Blumont and the Duhok Organization for Volunteer Youth (DOVY) coordinated a camping trip in Duhok, Iraq, bettering perspectives of social diversity and creating a friendly, unifying environment.
With the massive number of displaced persons rising in Duhok, social tension has inevitably spread due to differences in culture, language and even religion. In order to combat the hostile attitudes, DOVY, under the supervision of Blumont, organized a five-day camping trip where 24 young boys and girls were able to participate in entertaining activities such as singing and dancing together.
For many, this was the first time they could forget all their miseries and struggles and finally feel free to enjoy the fun and friendship inspiring activities the camping trip offered.
After the camping project by DOVY, a group of the young beneficiaries organized a snow trip. They called everyone who participated in the camping project, and also invited DOVY staff members to join them for the trip. They were of different ages, genders, religions, ethnicities, communities, cultures and languages, yet none of these facts stood as a challenge or obstacle against their communication and ability to have a good time together. They played, sang, danced, took photos and shared memories, and at the end of the day they suggested organizing another trip in the near future, and this time each one of them plans to bring a friend along.
Ahmad, one of DOVY’s project beneficiaries said, “The feeling I had on this trip was different for me, the environment was different, it was friendly and peaceful. We participated in the camping project not knowing anyone, and we ended up becoming close friends, from IDPs and refugees, friends who are Yazidis and Christians.”
Mevan, another beneficiary, said, “This project and the trip helped me to be more optimistic in life, express my opinion and respect others, and try to know and understand others, especially youths.”
A third participant, Mustafa, said “We as refugees struggled a lot, which made me feel depressed and changed me into a pessimistic person. I felt anxious whenever contacting surrounding people as some of them treated me in a bad way. But this has changed after the camping trip, now I believe more and trust more in people without differentiating in language or religion. I know how to deal with them and not generalize them just because a few treated me unkindly.”
The five-day camping trip was part of the Community Cohesion in Duhok (CCD) program and was funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to promote coexistence and social cohesion.
Blumont works with DOVY as a part of the Community Cohesion in Duhok (CCD) program to better establish social relations and restore social trust in the Duhok community.
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