Walys Becerril was one of eleven young people from low-income countries to receive a scholarship to help defray the costs of attending and presenting a paper at IAMCR's 2010 conference in Braga, Portugal.
This was Walys' second time at an IAMCR conference – the first was in 2009 when she was one of the many volunteer students who contributed to the success of the conference in Mexico.
Of the 1233 registered participants at the conference, 29% (359) were students and 27% (330) came from low-income countries. In all more than eighty countries were represented. In a note she wrote after the conference Walys Becerril highlighted this diversity of participation is one of the things that makes IAMCR conferences uniquely rewarding forums for echange:
This is the second time that I have had an opportunity to enjoy an IAMCR Conference and its community. Here, I have been able to find a space where the scientific knowledge is discussed and shared by participants coming from different cultures. In this sense, I am grateful for having the opportunity to learn about the diversity of communication researchers.
I have learned a lot from this Conference.
First, I have seen IAMCR as the ideal space to see the diversity of methods to think about the same objective. At the same time, I see the political intention of this; since it is evident the most important thing for the researchers at this Conference is to find how communication can help bring about a better world. For this reason, the IAMCR Conference reinforced my commitment to do solid work and to learn the skills to undertake political actions for the improvement of human rights in my country and my region. In conclusion, I think the diversity of nationalities can provide a diversity of solutions for human problems.
Secondly, I have learned to appreciate more the human condition, because I have seen how, despite our cultural, economic or political differences, we need each other to be happy.
Finally, I would like to thank IAMCR for providing me with the grant, since this was the resource that made it possibile for me to attend to the Conference and to receive the benefits of being a member of this great scientific community.
Thank you very much for this opportunity.
Walys Becerril, Mexico
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