The youths of Zasa Secondary School have taken part in a Youth in Action
programme youth exchange project No 11-39-2011-R5 „Once Upon a Time.
Writing through exploring the cultural heritage”. The creative writing project was
started already in 2011 in Galway, Ireland, where Irish, Norwegian and Spanish
youths met to explore the creative writing method and learned to give positive
feedback to others as well. Zasa joined the project the previous autumn when the
project coordinator of Averoy municipality Ragnhild Sophie Berthinussen offered the
young people from Zasa take part in it, so there were four partner countries: Norway,
Spain, Ireland and Latvia. The coordinating partner was Averoy municipality,
Norway.
Youth
in Action
“Once Upon a Time” –
Writing through exploring
the cultural heritage
Ireland – Latvia
Norway – Spain
The project started in February 2012 when each group in each country started the
writing course to prepare for the week in Norway. During 20 weeks we covered
different themes by using different prompts: pictures, photos, music extracts, literary
extracts, quotations, smells, tastes, etc. We tried individual writing, writing in pairs
and in a whole group. We wrote mostly prose and some poems. The youths could
choose either to write in our native language or English.
At the end of March (19th to 22nd) two representatives of our school (Ieva
Ģeidāne, form 12, and teacher Baiba Gabranova) went to Averoy for an APV
(Advanced planning visit) to discuss different topics connected with the planned
summer activities for all four partners. We met the other group leaders, discussed the
planned activities and venues, safety rules and regulations, finances, duties and
responsibilities for youths and the leaders as well. We also stayed at the place the
youths will be staying in summer and had an insight in Norwegian nature, culture and
history.
Irish, Spanish and Latvian leaders during APV
In addition to our regular writing course, each national group had to prepare a
presentation of the topic “Fairytales and legends from our country”. It made us to look
deeper into our Latvian cultural heritage: our fairytales, legends, folk songs, national
signs and even some dances.
At the end of June (the25th), just after the Midsummer night holiday, our group
went to Norway. The group consisted of seven youths: Laura Aišpure, Sabīne
Ozoliņa, class 10; Dagnija Krukovska, Jānis Daudzvārds, class 11; Ieva Ģeidāne,
class 12; two graduates of Zasa secondary school Una Kukle and Kaspars Sēlis; and
two leaders: Daiga Ģeidāne and Baiba Gabranova.
Sørheim, our campsite
The place where we stayed - Sørheim was tidy, clean and very nice - waiting for
us to fill every corner of the house with noises, note books, shoes, mess and laughter.
When Monday suddenly was Tuesday, and we were all gathered at last, this could
begin. A kind of fairy tale … One of the first things we did, was to write our hopes,
learning objectives and fears on post-it and put it on the poster. Some things people
wrote: afraid of getting homesick or sick, not having anything to write about, etc. Our
hopes and learning objectives had a lot in common: make new friends, to become a
better writer, learn about other cultures etc.
The very first days were full of active getting to know each other just to find out
that we are so different and at the same time to similar, both in our mentalities,
cultures, languages and national heritages, but all of us had a wish to explore the
others’ culture, language and traditions. That was the most important task at our
national evenings.
The first thing we did on Tuesday, after breakfast, was to have some name games
again, and then to have an introduction to the writing method, the AWA writing,
based on an American author, Pat Scneider. Alison, one of the Irish group leaders, did
that part. We had a writing workshop as well. Merete, one of the Norwegian leaders,
put out lots of things on the floor, and everybody wrote a text based on ideas they got
by looking at one of the things. Then we met in small groups, read the texts and gave
positive feedback.
Writing prompts
Creative writing workshops
We went to Kvernes museum and Kvernes stave church. It took a little time to feel
like a group. We learned about the coast culture, old boats and pieces of a whale 12
000 years old. In the 700 years old wooden stave church, we were guided. The
Latvian group even got a Latvian guide! Thanks, Sanita! (the Norwegian leader
Trond’s wife).
