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Lake Baikal Project 2011 Improves Pedestrian Trails
Written by UPF - Russia
Friday, July 22, 2011
Slyudyanka, Russia - On the train going west from Irkutsk, we shared impressions and photos with each other as we returned home from Lake Baikal full of memories of close relationships with the nature and its people formed as we built a pedestrian bridge and explored the beauties of this UNESCO World Heritage Site July 9-22.
We are coordinators of the Baikal project, Evgeny Skvortsov; assistant coordinator and cook, Tatyana Turchaninova; and a participant, Maria Skvortsova. A few days ago, the first shift of the project ended. The second shift started, with team leaders Evgeny Rakityansky and Ralif Galiyev taking up the leadership in building one more bridge and organizing a walking tour.
The first shift of the Baikal project gathered together 11 people. Renat Gubaidullin from Nizhnevartovsk represented the volunteer center of his native city, and Nadezhda Nizhegorodtseva from Chita is the deputy chair of the Open Association of Volunteer Teams “GorodOk.” Other participants came to the project with the desire to become volunteers.
During the first part of the project we planned to build crossings over the Slyudyanka River and repair the adjacent lengths of the tourist path that offers access to the unique spots of the Baikal nature to thousands of tourists from the whole world. This time, volunteers built the eighth crossing, in the form of a 14-meter pedestrian bridge. The building process took five days.
Here are some comments of the participants:
On July 10, we had a detailed orientation and a discussion about volunteerism; then, right at the prospective construction site we considered the best place to build the bridge, and responsibilities of the project participants. (Maria Skvortsova)
On July 11, regardless of the rain, we actively set about building the bridge. (Roman Mingazhev)
Even laying stones appeared to be a rather interesting task; here you begin considering possible options. (Maria Skvortsova)
On July 12, our guys moved logs. Today I singled out Renat and Roman for their responsible attitude. (Evgeny Rakityansky)
The owner should do everything the best way possible, and I wanted that day to do as much as possible; so I stayed behind to finish sawing the logs for deck. (Ralif Galiyev)
Today our girls were removing bark from the logs for the first time. Our hands were soiled with tar, but the clean logs looked so beautiful! After dinner we decided to come back and continue stripping bark. But on reflection, we decided to finish up on the spot and then have dinner and take a rest. It was our own choice and it was also in accordance with our day’s purpose – developing an “owner’s attitude.” (Nadezhda Nizhegorodtseva)
During break time I went to clean the area of debris, collected firewood, helped our cook, and arranged our tools. Being the owner, you must do even such kinds of minor work. (Evgeny Skvortsov)
I wanted to move a log without getting my feet wet. But looking at others, I stepped into the water and joined my friends dragging a log through the water. It was a good moment, a team spirit. (Renat Gubaidullin)
While dragging a log I was thinking about our goal (team work). Then came Ralif, and our group of three joined in. The work went on. (Evgeny Rakityansky)
On July 14, the final stage of fixing the bridge started. We connected the two parts of the bridge. (Evgeny Rakityansky)
I wanted to do as much as possible. So, after dinner I returned to my work and made crossbeams. I didn’t want to leave for tomorrow the work that could have been done on the same day. Moreover, I hoped that someone else would get inspired and join me. (Ralif Galiev)
I am building a bridge and tourist paths, and I want to see them properly built! May be I’m doing something that is unnecessary? Only those who cannot share my dream, who have no life purpose, might think so. I’m ready to move heavy stones and lay out secure paths for people unknown to me. (Evgeny Skvortsov)
Today I was hammering nails, moving stones, laying out the path, debarking logs, collecting litter, etc. I was surprised to see how much one could accomplish during one day. (Nadezhda Nizhegorodtseva)
The bridge was completed on time. On July 16, participants went to the mountains for a four-day educational program that consisted of discussions, trainings, studies, and visiting wonderful local scenic spots.
On July 17 we came to the Heart Lake. That day thick mist covered the area. On our way up we watched the changing of the relief and vegetation. After the rich green grass and flowers on the mountain meadows we saw cedars on the mountain slope and then – only stones covered by multicolored lichen. The visibility range was no more than ten meters. We could move forward only because we knew our route quite well. Then we came up to the bank, where we could dip into the life-giving lake waters. (Renat Gubaidullin)
I think that the name Heart Lake was given not for nothing. And the clouds of mist in which we were floating in will remain in my memory forever. It was our symbolic Way of Heart. (Maria Skvortsova)
Participants visited other beautiful spots in the northwest part of the Hamar-Daban mountain range, including waterfalls on the Podkomarnaya River.
The educational program was the highlight of the project. There were two aspects:
- Before the main events, the participants were given an opportunity to take on part of the responsibility for organizing and conducting the project. Fulfilling important tasks is a way to become a co-initiator.
- The definition of the purpose of each day, the morning reading of literary works, and writing and reading comments. We read excerpts from two literary sources: Letters to My Son by the Ukrainian pedagogue Sukhomlinsky and The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino. The books teach morals, purposefulness, values, and respect for others. The purpose of the day stimulated us to analyze our everyday attitude and personal growth.
The educational program included lectures, discussions, and training sessions. The main themes were the volunteers’ personal growth and a value oriented approach to volunteerism.
One day our day purpose was to reflect on the phrase “I am a peacemaker!” Participants divided into three groups, representing religions, government, and civil society. They engaged in role-playing the “principles of peace.” During the game, young people formulated “five principles of peace.”
Sitting around the campfire, we talked about peace, our future, and the development of the Baikal project. The next day we went back to Slyudanka. We made our way back over the stones, paths, and bridges including the “New Beginning Bridge” the one that was built by us. That gave us a chance to make a step forward towards realizing our life mission. I wish everybody well on this way!
For more information [in Russian], see www.youthfederation.ru.
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