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NGO presentation

2007-06-10T05:45:00.000-07:00

It’s a warm Saturday afternoon, and around 20 youths are gathered in the locations of the World Independent Youth Union (WIYU). I was invited there to hold a presentation about the Red Cross, Norway and to share my experiences from Armenia. The setting was informal and the questions many.

Can you understand what's written on my shirt?

It is always nice to meet other youths doing volunteer work. From the moment I walked in to the room I got a good feeling about the group. We stared out with an ice-breaker; witch gave a laughing start to the presentation. Then I gave a brief introduction about the Red Cross/Red Crescent, and Armenian Red Cross Society’s work. Although the youths were interested in The Red Cross, it was easy to tell that my presentation about Norway raised the most thoughts and questions. What does Norway do when it comes to protecting the environment? How can I study in Norway? Why are you not a part of the European Union?

After sweating a bit in the warm room trying to give sensible answers to all the questions I was asked, I showed some pictures from my work. Then it was my turn to see the fruits of their work. One of the guys proudly presented pictures drawn by children with handicaps, from his group.

Reading the RC newsletter and looking at pictures from Norway.

After my short meeting with this NGO I am happy to see that there are so many engaged young people in Armenia, and I hope that WIYU and the Armenian Red Cross can cooperate together in the future.

Inspiring Youth Conference

2007-06-06T09:25:00.000-07:00

On June 6th the 4th youth conference was held for the Youth Department in the ARCS. A new youth board was elected, a sum op of the work done the last 6 years was presented, and there were discussions about the future work and goals for the youth.

The conference stared with welcoming words from the President, Mr Mnatsakanyan. He talked about the importance of volunteerism, the important work that is done by the youths in Red Cross, before he ended his speech with some encouraging words to the audience.

“I expect you to continue your good work with the same enthusiasm and energy as you have now.”

After the presidents speech we got a brief overview of the activities of the youths, before two short presentations from Armenia’s two youth representatives involved in committees in the Red Cross family were held.

During the discussion of what the youths should work with for the next years there was a focus on targeting the beneficiaries, fundraising in the regions, cooperation with other youth NGOs and different social programs.

I was an "election observer"

Then the focus shifted to the youth board, and all the candidates introduced them selves and answered questions from the audience. One of the main concerns from the audience was the candidates’ willingness to spend a lot of time working with the youth board, and how they would face possible difficulties due to distance. There was also a discussion if the meetings should be held in Yerevan or rotate between the regions.

Voting

Counting the votes

Then it was time to vote, count the votes and introduce the winners. The audience was applauding loudly when the names war read, and they seemed very content with the new board.

The new youth board

After the elections, it was time for Pizza before most of the participants went on a long and warm bus ride back to the regions. Hopefully, they will bring with them the words of the President and continue their work with energy and enthusiasm.

Pictures from Children's Day

2007-06-04T03:01:00.001-07:00

Want some ice??

Hurry up, the ice is melting!

Christmas and children's day at the same time..

Resting...

Bad boys

Can you see any fish?

Youth Deligates in action

Going home after a long day in the park

City Children in Soft Grass

2007-06-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

In less than 40 minutes the surroundings has changed from hot asphalt to soft grass. 60 eager feet run out of the bus. It is children’s day and we are going to Yerevan’s botanical garden for a day filled with fun for the children and the Red Cross volunteers.

The group is divided into two, and while the older kids are guided around in the greenhouse, we play games with the younger ones. We introduce “potato running” and “bag jumping”, and the children love it. The volunteers are eager to try as well, but unfortunately they are too busy with trying to make the children stand in line.

When the older children come back from the greenhouse it’s our turn too take a look at the exotic plants of Yerevan. Although the greenhouse looks like it’s going to fall down, and the plants looks like they grow wilder there than in the jungle, the children do not seem to care. They are exited about everything, from remembering the names of plants when asked, to looking at fish in a very dirty pond. As for me, I have to admit that I also got a bit exited when the old woman who is guiding us suddenly picks up a turtle and holds it in front of us.

Then it is time for ice cream, hot dogs and drinks. It seems like the children could not be more content, but when the girls get colourful handmade bracelets and the boys get sunglasses they are walking around with a grin on their face so big I am afraid that their face will burst.
After a day filled with fun the children again sit in the warm bus. However after spending around 5 hours in the sun they are remarkably calmer than when they came. On their way back to the dormitory one can imagine them sitting in the bus still tasting the thick juicy piece of watermelon we gave them just before departure, and looking at the scratches on their legs as a result of a day running freely around in the soft grass of the botanical garden.

Will We Get a Youth Board With "the Red Cross Spirit" in Their Blood?

2007-05-23T03:52:00.000-07:00

“We want to make our work more productive, so we decided to make a youth board” explains the youth leader of Gyumri, Lusine Alikharyan. Last week youth leaders from each of the regions in Armenia were gathered to discuss the future development and organization of the youth department.

The youth department has been working on re-organizing their structures for about 4 years now, and the establishment of a youth board is one of the final steps.

