Do you see what I see?

Intercultural exchange at the International Study and Friendship Camp.

von Philipp PECHHACKER und Gregor UNGER

Welcome to Langenlois


If you are interested in getting to know foreign countries and cultures, you should apply for the International Study and Friendship Camp, organized by the Austrian Youth Red Cross.

Every summer in July, about 50 people from all over the world meet in Langenlois, a town in Lower Austria, to share their cultures and ideas in different workshops, information groups and discussions. The participants of the camp, who have never met before, get in close contact with each other and become friends. From the first day on, we work on prejudices and stereotypes.

In an activity called “Do you see what I see” participants are asked to write down everything that comes to mind about the participating countries. This activity leads to many discussions, and people reconsider their prejudices. At the end of the activity, people whose countries really are in confl ict rethink such habits. For example, Turkish and Greek Cypriots become friends. Intercultural exchange deepens through workshops and international pubs.

Games and workshops
During the International Study and Friendship Camp, participating delegations are allocated their own day. As part of this day’s program, national games are played and workshops are held on activities such as teaching a national dance, cooking a nationaldish or teaching the language. In short, national habits and cultural specialties are shown to bring cultural exchange to life. Can you imagine the delegations of Armenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Iraq and Kuwait dancing the “Sirtaki” together? Those and similar moments only arise at the Friendship Camp in Langenlois.

Focus on study
As mentioned, we fi rstly focus on “study” during the camp. Speeches about different Red Cross/Red Crescent issues are held by invited speakers who have worked for the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement. Information groups about the history of the movement, the fundamental principles of the associations and disaster relief are just a few examples of what the camp offers. Besides this, participants have time to discuss what they do in their national Red Cross/Red Crescent societies. Many ideas for new projects and working fields are collected during these sessions. Participants are divided into four groups and are given the opportunity to work on the camp’s theme.

The “games group” designs games such as “Trivial Pursuit” with Red Cross/Red Crescent related questions. The “creative arts group” provides giveaways and decorations for the Festival of Nations, while the “media group” writes the Final Report in which all the activities held during the two weeks are collected. The “promotion group” organizes the Festival of Nations, which takes place at the end of the camp. Here the outcome of the camp is presented. The inhabitants of Langenlois have the opportunity to make close contact with delegates from countries that they may onlyknow from vacation. The big event that brings the camp to a fantastic end continues with an international buffet and a big party, where everybody celebrates the great time they all had. After two wonderful weeks, it is time to say goodbye. Because longterm friendships are instigated during the camp, the farewells are full of tears and hopes of meeting these wonderful people again… somewhere, some time. In the end, we don’t see each other as strangers anymore but as close friends who share special moments at a unique camp – the International Study and Friendship Camp of the Austrian Youth Red Cross!

If you are interested in participating in the International Study and Friendship Camp in Langenlois, Lower Austria, please contact your national branch or the Youth Service.