Red Cross Youth Crossing Borders
While two Norwegians travel around in minibuses and spend the weekends at the beach, two Jamaicans are learning to drive snowmobiles and ski in Telemark, Norway.
Text: Åsta Ytre
At the same time, two Armenians live and work in a small town on the west coast of Norway while two Norwegians work with refugees in Armenia. Two Sudanese guys live in Oslo and two Kenyans outside of the city. Two Norwegians are in Kenya. Most of us met for the first time in September of 2003. Now we are far away from each other, and far away from home. We have one thing in common. We are taking part in the Youth Delegate Exchange program of the Norwegian Red Cross and Fredskorpset.
Information overload
Before the work started, we received three weeks of training in Norway.
First, we were trained by the Norwegian “Fredskorpset – Partnership
for development”. This organization works with partnerships and
exchanges of people across the borders to increase equality, openness
and solidarity among the “North” and the “South”.
Then we were trained by the Norwegian Red Cross. During the long and intense
days we received tons of information. We learned about the International
Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the Seven Fundamental Principles,
International Humanitarian Law, communication, security in the field,
living in a new culture, conflict management, international work, and,
of course, about the Norwegian Red Cross.
This is the third year of exchange. The Norwegian RC started this programme
in 2000 in partnership with Fredskorpset and in collaboration with other
Red Cross/Red Crescent National Societies. The aim is to let young RC
volunteers learn from each other and to contribute to the development
/ revitalisation of the youth work of the societies. The other National
Societies vary from year to year; but Jamaica has been involved every
year. The other countries so far include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Sudan, Kenya
and Lebanon.
The interest for voluntary work is increasing in general among youths in Norway these days, something that is also reflected in the interest for this program. Each year more people apply to the Youth Basic Training Course that is held before the delegates are selected. At the moment, six new young Norwegians will be offered the positions as Youth Delegates, and two young people from each of the other countries participating will be selected. Because of the many countries involved in the exchange, Jamaica Red Cross will unfortunately not participate next year. The countries involved are Kenya, Lebanon and Armenia.
The work we do is varied.We all work with developing the organization of the National Society or branch where we work. We work with organizational development, preventive health, humanitarian values, disaster preparedness and communication, and learn a lot about international humanitarian work. The type of work varies to some degree based on the skills and interests of the individual Youth Delegate. The one thing we have in common is that the work is challenging us, teaching us new skills, and giving us great rewards.