Lusine has been a volunteer for 8 years, and explains that Red Cross is like her second home. “I’m a Red Cross volunteer in my blood” she says before she continues to explain how the youth board will be organized. ”The youth board will focus on different spheres; among these are recruitment, international cooperation, dissemination, fundraising, development of educational programs, and regional development.”

The monthly meetings are important says Lusine, “after every meeting we return to the regions with new ideas and enthusiasm. I would like such evens to be held more often, and not only for the leaders but also for the volunteers.”

At the meeting the youth leaders were asked to nominate active volunteers as candidates for the youth board. The elections will be held in June, and hopefully the candidates will be devoted volunteers with “the Red Cross spirit” in their blood just as Lusine Alikharyan.

Renovation Rescuers

2007-05-21T23:35:00.000-07:00

The Norwegian Refugee Counsel (NRC) has decided to help us renovate our new Smiley Club room in the Shirak dormitory. After working for about 10 years with building and renovating houses for refugees in Armenia, they have a lot of experience from the country.

Nils A. Sivertsen Country director of the NRC

One of their specialists took a look at our new room and concluded that a lot of renovation is needed. “The bathroom & toilet above needs a total rehabilitation; additional concrete on the floor, new tiles, repair of the water system.” Your" room needs to have new ceiling, plastering, painting and new floor.”

The NRC does not have the possibility to do the actual work, but has offered to pay for the renovation. A wave of happiness and relief spread trough the office of the youth department when they heard about the good news. Money, or lack of money, is always an issue here, and now we know that the money we intended to use for renovation can be used on more concrete activities for the children.

The NRC is facing out of Armenia, after having achieved their mission of giving all the refugees in Armenia a home. However, in a room in Yerevan, the organizations good will can be seen for years to come when volunteers from the Red Cross have activities and lessons for children at the Shirak dormitory.

English Speaking Volunteers Needed!

2007-05-15T03:05:00.000-07:00

During breaks at the Linguistic University in Yerevan, the students were given information about the Smiley Club program. We were especially targeting students who speak English to strengthen the English lessons with the children. The response from the students was positive, and we managed to inform over 80 students about our program. When asked, many of them were so interested that they put down their name and phone number. Tomorrow we’ll go to the Teachers College to spread the word about Smiley Club. So that hopefully we’ll have many new volunteers working on strengthening the English skills of the Smiley Club children.

The Cinderella Premiere

2007-05-13T23:49:00.000-07:00

The storyteller goes out on the stage and the play starts. In the audience there are staff and volunteers from The Red Cross. Cinderella is cleaning the floor while the step mum and the two step sisters are playing the piano.

The Kings servant enters the stage and gives out invitations to the ball to the audience. He then knocks on the Cinderella’s door and gives her the invitation. Cinderella tells her step mum and her step sisters who are exited to go to the ball. But, as you all know from the story they try their best to make sure that Cinderella can’t go, by giving her lots of tasks to do. Cinderella needs help, and she gets it from her little friends. The mice and birds enter the stage and helps Cinderella clean and make her dress. The audience applauds the cute children. Then suddenly the all start to laugh. It turns out that 5 year old Yurik has lost his mice ears down in front of his eyes. While the kids are dancing, we are changing Cinderella’s dress backstairs, and when she comes out she is wearing a beautiful pink silk dress. The step sisters, mean as they are, get jealous of her beauty and ruin her dress. Luckily for Cinderella the fairy is on her side and with the help of the mice and birds they manage to make a new dress for her. On her way to the King’s palace she is almost knocked down, when one of the volunteers turns around a big poster, that transfers the setting from Cinderella’s room to the palace.
When Cinderella enters the King’s palace the room freezes and the prince falls immediately in love. Unfortunately for the prince, it’s soon 12 o’clock, so Cinderella has to leave. On the way back to her house, she runs in between the audience and looses her shoe. The prince picks it up and declares that he wants to marry the women that the shoe belongs to. The step mum locks Cinderella up in the room so when the King’s servant comes with the shoe she is not there. However, she manages to break out from her room and enters the stage. The Prince takes Cinderella’s hand and while the audience is applauding the rest of the children walk out on the stage singing “Happy end happy end.”
Even though I don’t think the Prince and Cinderella really are in love, I’m quite sure that all the children had a happy end of the day when they were sitting after the play eating cake and drinking juice.

Our New Smiley Club Room

2007-05-11T04:55:00.000-07:00

We have waited for over 6 months to see our new Smiley Club room. Our application has been sent from desk to desk, and without permission it has been impossible to se the room. We have heard that it needs reconstruction and that it is in the basement, and today we saw it with our own eyes for the first time.

A rotten smell hits us when we step into the room. When you look up to the ceiling, you understand why it smells. “The toilet in the room upstairs is leaking” explains the lady working at the dormitory. She tells us that the room was renovated about 3 1\2 years ago, but that nothing was done with the room above it. So now there is a big whole in the ceiling, and water is leaking down and ruining the floor. Although a lot of money and time needs to be spent on the reconstruction of the ceiling, the room has a lot of potential. It is big, and has a nice location next to the playground. When we leave the dormitory some of the children hanging around in the playground ask us when the activities will start, and if we need any help to clean the room and area around. It is comments like this that make you forget the 6 months of waiting, writing letters, calls and frustration. The children are waiting for us at our new Smiley Club room, and we’ll do everything to make sure that they don’t have to wait for half a year for us.

