A Global Voice
Following the creation of an International Programmes and Cultural Exchange team, the ESU is increasing its focus on its international work to encourage international understanding and cultural exchange through the use of English, and recognises its international branches, of which there are are over 60, as key tools through which this can be achieved.
The ESUs creative writing competition, My Magna Carta, received around 600 entries from secondary school children across six continents, with finalists coming from Chile, Malaysia, Australia and Serbia, among others. As part of the celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta, entrants were asked to write their version of a Magna Carta suitable for the 21st Century. The ESU welcomed 13 finalists to London for a week of cultural exchange, public speaking training and the Grand Final itself, which was won by Jane Josefowicz from the US and Mfundo Radebe from South Africa.
Kayseka Geerjanan, junior finalist from Mauritius, said:
“For me, the competition was somewhere I could spill my views and change my mentality about the world. So when I came to London I got to learn a lot more and I really enjoyed the trip to Runnymede…The British mentality has always led the world; it’s a template of exchanging views. For me, being in London is a great thing”.
40,000
International Students participated in our International Public Speaking Competition in 2015
Albania
Argentina
Australia
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China
Cyprus
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
France-Bordeaux
France-Loire Valley
France-Paris
France-Strasbourg
Georgia
Germany-Hamburg
Ghana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Italy
Japan
Korea, Republic of
Latvia
Lebanon
Lithuania
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Morocco
New Zealand
Nepal
Norway
Pakistan
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia-St. Petersburg
Scotland
Serbia
Spain
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United States of America
Yemen
