The 8th May is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. This date is the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant (born 8th May 1828), the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize.  It is a day that is dedicated to reminding us of our responsibility to work towards alleviating human suffering, upholding human dignity, protecting life, and helping in whatever way we can when emergencies and natural disasters such as flood, epidemics, and earthquakes occur.

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is meant to inspire, facilitate and promote all humanitarian activities that are carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the National Societies which are its members.

The Red Cross is an important part of our identity at UWC Red Cross Nordic – with shared values and philosophy at the heart of our work. We are very proud of the association.

Robert Clarence (the founding Head of School of UWC Changshu China) and his wife Desirée have been visiting UWC Red Cross Nordic this week, staying with us from Sunday 3rd to Wednesday 6th May. UWC Changshu China is due to open to students in August 2015; the purpose of this visit was for Robert and Desirée to see the Norwegian sister College in action in term time and for us to consider the practical implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two Colleges.

During their stay the Clarences visited classes, had student-led tours of the College, gave a presentation to the students about the new China College and had several meetings with members of staff and smaller groups of students. It was a busy visit!

On the 22nd of April  UN International Mother Earth Day was celebrated in many countries. As in previous years, RCN joined in with events and we used the opportunity to look at  environmental topics in classroom subjects on that day. The ‘headline’ event was held on the weekend of 24th-26th April. On Friday we held a World Today session about eco-villages presented by Magnar Eide, the leader of the Eide Eco-village. After this session 10 students and 3 teachers had the chance to see the eco-village and try out the life there during a two-day trip. Students and staff participated in activities like planting potatoes, building a fence and combing cashmere goats.

At the College we then hosted 9 friends from the Sogn Jord og Hagebruksskule on the same weekend (their article about the program can be read here) and, with them an enthusiastic group of organizers, we offered a great variety of programmes for those who stayed on-campus: despite the cold, rainy weather we built a herb garden , made organic cosmetics and perfume, and organized a raw-food cafe with live acoustic music. Then, at the end of the weekend, some new College residents arrived – two beehives with honey bees which students and staff will be looking after.

On May 1st, as part of international May Day celebrations, classes were suspended and first year students, a smattering of second years who made time away from their exam revision, and members of the teaching and outdoor staff hiked up to the top of Jarstadheia – the mountain behind the College. For many it was for the first time. There were some impressive efforts: special mention should be made to those who enabled Melvin Gomez, one of the students on our Survivors of Conflict Programme (SOC), to make it all the way – in particular to his roommate Dylan DeMarco. Another special mention to Mohammed Swadi, also a SOC student, who broke his leg during friluftsveke, but persevered and made it up and down the mountain on crutches!

For one and all who participated. it was a very special and memorable day! The pictures speak for themselves.

Many thanks to all who organised the day.