At our College, we prioritize empowering students to engage with the world around them and embrace diverse perspectives. One such transformative opportunity that has left an indelible mark on our students is volunteering at Ridderrennet, the largest annual winter-sport week for people with visual and mobility impairments. Through this incredible experience, our students have witnessed firsthand the profound impact of inclusion and camaraderie in the world of sports. Ridderrennet, held in the picturesque skiing town of Beitostølen, Norway, brings together hundreds of participants from across the globe, fostering an environment where abilities are celebrated, friendships are forged, and barriers are overcome. Kolbrún Garðarsdóttir, our first-year student shares their firsthand account of volunteering at Ridderrennet and reflects on the invaluable lessons learned during this unforgettable week.

“I recently had the privilege to volunteer at Ridderrennet , an annual winter-sport competition for people with disabilities. I am extremely grateful to be able to have gotten this opportunity, and many students that have this experience report it being the best time during their stay at RCN.

Ridderuka (Knight’s week) is the largest annual winter-sport week for people with visual and mobility impairments. Each year in March, there will be 350-450 participants of all ages, from all over the world, competing in all kinds of winter sports in Beitostølen, which is a small skiing town in inner Norway. Many people attend this event year after year, and some return every year without fail.

Our main role at the event was to volunteer at a restaurant at a hotel next to the downhill skiing slopes. The work mostly involved helping people of various abilities receive food from the buffet and get situated at a table. Everyone, both staff and participants, welcomed us warmly and really made our stay there as amazing as it was. During our shifts at the restaurant, we got the chance to get to know the participants, which really made us get a feel for the warm atmosphere of Ridderuka. Some people we spoke to had been attending Ridderrennet every year for a long time, even decades, so when we arrived at our first shift we were entering into a community of people. Through our conversations, it was clear that they had formed friendships over the breakfast table in the dining hall, the skiing slopes, and the many events that take place when the competitions are not.

A highlight of the week is one of these events; the talent show. Participants, staff, and volunteers alike take part in it, and in the words of one of the organisers that showed a few of us around, “The talent is not what matters.” Rather, the show is for the whole Ridderrennet community to come together, have fun, and appreciate each other’s company.

These words are exactly what makes Ridderuka, a week where people gather and enjoy being together with new and old friends, while doing the sports they love. After having the experience of attending the event and helping it come together, I think that all of us volunteers have a greater understanding of the importance of opportunities like these. Ridderuka gives people motivation and opportunity to be active in their sport, try new and different things, and connect with people from all over the world.”

May 8th marked World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the essential principles of voluntary service and neutrality. The Red Cross movement and UWC have formed a unique partnership in a small Norwegian fjord in 1995. While these organizations share core values and principles, their combination also presents its own set of challenges.

The event at UWC Red Cross focused on shedding light on the Red Crescent’s initiatives in Palestine, prompting deep contemplation about the complexities of maintaining neutrality. The students delved into the question of how the principle of neutrality upheld by the Red Cross Movement aligns with the UWC mission of fostering peace and social justice. This exploration aimed to understand the circumstances under which neutrality becomes valid and necessary.

To initiate the plenary session, Rektor Pelham Lindfield Roberts and History teacher Mariangela Lanza shared their insights on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a neutral standpoint. Additionally, Palestinian students provided glimpses into their lives, highlighting the vast differences experienced by Palestinians depending on their location, be it East Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank, or distant lands far from their ancestral homes. While our College currently does not have Israeli students, the hope is to welcome more in the future, as their perspectives would contribute to a deeper understanding of the conflicts at hand.

In the pursuit of understanding complex dilemmas, RCN relies on the guidance of dedicated staff and students. Completing the Red Cross Start Course for volunteers, led by instructor Anders Ekeland, equips students with the necessary tools to navigate these complexities with greater knowledge and empathy.

In addition to the course, RCN welcomed visitors from a local primary school for Search and Rescue activities. The resounding enthusiasm from the Flekke kids, their teachers, RCN students, and First Aid instructor David Robertson led to a unanimous sentiment: “We want to do this again!” The event also extended an invitation to refugees settled in Dale, providing them with a campus tour and an opportunity to share their stories with students who spoke their mother tongue. These connections forged during the event are expected to endure through the Language Café, organized by Frivilligsentralen, and the introduction program designed for refugees settling in Norway. The involvement of Frivilligsentralen, a volunteer center, further enriched the exchange of experiences related to volunteering in Fjaler.

Workshops addressing Water Scarcity and Geopolitical Conflicts, facilitated by teachers, stimulated thoughtful discussions among participants. Simultaneously, students organized workshops on cooking, baking, and arts and crafts, all inspired by the Middle East, UWC, and the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

Throughout these engagements, participants familiarized themselves with the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality. This knowledge was reinforced by a group of students led by Lesley Wilson from Fjaler Red Cross, who completed the Red Cross Treffpunkt Course. Their objective is to establish meeting places and organize activities that promote healthy lifestyles and combat youth loneliness—a venture that holds great promise.

The impact of these initiatives and events is best understood by experiencing UWC Red Cross Nordic firsthand. Politicians, including Kathrine Kleveland from Senterpartiet Noreg, Catarina Deremar from the Centre Party of Sweden, and Kjetil Felde, Mayor of Fjaler, recognized the significance of RCN’s work and paid a visit on Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. In return, the Leadership of the College had the opportunity to meet parliamentarians from Vestland at the Parliament in Oslo the following day.