Show Racism the Red Card camp success

Intercultural Summer Camp of Show Racism the Red Card – a great success Pictured: participants and volunteers at SRTRC Camp 2013The 4th Annual Intercultural Summer Camp took place in Ghleann Cholmcille, Co Donegal from 18th – 24th August. There were participants there for the first time and others there for the fourth time.Young people came from Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and were from different backgrounds. The volunteers were from Dublin, Belfast, Spain, Russia, Ukraine and Somalia.It was a busy week will a mix of fun outdoors activities, language and intercultural learning as well as seminars promoting awareness of racism.ActivitiesIn the morning of each day, participants had the opportunity to learn Russian, Spanish, Swahili and Ukrainian languages. They also learned dances from Ireland, Russia and Spain and how to make Ukrainian food such as vereniki.Each evening, volunteers and young people delivered presentations of their cultural backgrounds. Presentations were given from Newcastle in England, North Belfast, Republic of Ireland, Russia and Spain.SRTRC hosted anti-racism educational workshops and delivered activities to promote learning around the experience of racism. These activities included the game ‘bureaucracy’ as well as team building and communication games.The location of Ghleann Cholmcille is among the most spectacular in Ireland. Our camp took full advantage with trips to the local folk village and beaches such as Silver Strand and Ghleann Cholmcille itself as well as the coasteering activity, which is lots of fun.Of course, there were challenges but our volunteers and young people got on well. New relationships were built between young people who would not have otherwise met. Lots of fun was had by all.Launch of Youth AmbassadorsA meeting was held at the camp to present the Youth Ambassador Programme of SRTRC. Since that meeting 12 young people who attended the camp have singed up to be Youth Ambassadors.The programme will involve young people promoting the programmes and camp of SRTRC to ensure it is even more successful next year. Young people will literally be ambassadors for SRTRC in their schools and wider community.www.theredcard.ie/ambassador.php www.facebook.com/srtrcireland www.twitter.com/theredcard