The Jeddah General Directorate for Education on Tuesday hosted a delegation of Swedish students that is scheduled to participate in a joint educational program between the two Kingdoms. Under the name “Spiritus Mundi,” (Spirit of the World), the same name of the Swedish nongovernmental organization behind the visit, the four-day visit aims to exchange ideas of artistic work among selected students of the two countries. The Swedish children and their parents had their dinner at Al Shera'a Restaurant after visiting The House of Artists in Al-Jamjoom Center. Some of the students told the Saudi Gazette of their impressions about the country when they first arrived. “To be honest, we were surprised,” said a Swedish journalist accompanying the delegation. “Never before had we this opportunity to see Saudi Arabia up close.” “Before, all what has been said about your country in the media was about terrorists and terrorism but now, we see friendly people and a civilized community.” He said the hospitality he and the rest of the delegation received was just about perfect. “We had a gentlemanly reception and everybody was nice to us,” he said. “The only thing we hardly could deal with is to force the ladies to wear abayas in this hot weather,” he quipped. “Nevertheless, we believe it's a must to respect the society's ways.” The delegation has already ended a visit to Riyadh for the same purpose. Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz had opened the Swedish Children Drawing Show, also titled the “Spiritus Mundi.” The show, held at the Municipal Tent in Al-Malaz district, displayed several paintings and drawings made by Swedish and Saudi children. The Swedish children portrayed the Kingdom in their drawings, while the Saudi children projected sceneries from Sweden. Jan Thesleff, the Swedish Ambassador to the Kingdom, senior officials from the Saudi Ministry of Education and several guests including foreign diplomats and Saudi artists and intellectuals attended the inaugural ceremony. Prince Bandar Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz also adorned the exhibition with a collection of photographs, in addition to several paintings being exhibited by the Swedish and Saudi children, for which they were inspired by the natural beauty of the two countries. “The exhibition is a step that aims to change and correct the prevailing traditional and stereotyped image of Islam and Muslims in the West,” said Henerck Mailois, founder and director of Spiritus Mundi and the brain behind the exhibition. He added that it also renders a unique opportunity to Westerners to know more about the Kingdom. “The Kingdom is not only one of the most important countries in the Middle East, but also it is the cradle of Islam,” he said. “All these factors and facts enhance further its political and economic weight in the world.” “This also qualifies it,” he said, “to initiate a civilized dialogue between the Islamic and Western worlds, so as to correct the misconceptions about Islam and Muslims in the West, as well as disseminating a message of tolerance and love among all believers in the world, regardless of their race and color.” He also underlined Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz's bold initiative for Interfaith Dialogue, stressing that this initiative only emerges from a judicious and far-sighted leader. The delegation is also part of a broader partnership program that has been approved through a Saudi Royal decree. Representatives from both sides signed the agreement in 2007 when Saudi Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Mohammed Bin Sulaiman Al-Rwaished and Melius in the presence of Thesleff, signed the agreement to promote cultural relations among children in Saudi Arabia and their Swedish counterparts. Consisting of students aged between 11 and 12, the Swedish delegation will have the chance to visit some Saudi schools in Jeddah and familiarize themselves with the Saudi civilization. Meanwhile, Saudi schoolboys will also be involved in this program as they meet with their counterparts from the Kingdom of Sweden. “The two Kingdoms enjoy longstanding, excellent bilateral relations in a wide variety of areas,” said Ambassador Thesleff. “Developing our human capital is the best investment any country can make,” he said, “and education and research are joint priorities for the two Kingdoms. I am delighted to note that Swedish and Saudi universities are teaming up for joint projects and for exchange of students and researchers. He added that Spiritus Mundi and the Saudi Ministry of Education have taken an innovative initiative by entering into cooperation. Dr. Ghassan Ahmed Al-Sulaiman, Saudi Honorary Consul to Sweden, highlighted the importance of the idea of Spiritus Mundi, which brings students from both countries together. “The joint program conveys strong and direct messages that Saudi Arabia is a homeland for peace, civilization and culture as well,” Sulaiman said. He pointed out that such meetings between the two countries would boost cooperation on various levels and strengthens mutual relations between the two countries. “What a nice scene to see students from both nations using their talented fingers to draw beautiful art works and express about this outstanding relationship,” Sulaiman said. On the other hand, the Jeddah General Directorate of education expressed its warm welcome to the delegation and wished that the visit would bear fruits soon. “We are so delighted to host members of the delegation in their second homeland, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the country of love and peace,” Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al-Thaqafi, Director General of Education in Jeddah said on the occasion. “This visit represents the true image of how communication between world nations should be so that people can exchange ideas and creativity and learn new experiences that enhance human knowledge,” he added. “With the directives of our wise leaders in Saudi Arabia, we have learned how to peacefully survive with the world, share every single benefit that may help mankind and achieve prosperity and development.” He concluded that since Saudi Arabia was founded, love and peace have been two major ambitions for the whole nation. __
