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CONTRIBUTION
Athos Staub was PAI during a
very challenging period for the organisation. IC 1986 was scheduled to be held in Sweden. But the
mid-80's is also well known for the international sanctions imposed against South Africa. AIESEC
South Africa was one of the only multi-racial, multi-cultural organisations operating in South
Africa. To not have them attend IC wasn't an acceptable way to treat a member country. Yet, some
members felt that having AIESEC South AFrica at IC, would send out a message in support of
aparthied. Emotions were high and AIESEC was threatened by fragmentation.
Staub led AIESEC from a crisis
situation to one which strengthened our soul. He began and led discussions on the relevance of
AIESEC in our society. AIESEC passed safely through this challenging period under the motivation,
energy and vision of his team. Even today, members from the '90s refer to his essay on the
relevance of AIESEC.
In the year 1985, the Swedish
government refused to give the South African delegation visas as part of the sanctions imposed
against apartheid. IC was to be held in Gothenburg, Sweden. There were hasty attempts made to move
IC to another country which was attempted by Austria, Switzerland and Italy. But in the view of the
huge mainframe requirements for exchange partnerships, which was to take place at IC, it was very
hard to do. At the same time, all contacts were pulled to try and get the Swedish government to
change their minds. AIESEC Germany got the Chancellor to call the Swedish Premier requesting that
the South Africans be allowed in. AIESEC South Africa got an appointment with the Nobel Prize
winning Reverend Tutu.
The organisation was in an
uproar. Some of the countries felt that as AIESEC South Africa was a part of the organisation and
respected and upheld all the organisational criteria, they should not be excluded from an
international meeting. On the other hand, there were some countries who felt that having AIESEC
South Africa at IC would send out a message supporting apartheid. There was even a proposal to ask
AIESEC South Africa to withdraw from the organisation. The issue came to a head at IPM, Abijan,
Cote d’Ivoire. And there was also an alumni, Viktor Lowenstein, who flew down from New York on
short notice to facilitate the meeting. There was a mandate passed that AI would make the final
decision by December.
In December, AI had a meeting in
a closed room, where Staub went round asking for everybody’s opinion. Things were at a head, and
everyone said that they didn’t really know and that they would back Staub on his decision. Since
internationally AIESEC wasn’t really prepared to move the conference, Staub decided to go ahead and
hold IC in Sweden, with the indirect participation of the South Africans.
Many countries were unhappy with
this decision and the organisation was in danger of being fragmented. Staub and his team initiated
discussions on the relevance of AIESEC and what it meant to be apolitical. From being at a stage
where the organisation was facing a lot of strain, the AI team moved it to an organisation which
questioned itself and its values. There were discussions which moved AIESEC into the direction of
being relevant to society. At the end of the year, the AI team felt that although one can’t solve
all the problems of the members, they were proud of having been able to motivate, inspire and
energise their members.
ORGANISATIONAL CONTRIBUTION
Worked with McKinsey and Co. for eight years in Zurich after finishing his MBA. He is now a
commercial consultant for 65% of his time and he spends the remaining 35% of his time holding the
post of President of Arud, which is the largest private taking care of drug addicts in organisation
in Switzerland. Website:
www.arud.ch
SOCIETY CONTRIBUTION
President of Arud, which is the largest private organisation taking care of drug addicts in
Switzerland. Website:
www.arud.ch
Working for a marginalised groups in Switzerland, as a volunteer.
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