The "Arabian Spring" in Juelsminde

By Helle N. Nielsen, International Coordinator, Juelsminde School

As part of project Reviving World Heritage and Youth Forum in Ungdomsbyen (Youth Town), 18 students and their teachers from nine different countries in the Arab world visited Juelsminde School as part of the school's UNESCO cooperation.

Creative welcome
Groups of students and teachers arrived at Juelsminde School on Tuesday, March 8, in the afternoon. The visitors were welcomed in the school's "Space Room" by the 7th graders, who during the school year 2010 to 2011have been working with Reviving World Heritage. The visitors were shown around the school, whereupon they were shown highlights from the school's traditional musical – this year the musical was "Love at First Hiccup" with the 7th graders as musicians, actors and chorus.



The musical entertainment was followed by an international community singing organized by one of the school's music teachers. Soon the "Space Room" resounded with "Angel" by Robbie Williams – sung by a wonderful international chorus of voices with Arab and Danish accents.

Glimpse of the struggle for freedom
The Egyptian delegation, representing the Youth Forum, presented their work with Reviving World Heritage. Besides the planned presentation of the Egyptian World Heritage Site, the Egyptian students gave the listeners an emotional experience of what the struggle for freedom means. First-hand impressions from Tahrir Square were shown on a big screen accompanied by the Egyptian students' account of the 'peaceful' revolution in January.
The event ended with host families, students, teachers and visitors dining together at the school. The menu was prepared and served by the 6th graders. They served a typical Danish menu – no pork, however – which they themselves had prepared.
On Wednesday, March 6, the visitors again got together at the school, and most of the older classes had a visit by the Arab students and their teachers.
But ALL students and staff had a unique experience as a result of the visit!
From Juelsminde the groups continued on to Jelling, where they visited the Jelling Monuments. In this connection they visited Bredagerskolen in Jelling – also an ASP school.

A visit from an Egyptian
By Sofie Eglin, 7th grade
We all gathered in the "Space Room" where we sang, had some food, and listened to a presentation from Egypt about the Jan. 25 revolution. It was very exciting, particularly as I had Alaa as a house guest. After dinner at the school we went to the hall where I play handball.
When we left home, we made a small detour to the beach. To get there we passed through a wood. Alaa told me that in Egypt driving in such places is dangerous. The rest of the evening we ate cookies and fruit and told each other about our home countries. Alaa taught me the Arabic alphabet, and we played an Egyptian game – very much like something you might play in Denmark.
It was a fantastic experience to get to know young Egyptians, and my family and I discovered that basically we are all the same and have the same sense of humor, no matter what part of the world you are from.
Thanks to UNESCO for an awesome event.

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