Once upon a time, early morning at 9.30, sleepy kids and their parents waited for us at the meeting point – in front of the Central railway station. Still sleepy but contented kids, got into the buses and started the trip.
And their sad parents waved and followed with their eyes to them for a long time. It was the great beginning of our wonderful workcamp – yes, our workcamp was wonderful, we had everything – The warm sun, the water in lakes for swimming, the wonderful nature around and, of course, the marvelous participants.

Our marvelous kids were so different – some of them were difficult and sharp, some – kind and cheery, and after the workcamp we became to be a one big family. We are still in a contact with this kids, we are meet them frequently and they call us often, and lot of them had started to be active in “New Group” activities and projects. Together we are fill ourselves very comfortable and lightly, like with the youngest brothers and sisters.

At the beginning we called them “difficult teenagers”, “the teenagers from unhappy families”, which had behavior deviation and perpetrated the crimes. Now we completely assured that we are creating the “monsters” from such kids and afterwards we called them “difficult”.

We are (parents) not giving to them enough attention, we are always hurrying and don’t have enough time for them, we are not interesting where they are? With whom they are? And how they are at the moment? How they are spending their free time? what kind of interests do they have? And even, what type of music do they like? And they are really active in this period of live – “teenagering”. They are not sitting at the one place, the are constantly in the process of searching of something new they are permanently creating something, contrive something and just have a fun. And they need us!!!

There are 36 participants were in the workcamp, and 24 of them were kids. Every day was marked by following thematic blocks:

Leadership,

Conflict resolution,

Team Building,

Social inclusion,

Antiracism and xenophobia,

Decision making & sharing responsibilities,

Effective communication,

Human Rights,

For implementations all blocks, were used different interactive methods with games, discussions and reflections. We also had Debates, where kids learnt how to defend their own opinion, how to lead the dialog and they also trained the skill of convince others. At the same time during the camp were made numerous of Big Games: the treasure hunt, the submarine, the tribes on island and etc., but not only for studying but also for fun!!!

The one of the important aspects of this camp was the learning of foreign languages. With the great help of international volunteers were organized the language courses of English, German and Spanish (basic level). Due this courses were showed up the big problem of Belarusian kids – that most of them do not speak any foreign languages. (even the problem of kids, who are learnt English in Post-Soviet countries, is that in Soviet Times the educational system was not for learning foreign languages, but only for making outward appearance that this process is going on in Soviet Countries.) So, lot of kids, who not traveled further than Poland, and they are even did not think, that knowledge of English (or other foreign languages) can be useful.

They complained that at school they have bad teachers of foreign languages, or that during the year were changed 4 teachers of foreign languages at their school, or that they do not why they are need it. But after this foreign language courses children started to interest in learning foreign languages, and I think, that we high up their motivation in this field. We also very grateful to our international volunteers for patience and creativity in preparing foreign language classes In camp we also had sport actions – football and volleyball games, and also the water competitions in the lake. Also for all kids were very marketable the personal presentation of the international volunteers – Swiss songs, chocolate and amazing Swiss dinner were accep with delight by all participants. And next day we got acquaintance with Scotlan: with traditions and tasty dinner. And also very important were common evenings near the fire, with games and just talks.

On our view this project is very important for building civil society in Belarus, because the target group of the project (the kids from 7 up to 16 years old) are not associated young people. They are not members of any pro-state organizations. Also at this age their self-consciousness is not spoiled by external influence of anybody and not spoiled by social conditions of Belarus. It shows the alternative for kids, and througn this we are giving the chance for this kids to have the choice and we are creating the preconditions for forming active civil position - we are creating the future! You see, how we will upbringing the children today – such future we will receive tomorrow!!! And the most important is that due to this camp “New Group” got more young active initiative volunteers – and in future leaders of organization !!!