The Way To Norway

The District Annual Hjelpe Korps First Aids Competition

2010-04-30T02:58:00.000-07:00

Last weekend on the 24th of April I went to Molde to attend the District annual Hjelpe Korps First Aids competition, but actually we reached there one day before the competition. There were (6) groups from different parts of the district participating.

Groups gathering abd the last instructions

All groups are ready for the competition

The entire participants got an orientation session a day before then they got the plans and instructions papers and guide lines in Molde Red Cross House by “Trond Inge” and “Irene Kvangarsnes” from the District office.

Trond Inge doing the orientation for the groups at the Red Cross House in Molde

Irene explaning the competition rules to group

The idea of the competition is to refresh the knowledge of the participants of the groups in First Aids program every year. The (3) winning groups will get the prizes.

Langevøg group declaring the challenge to other groups

Me and Irene before the competition starts

The Ambulance we use to spervise the groups

All the participant groups should pass through (10) points in which they should give the First Aids service to wounded people in different cases. These points distributed in different places in Molde Sentrum. The winning group will be that one who collects more points.

Part of the competition practical activities

First Aids for a person after they took him fom the Sea

First Aids to stab wound patient

It was so interesting thing that to follow the groups from place to another and see them giving the help.

First Aids during car accident

First Aids for lost people

At the end of the day we had dinner together with all participants in a nice restaurant where the (3) won groups (Rauma, Kristiansund and Langeråg).

Rauma group the first winner of the competition

Other groups recieving their presents

Amazingly I won small prize in the lottery that was done during the small party.

I am.. the lucky guy who won the lottery

The Annual Meeting in Geironger

2010-04-28T05:34:00.000-07:00

The annual meeting of Møre og Romsdal Red Cross is special occasion for the district office staff and for the entire local youth groups.

Union Hotel

Usually it holds on the last week of April of every year. This year it was at the 16th, 17th and the 18th of April but the preparations started long time before.

The annual meeting got this importance because it is the only one chance for all the members from the different parts of the district to meet together; moreover it holds in Geironger, small tourist town in the western part of Norway in the region called Sunnmøre in the municipality of Stranda.

Nice ciene from Geironger

Geiranger is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

Brittt Elli from the youth and Sivert

The Gathering During The Elections

At the first day we reached “Hotel Union” and booked in. the next day the program started after breakfast. All youths gathered in the meeting room for a presentation about the International Humanitarian Low (IHL) by Benedicte Olsen. It included many points and group discussion.

Benedicte Oslen During the Presentation

The elections of the district border took place to choose the new office. Brit Eli was chosen to represent the youths.

Børge Brande with me after the Elections

Børge Brende, the general secretary of the Norwegian Red Cross talked about the achievements of the Red Cross during the previous period and talked about the efforts exerted during Haiti disaster and thanked all the Red Cross members for what they had done.

Me & Lemi Chris During Our presentation

During the day me and my co-delegate had a presentation about what we have done during our stay in Norway in Møre og Romsdal District, then we played nice movie of some pictures of our activities.

Dinna Time Before the Party

At night it was nice Dinner we had, as Børge Brande honouered Elisabet Lønset for her great efforts with the poor families activites. After Dinner we all enjoyed the night party. Hope if I can attend the annual meeting next year, but actually I will be home Sudan.

Børge Brande Hounering Elisabet

Molde På Flukt

2010-04-14T02:16:00.000-07:00

The “På Flukt” Role Play is one of the most important activities in the Norwegian Red Cross Youth Program. It is a good experience for the youths and volunteers to feel the hard life and suffering of the refuges when they start their journey from their countries to another country seeking peace and a better life.

Group pictor for the facilitators

During the Role play the participants act as refugees, and the facilitators play different roles as soldiers or migration office staff. They treat participants quite rough, typically like the normal treatment that refugees experience by soldiers and officials – both outside, in the nature as well as the migration office.

Different roles for participants.. me , Margret, Mari and Tone in soldiers role.

More than 80 participants Red Cross members and 20 facilitators attended the “På Flukt” plat in Molde in Møre og Romsdal District in Norway, between the 26th - 28th of March.

The participants before the På Flukt.

I had been invited as a youth delegate to participate in this program by Matilde Etholm, the coordinator of the På Flukt play. It was my 3rd participation in this role play, but this time I participated as a facilitator and not as a refugee like the others. This time it was a long På Flukt play, running for 24 hours.

