Youth Camp in Switzerland
On July 17, 2011 international youth camp «Meeting the World: Swiss Youth Camp» was launched. Green Cross Switzerland was the organizer of the camp. It was implemented due to partial financing by the EU exchange programme Youth in Action. It enabled to realize and conduct the camp for children and young people. There were representatives from Italy (Palermo), Switzerland, as well as children and young people from Russia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine, which suffered from the Chernobyl accident.
Organizers and Green Cross national organizations, project partners and participants of this event have done great and important work for the Youth camp to take place.
The camp was held for 21 days in Switzerland. Children had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and fresh air of the Alps, drink crystal-clear water and eat natural, nourishing and useful eco-products. For more than two weeks, children and young people lived in the small resort town called Lenk, which was located in Bern canton in the picturesque countryside of high mountains. The children took part in workshops on various topics such as art, culture and cultural diversity, ecology. The issue of sustainable economic development, energy, climate conditions and ways of solving problems were also raised during workshops. Also participants of the Youth Camp addressed the topic of Chernobyl, and how to live with radiation in everyday life. Every participant received a lot of interesting and useful information. They expressed their thoughts and emotions while drawing thematic posters, playing games and singing songs.
The atmosphere was unique in Lenk. Representatives of different nationalities gathered under one roof, but they always found common language very easily, because they shared much in common. All the participants should be lucky enough to take part in Youth Camp there. They learned many interesting things about each other and established good friendly relations. Children will never forget Lenk but always keep in memory hiking, mountains and waterfall trips, as well as visiting cheese dairy. Camp participants were invited to the celebration and activities that were held on August 1. It was the great national holiday - 720 years of Swiss Confederation. Children were making night lanterns with joy and enthusiasm. Then they took part in night procession along the town together with representatives of local community and municipality. In addition, all members of the Youth Camp were grateful to the people who welcomed them in Lenk and provided services during their stay there. It is Director of holiday homes and his hardworking team. 
Children and young people visited small town called Wimmis, where they met local youth and spent an unforgettable day filled with fellowship, fun, joint sport activities, dancing and workshop.
Participants also visited Bern twice. During the first time they participated in a press conference held at the media centre of National Federal house. Then Executive Director of Green Cross Switzerland invited them to the lunch. That day children and youth saw a local garden, park, where three bears inhabited. Children walked around the city and made a lot of photos. The second time all participants of the camp were invited to the Open-air, which took place on July 29 in front of Federal Palace at the main square in Bern. Children were on the scene, where they sang old and beautiful song in Swiss-German.
Trip to Geneva was informative and full of fun. The participants visited International Green Cross Headquarter and the Palace of Nations. During the meetings, they learned a lot, gained invaluable experience and advice.
In a few days after visiting Geneva, all the participants went together in Neuchatel. This was an amazing place. It was located in the French speaking part of Switzerland. History revived around. The ancient architecture, palaces, monuments, parks and fountains, lovely streets and greenery was all around. Huge lake with clear blue water was charming and fascinating. It was one of the city symbols. And we thought that the citizens themselves kept something from their ancestors in their mind and hearts. Children, their group leaders and organizers had a sightseeing tour around the city. They saw all the museums and met with the mayor of Neuchatel. Some journalists took interview, made photos. Children enjoyed this day very much.
At the end of the camp and stay in Switzerland, all members of the Youth Camp moved to live in Zurich. During the last few days there were interesting workshops. It was meeting with young people, representatives of Youth Parliaments Horgen and Oberaargau. They shared their experiences with children, discussed interesting topics and raised the issue of democracy and human rights. Each group had the opportunity to go for a walk in Zurich, visited the world-famous street, where the Swiss banks and expensive boutiques are situated.
This vacation will stay in memory for a lifetime. New acquaintances and friends, communication with people from different countries, meetings with interesting and influential people from Switzerland, educational workshops and roundtable discussions, field trips, beautiful bright pictures of unique places in Switzerland, fresh air of the Alps, the purity of water and, of course, wonderful and kind residents.
Children did not want to come back home places and leave each other. Last day was full of tears and joy and many other good things. Everyone who became a member of this camp, certainly took back home a tiny piece of warmth and wisdom, which the organizers gave to them in Switzerland.
Green Cross Ukraine is very grateful to all organizers, colleagues and partners from Green Cross Switzerland for the significant work which they implemented to conduct Youth Camp successfully and for young people from Ukraine and other countries to be able to take part.