I Want To Improve My English Skills!

2007-05-10T00:21:00.000-07:00

Armenians start learning English when they are 10 years old, but unfortunately many of them speak only a few words of English.

At Smiley Club the children are suppose to get English lessons, but these lessons are not always very effective. There are too many children in too many age groups. We therefore decided to invite the teenagers who used to participate in Smiley Club activities to the Red Cross office for English lessons. After the lessons the children are invited to help the “jewellery group” to make necklaces and other accessories.

Rita, one of girls working in the Youth Department made a small test to check the children’s skills. Their level varies a lot, but they all have one thing in common. They know the alphabet, and they read very well. However, there are two mayor problems; when asked to explain what they were reading about they can’t, because they just know how to read the words but the words has no meaning to them. Second, they are not able to speak any English. When asked easy questions they are not able to respond.

Although the teenagers’ skills are not very impressive, their will and desire to learn English is striking. Most of the people who speak English in Armenia have had private lessons, but the children that we work with can not afford that. So our free English lessons are a great opportunity for them. Hopefully can our lessons give them the extra push they need to step in to the world of English.

Almost there;It’s 8th of May, and it is 90 Minutes before the Cinderella Premiere

2007-05-09T23:13:00.000-07:00

There are costumes everywhere, the children just arrived at the Red Cross office, and we have 1 ½ hour before the play starts. Before that we have to make 20 children into mice, birds, kings, queens and Cinderella. We also need to go trough the whole play one more time to make sure that the kids know where to enter and leave the stage. Seems like a lot to do on only 90minuttes?

The 8 youngest children are birds and mice. They are between 5 and 7 years old, and standing in front of me with joy and stubbornness in their eyes. I imagine that their thoughts are something similar to this “I want to look like a bird. I want to wear yellow feathers on my head, and have yellow shiny fabric tied around my arms. But do I want to listen to this Norwegian girl standing in front of me, trying to say something in a language that I guess is supposed to be Armenian?”

Luckily for me, the desire to look like a bird or mice wins, and the children stay semi calm while the volunteers and I put on their costumes. Then it is time for make up; even though the youngest ones don’t seem very interested in how they look with rouge and mascara, they are very eager to get their face made up before their friends. The queen, the fairy, the two step sisters, the mum and Cinderella are all a bit older, and extremely excited to wear make up. After they are finished they run over to me and ask; “How do I look, how do I look.” I look at them and their dresses and say “Beautiful, you look absolutely beautiful.” The smile I get in return melts any heart.

Ok, that was the costumes. Now, we need to go through the whole play from beginning to end. At this point my stress level has gone from moderate to high. There are so many things we need to remember, changing costumes, guiding the children in and out of the stage, making them understand that they need to be quite and sit still so the audience won’t see them while they are not on stage, and the list goes on.

The run trough is horrible. Many of the volunteers have been busy with exams when we have had the practices of the play at the Red Cross office, so they are not updated on the latest details on the play. The children are not concentrating, and they music does not work.

It is 15 min until the play is supposed to start, and my head is boiling. We bring all the children in to a separate room. While volunteers and staff members from the whole Red Cross family sits down in, and the Secretary General of the National Society starts to speak, I run around downstairs looking for the volunteer who is responsible for moving props on the stage. I can’t find him, but have to go upstairs. It is my time to say a couple of words.

I congratulate us with the international Red Cross day, tell that we have been working for about 3 months with the play, and say that I hope they will enjoy it. Then the play starts.

A world of fairytales

2007-05-06T22:34:00.000-07:00

20 kids between the age of 3-14 are running around in the Red Cross headquarter in Yerevan. It is two days before the premiere of the Cinderella theatre performance, but the children do not seem very concerned about it. The youngest ones are jumping around in their bird and mice costumes, while the older ones use every possibility to play a note or two on the piano.

Practice makes perfect!

Cinderella’s room.

The last weeks have been filled with preparations for the play. We have visited the dormitory practicing lines and dance moves with the children. Tried to figure out a rather complicated system of money transfers and recite systems when shopping. Making costumes and last but maybe the most challenging; bringing the small actors to the Red Cross office to run trough the play.

The premiere will be on the Red Cross day, 8th of May for Red Cross volunteers and staff.
Later this month we will invite the children’s parents and family. After the performance there will be drinks and cake.

Making costumes.

While sweating in the office, looking out at the sun outside, the premiere day seems far away. And lots of work is left before we can enjoy these cute children turn the Red Cross headquarter into the world of fairytales.

En god dag på jobben

2007-04-23T00:28:00.000-07:00

Etter å ikke ha sett Smiley Club barna på over 1 måned drar jeg ut på dormitoriet. Jeg blir møtt av søte barnefjes, kyss og klemmer, men ingen Røde Kors frivillig i sikte.

