Pokrovskoye, Russia - Within the framework of the volunteer project “City helps the village” initiated by the Women’s Federation for World Peace, the fourth training-seminar for children on the theme of “The Magic Land” took place June 13 to 15 in the village of Pokrovskoye. The goal of the event was spiritual and moral education through practicing of moral values in different kinds of activity, including talks, interactive communication, games, sports contests, good deeds, analysis and self-analysis, singing songs, and staging skits. The initiators tried to make the programs informative, instructive, and creative with elements of a game.
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The children’s interest and enthusiastic attitude proved that the event was a success. Each year, the number of participants is growing, and not because of rotation. Before, the children in the camp were younger; this year, new campers were 8-9 years old, and participants of the previous programs who decided to come again were ages 11-14. Altogether there were 20 children. It was a valuable opportunity for them to create a united and friendly team; the elders helped and supported the younger children.
During the training program, children had master-classes in modern handicrafts (flowers made of organza, and folk and energy dolls); the elder children participated in the games “Contact” and “Ungame.” Cleaning the natural springs and helping volunteers improve the grounds for a future park in the center of the village have been typical service activities by the local children. This year the children learned about Youth Ambassadors for Peace and UPF's South Caucasus Peace Initiative. Inspired, they decided to make a personal contribution to the “Urals – Georgia: We’ll Be Friends” project. They learned about the history of the project and then wrote letters to “unknown friends” and sent hand-made gifts to their Georgian peers.
The children were inspired by classes on danger of smoking and drugs and wrote poetry on these issues. The best poems will be displayed on the school display about “Fighting drug addiction.”
In conclusion, a friendly “Play Football Make Peace” match was held on the school football field. Two teams of 8 to 14-year-old children played a hotly-contested game. The winner could be determined only by penalty kicks. All children received prizes and diplomas; they were very happy. Finally, as a token of friendship and according to the tradition of games of the kind, the winners carried the losers in their arms to the school building.
The Women’s Federation for World Peace and UPF Ural chapter would like to express their gratitude to the initiators and pioneers of the project: O.V. Vorobyova, Ambassador for Peace, teacher of the primary school, leader of the school ecological party, the leading and committed inspirer and supporter; L. Guzenko and D. Klimin, volunteers from Yekaterinburg; new participants-volunteers of the project: L. Kuklina, a colleague from Perm and president of the Women’s Federation for World Peace in Perm; and N. Yedunova and Ryabtsev, volunteers from Yekaterinburg. A special appreciation is offered to the director of school #4, Pokrovskoye, T.A. Nekhonov.
The program was bright, informative, and interesting. During the three days, the participants became good friends and they decided to come back in the autumn to this village for a short program; next year, they will again meet in the camp program.