peacecamp 2014

This was Peacecamp 2014
When I signed up for Peacecamp this spring, I really didn’t know what to expect. I had no idea what kind of activities were planned, what kinds of people I was going to meet, or what we were going to discuss in the Large Group. To be honest, I was kind of skeptical at first!
Well, it turned out to be an experience that deeply changed me and my worldview and something I am extremely grateful to have been part of.
When we met each other at the airport, the 31 strangers were just many faces and names I couldn’t pronounce…but very soon we started talking to each other, had a lot of fun and bonded as a group (and I think we grew very close in those 10 days!).
Especially the Culture Evenings and the Talent Show, and the big show in Vienna made me really happy and I was very impressed by all the cool dances the other delegations performed!

But naturally, we didn’t only have fun there…after all, we came to discuss important and difficult matters…this happened in the Large Group, which were mostly really interesting to listen to, but there were also many things that shattered me to my roots. So I had a hard time with these things, but it was vital that they have been voiced!

However, I didn’t only learn about new cultures, conflicts and problems in other countries, but also much about myself. On the one hand, the activities made me act more open towards others and more focused on what’s happening to the people around me, but on the other hand I also found out many things about my own identity, which was (and is) extremely important at this time in my life.

Each and every one of you (from the teenagers as well as the adults) played an important part in our group! And no matter how small or big that part was, or how much or how little you and I talked: I still think of you every day, and if we never meet again, I wish you as much peace as I can for your time on Earth…

Also, for the team: I know how hard it is to work with a large group of teenagers with that many differents points of view and motivate them to get up, WALK, stand up for their opinions and sometimes to embarrass themselves…thank you for doing that, you did a great job!

What I take with me from Peacecamp are not only lots of new awesome songs, language skills, cool dances, many good friends, but also an expanded mindset. And lots of beautiful, intimate, fun, awkward, hurtful and valuable moments.

Caroline Mocza, Vienna

The programme "Religionen der Welt" ("Religions of the World") presented a short documentation of the peacecamp in Lackenhof (5 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybOiAoqi-nY&feature=youtu.be

Austria- 4peace camp:

In this camp I learned a lot and had a lot of fun. It was amazing! I met new people, learned about new cultures and met an amazing team! I learned many things about myself, about the things that are important to me.

I knew that there are things that are important to me, but I did not know how much until we started to talk about them in the "large group", when I needed to "protect" my identity as an Israeli Jew. When the teachers in my school told us that there are Jews and Arabs that they still keep in touch after the camp I didn’t really believe that I could be friends with an Arab kid, but now I know it’s different because I have Arab friends.

I liked the culture evenings but had a hard time with the Arab culture evening because I felt hurt and disrespected. The Austrian and Hungarian culture evenings were fun and interesting.

For me Lukas and AnnPhie, the two artists, played a big role in this experience. They made me laugh and cheered me up when I needed it. I got to talk to both of them a lot, I really liked the conversations and in all the activities that they did with us were amazing. I had so much fun!

For me It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I will never forget this camp. I’m grateful for every day I was there.
Shira Halido (Israel)