Glasgow: March 25, 2014. (PCP) The Director of Diplomatic Affairs of Global Minorities Alliance has won an award at the International Young Scotland Programme 2014, which was held last week in Gretna Green on the edge of the English-Scottish Border. Rebecca Gebauer, who has worked for the Glasgow-based human rights organisation since its inception, was highly commended at the event for her presentation and paper, 'How to Fight Extremism in the 21st Century'. The International Young Scotland Programme 2014 was organised by the Institute of Contemporary Scotland (ICS) and sponsored by a Glasgow-born businessman, Alan McIntyre. The ICS expanded its programme in 2013 to include young people who are born outside Scotland but now live, study and work here, with the aim of expanding intellectual horizons, developing presentational abilities, and inspiring confidence through a wide range of ideas, thoughts and life experiences. This year, some 26 delegates from 19 countries attended the event, coming from all walks of life and from professional, academic and voluntary sectors across the country. Each delegate was required to present an argument paper of their choice followed by a question and answer session, amongst other debates and discussions during the course of their stay. Elena Dugan, an American student at the University of Edinburgh, won Scotland International Young Thinker of the Year, while Mirko Canevaro, an Italian born academic (also at the University of Edinburgh) was the runner up in the competition. Rebecca Gebauer was awarded 'highly commended' for her argument during the ceremony. Kenneth Roy, Chief Adjudicator, described it as an intellectually impressive discussion of extremism: “Her intense and dignified presentation compelled our attention.” Commenting on her success, Miss Gebauer said: “I am over the moon at this opportunity and humbled by this award. I thank the organisers of the event which has given me this chance to explore my skills in a way I would not have realised otherwise.” Alan McIntyre, sponsor of the International Young Scotland Programme, said: “It inspires me to hear that many of these young immigrants have been welcomed in Scotland and made to feel at home. I live in the United States most of the year, but I retain close ties to Scotland, and it is one of my personal highlights each year to have the chance to spend a few days with these inspirational young people to listen their stories and debate their ideas with them.” Commenting on the future of Scotland he said: “Regardless of the outcome of the upcoming referendum, I have high hopes that Scotland can become a vibrant multi-cultural society based on power of our ideas rather than just our shared history or ethnic background.” Many see Scotland as land of opportunity and are committed to doing their bit to make it a better society, he said.