Det hender at folk er litt sene i Armenia, så jeg setter meg ute på trappen sammen med noen av barna og ventet. Ganske fort blir jeg kapret til et ballspill. Jeg skjønner ikke så mye, men blir dyttet inn og ut av spillet av barna. Så brekker himmelen, og regnet tvinger oss inn. Jeg har et dilemma. Ingen frivillige har kommet, og jeg står der med nøkkelen i lomma og15 forventningsfulle barn rundt meg. Greier jeg å holde styr på disse viltre ungene alene?

Jeg peker opp på rommet ovenfor og prøver å formidle at de må være stille slik at ikke naboen skal komme og kjefte på oss. De nikker, men glemmer seg med en gang de er innenfor døren. Mens jeg har vært og jobbet i regionen har de nemlig lært en dans og sang til Askepott stykke som de bare ”må” vise meg. De frivillige har gjort en god jobb, barna vrikker på kroppen og synger med en glede som er vanskelig å forklare. Det er gøy å se på dem, men dansen og sangen er litt for høylytt og jeg begynner for alvor å bekymre meg for naboene. Mens jeg står midt på gulvet og prøver å få barna til å snakke med ”innestemme”, kommer en armensk jente inn. Uten å si noe til meg begynner hun å hjelpe meg med barna. Vi tar frem ark og fargestifter, og barna roer seg ned og begynner å tegne. Etter hvert kommer det enda en armensk jente og hjelper meg. Alle tre er opptatt med barna, og vi får ikke mye tid til å snakke. Først når barna drar får jeg snakket med jentene, det viser seg at de bor på dormitoriet og har søsken som kommer til Smiley Club. De er begge 18 år, ferdig med skole, og uten jobb. Tusen takk for at dere kom og hjalp meg i dag sier jeg og smiler til dem. De smiler tilbake, og sier at hvis jeg kommer tilbake i morgen så hjelper de meg da også.

Jeg går fra dormitoriet litt skuffet fordi ingen av de frivillige kom, men samtidig med en god følelse inni meg. Tenk at de to jentene kom og hjalp meg helt på eget initiativ. Det virker som Smiley Club er viktig for alle som bor på dormitoriet. Tiltross for at ingen av de frivillige dukket opp, har jeg fått sett hvordan de som bor på dormitoriet trår til hvis det trengs. Det har vært en god dag på jobben.

Are Wars Between Men or Merely States?

2007-03-26T01:37:00.000-07:00

”War is in no way a relationship of man with man but a relationship between States, in which individuals are enemies only by accident; not as men, nor even as citizens, but as soldiers (…)” Rousseau.[1]

On Thursday the 22 I held a mini-seminar about IHL for “my” Red Cross group. As always language was an issue, but luckily the volunteers seem to be fine with the chaos that sometimes evolves before the translator and I understand each other. I’m also learning to accept the situation, but must admit that it is frustrating to not know if you are understood or not, and not to be able to fully take part in the discussions. However, during the seminar the volunteers came up with relevant and interesting examples which tell me that the essence of what I am saying is understood. When we talked about international and no-international conflicts they had some very interesting examples from the region where they live and other former Soviet countries.

The volunteers from Ijevan live close to the Azeri border, where there still are occasional shootings. When asked, they all say that they can remember the war. So with a personal experience of what war is like, what do they think about Rousseau’s words?

Some argued that they disagree with Rousseau, because it is people who participate in war, not states. Then other argued, as Rousseau, that when you put on a uniform you become a representative for the state and not a civilian. Other questions do however arise. Is it possible to make a clear distinction between the state and its people? One of the volunteers meant that it differs in conflict to conflict, sometimes it might be merely a relationship between States, while other times it is the heart and soles of men fighting against each other. What do you think?

The question is difficult, and therefore it is so important to have clear rules for what is allowed and not in wars. In International humanitarian law there is a clear distinction between soldiers and civilians. Although our opinions might vary about whether men are enemies or that only soldiers are enemies, I believe that we all can agree upon one thing, no matter what; the rules of was should be followed.

[1] Rousseau’s statement is from ICRCs ”International Humanitarinan Law. Answers to your questions”,p.7.October 2002.

Not interested in hiv/aids?

2007-03-20T00:35:00.000-07:00

“Those of you who don’t want to work with hiv/aids activities can join my group.”

Sounds a bit strange? Rannveig and I are in Ijevan, a medium sized Armenian town not far away from Azerbaijan and Georgia. The youths here already have a hiv/aids program, and Rannveig who is an Active Choice volunteer in Norway, is eager to work with this group. What I will work with for the next few weeks is a bit more uncertain.

After many hours of socializing, drinking tea and eating cookies all the volunteers have arrived at the Red Cross office and our meeting can begin. We introduce ourselves, and talk about what we are interested in working with. I say that I am interested in International humanitarian law(IHL), and that I would like to work with it. I also make it clear that I am here, first and foremost, to work with something that the volunteers are interested in, and an activity that will benefit the community in some way.

While saying this I sometimes forget to stop for translation from the youth leader, David, who is going to Norway next year. One of the major challenges working in Armenia is that most people don’t know much English. However, the volunteers here in Ijevan are eager to learn, and bring the dictionary with them almost everywhere.

