More
than two decades of war and internal turmoil have highly affected
the country’s social structure and generated a high level
of discrimination and intolerance. Throughout these years of
instability, the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) has continuously
provided assistance to the most vulnerable communities throughout
the country.
The Afghan Red Crescent is using the youth volunteers as a vehicle
to promote humanitarian values, to disseminate messages of peace
and co-existence and to provide voluntary services in order
to assist the most vulnerable people.
To build friendship and co-existence and reduce racial and cultural
discrimination, the ARCS organised a five days youth camp in
Kabul for more than 250 youth volunteers to stay under one roof.
Volunteer teachers were present to supervise and chaperon the
youths and they also took an active part in all organised activities.
The camp participants were young boys and girls from all over
Afghanistan, fom different social and ethnic origins.
During this camp, the youth volunteers participated in educational
programmes including working sessions on humanitarian values,
sketches related to peace and coexistence, competitions on general
knowledge and sport, music, study tours and visits.
The theme of the youth camp was “Reduce discrimination.”
Most parts of the Kabul were decorated with posters and banners
from the National Society with messages to reduce discrimination
and to build peace, friendship, and coexistence.
During the opening ceremony of the youth camp, held in the Loya
Jirga hall, where the Afghanistan state constitution was elaborated,
several high level persons were invited and gave speeches. Among
them were the ARCS president, the International Federation Head
of Delegation in Afghanistan, the second state vice-president,
and three ministers.
“I am glad the Afghan Red Crescent Society has gathered
youth from all ethnic groups to stay under one roof and share
their ideas and thoughts” said Fatima Gailani, the ARCS
president. “This will definitely have some effect on reduction
of cultural discrimination which has affected our country for
years” she added.
“The talented youth of Afghan Red Crescent Society enjoy
more strengths than other strata in establishing and consolidating
stability and co-existence” said Mr. Karim Khalily, the
vice president of Islamic republic of Afghanistan.
The head of the International Federation delegation in Afghanistan,
Mrs. Jamila Ibrohim, ensured the ARCS president and volunteers
that the International Federation will continue to support the
National Society in further developing the youth programme.
In addition, two days later, the state president Mr. Hamid Karzai
invited 50 youth volunteers, the ARCS, ICRC and Federation delegations
management for a lunch in the residential palace. A long and
emotional speech was given to him by a young girl from Herat
and traditional songs were played by youth volunteers. The state
president thanked the National Society for its effort to gather
such a large number of youth volunteers from different Afghan
ethnic groups from all over the country.
“The aim of our National Society is to assist the most
vulnerable people not only in Afghanistan, but also outside
the country” said Hamid Karzai. “The duty of a volunteer
is to provide voluntary services to assist the vulnerable people
when needed” he added.
Finally, president Karzai spent some time discussing with several
individual youths, including a young female from the Iranian
Red Crescent. This left all participants with unforgettable
memories, and provided the event with a very high profile.
At the end of the camp, all were sad, the separation was difficult
as the time came to go back to their families.
“At first, I didn’t think that it would have some
effect on us, but now, since I am leaving, I can’t express
my feelings on how difficult it is to leave the friends”
said Yamin, a 22 year old youth volunteers from Herat region.
“I wish we could stay together for at least one week more”
he added.
This is the first time I have been out of my city. I was first
very happy to participate in the youth camp but upon arrival
I was feeling very tired. When the programme started, my tiredness
disappeared and I became very enthusiastic,” said Khalid,
a youth volunteer from Mazar, the northern part of Afghanistan.
“Now I am leaving all my new friends, it is really a difficult
time to go through and I hope we meet each other soon”
he added.
Hamida, a 14 year old girl, from Herat region said, “It’s
a great honour to sit together with my Afghan brothers and sisters
from other regions under one roof, it really looks like one
family.”
On the last day of the camp, the young volunteer Qais, with
red eyes full of tears, said “the tears coming from my
eyes are for my friends who were with us for these few days.
We really had a wonderful time together but now, since they
are leaving us, it is like a ship departing from the harbour
never to return. Therefore, my heart is crying, and I wish we
meet very soon again.”
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| Music
exhibition organized by Afghan youths.
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| A
group of youth Afghan girls dancing in traditional clothes.
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| Discussion
groups working on “how to reduce discrimination”
which was the theme of the camp. |
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| Fatima
Gailani, the ARCS President, opening the Youth Camp.
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