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Summer, for most of us, is a long-awaited time of rest. Not so for the teachers and physicians involved in the United Nations Popu-lation Fund (UNFPA) project "Reproductive Health and the Rights of Youth in the Russian Federation". They headed for summer camps outside of Moscow, Barnaul, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg and Tver, to talk seriously and openly with adolescents on topics that the most grown-up teenaged boys and girls do not always dare to discuss, even among themselves.
Now,
having returned from the camps, the project’s participants admit that their
ideas of young people’s passivity and lack of interest in their own health turned
out to be greatly exaggerated.
In virtually all the summer camps – whether they were in the western part of the country, the middle, or Siberia – the adolescents expressed genuine interest and an authentic desire to learn as much as possible about what the transformation from children into young men and women brings with it, and what demands it places upon them. Open discussion was helped by the fact that, in many of the camps around Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Tomsk, the teenagers were working with their peers – volunteers, trained in previous UNFPA projects. The teenagers frequently found it easier to talk with people of their own age, and to occasionally ask them about "taboo" topics. In the words of the project’s participants, they were convinced that the dialog on reproductive health should be held not on a case by case basis, as part of individual campaigns, but continually. Such a dialogue would be helped by the creation of a broad network of special clinics, where young men and women would get medical consultation, psychological help, and practical advice.
The long, open conversations would often end with the teenagers reaching for a pen. Their letters testify to the authors’ active involvement in life. Addressees ranged from the directors of schools to state ministers, and even to the President of Russia.
"...You were able to convince me that it’s important to go see a doctor. I was a little embarrassed to talk about this with my mother , and you don’t learn an awful lot from books. But now I know that we have centers like this in our city, and I can go there for a consultation".
"...If you don’t know a whole lot, you can make a great many mistakes in life which can ruin your entire life...."
"...I learned a lot, and will remember it all for the rest of my life".
"To the Minister of Health: I believe that this is absolutely
the best way to explain serious matters to young people – without trying to
force
something on them. I believe 100% that this will raise the level of public health
care".
"Dear President Putin: We would like to see more of these youth centers established across Russia. We hope that you will receive this letter and consider it seriously".
With the help of UNFPA, the first steps are now being taken toward creating a consultative and psychological assistance system for adolescents. The experience of this summer’s work gives reason to hope that this will be accomplished in the near future.
Olga Volkova,
Coordinator of the UNFPA project "Reproductive Health and the Rights of Youth in the Russian Federation"
Tel. +7(095) 787-21-65.
Fax: +7(095) 787-21-37.
E-mail: olga.volkova@undp.ru
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The realization of a UN Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) special project "Young People’s Participation in World Heritage Preservation and Promotion" was launched in Russian Federation in 1999. The main goals of the project were to develop educational programs in the sphere of informing the young people about the unique natural and cultural sites and to draw them in practical activity of the World Heritage preservation.
In 2000 the UNESCO Moscow Office published an Educational Resources Kit in Russian "World Heritage in Young Hands", created in the framework of this project. This Kit marked the beginning of the experiment of learning about the World Heritage in UNESCO Associated Schools, secondary schools and institutes in several regions of the Russian Federation.
The UNESCO Moscow Office representatives conducted seminar-trainings for teachers, department heads and professionals, working immediately on the world and national heritage sites. During the seminars a strategy for including the World Heritage course in the school curriculum was elaborated and the suggestions were discussed with representatives of the Ministry of Education. Hopefully, soon such course will be taught in many educational institutions of the Russian Federation.
In
2001 two more projects were launched in the Russian Federation: "A birds-eye
view on World Heritage" and "World Heritage on Camera". Once again, the most
important tasks of these projects are the discovery of new possibilities, connected
to the use of hot-air balloons and other aircrafts, video and photo equipment
for the acquaintance with natural and cultural sites, their more profound study
in the framework of UNESCO program, as well as drawing additional attention
to the problem of the national and world heritage preservation.
Among the project participants are not only the World Heritage sites and biosphere reserves collaborators, professional photographers and operators, but also school and university students. These projects allow them to rise above the earth in hot-air balloons and to see what is called the "Map coming alive effect". The use of hot-air balloons in this case helps to easily change the altitude, to fly over big distances or to stay in one place for a long time in order to examine architectural site details or a bird flock, hiding in canes. The flights help to see the site along with everything that surrounds it – a certain cultural and natural context, to become aware of the human influence on the environment – positive or maybe baneful.
Another important thing to be pointed out is that video and photo shooting of national and World Heritage sites is not just a method of learning about the World Heritage and biosphere reserves, it is also a unique possibility for a creative self-realization. It is planned that materials, prepared by children (videos, photographs, maps, historical research, etc.) are going to be included in photo expositions, and videos will help many people to get acquainted with natural and cultural sites. Participating children write their own scripts, do the montage, they learn to see the beauty and at the same time to show their attitude to the things they are shooting. The presentation of the first film is supposed to take place during the International Youth Forum on the World Heritage.
Hopefully, there are many interesting things that are yet to be discovered with the help of these projects.
For further information, please contact:
Leila Lazguieva
UNESCO Moscow Office
Tel.: +7 (095) 202-80-97
e-mail: moscow@unesco.org