Matilde Etholm, the coordinator explaining the program

In the first day in Molde all the facilitators gathered together for arrangements and to give everyone their roles. I had three roles, the first one to be one of the staff of the migration office, then guide for the refugees to the refugee’s camp in a long journey about two hours of walking. My last role was to guard the participants after they finished the program during their sleeping.

Facilitator meeting at the first day to give them their roles

The day of the play was on the 27th of March. All the participants came and were distributed into families and soon started their journey as refugees moving from Somalia to Norway.

Ida in the role of Somalian lady.

During this long journey they passed through many stages before reaching the refugee camp, which were already organized by the facilitator to look like a real one. There they spent a horrible night and slept in a very cold rainy weather.

Teah and Mari arranging for their roles

There were about (17) participants stopped and discontinued the program after they reached the refugees camps because of the bad weather and exhaustion.

Cold and hard weather for the participants.

The next day we had the breakfast with all the participants and discussed the events of the På Flukt play and thanked everyone for their participation.

The participants having their breakfast with the facilitator at the last day.

Absolutely it was an additional experience for me to add during my mission in Norway working for the Youth Exchange Program.

I am.. the bad soldier..

Ålesund Weekend Course

2010-03-30T16:52:00.000-07:00

Ålesund weekend course was the first big and important activity that was achieved after establishing the local youth group there. Actually we prepared the course mainly for the new members to join them with the Red Cross activities and to feel the voluntary feeling and its fundamental principles.

The Participant of the Course

Otherwise we want them also to get some experiences from the other youth delegates from Nepal, Rwanda and our contact person “Lotte Katborg” the co-ordinator of the program.

Lotte and Durga Fixing The Comment

The course was hold on the period between the 5th – 7th of March in Vandrerhjemmet Hostel in Ålesund Sentrum, close to the Red Cross House of Ålesund local youth group.

Vandrerhjemmet Hostel in Ålesund Sentrum

We sent invitations to all the local youth groups to participate in the course with their volunteers. We had 7 groups.The total number of people who attended the course was 21 participants, the Rwandese youth delegates (Kenneth and Fify) from Lillestrøm an Nepali youth delegates (Sajan and Durga) from Arendal.

Part of The Profram

Lotte Katborg, Astrid Lindvik Velsvik “the youth leader in the district”, one from Volda, 2 from Ørsta, 3 from Molde and 8 from Ålesund included 3 from the asylum centre also were there. We invited some other youths from the asylum centre, but they also apologized the same day of the course.

Lotte and some of The Participants

The first day of the course started with welcoming and checking in for the participants. Social evening activities were done by youth delegates from Arendal and Lillestrom.

Me and The Rwandese and Nepali Youth Delegates

The second day me and my co-delegate had a presentation about Ålesund local youth group and what we have done and our strategy for the coming period. Active choice presentation and some games were done by the Rwandese youth delegates as well as we had enjoyed the Rwandese nice traditional dance that Fifi did.

Rwandese Youth Delegates During their Presentation

Astrid also talked about Red Cross school. Then it was Volda participation by Espen. The participants distributed into groups after gave them a news paper. Each group was supposed to use the pictures and the headlines and letters of the news paper to write an article about one of the activities of the Red Cross.

Astrid and Ruben Distriputing Posts Carts

Rules of war and the International Humanitarian Low were presented by Britt Eli, the leader of Ålesund local youth group.

The last day was completely about the human trafficking by the Nepali youth delegates, who are very skilled and have a lot of experiences about this activity.

Nepalese Youth Delegates During Human Trafficking Presentation

The Social Program of The Asylum Centre

2010-03-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

The social program for the asylum centre people is one of the activities we recently prepared and organized to minimize the stressful situations they feel, as they are living now away from their families and friends.
The Idea of this program is to prepare recreational programs for the asylum centre’s people such as social gatherings, visiting bowling centre, pizza or visiting one of the parks.

Mueiz traying to throw the ball

In Ålesund we have two asylum centers. One is in the Sentrum and the second one is in Moa. We visited the two places and met the asylum seekers there to arrange the program with them. There are more than 35 persons in the two centers but the majority of them are males. We could not find specific number for that because they move from place to another inside Norway, or out of it.

Pizza Of The Day.

On Sunday 13th of January we prepared the first social program for 13 of the asylum seekers, 3 girls and 10 guys. First we went to the bowling centre. We had a nice time there playing and talking. After that we went together to have pizza at one of the restaurants.