The stave and the new church in Kvernes
After dinner, the Norwegian group had a presentation of their cultural heritage.
The Norwegian group with some Latvian friends
After breakfast on Wednesday we went directly to Rangøya to try out different
things: cycling, kayaking, rowing, sand volleyball, fishing in the ocean. There was
also a picnic.
Sporty activities and the local newspaper article about the project
In the evening we waited for the Irish presentation, which was both scary and
beautiful. We kept on dancing outside, but the Spanish group went to watch a football
game, and Spain won!
Irish group
The next morning, we could all have a look at the photo of some of our colleagues
in the local newspaper. Thursday was another sunny day. Melissa, the Irish leader,
had birthday, so we started the day by singing to her in many languages. We had a
writing workshop again. Merete put out postcards and photos and we all wrote
something based on the impact the photos made on us.
Then we went for a mountain trip to Helsetsetra and Steinsetra. Nice view,
wonderful company climbing the steep hills.
Climbing mountains
When we had emptied all the hot water on Sørheim, because everybody was in
need for a shower, everybody was ready for the Latvian presentation. We, Latvians,
had made some presentations about our country, as we were newcomers to the
project, and about our school; we had translated Latvian folksongs in English,
Norwegian and Spanish and so made a surprise for our colleagues; we had translated
and read some fairytales and legends, and showed some legends in video form
(animated cartoon films); we also sang and danced to show the Latvian mentality. The
youths from the other nationalities were eager to learn our language, to sing our folk
song, and they even tried to learn our national dance! We had also brought some
typical national food: our rye bread, Latvian cheese with caraway seeds and our
famous “Laima” sweets. Everybody considered them very tasty. Everybody had got
used to the fact that we were a bit shy in the beginning, but when we started to dance,
the others almost fell off their chairs! They said we were soooo good and soooo
funny!
The Latvian group at the national presentation
On Friday we had another leader celebrating her birthday – our Daiga. She woke
up to a nice card on the wall outside her door. Sanita, Trond's wife baked 3 cakes for
Melissa on Thursday, then 3 more cakes for Daiga on Friday. Friday was our only
shopping day. We went to Molde, but on our way, we had a stop and went by a
Viking boat to the beautiful island called Håholmen. We learned about the island and
about Ragnar Thorset. Then we climbed a small hill. We drove slowly on all the
bridges of the Atlantic Ocean Road.
The Atlantic Ocean Road
Molde was fine too! The Spanish group bought some tasty things for their
presentation that took place after dinner when we got back to Sørheim. The Spanish
presentation was loud and funny, and it tasted very well! Arison impressed us all later
that night with his beat boxing. We danced a bit limbo after the presentation.
The Spanish group and Spanish evening
Then Saturday came. We stayed at Sørheim all day. Writing, acting and visiting
the Viking grave, next to us. Like the last year in Galway, we made cards and wrote
nice memories and greetings to each other ... To be kept for always ... especially if we
have a bad day. Only nice things!
Memories and greetings
Amine made a horror movie about a haunted place, and our Kaspars helped him a
lot. The film was scary too, but the fact is that everything looked funny because of all
the familiar faces. We did a group work on Saturday with the title "I remember". All
groups had one person from each nationality, and they made a lot of nice things.
Sunday came, and we were now not very happy to know that the end of the week
was near. We had become such a good group. Everybody mixing and everybody
learning other languages. Sunday started with a word hunt. Then we went to the last
trip, to the Bremsnes hat and the Bremsnes cave. Ragnhild Sophie Berthinussen was
our local guide.
The whole youth exchange group in Bremsnes
We had a wonderful week! We have so many memories and so many new friends.
We were proud of our native country and represented it with honour and respect. The
week was full of wonderful writings, music, smiles and all the things we learned
about others and ourselves during that week. Once upon a time ... But, we haven't
come to end of the story. The story goes on and on .... And next time it’s in Latvia.
