What is the Multi-mix program?
"The Multi-mix program is aiming to be an open and social meeting place. We meet regularly and we focuse on culture and topics of Red Cross-interest. The idea is that it is a welcoming place for people who are interested in knowing other people from different cultures and for new citizens of Bergen it can be a place to meet people and to practice talking Norwegian. Everyone can participate with their knowledge or skills, the group members decide themselves what activities to do. There are around five regularly volunteers that are having responsibilities like helping to prepare before the activity starts and to make sure it is clean and tidy when we leave. But there are also several others that contribute either by having a presentation, making food, or helping out", says Susanne L. Fagerbakke, the Hordaland District Youth Board Leader.
Information about the country of the week
During the presentation about the country of the week, which is taking about 40 minutes, the participants get information covering the most important facts about that country, and they will know the location of that country, some information about the inhabitants, their main activities, in addition to their history and present and future aspects. Between this and that, they also will get an overview about the culture and traditions.
The Youth Delegates from Sudan are participating in food preparation during the Indonesian evening
Indonesian evening
In Indonesia they mostly prefer to go use traditional medicine more than the modern one, because it's cheaper. They also have a strong beliefe that the traditional medicine can affect better than the modern one. This beliefe comes from a psycological factor that makes the people more comfortable with the traditional medicines more than the modern ones.
The entire group starts preparing the food headed by the leader of the day that shows them how to make the food, and gives tasks to the participants. But sometimes the chief takes over this stage letting the young volunteers discuss more about the country of the week.
The meal is served after the presentation, with some explanation of the ingrediens, and the dinner starts under the charm of the melodies and music that is putting the participants in the atmosphere of the culture of that country.
Multi-mix own the district state prize for its contribution to the society
Susanne L. Fagerbakke, Hordaland Youth Board Leader, holding the Multi-mix prize
"The district-state and the department for youth and children is each year giving an award to a youth activity that has an important contribution to the society. Multi-mix got the prize because they value the knowledge and skills of any culture and is so open, flexible and including, always trying to find activities for youths of all cultures to meet and to be a positive environment for each member. The prize was awarded because integration is a very important aspect of the society today, and it will be more and more important to have places and groups like Multi-mix, says Susanne L. Fagerbakke.
Young leadership, with very strong commitments towards Multi-mix
"A year ago I joined the Red Cross. I sent an e-mail saying that I was interested to be a volunteer, and they replied to me to catch one of the activities. I like to help people and I am enjoying it. I spend approximately 7 hours a week in voluntary work besides my studies in public organization school, says Christine N. Francis who is the Multi-mix activity leader in Bergen Red Cross Youth.
Christina N. Francis, the Multi-mix leader speaking with the Youth Delegates Taha and Mohammed from Sudan