Me And Jack At The Bowling Centre

Actually it was a nice thing that we went together with those people and talked with them, and also it is good for them to recreate themselves instead of the stressed time they spend usually during their waiting for their paper and the permission to live in Norway. We noticed that they were very happy also with the program.

Unsuccessful Try of me

Unfortunately we were planning to do the same for the second group of the asylum centre seekers but we couldn’t do it according to financial causes, as we discussed it with our contact person at the office, but hope we can do it during the coming period.

Abdollatif In Action

Haiti Earthquake

2010-02-23T09:48:00.000-08:00

Haiti is large island in the region of the western Atlantic Ocean that later came to be known as the Caribbean Sea. It discovered by the European navigator Christopher Columbus in December 5, 1492.

Part of the damage in Haiti

Me and Torun, one of the rescue team members during the stand

On Tuesday, 12 January 2010 and the days after horrible earthquakes occurred n Hait a lot of people were injured, some died and others lost their houses and live without shelter, food and medical care. Communication systems, air, land, and sea transport facilities, hospitals, and electrical networks had been damaged by the earthquake, which hampered rescue and aid efforts; confusion over who was in charge, air traffic congestion, and problems with prioritization of flights further complicated early relief work.

Hanne, youth delegate in Columbia last between Alesund youth group members

Many countries responded to appeals for humanitarian aid, pledging funds and dispatching rescue and medical teams, engineers and support personnel.

Stand in Ålesund with the new member’s.

According to that tragic situation we in Ålesund local youth group in Møre og Romsdal Red Cross started to collect some money to send it to Haiti in order to help affected people there.

Some of the asylum centre members

Our first stand was in the Ålesund, the Sentrum on 18th of January in the evening. We were nine members holding the money boxes for donation. Within two hours we collected more than six thousand Norwegian Kroner. But at the second stand on Friday 22nd the total amount of money collected was 16 thousand Norwegian Kroner with less than two hours only. This reflects that people want to help and support the tragic situation.

Part of the concert in Ålesund

We also participated in another program to collect some money for Haiti, a concert prepared privately by “Webjorn Brogotad” and “Ropert Post”, to persons from Ålesund in collaborated with Møre og Romsdal Red Cross. It was on the 28th of January. There were different participants, singers’, dramatics. It was very nice, we enjoyed it.

Part of the concert in Ålesund

Although it was small amount of money that we collected but we felt good because we helped the affected people of Haiti and involved our new member in our activities and they were so active during this programs.

Part of the concert programs in Ålesund

Førde Youth Conference

2010-02-12T17:12:00.000-08:00

I started the New Year of 2010 in Norway by my second travel out of the Møre og Romsdal District, in witch i visited Førde in the Sogn og Fjordane District. My first visit was to Tromso last October.

The bus of the trip.

We got an invitation from the Red Cross youth co-coordinator of the district Red Cross in Førde, Christian Vik to attend the youth conference on the 15th – 17th of last January. My co-delegate Lemi Chris was ill, so I had to go there alone and do a presentation about being youth delegate and the activities we do in Norway.

First trip to i went without my co-delegate.

It was the longest journey of my life; it took about nine hours by bus. But actually I had a wonderful trip. Espen from Volda and Ruben from Ørsta joined me on the bus. Snow already covered everywhere, mountains, roofs of the houses and even the trees. The nicest scene was the frozen lakes we passed through.

Snow covered every thing.

When we reached Førde, Christian Vik and his colleagues took us to the place of the program where we met about thirty five participants from the same district, Most of them girls.

Some of the participants.

The first and second day the program was about the rules of War (IHR), Activities for asylum centre, human trafficking, social activities and outdoors activities. Again I tried skiing after the first time in Haralvangen when I came to Norway first time in January 2009 for YBTC course (Youth Basic Training Course).

Participants during the activities.

Moreover I spent a very nice time learning new things from a rescue team leaders’ experiences - I now know how to find people who are lost and covered by snow using special equipments and the rescue team trained dog.

Thr resce team trained dog.

Red Cross snow mobil.

At the end of the second day I had my presentations. I talked about our activities as youth delegates in Norway and then tried to motivate the youths to become youth delegates. I mentioned the series followed by the national societies to select the youth delegates and the courses they will receive in Norway during the YBTC.

Part of the presentation.

Actually the time of the presentation was not suitable because it was at night and most of the attendances were sleepy as they spent a lot of time during the outdoors activities in the snow.

Outdooractivities.