We ask the volunteers to choose what they want to work with, and 6 people fit into the category “not interested in working with hiv/aids”. Luckily, the two guys with the most English skills chose to be in different groups. When I meet my group again later that week, we spend some time with yellow post-its and brainstorming. We manage to narrow our interests down to two main subjects; strengthening the volunteers computer and English skills, and working with IHL. Since Ijevan has two American peace core volunteers working in that field, so we decide to focus on IHL.

Our plan so far, is to visit the university and the colleges here to give them a taste of what IHL is about. First, however, both the volunteers and I need to refresh our knowledge about IHL. It will defiantly be a challenge for us discussing difficult topics with difficult terminology. But with lots of patients from both sides and a dictionary, I am sure we will succeed.

Making Plans

2007-03-20T00:18:00.000-07:00

While the Smiley Club children are practicing their lines, the volunteers are making plans and organizing themselves. Arranging a theater performance takes lots of preparations.

Instead of our weekly meeting at the Red Cross office I invited the volunteers home to my apartment. The meeting was very fruitful; responsibility was divided among the volunteers, we wrote down a detailed list of tasks that needs to be done before the play, and started to prioritize the tasks. Later that week I sat down with, Annahit, the “director” of the play to make a big plan to put in the office so all the volunteers will remember their responsibilities and get a full picture of what needs to be done.

I am going to the regions for a period now, and I must admit that it is sad to leave all the nice Smiley Club children and volunteers in the middle of the preparations for our play. Luckily, I know they will mange well without me, and I know that I will come back and continue to make plans with them.

Smittende Smil

2007-03-05T23:21:00.000-08:00

Hva har dere lyst til å gjøre i dag da? Tegne, tegne, tegne skriker barna. Så løper de bort til meg og gir meg kyss på kinnet. Jeg puster lettet ut, de furtende leppene og de fornærmede fjesene fra sist gang da vi fordelte roller til en teateroppsetning av Askepott er borte. Kanskje har de forstått at ikke alle kan ha hovedrollen, eller så er de bare glad for å se oss, og tar fram leppa igjen når replikk øvingen setters i gang for alvor.

I over 3 år har frivillige fra ungdomsavdelingen i Røde Kors arrangert aktiviteter for fattige barn. Noen av barna har foreldre som flyktet til Armenia på grunn av krigen med Azerbaijan, andre er bare vanlige barn som bor og lever i kummelige forhold.

Julia Khaehatryan, koordinator for prosjektet og tidligere frivillig, husker godt at de startet opp Smiley Club.

”Jeg husker første gangen vi tok med barna til dukketeater, og noen av mødrene kom bort til meg og sa at barna deres ikke kunne delta. Jeg skjønte ikke hvorfor, og fortalte dem at vi hadde mange frivillige som kom til å passe godt på barna. Så sa en av mødrene: Jeg har ingen penger til å betale for at datteren min kan være med. Jeg fortalte dem at Røde Kors kom til å betale for alt, og de ble så glade. ”

En liten jente sitter ved siden av meg og drar meg i armen mens hun babler i vei på Armensk, jeg roper på en av de frivillige for å få en oversettelse. Jenta vil at jeg skal finne en linjal til henne. Et par minutter senere begynner hun å snakke med meg igjen, kanskje er hun for ung til å skjønne at det finnes dem som ikke skjønner så mye armensk?
For tiden jobber ungdomsavdelingen med å utvide Smiley Club, slik at Røde Kors kan nå flere barn med leksehjelp, turer til teater og tivoli. FN regner med at rundt 2/3 av befolkningen i Armenia lever på under 4 dollar dagen. Det påpekes også at forskjellen på rik og fattig gjør at noe av befolkningen blir marginalisert. ”..inntektsforskjeller og sosial utstøting av ulike befolkningsgrupper fører til stor fattigdom.”[1] [2]

Herlig intetanende om tall og statistikk fra FN beundrer barna hverandres tegningen, og søker ros fra de frivillige. ”Den er kjempe fin” sier jeg, og blir belønnet med et smil som smitter og lokker tankene vekk fra Armenias urettferdigheter og over til et ubrukt ark og noen fargestifter som lubbene barnehender venter utålmodig på.

Etter et par timer pakkes fargestiftene ned, og vi klemmer barna adjø, vel vitende om at neste gang venter øving på replikker, og da er det fare for at smilene er gjemt og leppa henger ut hos noen av dem.

[1] Milenium Development Goals Nationalization and Progress: 2005 National Report Armenia. 27.02.2007: http://www.undp.am/docs/mdgs/un_armenia_mdgreport2005eng.pdf
[2] Egen oversettelse.

Contagious Laughter

2007-03-05T21:57:00.000-08:00

What do you want to do today? Draw, draw, draw screams the children. Then they run over to give me a kiss on my cheek. I am relived that their disappointed and frowning faces from last time, when we divided the roles for a theater performance of Cinderella, are gone. Maybe they have understood that not everybody can have the lead role, or they are just happy to see us, and will bring back their sad faces when we start practicing the roles again.

For over 3 years volunteers from the youth department in the Red Cross has arranged activities for poor children. Some of the children have parents that fled to Armenia as a result of the war with Azerbaijan; others are just ordinary children who live in poverty.

Julia Khaehatryan, coordinator of the project and a former volunteer, remembers when they first started Smiley Club.

