Waking up
This weekend, the College in tandem with the Norwegian Red Cross ran the annual På Flukt (‘On the Run’) simulation for first year students. There had been much preparation in the build up to this event (marking the end of the first year RCN experience) including a Global Concerns Day on migration, a visit from Mina Moghadam earlier in the week (UWC AC alumna, Norwegian National Committee member and former political vice president of the Norwegian Red Cross Youth – and currently Children/Youth Care Coordinator at Mysebu Transittmottak), and many interactions with local mottaks.
Avis (RCN’s Red Cross Coordinator) and Andreas (the team leader from the Norwegian Red Cross) – with support from a selection of Red Cross Youth Volunteers and RCN Education Staff – put together a simulation which saw students imagining themselves migrating from Somalia to Norway. The weather was absolutely stunning over the weekend – clear blue skies and up to 30’c – which made for challenging conditions for the students as they tackled the 24 hour simulation.
På Flukt is an integral part of the RCN Red Cross Diploma and aims to encourage students to look through the lens of others. At the final session in the auditorium, an RCN student who had been a refugee was given the final word – he explained to all gathered that no simulation can possibly recreate the uncertainty that comes with being a refugee but that he appreciated that the Red Cross and the College ran an event which challenged students based here in Norway to develop their perspectives, compassion and understanding of the refugee situation in the world today.
A huge thank you to Avis and her team for the extraordinary amount of work that they put into preparing and delivering this for students.
