2 – 10 July 2008: UNICEF holds another peace and tolerance camp in North Caucasus
Oksana Fedorova, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Russia, visited the camp In a region that have been shaped by ethnic tensions for decades UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) organized a peace and tolerance camp for kids from all over North Caucasus. “Often children come to the camp with the notion that their peers from other regions are very different – says the Head of North Caucasus UNICEF office Rashed Mustafa – But then they meet the kids at the camp and realize they are just like themselves. Back home, they will talk of this to their parents and friends and that is already something”. More than 200 kids from seven regions of North Caucasus (Republic of Dagestan, Chechen Republic, Republic of Ingushetia, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, Stavropol Kray and Karachaevo-Cherkessia) attended the “Unite for Peace” camp on the Caspian shore near the town of Izberbash (Dagestan) from 2 to 10 July 2008. The summer camp is one of the components of the UNICEF Peace and Tolerance Program in North Caucasus. UNICEF has been running this program since 2005 in close collaboration with local government. Five-day peace and tolerance training was conducted by experienced trainers, psychologists and teachers. The kids also had a chance to enjoy various contests and performances and, of course, lots of sunbathing and swimming. "The main objective of the camp – for the kids to become friends with each other and to dispel stereotypes about other nationalities – has been achieved, said Rashed Mustafa, The camp was successful thanks largely to the support of the North Caucasus regional governments and our partners." If for the first few days the organizers' phones were ringing off the hook because of worried parents' calls, later on they were only getting thank-you calls.
14-year old Tsezar from Beslan (North Ossetia) says that “to become friends with the kids from the neighboring republics he is willing to study their culture and traditions”. The closing ceremony and concert was prepared by the children and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Oksana Fedorova, famous TV host, winner of the Miss Universe 2002 contest. Oksana engaged one on one with the kids, signed autographs on UNICEF t-shirts, and learned to dance lezginka – a traditional Caucasus dance. Oksana says: "I felt that I was thrown into a whirlwind of children's smiles and embraces. I have neither received nor given so much energy in a long time". Oksana also noted that she is "proud of her work with UNICEF that does good for the children through projects like this." For the first time, children with special needs participated in the camp. Ms. Fedorova says that "this camp and UNICEF’s inclusive education projects have shown that children with special needs can and should participate in community life". Marha Djavtaeva, one of the trainers/psychologists who has been working with the peace and tolerance program already for four years, says that the camp “gives children a unique opportunity not just to make new friends, but develop as a person. Children with low self-esteem or underdeveloped social skills can express themselves in a new way, show their true identities”. Elena Rubayeva, a trainer from North Ossetia, says that many kids from Beslan, who, according to their parents, before coming to the camp were rather reserved, became much more social upon their return. 15-year old Karina from Kaspiysk is an “emo” fan, she asked everyone to call her by her moniker “Any” instead of her real name. Magomed, one of the camp volunteers, says that the camp “taught to respect not only people of other nationality or religion, but also those of the same religion and even nationality but still different in their world view, opinions, lifestyle”. _______________________________________________
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