”I remember the first event when we were taking the children to the puppet theatre, and some of the mums told me that their children could not participate. I did not understand why. I told them that it would be safe, and that we have lots of volunteers that would take care of them. Then one of them said; I have no money to pay for my child to go. I explained to them that the Red Cross would pay for it, and they were so happy.”

A small girl sits next to me and pulls my arm while she is saying something in Armenian; I call for one of the volunteers for a translation. The girl wants me to find a ruler for her. A couple of minutes later she starts talking to me again, maybe she is to young to understand that there are some people who are not fluent in Armenian?
These days the youth department is working with expanding Smiley Club so that The Red Cross can help more vulnerable children with their homework, and take them to the theatre and Tivoli. UN estimates that around 2/3 of the Armenian population lives for under 4 dollars a day. A concern is also that the great economical differences between people is marginalizing parts of the population”.. income inequality and social exclusion of different layers of the population causes high poverty”[1]

Delightfully ignorant about numbers and statistics from UN the children admire each others drawings, and looks for praises from the volunteers. ” It is lovely” I tell them, and are rewarded with a contagious laughter that lures my thoughts away from Armenia’s difficulties and over to an unused paper and some colored pencils that chubby small fingers are waiting impatiently for.

Some hours later the colored pencil are put in their box, the children are given hugs, and we leave, well aware of that next time we’ll rehearse for the play, something which might make some of the children hide their smiles and put on a frowning face.

[1] Milenium Development Goals Nationalization and Progress: 2005 National Report Armenia. 27.02.2007: http://www.undp.am/docs/mdgs/un_armenia_mdgreport2005eng.pdf

Can I be Cinderella?

2007-02-07T02:36:00.000-08:00

Disney's Cinderella

Again and again I am struck by how some of the least fortunate children in Armenia live. Walking into the grey and cold dormitory, I feel a bit ashamed that I have complained about the temperature in my apartment. Even though we have two ovens in the Smiley Club room it is still cold. But the children come anyway.

Who said that Cinderella is for girls?

At the last meeting some of the volunteers came up with the idea to make a theatre performance of Cinderella. Today we are at the dormitory to ask them if they want to participate. Can you imagine their answer?

With us we have a surprise; the Cinderella DVD. Equipped with a laptop from the Norwegian Red Cross and speakers from the office we show the movie. Occasionally a mother or father knocks on the door and asks their child to come for dinner. The lucky ones who get to see the whole movie sit in the cold room with a look in their eyes that asks; can I be Cinderella?

Can I borrow your hat Kaja?

I hope it's not my mum in the door asking me to come home for dinner...

Contingency plan

2007-02-04T23:49:00.000-08:00

If a major earth quake or another disaster strikes Armenia tomorrow, are we prepared, and how do we coordinate our work? This was the major question discussed when representatives from the government, local and international NGOs were gathered in Yerevan for a two day conference about disaster management in the end of January.

The main goal of the conference was to start the process of making a contingency plan. Edmon Azaryan, head of the Armenian Red Cross Society Disaster Management and Population Movement Department explains;

“A contingency plan is meant to coordinate individuals, agencies and organizations to effectively conduct a rapid and effective response. Contingency planning ensures the availability of stand-by resources and provides mechanism for rapid decision-making that can raise disaster response effectiveness and ultimately save lives”

Manush holding a presentation

During the two day seminar the participants were informed about each others work, and also discussed in working groups how they could coordinate their work more efficiently. When I talked with Manush Melkominan, the 22 year old head of the International Department in the Armenian Red Cross Society, she emphasized how important seminars like this is “It is important to remember that you do not work alone in this field-exchange of experience is crucial.”

The process stared at the conference will continue, and the contingency plan will be finished in mid March 2007.

Paying close attention.

Sitting between representatives for UNDP and MSF (leger uten grenser)

Hva gjør en ungdomsdelegat?- erfaringer fra Armenia

2007-01-25T23:49:00.000-08:00

Vi markerer 1.desember

Søkt på internasjonalt grunnkurs, og lurer på hva en ungdomsdelegat egentlig gjør? Alle delegatene har forskjellige arbeidsoppgaver avhengig av hvilket land man blir plukket ut til. Landene som skal motta ungdomsdelegater skriver en foreløping arbeidsbeskrivelse, som i svært generelle trekk beskriver hva de ønsker at delegaten skal jobbe med. De norske delegatene blir plukket ut blant annet med tanke på å kunne fylle denne arbeidsbeskrivelse.

Løse arbeidsbeskrivelser er en fellesnevner for ungdomsdelegatene uavhengig av land. Etter min erfaring som ungdomsdelegat i Armenia må du være forbredt på å;

-Være kreativ med tanke på egne arbeidsoppgaver. Det finnes ingen utarbeidet A4 dag for deg som du skal fylle. Hva du gjør er mye opp til deg selv.
-Vær tålmodig. Kanskje er vanlig arbeidstempo i landet du kan bli sendt til helt annerledes enn det du er vant med i Norge.
-Vær forbredt på mye venting og dødtid. Du jobber med frivillige som ikke har like mye tid å bruke som deg på de forskjellige aktivitetene. Her i Armenia, er det, som i Norge, perioder av året hvor det er lite aktivitet på kontoret. Både på grunn av eksamener for de frivillige, men også på grunn av vinter og kulde.

