UI opens 'La Francophonie' celebration

Kurniawan Hari ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sun, 03/23/2008 3:05 PM  |  Discover

It was only 9 o'clock in the morning, but many students had already started their activities at the Center for Japanese Studies (PSJ) at the University of Indonesia (UI) campus in Depok, West Java.

Wearing the iconic yellow jackets of the university, students made final preparations for an event that day. Some students hung flags on poles and put up a variety of posters on the wall in the lobby of the PSJ building.

Still others stood near the building entrance to welcome VIP and other key guests to the March 17 event: the opening of La Semaine de la Francophonie * Jakarta, a festival organized by UI's School of Cultural Studies (FIB) in honor of the French-speaking community.

The FIB, which runs the French Studies Program, holds the festival every year.

"Compared to previous events, this one is much bigger. We have a lot of programs to offer," UI lecturer Bernadetta Utami told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

The importance of the event was evident in the number of foreign ambassadors attending the opening ceremony. These ambassadors represent countries with French-speaking communities including Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, Lebanon, Morocco, Mozambique, Romania, Switzerland, Tunisia, Vietnam and, of course, France.

Swiss Ambassador to Indonesia Bernardino Regazzoni said in his speech that every year on March 20, the International Day of La Francophonie is celebrated to remember the creation of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation, the first Francophonie multilateral organization.

The organization was initiated by the presidents of Senegal, Tunisia and Nigeria.

"Today, La Francophonie is represented on each continent and brings together more than a third of United Nations member states," the ambassador said in French.

Not only does the International Organization of La Francophonie aim at promoting and reinforcing French language as a communication tool and a cultural vector, but it has a broader mission.

"The promotion of democracy, rule of law and human rights as well as the dialogue among civilizations and cultural diversity also belongs to its priorities," he added.

In addition, UI deputy rector Mohammad Anis emphasized that the festival showed UI's commitment to building cultural cooperation with other institutions.

"I hope this event will open the way for further cooperation between UI and universities among members of the Francophonie organization," he said.

During the opening ceremony, the audience was entertained with several performances, including a student choir and dances.

More and more students entered the hall as the festival proceeded with the live cultural performances.

"This event is really positive and useful for students. We can learn about the cultures in the French-speaking communities around the globe," said Mita, a second-year student.

By attending the event, she said, students could also learn how foreign ambassadors spoke French.

Fellow student Dita said that students, especially those involved in the event's organizing committee, could practice their French among each other.

La Francophonie festival includes the screening of French movies, discussions, food bazaar and seminars.

On the same occasion, Swiss ambassador Regazzoni invited all UI students to come watch the French films.

"As all the movies screened have English subtitles, I am pleased that students from other departments can also enjoy these screenings and get to know how diverse, creative and poetic the Francophone culture is," he said.

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