On Saturday the 16th August 2009, we said goodbye to our families, friends and colleagues. After 12 hours of flight and 7 hours spent in transit, we arrived in Norway.  We met a new world, Norway and a new family. We met the Norwegian Red Cross Youth. One week looking for administrative papers, one week on a Peace Corps-curse and two weeks on a preparation-course by Red Cross Youth. Then we went to Telemark, our host district. Since then we’ve been participating in different activities such as active choice, rules of war, human trafficking, stop violence, etc. through trainings, courses, meetings, seminars, stands and campaigns that helped us to disseminate information and to recruit new members.

Active choice

We trained new youths and carried out sessions in schools. We went out in the streets and held stands where we gave out condom licenses after condom demonstrations.

Rules of war

After being trained, we gave information to the youth groups and held stands giving out information and clear picture of human rights in wars to the passerby’s.

Human trafficking

We attended seminars simultaneously as participants or facilitators in both Telemark district and outside it. We made campaigns to create awareness and disseminate information and how to prevent it. One of them is the Human Trafficking Campaign we held in Bergen with volunteers from different parts of Norway (Bergen, Bodø, Akershus, and Telemark).

Children group

We worked specifically with children from asylum centers, children between 4 and 12 years old. Our objectives was to help children to relax, to socialize and expound their talents through several activities such as sports, games, drawing, painting, reading, writing, music, dancing, etc.

International buffet

Under a weekly dinner offered at Humanitentens Hus, people gathered to eat and exchange their cultures. Our contribution was to help people responsible cooking, washing dishes, working at the counter and shopping ingredients. Twice we were invited to cook Rwandese dishes.

Holiday for all

We took care of the children in “holiday for all” organized by Red Cross for  the lonely children, with other volunteers  in all activities planned for them the whole week that lasts the camp.

Youth meeting

Every Wednesday, Skien/Posgrunn youth group have a meeting. This helps the youths to stay in touch, to keep the group active and sustained, and to stay focused and updated about Red Cross Youth activities. We had the responsibility of working together with the youths through what came out of those weekly meetings to figure out areas where we needed to carry out activities, campaigns, stands, etc. depending on the areas of interest to the youths and the community.

Trips

Last year we went to Solferino in Italy where we were told the history of Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. The aim of the trip was also to prepare youths as tour guides in preparation for this summer trip to Solferino in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Telemark Red Cross started a Red Cross link in Gambia, Fajikunda Red Cross. With a group of 13 youths we visited Gambia and gave first aid- and active choice-courses where 15 youths became trainers of trainees with certificates awarded.

Telemark Red Cross Youth visited the Gambia Red Cross.

International Days

World Prevention Day, World Aids Day, 8th of May, 17th of May, among others; with  Skien Red Cross youth group,  we celebrated the International and national days by holding stands or making campaigns.

Youth Conference and Annual Youth Assembly

We took part in the Youth conference and facilitated its smooth running in Telemark district. We also participated in the Annual Youth Council especially in the social evening where all the youth delegates entertained the assembly. Last year, together with all the youth delegates and volunteers in Oslo, we held a stand when the treaty against cluster bombs and cluster ammunitions was signed. The International Community decided to sign a convention to stop making, selling and using the cluster bombs. We were lucky to be a part of the celebration through our volunteerism.

We ended our stay by a homecoming seminar with all the youth delegates. We gathered and made sum-up of our work during the ten months through presentations from each couple of delegates. The 20th of June, we took the plane and came back to Rwanda where we are now living happily.