About IDE | Activities | Database | Schools | IDEC | Links | Forums Reactions on IDEC Reactions on IDEC 2003 by Marco Ernesto Bigu Bichsel, Switzerland I am accustomed to wait a few weeks before I express my thoughts of a conference, cause the first days after a meeting like IDEC I am always to euphoric to give a clear statement. But this time I am even a month later still enthusiastic, full of energy and almost sure that I am gonna change the world now. What IDEC 2003 makes me do in the future: My first mission now is to clear up the Swiss students about the existence of alternative education. Can you imagine: we never heard about it before! I even asked becoming teachers if they learned something about democratic education and if they ever heard about Summerhill or Hadera. they said NO! So I will try to spread around the information I got in New York. I will do that as President and Ambassador of the School Student Council in Switzerland and as well as a representative in the European School Student Council. Furthermore I wanna try to bring some alternative ideas, witch are fascinating me, into the public school system. I know it is a hard way but I am an optimist and believe that it is possible in my country. I have a clear vision. If there is anyone with experience on this issue, please contact me, I need your help, cause I am new in business! Another dream: During the next year I will force my work within IDEC. I'm very interested in the projects in the eastern world like The Whispering Seed or projects in Africa. I am coming from a country with a long tradition in founding and supporting humanitarian and conservation organizations. This year we elected a man as "Swiss of the year 2003" who founded hospitals for children in Asia. I tell you that to give you an example what a high rate things like that do have in Switzerland. I grow up with that, my heroes were guys who had their projects going on to save native folks and poor kids. After New York I thought that it is now my turn to do something and so I am looking forward to found a small organization to support "good" (means alternative in that case) education projects in the third world. I need some time for that, cause I am still in school and I have to do a lot of fuckin' (sorry) tests this year! But I already got in contact with the Pestalozzi school in Switzerland for orphaned and abused children from around the world. They are helping me and first actions to get resources are planed in November. As soon as I have specific information I will start contacting projects I got in contact during the IDEC. If you have any comments or encouragements on that, please give me a note. I am very interested in your opinions. To be continued. I don't want to write too much, but a last statement to my IDEC-friends: What I heard and learned in Troy changed my way to think about education, to think about kids and it changed my life in general, because I got a sense for what it means to be free. It's amazing what you guys are doing out there every day and I am very thankful for the things you showed me in New York! Thanks to all the schools! Thank you Jerry, Dana and Isaac, thank you Derry Hannam, thank you Larry Hutchinson and Tim Perkins, thank you Nao and Tim, thank you Vedananda, thank you Marwan Darwish, hola Crista and thanks to the Band called "The Six Millions". Hope you understood my English. With best wishes Marco Ernesto Bigu Bichsel, Switzerland home