Balkans Bridges of Peace summer camp
“Peer to peer” training, co-ordinated by World Vision Kosovo, was run by the youth themselves with close guidance from adult facilitators The interactive method proved to be very effective.
The youth praised methods, saying they allowed a sense of ownership and achievement. The young people shared their personal experiences in post-conflict zones and applied them to teaching exercises.
Conflict resolution, effective communication and problem solving were hot topics during the camp sessions.
It made a big impression on children to meet children who speak different languages and practice different religions yet share the same dreams. Through organized activities and excursions World Vision staff witnessed many new, close friendships between youth of different ethnic groups and nationalities, even to the point of learning each other’s languages.
“It made a big impression on children to meet children who speak different languages and practice different religions yet share the same dreams. They saw they enjoy the same music and laugh and cry about the same things,” said Stefanie Jud, a program officer from World Vision Switzerland who visited the camp
Ethnic cleansing in the 1990’s drove a bitter wedge between ethnic communities in the Balkans. Most of the youth were from villages and traditionally closed communities where prejudicing and stereotyping are common.
Such attitudes were soon forgotten as youth built friendships and learned values of reconciliation and conflict resolution.
Most of the youth were from villages and traditionally closed communities where prejudicing and stereotyping are common. As the youth gained self-confidence, they showed enthusiasm for promoting peace in their home countries and communities after the camp.
The camp allowed the young people to identify the lies of stereotyping and ethnic prejudice. Despite the language barriers they built valuable and lasting friendships.
A spirit of enthusiasm and achievement prevailed as they share experiences and learned from each other. It was thus a memorable experience for all the young people involved as it gave them a new appreciation for each other and an understanding of the negative forms of behavior and patterns of thinking that can, and has, led to conflict.
An awards ceremony closed the week long camp. Rudy Scholaert, President of Eagle Down, awarded each participant a medal and certificate of achievement.
World Vision offices in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo coordinated the camp held June 24 to 30 in Bijela, Montenegro. The camp was sponsored by Eagle Down Foundation. A camp was organized by World Vision and Eagle Down in 2004.
The youth praised methods, saying they allowed a sense of ownership and achievement. The young people shared their personal experiences in post-conflict zones and applied them to teaching exercises.
Conflict resolution, effective communication and problem solving were hot topics during the camp sessions.
It made a big impression on children to meet children who speak different languages and practice different religions yet share the same dreams. Through organized activities and excursions World Vision staff witnessed many new, close friendships between youth of different ethnic groups and nationalities, even to the point of learning each other’s languages.
“It made a big impression on children to meet children who speak different languages and practice different religions yet share the same dreams. They saw they enjoy the same music and laugh and cry about the same things,” said Stefanie Jud, a program officer from World Vision Switzerland who visited the camp
Ethnic cleansing in the 1990’s drove a bitter wedge between ethnic communities in the Balkans. Most of the youth were from villages and traditionally closed communities where prejudicing and stereotyping are common.
Such attitudes were soon forgotten as youth built friendships and learned values of reconciliation and conflict resolution.
Most of the youth were from villages and traditionally closed communities where prejudicing and stereotyping are common. As the youth gained self-confidence, they showed enthusiasm for promoting peace in their home countries and communities after the camp.
The camp allowed the young people to identify the lies of stereotyping and ethnic prejudice. Despite the language barriers they built valuable and lasting friendships.
A spirit of enthusiasm and achievement prevailed as they share experiences and learned from each other. It was thus a memorable experience for all the young people involved as it gave them a new appreciation for each other and an understanding of the negative forms of behavior and patterns of thinking that can, and has, led to conflict.
An awards ceremony closed the week long camp. Rudy Scholaert, President of Eagle Down, awarded each participant a medal and certificate of achievement.
World Vision offices in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo coordinated the camp held June 24 to 30 in Bijela, Montenegro. The camp was sponsored by Eagle Down Foundation. A camp was organized by World Vision and Eagle Down in 2004.
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