Rajendra Singh came to Ethiopia in 1974 E.C. Since then, he has been working in education and human relation sector. Presently, he is teaching in Greek Community School. He is fond of meeting people, engaging in human and forging meaningful relationship with different types of people and spreading happiness as well as a sense of fulfillment.
He has been a member of Lions Club International for the last 20 years and held various positions on club levels as well as on district levels. He has also established a club that is a first of its kind in Ethiopia called positive thinkers club of Addis Ababa. Due to his passion of meeting people, he has a few networking platforms where Ethiopian youths are meeting and sharing their wisdoms.
Agora Speakers International is one of such platforms in the intercultural communications and public speaking program. He was appointed a volunteer Agora Ambassador for Ethiopia by the organization to establish Agora speakers Clubs in Ethiopia. Presently, Agora Speakers International has a club in Ethiopia named Addis Agora Speakers Club that organizes meetings on every Friday. There is no registration fee. It is absolutely free.
As Agora Speakers International serves as a non-profit organization beyond borders, Agora settles itself in Spain, Madrid with representation of Spain as a country as well as Europeans. As it is an international organization, it enhances people-to-people connectivity at global scale thereby deploying multicultural communications archetypal. Excerpts:
Herald: Would you afford us a peek into the backdrop of Agora Speaking International?
Rajendra: Agora Speakers International Foundation is an European secular educational charity that empowers people to become brilliant communicators and confident leaders who will be actively building a better world. It was founded in 2016.We now have an active presence in over 70 countries through over 150 clubs worldwide.
Herald: Tell us about the activity of Agora speaking International at global level?
Rajendra: Agora provides a specialized educational program focused on developing leadership, public speaking, critical thinking, and debating skills. The training system does not involve teachers or classes. To learn and improve, our members use our online training materials and join one or more Agora local clubs where they meet,
practice and receive peer feedback regularly in a friendly and supportive environment. At the same time, they participate in and lead real-world projects that leave a lasting effect in their communities.
Herald: What are the activities the organization undertaken so far?
Rajendra: Every local club meets monthly in a restaurant, or someone’s house or wherever is convenient. The activities differ per club and per country. Despite these differences all clubs have in common that the members learn from each other about all kind of subjects. This happens through lectures, discussions or exchanges abroad. There is of course plenty of time for recreation, sports and fun, with the possible participation of families and partners.
Every Agora club individually decides how it will participate in service. The philosophy of service is not just helping in major service projects, but being ready to help people who are less fortunate, especially women and children. The aim is also to encourage communications between the different International Clubs.
Herald: Would you tell us about the relevance of people-to -people connectivity through means of communications linkage?
Rajendra: Communications is an integral part of different walks of our life; be it family, society, work and relationship. It is also the process of creating, communicating and interpreting ideas, facts, opinions and feelings, effectiveness and efficiency as well as attainment of results, goals, happiness and fulfillments. As a human being, we must be an effective communicator and no one turn successful or show progress, build up reputation without effective communications skills. Poor communications system may result in misunderstanding and non-achievements.
This is more important when we talk about youths and especially Ethiopian youths.
Herald: How do you assess the ability of Ethiopians in communications link and public speaking?
Rajendra: Ethiopias youthful population is an incredible asset and untapped resource for positive growth. Of Ethiopian population, estimated at 104 million, 41 percent is under the age of 15. More than 28 percent is aged 15 to 29. Youth unemployment is estimated at nearly 27 percent.
As Ethiopia’s population age structure changes, the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of its future working-age population will determine the extent to which it can realize its demographic dividend and the associated economic growth all Ethiopians desire. These individuals, when properly educated and trained, represent the contributor and will support Ethiopia’s industrialization and progression toward middle income status.
Herald: How do you evaluate the ability of communications politicians, leaders and business-minded individuals as well as community leaders in presenting communications contact and the capacity of public speaking?
