Imagine 50 young people, coming together with a strong focus on humanitarian values, doing their best to improve the lives of those in their local communities. Always looking for an opportunity to help those in need, ready to help in any way the can, in ways even as simple as helping the elderly to cross the street or carrying their bags for them. Would you be surprised to hear that the ages of those in this group are as young as 12 and 13? Maybe this does not match your experiences from recent encounters with young adolescents. In Armenia however, this noble attitude has been the rule, rather than the exception, for young people who participated in a pilot project on the promotion of humanitarian values organized by the Armenian Red Cross youth.
Inspired by Macedonian Red Cross, Armenia Red Cross youth started this pilot in October 2007 thanks to the a partnership with two schools in the Shirak and Kotayk regions of the country. During weekly sessions the children discussed humanitarian values, the needs of the vulnerable in their own communities and how they could contribute to ease these burdens. With the assistance and guidance of Red Cross youth volunteers, the participants themselves designed and implemented projects that they felt would address these issues. The best projects were picked out at the end of January 2008 and the authors of these 18 projects were invited to participate in a four day event in Tsaghkatsor where they summed up the results of the project in their own words. This training opportunity had a strong focus on humanitarian and Red Cross values.
One participant, Harutsyun, summed up the experience as this: "I don't know why I helped, but I was always so happy afterwards!" He also told his trainers and peers of an occasion when he saw an elderly woman in need of assistance to carry her firewood home. He saw her struggling with the suggestion when he offered to help. "She told me she was grateful for my offer, but that I am so small, that I should not carry for her, I quickly objected and told her: I am small, but strong." Another participant, Christina, who visited a local boarding school with little resources, gave her impression of the reactions she received during her visit. "We brought with us simple presents such as toys, candy, pencils and pens. They were so happy and we could see the joy in their eyes." The participants each expressed the real joy they felt at bringing happiness to the lives of others.
Mary Dagesyan, the project coordinator, highlights what she sees as most important. "We help the children be aware of the opportunities to help others. The positive responses they get show them the value of helping. The appreciation of their work inspires them to continue, builds their self-confidence and shows them the important part they can play in society."
At the final gathering in January which marked the end of the pilot project, Mary explained that one of the goals is "to show these young people that they have many allies in their aspiration toward humanity. By sharing presentations, pictures and their essays from their projects, we hope they will maintain the spirit and continue by passing these values on to their peers."
The Armenia Red Cross has found it extremely encouraging to see how quickly and easily these children adopted the Red Cross spirit of humanity and went out to help others. Simply by facilitating discussion about humanitarian values, and helping them to see the effect that simple assistance can make to the lives of others, their attitudes have changed towards life and society. The proof can be seen in their desire to go on providing assistance.
There has been a lot of excitement around this pilot tells Katarina Vardanyan, Head, Youth Department, Armenia Red Cross. ”This pilot was created to test the concept and see how it would work in Armenia. To discover if volunteers want to go to schools and share our values of humanity, if the pupils want this program, and is the community ready to receive support from such young humanitarians?" After the final gathering her questions were answered: " I have received so many phone calls from parents, teachers, and volunteers who praised the program and want it to continue. The positive response has greatly exceeded our expectations ".
The youth of the Armenia Red Cross are hoping to be able to continue, and if possible expand this pilot project to other communities over the coming months and years.
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| This pilot project, organized by the Armenia Red Cross youth untilized the peer-to-peer approach to help develop the next generation of humanitarians / Trygve Utstumo, Norwegian Red Cross |
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During the project, young participants had the opportunity to discuss issues that affect their own communities / Trygve Utstumo, Norwegian Red Cross
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Group picture of participants at Tsaghkatsor event / Trygve Utstumo, Norwegian Red Cross
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One of the activites was focused on IHL, and took the form of a role play / Trygve Utstumo, Norwegian Red Cross
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At the conclusion of the project, the young participants received a diplomaa in recognition of the efforts they had made / Trygve Utstumo, Norwegian Red Cross
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