Day one, and the morning of day two – Dora from Young Friends of the Earth Croatia
The first day of our Young Friends of the Earth Summer Camp at lake Beglika in the Rhodope mountains in Bulgaria was quite inspiring. After meeting outside the national stadium in Sofia, seeing around forty other lost-looking people with tents and getting to know everybody with the simple question of… ”lake Beglika? Do you know where we have to meet?” we didn’t think we needed to introduce ourselves, but remembering 45 names is quite demanding so the games that helped us connect the face and the name helped a lot.
After getting through the program for the week and establishing some ground rules, we started with the topic of gender equality and interculturalism. With 45 of us from 16 different countries across Europe, we were a proper example of multiculturalism. We started with a game that introduced the topic and its issues perfectly. Jamie, standing in the middle of the circle, asked us questions that we needed to reflect on and decide whether we agreed or not.
The questions were along the lines of “can you open the newspaper or other media and see your gender or ethnic group represented much and in positive way?” We all took quite a lot of time to think the question through and then decided to take a step back (if we disagreed) or forward (if we agreed). After a few questions, the results were intriguing. Some people were standing very close to Jamie, where as others could barely hear him because of the distance.
The game worked; its point was made. We all had to remember that the gender struggle wasn’t over. Whether we were close to or far from Jamie, we all started to rethink the situation in our countries and reconsider examples from our own lives. The game and questions could work both for gender and ethnic groups, so when the game ended we had a lot of doubts and new thoughts in our heads. Separating into small groups and discussing the topics helped a lot, and we all greeted it with enthusiasm.
After discussing it as a whole group we came to terms with many aspects of the matter and even suggested some concrete, applicable, and even controversial solutions – such as not separating womens’ and mens’ toilets. We all supported the idea and the importance of learning and understanding others, as well as giving everybody a choice and an opportunity to participate without repression.
On the other hand, while there was consensus on most things, we did not agree on a fair number of others. We were quite puzzled with the concept of normality, who defines what it is, and therefore whether or not we should call anything normal. We also had different opinions on quotas and discussed whether or not positive discrimination can be counterproductive. Our disagreeing on things says a lot about the complexity of the subject, and I think this was something that everybody could understand. There is a lot of work yet to be done.
Nonetheless, by discussing the issues of interculturalism and gender equality we all gained a more profound understanding of the subject. Nurturing positive attitudes and embracing differences! A very good beginning to the week, if you ask me.
The Afternoon – reflections by Serina from Young Global 2000/Young Friends of the Earth Austria
Jump and Enjoy!
It is not only the best way to describe the start of the YFoEE Summer Camp, but after a morning spent familiarising ourselves with the camp, each other’s work, and the program for the week to come, also the activity called ‘get out and play!’
With a choice between mountain biking, canoeing and climbing in a rope garden constructed between some trees next to the lake, I chose the final option and headed for the treetops.
When it is your first time up in the air with nothing under you except a small rope which you are trying to walk on, your blood quickly begins to rush through your body. Your first step is to scale the climbing wall after that it gets harder and harder. A mixture between robes and trees is following .
I believe that Pipi Langstrumpf, my favourite hero, who once raised money when she was hard up by performing on a high wire, would love doing it over and over again. Probably not only because of having to balance on the ropes up in the air, but also because of the final stop: the zipline, swinging over the lake into the woods. It is a connection between enjoying a great view and feeling the adrenaline course through your body.
However, people who chose not hang around in the air, but instead enjoy being safe on the ground had two hours of mountain biking against the clock at full speed. After that everybody was exhausted, but relaxed and very hungry. Happily the dinner was already prepared; cooked by our great two vegetarian and vegan cooks.
And the last group, after canoeing for a while, was grateful to go and have a swim in beautiful lake Beglika.
So to sum it all up, some enjoyed taking it a little bit easy, others tried to challenge themselves and I loved being my favourite hero for 10 minutes.
