This year the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Narges Mohammadi for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all. We were honoured to be invited to take part in the celebrations taking place in Oslo in December every year, this year represented by Shahed (Palestine), Elinor (Germany/Serbia), Shari (Tibet), Maya (Morocco/Colombia), Norkis (Venezuela) accompanied by Leonora (Norway).

The ceremony is a highlight for everyone worldwide working for a more just and peaceful world. The empty chair at the front intended for Narges Mohammadi was a powerful reminder for all those who put their own needs aside to fight for a better world for all of us. Ms Mohammadi’s relentless effort over the last 20 years fighting for women’s rights has made her a symbol of freedom and a standard-bearer in the struggle against the Iranian theocracy. She herself has commented on her Peace Price as follows: “I will never stop striving for the realisation of democracy, freedom, and equality. Surely, the Nobel Peace Prize will make me more resilient, determined, hopeful and enthusiastic”

“Zan, Zendegi, Azadi”
“Women, Life, Freedom”

“With these words, we entered the Oslo Radhus, all of us mesmerised by the ginormous and decadent building in the center of Oslo. After coming in, we found ourselves in a hall full of faces unknown to most of us. But this shouldn’t be the case for too long, as we quickly found company, and conversed with many different people, about the world and the Nobel Peace Laureate 2023 Narges Mohammadi. Many had interesting stories to tell or anecdotes about their first time at the Nobel Peace Prize, and we felt welcomed immediately.

With the ring of a bell, we had to end our conversations and continue up the stairs to the Nobel Peace Prize hall, where we were seated, looking directly at the artworks created on the wall above. Feelings of nervousness and excitement rushed through us, as the Royal Family entered and the trumpets played. The Chair of the Norwegian Noble Peace Prize, Berit Reiss-Andersen, welcomed us to the Ceremony. It began with a moving song by an Iranian artist, that went close to the heart to all of us, with many in the audience shedding a tear.

The missing Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, incarcerated in Tehran, was missed firmly when her Son, Ali, and daughter, Kiana, whom Ms. Mohammadi has not seen in 7 years, received the Nobel Peace Prize in her name, and delivered an emotional rollercoaster of a speech, moving every single individual in the audience, including us.

Finishing off with a traditional Iranian song, accompanied by tableh (an eastern instrument often found in the Orient), The ceremony was completed.
We found ourselves questioning and wondering about the morality and unfairness of the world, wanting to see betterment in the situation, especially in Iran, but accompanied with the feelings of powerlessness, as we understood the magnitude of work that would be needed, and that Narges Mohammadi works on every single day of her life.”
Shahid, Elinor, Maya, Nokris, Shari

Peace Prize Forum

The Nobel Peace Prize Celebrations in Oslo also brought us to the Peace Prize Forum the following day with the theme, “Iran – burning for democracy”. It was a deeply moving and heavy experience with testimony about the injustice committed against women and children in Iran. At the same time, the forum showed an enormous fighting spirit and not only hope, but certainty that things will change for the Iranian people.

Nobel Peace Prize Exhibition

The celebrations concluded with the opening of the Nobel Peace Prize Exhibition named WOMAN – LIFE – FREEDOM opened by Narges Mohammadi`s family. Her children, Kiana and Ali, chanted ‘Zan, Zendegi, Azadi’ (Woman, Life, Freedom) as they opened the exhibition about their mother and the women fighting for freedom and human rights in Iran.

“If she was present here, she would still be the voice of all prisoners. Narges always puts others before herself”, Narges Mohammadi’s husband Taghi Rahmani said on stage.

Also present at the exhibition opening was 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi who worked alongside Narges in the organisation Defenders of Human Rights Center.

Visits in Oslo

Combining participation at the Nobel Peace Celebrations with visits to the Norwegian Red Cross, the Parliament, the Peace and Research Institute of Oslo (PRIO) and making new friends with the London-based NGO, the Renaissance Foundation, the days have left us full of admiration, and we are grateful for new insights, new knowledge and for all new friends! As an educational institution with a clear mission to use education as a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future, participating in the Nobel Peace Celebrations gives inspiration for the work ahead.

OD-day is a day that takes place every year across Norway. OD stands for Operasjon Dagsverk or Operation Day’s Work.