The last day the election of the national board of the district took place and the new members were selected

The elcted new member.

Like the previous programs we attended a lot of Norwegian were spoken, something that made it difficult for me to communicate during the conference, but I knew that it would be the second major challenge during my mission time after the weather.

All presentation was in Norwegian languages.

Oslo Youth Delegates Gathering

2010-01-30T14:43:00.000-08:00

It was nice chance to meet the Rwandese and Nepalese youth delegates again after we finished the Norwegian Red Cross course for the youth delegates 2009 in Haraldshiem in Oslo on last September and went to our districts and start our program in Norway.

Youth delegates meet "Lotte" the new contact person.

Nice time with "Lotte" an Rwandese youth delegates "Kennith and Fifi".

Moreover we met our new contact person in the Head Quarter “Lotte Katborg”, who will be the new coordinator for the program instead of “Vibeke Vatne” finished her period in Red Cross.

Waiting for presedent Obma came.

The youth delegates’ gathering was held in Oslo from the 9th- to 13th of December 2009 in Haraldshiem. It was for some sessions about human trafficking, IHL and how to conduct trainings. There was another group from Red Cross. We were together during the gathering.

Youth delegates with another Red Cross Group in "Haraldshiem" inOslo.

The 10th of December in each year is a special day in Norway. It’s the day the Nobel Peace Prize is distributed. And that year the winner was the President Obama, who was honoured in Oslo.

Obama, Nobel peace prize winner for the year 2009.

Nobel Peace Centre.

Part of the pictures inhibition.

The Grand Hotel In Oslo where the presedent Obama stayed.

Obama and his wife waving for the gathering.

We were so lucky to attend such program, which may not repeat again. We had a very nice day together as we had lunch and dinner together with “Lotte”.

Having some fun.

Marching to the Grand Hotel to meet the Presedent Obama

Cold day & waiting in historical day.

We had an individual meeting with our new contact person in the Head Quarter of the Society in Oslo at the second day there in order to determine the progress of work at our districts.

Part the inhibition.

As well as we had some sessions about human trafficking, IHL and a presentation about the cultures and traditions of Sudan and our challenges in Norway. Participants followed us eagerly.

some sessions about human trafficking.

There were some comments and questions about Sudanese traditions. Some of them thought it was new things to know about Sudan. Moreover we knew a lot of new energizers form the participants.

The 1st Day Of December 2009

2009-12-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

It is stands for the AIDS day. The entire world celebrates this day every year since the 1st of December 1988. The world AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness and improving education.

Marching With Fakklers

Every year the UNAIDS chooses new theme for the day. The theme for 2009 is . The theme has been chosen to address the critical need to protect human rights and attain'Universal Access and Human Rights' access for all to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. It also acts as a call to countries to remove laws that discriminate against people living with HIV, women and marginalized groups.

Like the rest of the other organizations and associations who care about AIDS problem, we in Møre Og Romsdal District were so worry to establish Ålesund new Red Cross youth group before the 1st of December to celebrate the day together, as it is one of our challenges in Møre Og Romsdal District. Fortunately we succeeded to get five new members, four females and one male. But the total number of the whole group by the leaders is ten members.

Before Intering The Place Of The Program

We started our program by marching and holding fakklers from the district Red Cross office till Moa Mole, the place of the program, after we put some posters in different telling people the place.

Norwegean Church Aids Members

The program was collaborated with the Norwegian Church Aids by one lady called Bente. They had the same program. We had a big Christmas tree decorated with big red ribbon and other small ones in addition to candle like lights. We put it in some area between moles.

I started to give people membership cards, pamphlets and reflects and asked them to fix the small red ribbons on the Christmas tree to make them feel their solidarity with the day. Also we distributed free condoms carefully because some people feel shy when taking it.

Fixation Of Red Ribbon On Christmas Tree By People

I was focusing to give health education about AIDS, STIs as, facts of AIDS and the risk of the disease, as well as I askeded them to advice others also because the recent statistics of AIDS is fearful and according to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.4 million people living with HIV, including 2.1 million children. During 2008 some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus and estimated 2 million people died from AIDS. And 299 case of the diseased was diagnosed in Norway during the year 2008, 182 are males and 117 are females. And the total number of HIV cases in Norway is 4086 people. But the infection of Chlamydia is the most common infection in Norway.

Red Cross & Norwegian Chruch Aids

According to the new youth members I stayed for long time with them showing how to communicate with other. Meanwhile we tried to recruit some youth to join Red Cross Youth.

