making the decision is the first step. In order to build relationships with people who are different from ourselves, we make an effort to do so. Once we have made the decision to make friends with people who are different from ourselves, we can go ahead and make friends with them in much the same way as the others. Put ourselves in a situation where we would meet people from other cultures; especially if we do not have the experience of being a minority, to take risks.

 

Learning to become allies

One of the best ways to help us build relationships with people from different cultures is to show that we are willing to take a stand against discrimination when it occurs.

People will be much more motivated to get to know us if they see that we are willing to take risks on their behalf.

We also need to educate ourselves and get information so we understand the problems faced by each group and we are engaged in their struggle - instead of sitting on the side lines and watching from a distance strong friendship. This is our relationships with one another that gives meaning to our lives. Our concern for one another is often what motivates us to make changes. And build relationships with people from different backgrounds can be key in making a significant change in our community. Together, we can do it. “Community life is the same, in that it is still based on the Gospel. But it is also different, because We are different” (General Guideline ITL Program The Sisters Of Our Lady Of Amersfoort page 84)