Zasa secondary school has applied to the Youth in Action National Agency for the
next year with the project “Where We Come from”. Our partners are the same
Norwegians and Spanish, but instead of the Irish group we have found new partners
from Kupišķis, Lithuania.
The project will continue for 8 months. The activities of the youth exchange will
take place in Jēkabpils county, Latvia. 32 young people and 8 youth leaders from
Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Spain will come together to explore similarities and
differences in the society and culture of their native countries and native places. We
will use the same method as the previous years – New individual speech through
writing. We will have creative writing workshops where we will share our talents,
demonstrate our unique voices as humans and writers, and produce positive feedback
on other participants' creative works. We will learn to be and work together by
sharing, giving and getting. Writing is what connects all our projects. It started with
the method in 2011, Ireland. Then we focused on writing through exploring the
cultural heritage in Norway in 2012. Now we want to take a step further and do a
project that is based on writing modern digital texts. The theme will be our
hometowns. Through a blog that everybody will join, we will make a lot of combined
texts, about many aspects of our hometowns, like: local history, arts and crafts, local
industry, activities for youth, nature, schools, sports, nature and so on. The youths will
publish photos, interviews, short films, small presentations of what they find in their
community. It will contain a lot of facts, but also include a lot of humour. A really
good quality with a blog is that you can communicate through comments. During the
preparation period, the participants can react and comment on each other’s texts. And
of course, all the world can give us response. We could start the blog during an APV.
As a preparation, each national group will meet 20 hours. During that period they will
have creative writing workshops and will publish from their home town on the blog.
Then, when we meet, we will work especially on Latvia.
We have planned a lot of activities outside. Some of them will be connected with
exploring the local cultural heritage and will be used as a source of inspiration for
creative writing workshops. The other activities will develop the youths' sporty,
healthy and team spirit helping them to make new friends and become a part of the
group. The activities will include:
- visiting a folk-dance concert of Song and Dance Festival to get acquainted with
Latvian folk-dancing traditions, national costumes and national signs;
- getting acquainted with the most beautiful sights of Jēkabpils county in order to have
an insight into Latvian youths' routine and feel welcome in Latvian environment;
- visiting the crafts and arts centre "Rūme" to learn about Latvian folk art and crafts
traditions and try to make something by our own hands;
- visiting Aglona Basilica and Bread Museum, observing the curves of the Daugava in
order to understand Latvian values better;
- sports and activities in the place the youths will be staying (boating, water bikes,
cycling, volleyball), that will promote healthy lifestyle and add some physical
exercise to creative activities;
- visiting Krustpils castle or Cēsis to learn more about Latvian history and cultural
heritage;
- sports and team building activities at the recreational complex "Rāmkalni", that will
make youths feel as a part of the group and promote cooperation within a team.
We have also planned to make a movie where the youths will be the creators of
the idea as well as the actors. Similar movies (funny horror movies) were made also
during the two previous exchanges; this time we plan to put more effort into it.
Youths of today spend a lot of time in the digital world. This project will improve
their digital skills, which is a really important skill. In the future it will be even more
important. It will also make them more reflected on how to behave on the internet,
how to deal with all the possibilities and dangers there may be. They will establish a
stronger sense of identity and learn a lot about themselves and the other countries
involved. They will learn a lot of technology in connection to the photographing and
filming, editing and publishing. This is good way of train creativity, language, learn to
play, to analyze, to find good motives, to combine and to find new ways of expressing
themselves through different media. Creative writing, which we all have done a lot of,
can be one of the labels of the blog. In this way, a blog can be a whole world of
themes that connects to our hometowns.
Jekabpils county (and Zasa) in Latvia is not very well documented on the internet.
If you use English and search for videos, photos etc. there is not very much to be
found. A project like this could make Jekabpils county (and Zasa) more visible to the
rest of the digital world. The blog will be there for always, and it may be an
inspiration for youths (and all ages) all over the world.