Five years later, as societal turbulence and subsequently, conflict, return, we felt the need to reinitiate ‘that dialogue’ again.
Five years ago, when storms from the East spread to campus, uneasy sentiments and conflict also followed on university grounds. Many who wished to alleviate tensions and promote dialogue found themselves resourceless due to the lack of a platform. As a result, a group of students who share a mutual passion for dialogue and understanding came together, among pressure and the lack of guidelines, held an event under the name of ‘Dialogue” on Oct 23rd, 2014. The event invited students from Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan to participate in hopes of creating a space for peaceful conversations and mutual understanding regardless of our differences. This was the beginning of the story of UBC HUA Dialogue.
Until this day, over the course of 5 years and 34 events, we have discussed many topics spanning from political issues, cultural backgrounds to lifestyle. We have reflected each of our events to make sure our next one can do better in the mission of Dialogue. In HUA Dialogue, we have met many friends, old and new, as they come and go, we have had farewells and reunions, now and then. But nothing stops us from moving forward, towards another journey of Dialogue, another exploration of a new topic.
This September, as UBC HUA Dialogue marks its 5th anniversary, we have an invitation to you, old friends and new, to share your story once again. hua-dialogue-poster-0930