Tennis camp is a great way to spend the summer. But using a tennis camp as a form of diplomacy means turning a fun summer pastime into a more enriching and cultural experience, which is exactly what SFS junior Arnosh Keswani did this summer.
Keswani spent his summer in Belgrade, Serbia working with an NGO called Special Aces, which organizes tennis camps for autistic children. Keswani’s friend Milos Popovic, SFS’16, founded Special Aces with the mission of “foster[ing] greater inclusion of the disabled community and to create a culture of ‘volunteerism’ in Serbia and the greater Balkan region.” Popovic encouraged his friend to come and see the project for himself.
“For me, this was a unique opportunity to make an impact abroad, help a close friend with an incredible project, as well as learn about a society often hidden to Americans, and after a while, I realized there was no way I could pass it up,” Keswani recounted.
His experiences ranged from attending events and meetings regarding autism in Serbia to participating in media events for the camp and getting to know the Serbian people and culture.
“What was truly special was the incredible blessing to spend four weeks with a group of amazing children and their families, with the wonderful sport of tennis as a way to do so,” Keswani said.
Diplomacy in Action
Keswani enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Serbia’s “rich history and…diverse culture.” He was struck by the welcome he received from Serbian people, in spite of the troubled relationship Serbia has had with the United States in the past.
“People were nothing short of kind, hospitable, friendly, and most of all, extremely caring. Over 4,000 miles from Washington, Belgrade became like home, and the friends I made became like family, and the good times we shared are sorely missed,” Keswani remembered. He also appreciated the opportunity to “witness some of the challenges [Serbia] faces, especially in regards to civil society, and disability issues.”
“My trip to Serbia was truly ‘diplomacy in action,’ and it came from the average everyday citizen who asked about my Georgetown shirt, or asked about my hometown in California, and made my overall experience extremely special.”
International Relations Club
Keswani’s international summer will serve him well as he begins his term as chair of the International Relations Club at Georgetown. Branded as the “hub for all student-based international relations activity” at Georgetown, the International Relations Club organizes programming around this theme.
“We regularly host incredible speakers, embark on Embassy visits, enjoy scrumptious cultural dinners at restaurants in the area, as well as maintain one of the most competitive and successful collegiate Model United Nations teams,” Keswani explained.
After competing in Model UN conferences in High School, Keswani got involved with the club in his first year at Georgetown. He is looking forward to the upcoming year and it is his goal to have the club’s large membership “continue to make a positive impact, not just academically and socially within the walls of our university, but also benefiting the greater Georgetown and Washington, DC community.”