A senior student of Mahidol University International College (MUIC) has been accepted recently into Doha Debates’ 2022 Ambassador Program, an exclusive and unique learning opportunity for 40 aspiring young leaders from all across the globe that will help them hone advanced intercultural discussion and negotiation skills. More than 300 young people worldwide applied to be part of the 2022 cohort.

Ms. Pin-anong Weesapen is majoring in International Relations and Global Affairs with a minor in Business Economics. Interested in the way that structural issues impact individual lives and human rights, she applied for the Ambassador Program wanting to gain “a comprehensive understanding of how the worlds of various stakeholders work” when approaching discussions of such issues.

Ms. Pin-anong looks forward to engaging in bridge-building discussions with her fellow ambassadors, who come from countries across the globe including the US, Lebanon, Turkey, 2 Bangladesh, The Philippines, Pakistan, Morocco, India, Brazil, Nigeria, Finland, France, the UK and Sri Lanka.

“I want to connect and work with other youths across the world who have different backgrounds and passions. I wish to exchange experiences, perspectives and ideas,” she said. “I hope to learn not only different views of societal and global issues, but also how to work with those differences, establish common ground and enable meaningful progress.”

Doha Debates is a media organization based in Washington, D.C. that creates award-winning programming and content—including live debates and town halls, films, podcasts, educational curriculum, social media initiatives and more—to help young people bridge divides, resolve differences and work together to solve complex global issues.

At the heart of the Ambassador Program’s distinctive learning approach is the concept of the Majlis. In the Arab world, the traditional Majlis is a welcoming social space in which to openly and thoughtfully discuss personal and community issues.

Participants in the program will develop the communication and negotiation skills necessary to be successful Majlis facilitators and participants. They will practice engaging in solutions-oriented dialogue about some of the world’s most pressing issues—like climate change, gender equality and disability justice—with peers who have diverse worldviews.

Learning sessions will be guided by renowned international communication experts, including conflict resolution specialist Govinda Clayton and Afghan-British journalist and Doha Debates correspondent Nelufar Hedayat.

The Ambassador Program is offered in partnership with Shared_Studios, a global, purpose-driven startup using innovative technology to build connections and enable collaboration anywhere in the world.