OPERATION DAGSVÆRK: Seminar in Erbil – Nothern Iraq

August 23rd, more than 300 childrenand 52 volunteer participated in an Open Fun Football School in cooperation with Al-SalamFootball School, ChaldoAssyrian Students and Youth Union and Ainkawa Youth Centre.
More than 300 children participated in the Open Fun Football School, with more than 50 coaches to execute the festival. The participants and volunteers consisted of IDP’s from the countless refugee camps set up by local Christians.
The 50 volunteers were briefed through a 2-day seminar, on how to conduct psychosocial sports activities for the children. Following the seminar the enthusiastic coaches will continue the work in the other refugee camps, as the Danish and local delegation of coordinators and instructors left Ainkawa, Arbil.
Before the festival was conducted, the whole Christian community of Ainkawa gathered to help. A hotel brought down the prices on accommodations for travelling instructors.A hall and a football field were given to the volunteers, , all free of rent.
While local residents brought water to the thirsty participants, a problem appeared when the water heated up quickly under the heat, that problem was solved quickly when other locals brought a block ice and a tub to keep the water cold.
As the festival was set-up under the watchful eyes of the media, more than 300 children gathered around a football field to participate in the festival. Emptying two centers of children.
The IDP’s are barely surviving on minimal rations of food and water, sleeping in tents under the scorching Iraqi sun. Or, if they were lucky, in churches or centers where they were cramped together under a roof over their heads.
For the first time in two months, the children were given back their childhood. Being organized (based on age) into 9 sections on the football field, children and volunteers a like, conducted exercises that train the heart, head and body. Thus, on August 23rd, for a brief moment, the community lived in a world they have always dreamt off.
Volunteers and participants; Assyrian, Chaldean and Syriac, all Christian from different areas were united with our instructors (Arabs and Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites) to work together and benefit all, bring a moment of joy, peace and tolerance.
As the kids said their tearful goodbyes to their instructors and volunteer, they all cried out the same question and demand; "Are you coming back? Promise not to leave us!"
The volunteers are now organized and ready to conduct their own street sports and festivals for the children, with the equipment’s left behind for the locals.Coordinators were chosen to head a local office and expand the amount of activities in their area.
Communicational conditions have been set up to in cooperate them in the huge youth network across Iraq, a network that was set-up by Cross Cultures Project Association and financed by Operation Days work.
All to give them the training and tools to create associations and unions, everything from something cultural to athletic, in the name of uniting the Iraqi youth and giving them a voice in society, so they can from a country in their own vision.