The "Colours of Peace" summer camp brought together 54 young people from various countries in the Middle East. In the midst of conflict and uncertainty, they found a place of self-empowerment and exchange in Trogen, where they learnt not only about peace and human rights, but also about themselves and the power of togetherness.
In the Pestalozzi Children's Village, amidst the picturesque landscape of Appenzell, the "Colours of Peace" summer camp offered young people from the Middle East a unique opportunity to work for peace in a time of conflict.
54 young people between the ages of 16 and 18 came together for a fortnight to work towards a better future - a future in which understanding and dialogue form the basis for peaceful coexistence.
In the two workshop groups "Self Care, Community Care, Earth Care" and "Unity through Media", the young people learnt a lot about themselves, about human and children's rights, about communities and about media and media freedom. They were also able to express their feelings artistically in creative activities.
For Stefanie, the camp was a unique and valuable opportunity. "I had a lot of preconceptions about the young people from the other countries, but none of them turned out to be true," she says thoughtfully. "I now really understand what the expression 'Don't judge a book by its cover' means and I completely agree with it."
Overcoming prejudices and discovering common ground was a key experience for the young people in the project. The camp offered them a space to build bridges across their differences. Francis impressively describes how important it is to "look for peace and solutions instead of problems." For him, the camp was an inspiring experience that showed him that even small steps towards peace can have a big impact.
"I now really understand what the expression 'Don't judge a book by its cover' means and I completely agree."
Johanna particularly appreciated the exchange with the other young people. "Although we all live in the Middle East, we hardly have any other contact with people from these countries. It's really nice to make friends from different countries," she says. Johanna has not only made new friends here, but has also learnt how important it is to give people a chance and to embrace the unknown.
The camp made her realise that empowerment doesn't just mean standing up for yourself, but also encouraging others to discover and use their own potential. "I will motivate those around me at home to step out of their comfort zone. In our country, everyone sticks to their routines. I believe that going out, experiencing new things and taking risks is an important part of life. That's how we learn; not by staying in our comfort zone," she is convinced.
A key aspect of the camp was to equip the young people with the tools they need to initiate positive change in their home countries. Stefanie sums it up aptly: "I learnt that I should take the step. If I don't think my idea is important, no one will ever hear it." This realisation that every voice counts and that everyone can make a contribution was one of the most important messages that the young people took home with them.
"I will motivate those around me at home to step out of their comfort zone.
The "Colours of Peace" summer camp showed that despite the challenges and conflicts in the Middle East, the desire for peace and understanding is alive and well. The participants returned to their home countries inspired and strengthened. They now know that they are part of a global community working together for a better future. Their stories are a call to continue the work for peace and not to give up, even when the obstacles seem great.