Russian Children’s Centre Orlyonok

Orlyonok celebrates International Day of Friendship. Orlyonok campers from 17 different countries of the International camp session Bridges of Friendship are the main facilitators of the event. Having started the day with active morning exercises by the seashore, campers moved to the Centre’s quay, to start the International Friendship Day.

“The international camp session Bridges of Friendship is really important for us. It is not the first year we are holding the session and we can see that campers are eager to share their countries’ achievements and their cultures. They do it with love. If we organize the Bridges of Friendship with all countries of the world at a camp level, I am sure that in the future we will see politicians who will act in the interest of the whole world. I think that children who have visited our Centre will tell their friends and relatives about Russian sincerity and hospitality”, commented Alexander Dzheus, Director of the Russian Children’s Centre Orlyonok.

Thematic events dedicated to the holiday, combined different languages, cultures and even gastronomic preferences. Campers took part in the international delegations presentations, where the participants of Bridges of Friendship program prepared stories about their homeland, demonstrated national costumes, introduced campers to their traditions. At the same day the Centre launched Orlyonok camp Pen Pals Club. Russian campers wrote letters for their peers from 17 countries. The international delegations will take the letters with them and bring them to the peers in their countries. Making friends worldwide will help the children to get rid of the stereotypes and build a future together. Very soon the Orlyonok mailbox has been filled with many letters from different parts of Russia: Moscow, Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg and many others. The hosts of the Orlyonok Camp Pen Pal Club hope that future Orlyonok campers will join the Club and find their pen pals worldwide.

Later, campers tasted national dishes prepared by the international campers. Russian campers had a chance to taste Swiss cocoa made with a real Swiss chocolate, try French ratatouille, Belarusian draniki, Czech apple strudel, Rhein potato pancakes with an apple sauce and Spanish gazpacho. International campers were happy to share the recipes and cooking secrets with Russian campers.

The key event of the International day of Friendship was the video Bridge with the Canadian camp Tawingo and the ICF President John Jorgenson. The Canadian and Russian campers discussed their camp experience and shared camp stories. This Bridge of Friendship convinces us once again that all children around the globe have so much in common despite living so far away from each other, that friendship connects us and gives an opportunity to exchange our ideas and plans for better future together. At the end of the video session the campers sang their favorite camp songs as a part of traditions of our camps. Orlyonok Camp Peace Ambassadors have written a letter to people of the world with a message of peace, and made a small model ship with scarlet sails to deliver it. The ship’s been launched onto the Black Sea at the sunset. As part of the day's celebration, Tawingo planted a Friendship Tree to provide shade at the campfire circle.

“I’ve heard a lot about Orlyonok in the past, especially the fact that the people here are sincere and warm-hearted. Our expectations were fulfilled. We quickly became friends with everyone, every camper here is open and friendly. On the International Day of Friendship, I would like to wish everyone not to be afraid to expand their horizons, make new friends and communicate”, shared her impressions, participant of the international camp session Bridges of Friendship from South Ossetia Elizaveta Kabulova.