Jéssica Caal Chamam, Grade 12
UWC Pearson
One World is an annual showcase presented at the McPherson Playhouse stage, Victoria, B.C. This is one of the most magical and incredible events of Pearson College and its students.
For years, One World has been presented to give a perspective of the different cultures around the world putting songs, dances and stories produced and directed by the students themselves. As an event that unites our community, students, staff, residents, host families, etc, One World is an opportunity of leadership for students to show part of our homelands and our experiences, creating awareness and sending a positive message to the audience through the different manifestations of art.
And as a second year, I was excited to be able to participate in this great event for the last time, so I decided with one of my best friends to challenge ourselves and present an act, something that would identify us but also have a message. We saw One World as an opportunity to raise our voices and carry a message for women's empowerment.
In Latin America, as in many other countries, patriarchal systems and misogynist thoughts continue to have many victims every day. And with that motivation, we have started the initiative of having a group of women from various countries, united to fight for the same cause, to show the diversity of contexts and to have a greater impact in our audience. In the end, our act was “Un Violador en Tu Camino”, a feminist movement that started in Chile to protest against violence towards women. A movement that has been translated into more than 12 different languages and performed in more than 30 countries around the world.
My experience in the whole process was very intense and engaging, auditioning an act in front of the organizers, the emotion of having been chosen for the act, starting to create a spoken word with the power to transmit each of our emotions, listening to all the girls singing together. Seeing them strong and united is one of the best things I could have experienced at Pearson College. Leading an act in One World was a great adventure, imagining being in front of hundreds of people expressing yourself, giving a clear and precise message, feeling empowered and admired. One World was one of the best experiences in my two years at Pearson and of course, the empowerment of women is a great cause at UWC, and with this act, we were able to give a voice to the victims of machismo, harassment and domestic violence.
For years, One World has been presented to give a perspective of the different cultures around the world putting songs, dances and stories produced and directed by the students themselves. As an event that unites our community, students, staff, residents, host families, etc, One World is an opportunity of leadership for students to show part of our homelands and our experiences, creating awareness and sending a positive message to the audience through the different manifestations of art.
And as a second year, I was excited to be able to participate in this great event for the last time, so I decided with one of my best friends to challenge ourselves and present an act, something that would identify us but also have a message. We saw One World as an opportunity to raise our voices and carry a message for women's empowerment.
In Latin America, as in many other countries, patriarchal systems and misogynist thoughts continue to have many victims every day. And with that motivation, we have started the initiative of having a group of women from various countries, united to fight for the same cause, to show the diversity of contexts and to have a greater impact in our audience. In the end, our act was “Un Violador en Tu Camino”, a feminist movement that started in Chile to protest against violence towards women. A movement that has been translated into more than 12 different languages and performed in more than 30 countries around the world.
My experience in the whole process was very intense and engaging, auditioning an act in front of the organizers, the emotion of having been chosen for the act, starting to create a spoken word with the power to transmit each of our emotions, listening to all the girls singing together. Seeing them strong and united is one of the best things I could have experienced at Pearson College. Leading an act in One World was a great adventure, imagining being in front of hundreds of people expressing yourself, giving a clear and precise message, feeling empowered and admired. One World was one of the best experiences in my two years at Pearson and of course, the empowerment of women is a great cause at UWC, and with this act, we were able to give a voice to the victims of machismo, harassment and domestic violence.
Today we turn the tables and our voices resonate in every corner of the world. Today, with
different motivations, with a desire for change and with pride we unite in one voice.
We are not accepting the things we cannot change,
we are changing the things we cannot accept.
~ Jessica (GUA) and Gabriela’s (Dom. Rep.) Spoken word at One World 2020
different motivations, with a desire for change and with pride we unite in one voice.
We are not accepting the things we cannot change,
we are changing the things we cannot accept.
~ Jessica (GUA) and Gabriela’s (Dom. Rep.) Spoken word at One World 2020
Unfortunately, One World could no longer be presented in the theatre, because there could not be crowds of more than 200 people due to Covid-19. Everything looked like it was going to be cancelled until we agreed to do it in the theatre at Pearson College and live stream the event. Unlike my last year, we would no longer be on the same stage, we would no longer run through the stands for our next act, there would no longer be hundreds of spectators or applause to resound, but instead, we had our classmates as our audience, instead, we had our campus full of applause, tears of melancholy and admiration for the effort of each one. Having One World at school was unexpected but inspiring, it was one more way to close this experience and say goodbye to those who accompanied you for a year or two and show our gratitude to all of them.
Overall, I have to say that I had thousands of laughs, hugs and tears during this unique event, my experience in this unique One World event with my peers will always have a special place in my heart. I have to highlight two great things I realized during this event: First, the importance of each person in the college, how well we got along and how much they taught me about them, their cultures, their beliefs, their perspectives, helping me to have a better understanding of life. The second is something that our act taught me; the strength and impact that we can all have together, as we are now beginning a new phase of positive changes, I realize that we are not alone and now we begin to point out to all the injustices that bring us under silence.
I’m more than proud to be part of this movement, to be part of the UWC family.
Overall, I have to say that I had thousands of laughs, hugs and tears during this unique event, my experience in this unique One World event with my peers will always have a special place in my heart. I have to highlight two great things I realized during this event: First, the importance of each person in the college, how well we got along and how much they taught me about them, their cultures, their beliefs, their perspectives, helping me to have a better understanding of life. The second is something that our act taught me; the strength and impact that we can all have together, as we are now beginning a new phase of positive changes, I realize that we are not alone and now we begin to point out to all the injustices that bring us under silence.
I’m more than proud to be part of this movement, to be part of the UWC family.
www.unitedworldwide.co