Interview with Clay Magalhães
Constant Congress Secretary of the Universala Kongreso (UK)
You're the constant congress secretary, so...
What is the Universala Kongreso (UK)?
It's the largest and most popular and well-known Esperanto conference.
It has all kinds of meetings from just seeing friends again to art performances, plays,
music, concerts, lectures, all kinds of lectures, meetings,
meetings of different associations and also excursions.
How many people typically attend UK?
The congresses and the UKs are largest when they take place in Europe and if it is
in a strong country of our movement, then the number of attendees is relatively larger than otherwise.
Recently, European congresses had around 2000, but it's already had more than 3000.
In recent years, it has been around 2000 or somewhat more or less depending on the region.
Outside of Europe, it sometimes has less than 1500, but that's also relative, and depends on whether
that region or country has a large Esperanto movement or not.
And where will next year's UK take place, what makes it attractive?
So, next year, 2011, the Universala Kongreso will be in Copenhagen, Denmark, on July 23-30.
So, we haven't had an UK in Denmark for several decades.
The city itself is beautiful and quite attractive as a hot tourism spot.
Additionally, the congress's Esperanto program will be structured, so that it targets...
...everything happens somewhat linked to Scandinavian culture and also around the year of Unesco.
In fact, could you explain a bit about your work, how do you prepare for the congress?
Yes, my work is, or the work of the congress department is, that when the congress starts
or even earlier, when there is a proposal for congresses
after the director general's visit, which researches conditions, infrastructure and other necessary aspects.
Later, when the congress is chosen by the board, we go to the city to have our first meeting
with the LKK (Local Congress Comittee), to prepare for the congress, so we explain the LKK's work and
eventually details about how the steps are accomplished.
So, how does this separation of work happen? What do you do and what does the LKK do?
LKK aims to do things related to the local aspects of the congress.
So, contact with the authorities, eventual grant requests, which unfortunately have not been as easy lately.
Generally contact itself, contact with agencies and hotels, preparing the way
for when we go to have meetings with those locations and hotels.
Later, based on that meeting, we get offers and choose the best and most suitable.
And LKK also has to arrange the honorary committee and also find the high protector.
That is important for the congress.
And what is the high protector?
A high protector, generally, is someone, usually a politician, an important figure of the country,
which gives us, the congress something which can help us
when we need to find a way, for example to request a grant or when we need to contact
authorities for invitation letters or to request invitation letters or to find a solution for some difficult
cases of necessary people who need to attend and have some problem related to their visa or travel...
so, it's someone who gives prestige to the congress.
We already have had presidents. Historically there were also queens, different politicians, governors, mayor's secretaries, etc.
So, that is the work, the need, maybe not really need, but it makes the event appear prestigious too.
So, if someone is going to the UK for the first time, what advice would you give that person?
Look, after the Havana congress, TEJO gave us advice, a question, a plea
for us to prepare congress information about the people who attend for the first time
because typically during the first day of the congress, the first meeting is done
for people who attend for the first time
and in it, we explain a lot about how it works, and how to enjoy everything
as much as possible, but based on TEJO's advice,
we'll start on something newer, an information campaign to those first time participants.
Of course, those who register at the congress itself,
because people register on site, we can't know if they are first timers or not.
Through our system, the computers which show us who are first timers or not.
And we contact those people beforehand and send them information explaining how the congress works
what they can have the best overview of the program.
So, we can give advice to first timers.
Certainly, the first time, study the congress book, which everyone receives when they register and get their
congress documents, along with their name badge. The entire week's program is in this congress book.
So, first, study the program and then decide which are the most suitable for yourself
meetings, lectures, presentations, art performances or even excursions, because the excursions themselves are
a way to practice both their Esperanto and also to meet with others.
Is there a way to contact others who you don't yet know? Some board or something of the like?
We have a rendezvous board in the congress where people can leave messages for others
whether they know them or want to meet them for the first time.
The first day of the congress, the first evening, the first Saturday, is the Get Acquainted Evening,
which happens along with the movement fair, so it's two programs in one.
People can get to know each other along with different Esperanto associations.
So, thank you for everything and thanks for giving a face to the UK.
You're welcome, it was a pleasure.