Weeks of Discovery: Special Weeks at UWC Red Cross Nordic

Judit Dudas2024-03-08T10:25:06+01:00March 8th, 2024|

At Red Cross Nordic UWC, learning is a holistic journey. Students embark on enriching experiences that spark their interests, develop their abilities, and forge meaningful connections. For two weeks in February experiential learning takes over the Campus: second-years are preparing for upcoming exams through practice tests, while first-years have been enjoying a snowy adventure on skis, gaining valuable first-aid skills, and taking part in a mock Model UN conference.

Mock Exams: Practice Makes Perfect

The mock exams leading up to the May IB exams are like a dress rehearsal for the big performance. By taking these practice tests, students gain valuable experience with the exam format and identify topics requiring further study. Mock exam scores also factor into year-end grades, so treating them seriously and using them as a learning tool is essential.

Trading Textbooks for Snow: Friluftsveka

While mock exams occupied the second years, first-year students embraced the Nordic winter wonderland during their annual ski adventure, or “friluftsveka.” This week-long immersion in Stryn saw them carving through snowy slopes, crackling fires illuminating their evenings, and even braving an overnight stay under the stars. Stepping outside their comfort zones, they forged connections with nature and each other. Even for those new to skis, their spirit of adventure and resilience shone brightly throughout the week.

First Aid Course: Preparing for the Unexpected

The RCN First Aid Course equips all first-year students with the confidence to act in an emergency. This intensive 12-hour program is led by David Robertson, who not only teaches Biology and Chemistry but is also a certified member of the Norwegian Search and Rescue Corps and the RCN First Aid team who trained for a year! Based on the Norwegian Red Cross program, the course equips students with essential first-aid skills. Standout students can take their knowledge even further by joining the college’s first aid team. This elite group hones advanced techniques, learns wilderness first aid, and even has the opportunity to become instructors, sharing their expertise with future first-year students.

Global Citizens in Action: The RCN Model United Nations

The annual RCN Model UN is a special intellectual challenge, emotional engagement, and even a touch of physical demand – a unique experience that caters to diverse learning styles. Facilitated by passionate second-year students, the conference offers a wider array of committees than ever before. From the Security Council tackling modern issues to committees like Refugees, Drugs and Crimes, UN Women, the Economic and Social Council, and the World Health Organization, all offer opportunities to delve into pressing global matters.

The culminating General Assembly debate focused on a critical issue: “The promotion and protection of the rights of children in times of conflict”

The RCN Model UN is more than just a conference; it’s a springboard for developing global perspectives. Students research and debate current issues, hone their critical thinking and public speaking skills, and collaborate on solutions to complex problems. It’s a truly transformative experience for all involved.

Project-Based Learning Week: Learning Through Experiences

Following their mock exams, second-year students dived into Project-Based Learning Week. This week offers a platform for them to explore diverse interests and gain valuable skills. Some students took on leadership roles, facilitating the First Aid course and Model UN for the first-year students. Meanwhile, others pursue projects ranging from outdoor adventures like skiing and artistic expression to entrepreneurship. Through collaboration and skill development, Project-Based Learning Week fosters personal growth and strengthens the bonds within the RCN community.

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Oline Lykke Grand RCN’24

Judit Dudas2024-03-04T12:13:29+01:00March 4th, 2024|

In these columns, we are introducing people: students, staff, former staff, and governance members of RCN. Today meet Oline Lykke Grand, our second year student from the Faroe Islands. Oline is passionate about human rights and humanitarian issues and as such she is one of the leaders of the Amnesty International youth group in our College. You can also see her to walk or run along the roads and she is part of the Interval training group since her arrival to RCN. These are traits that easily make her worthy of publishing a story about Oline but there is a special occasion we should mention: a book about human rights she wrote and published in Faroese.

“Until 2024, it has been almost impossible for the Faroese youth to find information about international and universal human rights in their own mother tongue, Faroese. It can create a distance to human rights when it is only possible to read about them in foreign languages and it is therefore paramount to give the Faroese youth the opportunity to read about their human rights in Faroese and in a Faroese context to enhance their understanding and ability to protect their own rights. My book, The Faroe Islands for Human Rights, therefore seeks to change this by explaining each article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the importance of the additional declarations on Women’s Rights, Children’s Rights and Rights for Persons with Disabilities as well as how climate change is affecting human rights. I am a huge believer in the power of education, and the book is therefore cost-free for students and teachers and comes with a teacher’s guide, showing how teachers can use the book as a part of the curriculum in the subjects Faroese and social studies. The teacher’s guide also includes different tasks that the student can solve through using the book. The aim of this book is to get the students engaged in the Faroese and international human rights discussion by enhancing their understanding of human rights.
At the beginning of my first year at UWC RCN, one of the older students made me aware of the organisation “The Changemaker Project”, which seeks to encourage young people to create their own projects. The goal of the course was to come up with our own projects, and I therefore started to work on my book, The Faroe Islands for Human Rights. I used free online platforms and started to write about human rights and created illustrations for the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the declaration on Women’s Rights, Children’s Rights and Rights for Persons with Disabilities as well as how climate change is affecting human rights. I pitched my idea at international crowdfunding events to get funding to copy and distribute the book. For example, in April 2023 I wrote a report to the organisation “GoMakeADifference x UWC Initiative” through which I gathered 1000$ to print my book.
Reflecting on the past one year and a half I have spent here at RCN, it is clear how this community has shaped the person I am today. Besides teaching me the value of learning from different perspectives and cultures, RCN has taught me to take initiative and believe in “the power of you”. As the co-leader of the school’s Amnesty group, I have experienced how our humanitarian activism can have a meaningful and paramount impact on our community in Flekke and beyond such as when we organised the very first pride parade ever in Dale, the neighbouring town. Furthermore, I am incredibly grateful for all the teachers at RCN who have taught me to think critically and speak my mind. This has encouraged me to take matters into my own hands and write my book, The Faroe Islands for Human Rights.”

Please flip through the this groundbreaking book by Oline Lykke Grand, a student of UWC Red Cross Nordic, fills a crucial gap for Faroese youth. For the first time, they can explore the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related declarations in their own language, making these fundamental rights more accessible and understandable. The book is accessible, offers engaging activities and a local context in Faroese languge with the help of eye-catching illustrations. The book is also available in hard copies.

You can hear Oline’s thoughts about her motivation and work in Asta Nuka’s podcast, the Point of View, on Spotify!