Rajendra: Effective leadership is all about communicating effectively. The utmost essential key to great leadership is communications. A leader is among one of the employees with exceptional skills set and in one situation or another he/she has potential to step forward to take charge and mentor others who lack experience and skill set, tries to inculcate skills by motivating them and help them in achieving their individual, team and organizational targets.
To become a great leader, one should be a great communicator. Great leaders are always considered as first-class communicators, they have a clear set of values and they always believe in promoting and inculcating those values in others. It is due to this reason that their teams appreciate them and follow them as a leader. Being great communicator does not mean great talker. There is a big difference between those modalities.
Herald: What are the significances of intercultural communications to connect world society?
Rajendra: As national economies evolve, overlap, and merge, the need to do business in a variety of cultures is an irreversible necessity. International corporations are increasingly searching for workers who are skilled, flexible, and able to adjust and apply their skills with the tact and sensitivity that will enhance business success internationally.
Academic degrees with a cultural emphasis in a regional study is essential to learning the specific skill sets needed to transcend cultural boundaries, but do not have a focus on cultural communications. Increasing one’s personal worth in the global workforce is a difficult task in today’s hypercompetitive, interconnected economy; however, this task becomes more feasible through intercultural communications training.
Herald: Do you think that intercultural communications and public speaking ability have created positive impact for the betterment of Ethiopian society?
Rajendra: Shifts in market trends, advances in technology, a rise in globalization, and an increase in global trade uncertainty can have major influences on business operations. As various countries texture these effects differently, talent development practices are likely to fluctuate widely by region. This aims to provide a picture of talent development around the world. Considering this, Ethiopia can play a pivot role in global economy shifts using its youths and their effective leadership role in which communication skill are going to play a vital role.
Herald: Do you think that developmental communications is timely for Ethiopia to have connection with International based civil service organizations as well as Non-governmental organizations?
Rajendra: Citizens have a right to know the policies and activities of their government. In a well-functioning democracy, the government provides reliable and timely information to the public. Effective communications between the government and the public is especially important in countries in transition, where major changes in state institutions are going on. In all aspects of life, without having developmental model, have left the citizenry uncertain about the new roles of the government and public administration, and how to convey their views to representatives of the state.
To reach large numbers of the population, governments everywhere rely heavily on radio, television, magazines and newspapers. A relationship that stresses a free flow of information between government and the media is necessary from the inception of a public policy. When the public is allowed to understand the development of a policy, it is then easier for the government to build support and implement it and underlying objectives, such as reform of the public administration.
Herald: As we are in the age of globalization, what should the government do to set up communication linkage with other world society?
Rajendra: The challenge facing the developing world, and African countries in particular, is to design public policies so as to maximize the potential benefits from globalization, and to minimize the downside risks of destabilization and marginalization. None of these policies are new, and most African countries have been implementing them for some time.
In particular, sub-Saharan Africa has made substantial progress toward macroeconomic stability. And globalization will continue to reinforce the interdependencies between different countries and regions. It can also deepen the partnership between the advanced countries and the rest of the world.
And to support this partnership in a mutually beneficial way, the advanced countries could help to further open their markets to the products and services in which the developing world has a comparative advantage. In addition, the reform efforts of the African countries will need to continue to be supported by adequate financing on concessional terms.
Herald: What lessons could the Ethiopians draw from Spanish people?
Rajendra: Each country and race has something to contribute to mankind and same with Spain and Ethiopia too. Off course at this time, the most relevant lesson to be learnt from Spain is to stay home.
Herald: Do you teach Spanish and other languages to the Ethiopia community?
Rajendra: This is upright idea. And we will bring this to our international committee and will work on this activity.
Herald: At last, do you have a message to convey?
Rajendra: My message to Ethiopian Youth is to stay positive, be innovative and build your nation with energy and your abilities.
The Ethiopian Herald May 17/2020
BY MEHARI BEYENE
