While most of you here were probably cold, Tabea and I could enjoy the warm sun under palms from the first November until the forth. Although this might sound a little bit like holiday and although it was really very beautiful, it was not really holiday but work and learning.

As one of the German UNESCO project schools we represented our school at the second Muscat Youth Summit in Oman.  There we were (180 students and pupils, 12 teachers and the organizing team) in an-Nahda Resort, which is located in Barka.  In beautiful rooms, we were able to enjoy the short free time well and relax at night in a real great atmosphere.

On Monday morning the 2nd International Muscat Youth summit started at 9.00 clock in the morning. After a short welcoming and introduction by Amna, the Omani UNESCO-coordinator, all participants were divided into groups named after major cities and regions of Oman: Muscat, Sohar, Sur, Musandam, Salalah and Masirah.  The 30 youngsters of each group were always supervised and accompanied by two teachers.  After the first interviews w had to give to radio stations and newspapers, the workshops began a little bit later on this day.

Three days, the participants continued exploring different topics to help them later to become successful and to help their home country to come forward, even if the oil wells will go out after some years.  All workshops dealt with questions around the development of Oman as well as strategies for a secure future. 

On the first day the students discussed about entrepreneurship and all connected dangers and chances. On the second day, strategies and plans for urban Oman were tackled to sensitize the students not only to search strategies to save their incomes but also to save the environment and their home. The topic on Wednesday was Digital Oman. All groups worked on several fields as youtube or creating a magazine or radio station. The students should learn how important advertisement is especially in using new and modern methods and media.

After the workshops, which were from 9.00 - 17.30 o’clock, there were several presentations and afternoon activities. The Monday afternoon activity was a discussion with the police commander of Oman police that ended with the announcement that the students will be controlled by police officers to be in their rooms at the right time.

On Tuesday we were able to taste the traditional Omani cuisine and to be inspired by smelling the frankincense. We also could let decorate our hands with henna paintings and watch basket weavers at their work. This afternoon activity was especially interesting for us as foreigners because so we got an idea of Omani culture and traditions.

After dinner there was still another activity for all the participants of the camp.  In addition to the opening gala dinner probably the quiz night presented on Wednesday could be seen as the highlight of the evening activities. At half past ten the day ended and all the students had to be in their rooms. To help the organizers and the supervisors the Omani police controlled all the resort at night.

On Thursday, the representatives of the UNESCO-schools from Germany, the Netherlands and Jordan were invited by Amna to go to Muscat, the capital of Oman, to enjoy the last day of our stay with a short sightseeing tour. The short journey and the stop at the Sultan’s oldest palace were so tremendous and fascinating and we were all very excited by the beauty of the city. 

While doing a sightseeing tour in the city shopping has to be a part of it and so we went to Mutrah, the oldest suq in Muscat from the days when Oman capital was at this place and not were the new city is now. We walked through the suq and bought some little presents for us and our families before we went back to the resort. The week in Oman was so great and interesting with a little bit to less sleep as you perhaps can recognize here:

With some gifts in our bags, many new great experiences and impressions, and the desire to return to Oman once again, we arrived at the airport at about 5 o’clock on Thursday.  After five-hour stopover in Bahrain and six hour flight to Frankfurt we arrived on Friday morning at about 6.00 o’clock.

Tired, but very grateful and thankful for the opportunity that was given to us to participate in the Summit, we’ll now have the weekend to relax a little bit.

I want to thank all those who enabled us to participate the 2nd Muscat youth summit in Oman. Special thanks to be to Amna who was the most active in the organization and implementation of the youth summit. I also thank all organizers and supporters who have made this summit a success and for sure all participants will benefit from the experiences for a very long time.