Boris Serov
The group comprising 24 Syrian school kids came back home from the International Children's camp Artek in the middle of September. To deserve this voyage all these kids have won Russian language Olympiad conducted by Syrian government. In Crimea kids have spent almost three weeks: it was the first but most likely not the last acquaintance with Russia.
Syrian language was implemented in the Syrian school program in 2014/15 educational year as a second foreign language (they had to choose between French and Russian). Nowadays Russian language is studied by eleven thousand Syrian kids in 12 cities of the country.
The children came to Russia from different corners of Syria. One of them is Akhmad Abdelmusein, he was delivered to Damascus by the military airplane from then besieged Deir al-Zour – it was the only way to get out of the city. Just in those three weeks Akhmad has spent in Russia the situation in his birthplace has changed: Syrian army has broken long-standing defense of ISIS (terrorist organization prohibited in Russia – Ed.) with the support of Russian Aero-Space Forces.
Syrian kids arrived to Artek with the support of Russkiy Mir Foundation, Synergy University, and Syrian company Foz that has bought air tickets for them. Workers of Russkiy Mir Foundation have organized an interesting guided excursion program in Moscow where the young guests have stayed several days, and afterwords accompanied the kids from Moscow to Crimea.
It is worth mentioning that the International Children's camp Artek is not only one entity but the network of several camps scattered throughout the Black Sea coast, covering over 200 hectares (494.2 acres). Besides various master classes, tournaments, creative contests, there was a rich supplementary education program in Morskoi Camp (The Sea Camp) where Syrian kids have stayed.
Days were starting early with morning exercises and breakfast followed by various activities, called Network Educational Module (NEM). Each NEM lasts for 3 hours. NEM differes from regular school lessons because it is conducted in an entertaining manner.
There are also traditional lessons named “the school” coming in form of two 1-hour lessons Russian language program specially prepared for Syrian kids. If Russian language classes were not happening that day Syrian participants participated in numerous workshops, like stuffed toys or dreamcatchers creating, landscape design, 3D print, etc. At the end of each course they have received the certificate of completion.
All those workshops were not just educational. They gave chance to Syrian kids to communicate with peers from other countries, train Russian language skills and eventually break the language barrier.
Sports and entertainment events were held during the evening time. During the music contest Syrian kids performed Russian rock group DDT song The Fall, and also altered Russian ditties.
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Lectures that were held for Syrian kids were pretty challenging but students were paying much attention to what they were taught. They were actually doing very good. In exceptional cases, the translator (Raduan Al-Rakhal, the Chief Russian language Inspector of Syrian Educational Ministry – Ed.) was always there to help. However, the kids asked us to talk only in Russian. In two weeks a visible progress was already seen! We were walking altogether, naming objects, generally everything we see on our way: the sea, the sky, the tree, - Artek attendant Nadya Kuianova shared.
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It was pretty difficult for Syrian kids at first, - Nadya said. -
They have admitted: everything goes too fast, too intense. They are not used to such a strict schedule. The communication with other kids was not a piece of pie at first, and Syrians were very shy. But day by day, step by step, they were doing better not only as students but as friends. If there was a problem to understand, they googled a phrase or a word. Very often Russian kids were eager to explain them some words, and Syrian peers were spelling these words in Arabian. The vibe was very cool, and even though an understanding was not 100% kids were laughing anyway.
The Syrian kids have adjusted to Artek traditions not instantly as well. Nadya has given the following example: there is a tradition to make the “team circle” before the sleeping time. Boys stay next to girls, laying right hand on a shoulder, left hand on a waist. It looked very unconventional for kids coming from the Eastern world. But at the end they accepted this tradition as a cool one, and even worried when the “team circle” was not held for whatever reason.
- What kids liked? - says Nadya. - It is probably our educational, though pretty intense, program. Syrian kids also loved kind-hearted and hospitable people, they were impressed by Crimean nature and historical places – Sevastopol, Yalta, and Feodosia where they have visited Aivazovsky's museum which they have really adored.