Jeg og Rannveig på hiv-konsert.

I år skal vi som er i Armenia dra på to regionsopphold og være på hovedkontoret i Yerevan resten av tiden. Hovedaktiviteten min, når jeg er i Yerevan, er å jobbe med Smiley Club (som aktiviteter på mottak) Ute på regionsbesøk er oppgavene mer uklare og det gjelder å være kreativ, man kan ta tak i eksisterende programmer, eller starte noe helt nytt. Hittil har vi hatt et regionsopphold på litt over en måned. Da jobbet Rannveig med å styrke ”aktivt valg” gruppen og startet opp en ny gruppe som lagde gaver til ensomme eldre flyktninger. Jeg startet opp en gruppe som skal ha aktiviteter for handikappede barn, og jobbet med å arrangere en julefest for de eldre flyktningene.

For å lese mer om hva ungdomsdelegatene gjør kan du ta en titt på bloggene til;

Rannveig i Armenia http://www.nrkjenta.blogspot.com/

Carl i Libanon http://www.carlsstories.blogspot.com/

Marianne i Nepal http://www.mariannesteinberg.spaces.live.com

Det er bare å sende en e-post til Rannveig eller meg hvis du har noen spørsmål.

rannveig_dale@hotmail.com

kajaheidar@hotmail.com

Smiley Club- what is it, and why is it important?

2007-01-24T23:36:00.000-08:00

Bathroom shared by one floor in Aratsia dormitory in Yerevan.

If you take a close look at the recent history of the Armenians, you will see that they have had their fair share of difficulties. Among other factors, the economic crisis due to the fall of the Soviet Union, a big earth quake and war with Azerbaijan made life hard for many people. About 300 000 refugees came to Armenia as a result of the war, and were placed in apartment buildings of different standards. Over ten years after, many of the refugees still live under very bad housing conditions. Although the economic situation is improving every year, it is estimated that about 50 % of the population lives below the poverty line.

Red Cross Youth volunteer reading for the children

The youth department in Armenia helps some of these people through the Smiley Club project. The aim of Smiley Club is to integrate poor children, and children with refugee origins, into the Armenian society. This is done by helping the children in their home environment, by providing them with home work help, lessons, excursions to the theatre and amusement parks as well as arranging summer camps. The Red Cross has also, with the support from among others Sogn og Fjordane Red Cross, build two playgrounds. Through the Smiley Club project Red Cross is helping almost 120 children.

Making friends and having fun

Frivillige forandrer hiv-holdninger i Armenia

2007-01-24T23:04:00.000-08:00

To kjente artister sammen i kampen mot hiv

Røde Kors Ungdom i Armenia har for alvor trappet opp kampen mot Hiv/Aids. I løpet av året har de arrangert 4 store offentlige opplysningskampanjer, den siste i rekken var en stor konsert med kjente armenske artister.

Tallene på Hiv smittede i Armenia er uklare, men det estimeres at omtrent 3000 mennesker er smittet. Det er lite akseptert å snakke om sex, og kondom demonstrasjoner i full offentlighet er uaktuelt. Allikevel greide Armensk Røde Kors Ungdom å samle rundt 650 mennesker fra ulike organisasjoner, det offentlige og ikke minst ungdom, til konserten de holdt i begynnelsen av oktober.

”Det er viktig å spre informasjon om hiv i Armenia fordi folk tror ikke det er noe som vil hende dem. Sykdommen forbinnes med Afrika, og føles fjern for folk flest. Vi bestemte oss for å satse mer på store offentlige arrangementer fordi da kan vi nå flere” sier Lillit, en av de frivillige.

Lillit og Narina frivillige fra ungdomsavdelingen i Armenia Røde Kors

I tilegg til musikk og dans presenterte armenske pop og folkemusikk artister fakta om Hiv. Dette mener Lillit er viktig, ”Jeg tror at ungdom hører ekstra godt etter når de får informasjon fra kjendiser som de ser opp til og stoler på.”

Hun er svært fornøyd med de fire arrangementene de har holdt, og ser at arbeidet bærer frukter. ”Etter hvert arrangement ser og føler jeg at holdingene blant folk og de frivillige forandres. Det gir meg håp for framtiden.”

(Konserten ble holdt 10. oktober 2006)

Den første tiden i Armenia

2007-01-24T22:24:00.000-08:00

Utsikt fra vinduet i leiligheten

(skrevet etter at jeg hadde vært 1 mnd i Armenia)

Armenia er annerledes fra noe annet land jeg har vært i. Jenter som tripper rundt i gatene kledd som en blanding av Barbie og Paris Hilton er et vanlig syn, og står i sterk kontrast til den ellers grå hovedstaden. Biler som raser av gårde og ikke stopper for fotgjengere, krever oppmerksomhet av en helt annen grad enn når man krysser gaten i rolige Kristiansand. Taxi sjåfører som røyker inne i bilen er også vanlig her. Mitt første møte med den tidligere sovjet republikken har vært både spennende og utfordrende.