Each year the organisation chooses a new cause to donate money to, the concept of the day is for Norwegian school students to participate in a day of work and send the money to the OD organisation. This year, first year students at UWC RCN, an international school located in Flekke, participated in OD dagen for the first time in the school’s history. Roxana Saucedo Villarroel and I, Leslie Nöelle Ndikumana, had the opportunity to work as the media crew and document all of the work happening in Førde. The four workplaces we got to look at in Førde were: NOREC with Nicola Maria Tembo, Rofayda Fayed, Piotr Suchecki and Tenzin Norbu Lama, PULS Førde with Enrico Bazzana, Sport Outlet with Abigail Katherine Napier and Mubashra Iftikhar and the Sogn og Fjordane Kunstmuseum with Maya Atmani and Lakaw Lin. In total 90 students participated in OD dagen across Fjaler, Holmedal, Askvoll, Hyllestad and Førde. The students took part in a variety of activities including serving customers in cafes, playing bingo with residents in a nursing home, gardening in people’s homes and helping a local art gallery prepare for an exhibition opening. A fun but meaningful day was had by all!

Operation Day’s Work says: “we are Norway’s largest solidarity campaign by and for youth. We strive for a better future by putting global development on the agenda in Norwegian schools. Our vision is a fair world shaped by young people. Through ODW, students in Norwegian schools can contribute to a more just world through solidarity action. ODW believes in youth participation, solidarity and education for development.” UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. We are therefore proud to be representing UWC RCN and working with the OD organisation. This year’s OD is called: Bulletproof future, it’s about identity and indigenous people. All the money collected will go to youth organisations providing alternatives for violence. “Colombia is one of the world’s most dangerous countries to be a human rights defender in. Despite this, young people stand together at the front and fight for their rights. It is not just about protection, but about strengthening one’s own future and present. Young people need safe communities, opportunities and alternatives to violence so that fear never surpasses hope for the future. Together we create a bulletproof community and a bulletproof future.” (Operation Day’s Work, 2023).

NOREC is a Norwegian competence centre for international exchange. By giving young people international workplace experience, we get a better, more sustainable future. The first year students were separated into 2 groups, one working on icebreakers for an upcoming course, and the other working on contacting other countries and partners. The courses aim to educate about a range of different subjects, from preparation to work abroad to workshops around sustainably, crisis management, global understanding and intercultural challenges and opportunities. Icebreakers are a good break from long and heavy workshops, while adding some positivity and fun. Collecting all associated emails and making data entries might be lengthy, but required and still important work for an organisation such as NOREC. Overall the first years had a very enjoyable experience and appreciated the opportunity.

PULS Førde is a gym located in Alti Førde shopping centre. It’s a facility on the top floor with an incredible range of machines, a cardio room, strength room, spin room and even a studio for dance, yoga, pilates, workouts and more. Enrico was set to work cleaning and organising the gym, afterwards he was allowed to test out the equipment and we were all invited back another day. It was a great change of environment and an appreciated learning opportunity.

Sport Outlet is a store located in the same building as PULS Førde, the two businesses having an agreement where you get discounts for membership at the gym. Abigail and Mubashra worked as store clerks, unboxing, labelling and organising clothes for the store.

Sogn og Fjordane’s kunstmuseum is setting up a new exhibition, opening on the 3rd of November, called: Rolv Muri, eg målar med jord under neglene. It directly translates to Rolv Muri, I paint with dirt under my nails. Maya and Lakaw helped preparing for the new exhibition, as well as sorting and documenting artworks of different artists to know what’s available for other exhibitions. Contributing to preserving and enhancing the community around us is something important to all UWC students, and they were both grateful for the opportunity to work there.

NOREC, PULS Førde, Sport Outlet and Sogn og Fjordane kunstmuseum’s collaboration with UWC RCN and OD has given us the great opportunity to work hard for a cause, to provide, help and contribute even from such a great distance. Fulfilling both the UWC values and what OD stands for. We are thankful and happy for such great help, and hope this continues on being a tradition for everyone coming after us.

A huge thank you to the following businesses who hosted our students at work for the day:

UWC Connect
Joker Flekke
På Håret Dale
Nordisk Kunstnarsenter
Fabel Kafé og Motel
Allmuen
Fjaler kommune
Fjaler sjukeheim
Jakob Sande senter for forteljekunst
Dale Ungdomslag
BUA / Fjaler Frivilligsentral
NOREC
Sport Outlet Førde
Puls Førde
Sogn og Fjordane KunstmuseumHelle Knivfabrikk
POWER Askvoll
Jensbua Kystkultursenter

You can read more about this year’s OD campaign here: https://www.od.no/skuddsikker

The photos and words here were produced by our OD dagen media crew: Shaunna Wu, Anni Tietäväinen, Mariam Salek, Ángel Axel Méndez Mejía, Elizabeth Chiu, Leslie Nöelle Ndikumana, Roxana Saucedo Villarroel