RUSSIA: UNICEF camp brings together youngsters from Russia's turbulent north Caucasus region

Record ID: 345777

  • Title: RUSSIA: UNICEF camp brings together youngsters from Russia's turbulent north Caucasus region
  • Date: 27th August 2007
  • Summary: (CEEF) NEAR DERBENT, DAGESTAN, RUSSIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) HOLIDAY CAMP WITH SEA IN THE BACKGROUND PARTICIPANTS AT UNICEF CAMP WALKING FLAGS BLOWING IN THE WIND POLICE OFFICERS SITTING ON A BENCH POLICEMAN HOLDING A KALASHNIKOV BOY WATCHING OTHER CHILDREN VARIOUS OF CAMP PARTICIPANTS PLAYING GAMES AND ENJOYING THEMSELVES TWO BOYS SITTING AND LAUGHING BOY WITH FEMALE CAMP PARTICIPANTS CLAPPING AND LAUGHING IN BACKGROUND SOME PARTICIPANTS RUNNING, OTHERS SITTING DOWN AND WATCHING THEM TWO GIRLS LAUGHING OVER A MOBILE PHONE TEXT MESSAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CAMP PARTICIPANT, AZA VAKHAYEVA, SAYING: "Here, there are children from all over the Caucasus, nowadays, it is such a rare event. There are children from Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya, and from Dagestan and Russia. We are working as one group, and we have become friends, and are enjoying ourselves together." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN ON THE BEACH, COLLECTING SEA SHELLS AND PEBBLES VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS SEATED IN GROUPS, AND DRAWING VARIOUS OF CHILDREN PLAYING TRUST GAMES UNICEF SPOKESWOMAN ELENA KHARITONOVO WATCHING GAMES HANDS HOLDING UNICEF LEAFLET (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) UNICEF SPOKESWOMAN, ELENA KHARITONOVO, SAYING: "From the first day and until the last day, you can see how these children change, how their attitude towards each other changes, they become friends. So we understand that we are giving something towards the future of these Republics, and there is hope that conflicts will not be repeated in the future and these children will have a chance to develop normally, to study, and to communicate with each other." PARTICIPANTS GATHERED AROUND A BONFIRE PARTICIPANTS SINGING AND SHOUTING BONFIRE BURNING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) 18-YEAR-OLD UNICEF CAMP PARTICIPANT FROM GROZNY, IBRAHIM, SAYING: "All nations are similar, and I believe children all over the world are just kids, and the people all over the world can talk to each other." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) FEMALE UNICEF CAMP PARTICIPANT, SAYING: "We are learning about each others traditions, customs, languages; we are talking a lot to each other, and it's very interesting." CAMP PARTICIPANTS SINGING AROUND BONFIRE
  • Embargoed: 11th September 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: People,Education
  • Reuters ID: LVA6KKA8BG4WVFXJQBO64XG34461
  • Story Text: Children and youth from across the volatile North Caucasus region of Russia got a rare chance to meet each other in a relaxed atmosphere at a holiday camp run by UNICEF this month.
    The camp was organised as part of UNICEF's effort to promote reconciliation and tolerance between different communities in a region ravaged by ethnic strife.
    At least 150 youngsters aged 12 to 17, from Chechnya, Ingushetia, North Ossetia, and Dagestan spent ten days together on this holiday where workshops on peace and tolerance are as important as socialising and swimming in the Caspian Sea.
    Each day began with games and exercises designed to help them examine issues ranging from prejudice to discrimination. The participants were divided into groups which cut across ethnic lines, learning how to work together to confront common problems.
    17-year-old Aza Vakhayeva, a Chechen from Grozny, said the holiday gave her the chance to meet people her age from all over the Caucasus, adding that "Nowadays, it is such a rare event."
    Vakhayeva said they were learning to tackle issues together.
    "There are children from Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya, and from Dagestan and Russia. We are working as one group, and we have become friends, and are enjoying ourselves together," Vakhayeva said.
    UNICEF organised five similar summer camps across the region this year.
    UNICEF spokeswoman Elena Kharitonovo believes the opportunity for people to meet, find out about each others' lives and make friends across ethnic barriers will help build a peaceful future in the region.
    "From the first day and until the last day, you can see how these children change, how their attitude towards each other changes, they become friends, so we understand that we are giving something towards the future of these republics," said Kharitonovo.
    "And there is hope that conflicts will not be repeated in the future and these children will have a chance to develop normally, to study, and to communicate with each other," she added.
    Celebrating each other's national cultures was also part of the programme, as they sang traditional and pop songs.
    "All nations are similar, and I believe children all over the world are just kids, and the people all over the world can talk to each other," Ibrahim, who has made many new friends at the camp, said.
    One Chechen participant found this cultural exchange the most rewarding experience.
    "We are learning about each others' traditions, customs, languages; we are talking a lot to each other, and it's very interesting," she said.
    UNICEF and the Dagestan Education Ministry sponsored the camps. A total of 600 participants went to the five camps run this year. Many of the participants are from families of modest incomes, chosen for their academic performance and leadership potential. The UNICEF 'Peace and Tolerance' programme continues once the participants get back home, run on a local level in their schools.
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