Ålesund New You Youth Group

Although the celebration of AIDS day in Norway quietly different from that in Sudan, because we found it so difficult to communicate with Norwegians, maybe due to their customs and traditions or they are in a hurry all the time and they have no time to lose in such programs!.

Pizza And Nice Time

At the end of the program we had pizza and we were happy because we celebrated the day with that new youth group of Ålesund and reminded people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

Welcome To Christmas

2009-11-29T16:13:00.001-08:00

Just 5 hours ago i was in the christmas manefistation celebration of this year in spelkavik in Ålesund in Norway. Alot of people gathered together to start the first celeprations of christmas from the local area. it was very nice ceine.It Was Cold But You Will Never Fell It For The Happiness..

Children ,old people and even the Norwegian's friendly nice dogs celebrated with their woners the event. All people watched the lightening of the Christmas tree over one of the mountains in Spelkavik area.

The Gathering..

It was the first time for me to attend Christmas celebration outside Sudan in. It was nice feeling indeed although Christmas main celebration has not comes yet. I can not believe how it will be.

Dancing Of One Of The Local Groups..

Sana Cruz gave small children some gifts and fruits to make them happy during this day then they will be eager to attend it again every year..

Santa Cruz Giving Chidren Gifts..

Unforgoten Mment..

I met nice Norwegian friends and some of other Sudanese friends there. Really it was memorial event in my life that it will be scratched in my memory forever.

Nice Friends..

Nice Picture With Santa Cruz For The Memory..

Ørsta AIDS Day Celebration

2009-11-29T14:55:00.001-08:00

Yesterday the youth local group in Ørsta organized their AIDS day celebration. As people in whole the world celebrate it at the 1st of December each year to remind people that AIDS has not gone yet and there are alot of to do.

The Stand In Sentrum

Condoms, membershib cards and pamphlets

Ørsta youth group prepared for the program well, as they put posters and invited their members and even the new ones. The program started in one of the shopping centre in the Centrum as stand and distributing membership cards and free condoms then they came down marching from that place up to the Red Cross House holding fakklers with in one uniform.

Marcing With Faklers to The Red Cross House

In the Red Cross House I did a presentation about the AIDS day. There was about 15 members but some of them went back and only seven attended the presentation.

Part Of The Presentatyion

Part Of The Attendants

After that we had pizza and some fun then slept there because it was so late to catch a bus back to Ålesund.

Some Fun After The Presentaion

In the early morning we found the white colour covered everywhere. It was snow that invaded Ørsta and Ålesund as well.

Snow In Ørsta

Snow In Ålesund

Snow In Ålesund

Lastly I can say that the program was so successful not like others. So we were so satisfied.

Frustrating Day

2009-11-29T14:54:00.001-08:00

This Wednesday we went to Vanylven “Sevde” to talk about AIDS Day and to give them some ideas about how to celebrate that day as well as to help them to make some handmade paints to use it in the day of the celebration.

Inside The Ferry When We Are Going..

It was the first time in my life to travel to place and change the bus or the car of transportation many times like that day. Also we used different ferries to cross the sea.

Thinking About The Number Of Youth We Will Find..

We were so excited to meet the Red Cross members. But unfortunately they were not there, we just find “Lars”, the leader of the group and waited for long time in order to get some of them. Although Lars was invited alot of youth to attend the program but they didn’t come also.

Thinking About Some Games After The Presentation

At the end we made the handmade posters then come back home. For me.

Surprizing .. All What I was Thinking About Has gone Away..

I was not angry of what hapened because I know well it is not easy to get the nerwegian youth easy. So we have to find new ways to attract them..

Ålesund New Group And AIDS Day

2009-11-28T14:10:00.000-08:00

One of our important targets is to establish Ålesund new youth group. As this group will help us to celebrate AIDS day.

The new members

Last Thursday we hold the second meeting in the Red Cross House in Sentrum after we failed the Thursday before it to get enough volunteers as we got only three. And this meeting the total number has been four, then we gave them some information about the Red Cross Youth activities and ate the pizza.

Enjoying Pizza

Then we discussed how to celebrate the 1st of December “AIDS Day”. We are going to do different activities. So we distributed the duties and we shall have stand in one of the moles.

Discussing how to celebrate AIDS Day

Also we will have condoms show and demonstration in addition to another things I will mention it when I write mycomming blog about that day.