Ungdomsavdelingen i Armenia har tatt godt i mot meg, og fra dag 1 har jeg fått være med på deres aktiviteter. Overgangene mellom de ulike aktiviteten har vært store; fra å besøke barn av flyktninger i grå nedslitte blokker, karusellturer med de samme barna, arrangering av en stor hiv konsert med kjente armenske pop artister, til deltagelse på en hjelpekorps trening.

Førstehjelps dukke

Det har vært spennende å se hvordan ungdomsavdelingen jobber. Hovedarbeidsoppgaven min er å utvide ”Smiley Club” (omtrent som aktiviteter på mottak) til flere steder i Jerevan. Noe som har gått litt trått i begynnelsen, men heldigvis ser det ut til å løsne nå. Den første tiden har gitt meg en smak på utfordringene jeg vil møte under oppholdet. Jeg må bare bli vant med at ting tar tid, og at kommunikasjon med frivillige som snakker dårlig engelsk krever tålmodighet.

Meg sammen med Smiley Club barna

Heldigvis har utfordringene vært små i forhold til alt jeg har opplevd og lært, og jeg ser frem til 8 nye måneder her i Armenia.

Ekte glede,ingenting er som en karusell tur!!

Eksotisk reisefølge

2007-01-24T21:59:00.000-08:00

Diaspora ektepar fra USA

For over 4 måneder siden da Rannveig og jeg gikk inn på terminalen i Wien der flyet til Yerevan gikk, ble vi møtt av munter sang og middelaldrende medpassasjerer. I forbindelse med feiringen av 15års uavhengighet var mange diasporas på vei til Armenia. Noen for første gang. Armensk diaspora er betegnelsen for Armenere som bor i utlandet. Dette ekteparet var på vei til Yerevan for å delta i en konferanse, og for å feire Armenias uavhengighets dag. I anledning sitt første besøk i ”hjemlandet” er damen er kledd i det armenske flaggets farger. Mannen derimot er mindre opptatt av mote, og mer opptatt av ”tyrkernes folkemord av armenerne”, som han uttrykte det. For oss nordboere var dette ekteparet fra USA et eksotisk reisefølge.

Juleaften med nokke attåt

2007-01-23T22:36:00.000-08:00

Plutselig befinner jeg meg omringet av gamle damer, som skravler i vei på Armensk og gir meg klemmer. De spør om jeg ikke fryser i den tynne kjolen min, og jeg smiler tappert.
Det er juleaften for oss i Norge, men i Armenia er det en helt vanlig søndag. Rannveig og jeg befinner oss langt vekk fra feit julemat, familie og store pakker. Og har oppmerksomheten fra 18 bestemødre og bestefedre rettet mot oss. Hvordan gikk dette til?

I Armenia har Røde Kors to programmer som hjelper ensomme eldre, det ene tilbyr selskap mens det andre deler ut mat. To forskjellig avdelinger har ansvaret for de ulike aktivitetene, og ungdomsavdelingen jobber med den sosiale delen. Sammen med de frivillige bestemte vi oss for å kombinere mat og sosial omgang, og inviterte de gamle på fest.

Problemet var penger. I et bunnskrapt budsjett var det ingen penger å hente, så vi bestemte oss for å spørre det lokale næringslivet om hjelp. Brev ble skrevet, og levert ut personlig til mange mektige menn i lokalsamfunnet. Det var en tung prosess, og hver krone (dram) ble feiret med klemmer og klapping blant de frivillige. Da dagen for innkjøp av mat og pynt kom, hadde vi ingen stor sum å bruke, men nok til å fylle bordet med kaker, frukt, varm drikke, rundstykker og sjokolade. Dessuten ble vi sponset med buss til å hente og bringe de eldre som bodde lengst unna.

Langbord med mat og drikke, og engasjerte Quiz deltakere

På programmet sto mat og drikke, fremføring av norske julesanger, quiz med flotte hjemmelagde gaver og underholdning fra handikappede barn. Artur, en tidligere ungdomsdelegat til Norge, og jeg var verter for kvelden. Med jukselapp i hånden, stammet jeg fram noen setninger på Armensk, til varm applaus fra gamlingene. Vi spiste, skravlet, sang og hadde quiz, og alle stor koste seg.

Artur og jeg som verter.

Da tiden nærmet seg for underholdning fra barna, og ingen barn var kommet, fisket vi fram en telefon for å høre om det var lenge til de kom. I ikke uvant Armensk stil, var svaret at de ikke rakk å komme, så da sto vi der med en time å fylle. Heldigvis tok bestemødrene utfordringen på strak arm og sang gamle sanger. En av dem sang så tårene trillet på mannen.

Så ble jeg takket og klemt av 18 rynkete kinn. Også var en juleaften jeg vil huske resten av livet over.

Du Verden!

2007-01-23T22:18:00.000-08:00

Du Verden, Kaja har fått seg blogg.
Du Verden, hun er i Armenia.
Du Verden, hun jobber for Røde Kors Ungdom.
Du Verden, for en flott måte å holde kontakt på.
Du Verden, så liten verden plutselig har blitt..