- ATD Fourth World

Yesterday, after the formal presentations, the children took part in creative workshops. They then went up the Swiss mountains, up in the snow, which was for some a first time discovery (snowball fighting is easy to learn and doesn’t require interpreting services!) They went on a farm where they saw the cows, the calves, the milking process, thanks to the wonderful welcome of the farmer and his family.

Later on in the afternoon they each started their personal folder, in which each one keeps a record of the activities they have done and of the discoveries they have made. For instance Laurane wrote: ’there are many different languages and many different skin colours’, Ninon: ’we all get along very well’.

Today has seen the beginning of the preparatory session ahead of their meeting with Mrs Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights. Benoît explained to the children what the United Nations is and how the children and adults delegation will be formed. In small groups the children then started to work on the messages they will say. They all have brought along messages and testimonies from their home countries; this preparatory session is important because the children’s wish is that Mrs Kang presents their stories, their questions and their hopes in all the countries she will go to.

In the afternoon there were more creative workshops: Tapori bag decoration, making of treasure-boxes, of small figurines which will be brought to the UN, and building and decorating of a large scale Friendship Train.

And last but not least, the children were invited in the Shöenberg district in Freiburg to celebrate St Nicolas Day, which is traditionally celebrated on the 6th of December in Switzerland. Despite the biting cold there were bone fires, singing and dancing, as well as clementines and sweets, and of course St Nicolas and the Père Fouettard in persons!