Dogs Day

2009-11-14T15:02:00.001-08:00

Sorry my dear reader for this strange title. But actually as I searched for another suitable one I could not find.
Last week we visited Kristiansund to meet the youth group there.

It was very long journey; it took about 4 hours by the bus. When we reached there it was so late where we met Daniel, Cecelia and Ann Christin, then went to the Red Cross House. We wrote a poster to use it when we go to find new members.

The program of the dog started after we went out with Daniel and his small black dog into the city centre. It was so cold night, my hands and feet were frozen.

Daniel & his Dog

We saw some ships of the oldest transportation company in Norway

Most of Norwegians like breeding animals especially dogs and cats. So, that day whenever we met a woman or a man we found him walking with his dog or carrying a cat.

They had pretty rare species of dogs and cats.

We visited many places to see the nice old city and had fun.

My Futue's Wife

Before fore we go back we enjoyed pizza in that such cold weather me and Lemi and Daniel and our small friend, Daniel's dogs.

Daniel's Dog..

At Red Cross House when we went back we watched some movies then played games with An Christen and Cecilia.

Although it the first visit to Kristiansundal but I was not satisfied with that trip because we didn’t meet volunteers there, because the group leaders did not arranged well for the visit. So they know nothing about the program. But we hope we meet them and do some activities during the coming visit.

One Night In Molde

2009-11-04T14:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we visited the volunteer in Molde. It was the first time for us to go there. We have to use the ferry to cross the sea, same as when we went to Volde, which can carry alot of cars on it.

Alot f Cars In The Ferry

The funny thing is that my co delegate Lemi as usual was very hungry, he was annoying me whole the journey although he took with him some potatoes chips but it was not enough to satisfy his hunger.

Chris Struggling Hunger Inside The Bus In The Ferry

When we reached Molde it was about 7pm. Elisabet and the volunteers were waiting for us in the bus station.
Soon they suggested having something to eat before we go to Red Cross House. So my dear friend Chris was the happiest one and agreed immediately with the Italian pizza idea at one of the restaurant there.

Chris Enjoying The Pizza

During that we talk about their activities in Molde and how they are going to celebrate ” AIDS” day.

At the Red Cross office we had a presentation about our activities in Sudan and the voluntary system there.

Me and Chris Preparing For The Presentation

Also we talked aabout our challenges in Norway (food, weather, language and Norwegian communiy).

The Volunteers Following The Presentation

Chris Was Very Sad For His Compter Which Stopped Working

Still the bad luck was following my friend Chris, as his computer stopped working suddenly and he was very sad because he lost all his important files there.

After The Presentation We had A fun

There was small girl, a sister of one of the volunteer. She gave us a gift, a nice candle and apiece of soap she used to make it herself. She collects old candles and soap and melts it then modifies it in different shapes.

Very Nice Candles And Soap

We returned back but decided to visit Molde another day during our weekend to meet the volunteers again and do some other activities.

October Gathering Of Red Cross Youth & Rescue Team

2009-11-03T04:32:00.000-08:00

Saturday the 30th of October was the first day of the gathering of the Red Cross Youth and Rescue Team Members. They gathered from different parts in Ålesund to attend this annual course.

Irene Kvangarsnes, the Office District Staff Member,who in charge of the Rescue Teams, came and picked us to Ålesund.

The place of the course was Radisson SAS Hotel, one of the nicest Hotels I saw for its featured services. 410 was the number of my room.

I like the Hotel although I was sure that I will suffer food where I went in Norway, because I am Muslim and eat only “HALAL FOOD”. But I was so lucky because I found very delicious fish in the first day so I enjoyed my meal with the others.

Astrid intrudused us for the presentation

The first day me and my co delegate Lemi Chris had a presentation about Sudan and abut our challenges in Norway and our plans for the coming period in the district.

Part Of The Participating Volunteers From Different Areas

Mr. Nils Christie was honored for his great efforts during his early voluntary life and for his mother, who was from the first women who started knitting art in Ålesund to distribute it for poor people.

Other activities were done, and then we showed the volunteers the rules of the RAW WAR a role play.

I have never enjoyed my dinner in Norway before as that first day of the course. As we went to Teater Fabrikken Restaurant. Before and during dinner the staff of the restaurant had funny sketches. Everyone was happy that day.

Although it was in Norwegian language but the body language was enough to know what happening.

It was nice Simple style Restaurant and the staff having funn with every one ther..Even me.. i was grapped with this crazy funny man.

The last day we gave the volunteers some ideas about how to celebrate the 8th day (AIDS Day) this year.

As usual we had fun for some time especially with our dearest friend Britt Eli.

At the end of the course we received some invitations from other group in Ålesund and now we are preparing for it.

Program Solidarity Concert For South Sudan

2009-11-02T19:18:00.000-08:00

Last week the 25th of October at evening we attended the program solidarity concert for south Sudan in Spjelkavik Church in Romsdal. It was organized by the Norwegian People's Aid and Ålesund and surroundings around.

We went to the place of the program with Guri, our MAM in More Og Romsdal Red Cross Office as we used to call her. She always kind for us and ask us to go with her during weekend for recreational programs. Because she know well that we may got bored if we stayed at home all the time after we go finish work.

The program was for collecting money to help women in southern part of Sudan, whish suffer more and has no voice in its community.

It was nice and enjoying program with different participations, opera songs, ballet, .

Opera

Ballet

Songs

playing on piano

When the program finished we met a Sudanese dentist doctor living and working in Norway for many years with his wife and his small child.

We may visit him one day at his home to have Full Sudanese day.

Tromso And Haraldvollen (Nice Journey With Nice Friends)..

2009-10-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

Last Friday was the day of our first trip for me and my co-delegate Lemi Chris to see the North of Norway after we got an invitation to participate in the Program for the Nordland, Troms and Finnmark Red Cross Youth Camp 2009 for 3days. It was about different topics, Human trafficking, On The Run, Migration, Red Cross School and other activities. There was also another participation from of Musiime Kenneth, that nice guy, the youth delegate from Rwanda. Some new youth from different areas were participating also.

Before we go to Tromso they told us that it is very colder than Ålesund, which was (-1) at that time. And we have to prepare our self well and to bring the sleeping bags as well. So I was so worried because we were going to take part on the Role Play for the second time in that severe weather.

After we reached Tromso airport, it was slightly raining but not cold and it was nice weather. After visited Red Cross office we visited one of the nicest museums I saw. It was for the water animals and the polar bear, where we watched amazing video about thesse animal in Norway.

Then we went by the bus to Harald Vollen the place of the program. In spite of that snow was covering everything there; it was not colder than Ålesund.

It was the day of the Role Play, everything was ready.

We start our running and suffering as refugees and walked for long distance through the small forest and snow till we supported by the Red Cross rescue teams.

It is bad feeling when you are a refugee, but it is nice when you experienced and react with those who are suffering there with no food, drink, shelter and pity. If you go on thinking you may even cry.

The second day we presented tow presentations about Sudan and youth activities there then other topics presented by participants.

After the presentation we got a present, a nice T-shert. It will be in my memory for ever to remember this day after i go back to Sudan.

Actually Tromso and Haraldvollen journey was very nice, and left very nice feeling in my life and hope to visit them again soon.

Even on the way back in the bus we enjoyed ourselves with nice people we will never forget them, Hanae, Lene, Samir, Karam and more others.

Although all the lectures and discussion were in Norwegian language, which sometimes made us not satisfied but we have to accept it because this is one of our biggest challenges in Norway.

School For Elderly

2009-10-15T04:54:00.000-07:00

After I finished the primary school successfully I was so happy, because I would start English language studying and actualy our mother language is Arabic because i am from Sudan. So it was challenge for me and nice new thing to add for knowledge. But I knew well it needed more efforts and full concentration.

Again I am facing the same challenge here in Norway as I started to study the language of this nice country in one of the schools in Ålesund. When I entered the class room and sat on my chair, I remembered that days of the primary school, in which i learnt how do write the letters and how topronounce the words as well.

Although there is similarity between this one and that, but actually there is a big difference. The Norwegian language is very difficult to learn, hear, pronounce and even write. Because however you pronounce the words for the teacher she says not like that. That made me to be doubtful about my hearing efficiency. And you have to know how people in Oslo pronounce some of the words different from those in Oslo and other placses, and this complicate our understanding, although there is no fixed rules inorder to depend on to know how you talk or write.

Anyhow we are enjoying our time at the school and we have very nice friends from different countries.

Even I can say there maybe more than (8) different languages in the class.

¤¤ Apple Cake "Eplekake" ¤¤

2009-10-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

This time i am not going to talk about our suffering from snow and freezing when we go to the office or visiting one of the group in Ålesund, nor about our activities with the volunteers. This time my blog topic will be with the cake taste and apple flavor.

Britt and Lane, volunteers from Ålesund visited me and my co delegate in office and said they are going to teach us how to make the “Apple Cake”. They brought with all the necessities with them and went to our apartment. We start to prepare the “apple cake” by the Norwegian style as they call it “Eplekake”.

When it was finished I hoped that I had more than ten fingers to eat more amount of it. Even I finished I count out my fingers again if it was still ten or not because I may ate one of it during eating it.

Now we are looking forward for the coming Monday to know another kind of the Norwegian food.

Help .. Help Water In Danger ..

2009-10-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

We know very well that water is the nerve and backbone of life of human being and other living organisms ,as it mediates al the biological processes. Recent studies saying that 97% of water on the earth is salt water, leaving only 3% as fresh water of which slightly over two thirds is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps.The remaining unfrozen freshwater is mainly found as groundwater, with only a small fraction present above ground or in the air.

Fresh water is a renewable resource, yet the world's supply of clean, fresh water is steadily decreasing. Water demand already exceeds supply in many parts of the world and as the world population continues to rise, so too does the water demand.

Awareness of the global importance of preserving water for ecosystem services has only recently emerged as, during the 20th century, more than half the world’s wetlands have been lost along with their valuable environmental services.

Blue October:

Accordingly, we went to Volda on Tuesday to participate with the Norwegian Red Cross volunteers in Blue October Program or what they call it (water fighting). Nytt More news paper covered the day.

It was very nice day, we talked to the media about water resources in Sudan and how people get it in both large cities and small villages, as well as in camps. Although In the Sudan we have the River Nile, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, but still there are many areas that suffer from clean water short. We are also talked to the media about the difference in water resources between the Sudan and Norway.

¤ When we can enjoy clean sufficient water?

¤ Can we preserve the water resources from getting polluted?

¤ Is it possible that there will be a global war on freshwater resources in the future?

¤ Try to answer these questions yourself.

VOLDA ..Magic, Work, Fun And Challenges ..

2009-09-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

Magic ..

People always saying that, magic is to see something unfamiliar or to watch amazing tricks in the circus, but according to me I think the magic is to be one of the youth delegate of this year then to go to Romsdal District (Ålesund) because you will find anything that you need as a youth delegate in order to acheive your work.Whole the staff of the district is quite cooperative and spacious. In addition to that there is a suitable environment for work.

Work ..

We have to exert a lot of effortsk in the district, because we have about 8 groups with it’s different problems and needs; so we need to visit all these groups.

It was our first visit to Volda group when we crossed the sea by the ferry to reach the other coast. I was my first time to see the ferry, it was so big and can even carry the bus and many other cars. There were many hills and very beautiful houses built over it in a very nice style .

Challengs ..

In Volda we were well welcomed with Astrid Lindvik and her nice family and her active group membesr, then went to the Red Cross Office and met the volunteers and discussed some issues with them in order to put the plan of coming days then we had some fun there .

Fun ..

Red Coss team of Volda was participating in the annual competition of boating and swimming in the sea, in which we were part of the supervision staff ..but unfortunately our team lost. But we ought to be neutral.

At the end of the competition they threw a lot of bottles into the water, each bottle contains small piece of paper telling the prize you will get.The amusing thing that I jumped into the water and picked one of that bottles. My prize was a big delecious Italian pizza.
So I swam in the Nerwegian Sea, which it is part of the Atlantic Ocean. No body of my family or my friend will believe that I did so, even me!! Do you believe dear reader? I do not think that.

The Road To Norway

2009-09-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 14, 2009
No Way:
I was so lucky to find chance to be youth delegate from my country Sudan, and to come here to Norway..I said that because it was the first time for me to travel out my country and leave my family for ten months.

Lastly we became in (No Way) as we call it because really no way from technology in this prospered country ,you will face with technology anywhere you go , maybe since you put your foot on the airport .. and when you want to go by train or tram or even if you want to drink cup of tea or coffee if you don’t know where to press you will fail to get what you want .. so this Norway mu reader everything is easy but it need knowledge.

When we met our colleagues from Norway and other country (Nepal and Rwanda) soon we soon we used to the system and weather we adapted a pit but still suffering the Norwegian language, which difficult to hear it well as well as pronouncing it.

Me And You Together :

That was our first challenge , but the real one is that how can we deal with all these challenges during the coming period?.. and what can we add for those who wait for us in our district?.. can we succeed to achieve our goals?.. we will see ..