The Caucasus Adventure

If there is one word that would best describe the prospects of the Black Sea region, it would be opportunity. Located in a geopolitical and strategic position, the Black Sea region not only offers an important bridge between Europe, the Middle East and Asia, but is also well known for its resource-rich countries. Moreover, the region has played an increasingly key role in international affairs, since Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, and Turkey continues to strengthen ties with NATO, and the EU.

However, the unstable relationship between the neighboring countries has emphasized the challenges, rather than the existing opportunities in the area. Despite their shared historical background and economic potential, the Black Sea states still let their differences overshadow the growing opportunity for a more united region. For instance, the recent developments of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a result of the rising tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan ethnic groups, once again undermine the stability of the region.

Against this backdrop, The Adventure Diplomacy, a program fostering leadership and communication among aspiring leaders through expeditions, decided to prove that it is possible to rise above differences and cooperate in difficult situations. The program brought together a group of 16 young professionals, from Romania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldavia, Turkey, and Ukraine to embark on an exciting challenge in the Caucasus region. The adventure took place on the 5,033 meters high Kazbeck Mountain, where the group had to cooperate, and work together to achieve the goal of climbing over 3,000 meters. "We wanted to show the youth in these countries what could happen when we put people together in a difficult context for a few days,” said Adrian Fako, program lead for the Black Sea Network and organizer of the expedition.

In October 2015, the group embarked on their expedition in Georgia. The Black Sea nation was chosen as it was the only country where the nationality of all the participants did not pose a problem for the project.

“By involving youth from various countries from the Black Sea region and exposing them to a transformational, difficult experience, in a culturally sensitive context, the project aimed to change the expectations and perception regarding their peers from the region, and showed that cooperation is possible when there is a common goal that has to be achieved,” said Dinu Toderascu, program officer at the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation (BST), an initiative of The German Marshall Fun of the United States (GMF).

By selecting people from countries with existing political rivalries, this initiative only emphasized that the “countries [might] have a conflict, but not necessarily the individuals”, said Fako.

Many might wonder how a physically demanding activity as climbing a mountain would encourage a diverse group people to interact and help each other. According to Tiberiu Pintilie, co-organizer of The Adventure Diplomacy, this challenge offered the perfect setting for cooperation, as climbing a mountain is a strong symbol of unity. 

“Mountains are the places where everything is possible and permitted. People get rid of their masks at difficult times, work together, die together and most importantly, live together,” explained, Fako. A perspective shared by others among the group .

“It is painful to climb a mountain,” said Valeriu Istrate, a participant from Moldova.

“But this journey wasn’t just about me.”

“It was about the ones in front of you and the ones in the back.’’

During the eight days of the adventure, all the political differences were put aside and through teamwork the young professionals were able to complete each step of the challenge. From struggling to find a bus to the mountains, to hiking more than 4,100 meters to reach the summit, cooperation was a defining factor in this experience. “We started this expedition as individuals but we summited as a team”, said Istrate. This initiative also gave the chance for some of the climbers to meet another citizen from a different nationality in the Black Sea region. For the first time, a participant from Azerbaijan had the chance to meet someone from Armenia, and vice versa, which allowed them to overcome the stereotypes associated with their nationalities, and build real friendships. After almost 13 hours of hiking, the participants were not only able to reach the summit, but to build long lasting friendships that remained after the expedition. Apart from keeping in touch via e-mail, the young professionals have also visited each other in their home countries. The Moldovans visited the Romanian and Ukrainian participants’; one of the Romanians paid a visit to the Armenians, and one of the Armenians visited the Ukrainian participant. For many of them, being able to establish these relations have been the most rewarding part of this experience.

“I got to know eight different cultures and the most important, I got to meet very open, different and complex people with amazing life stories,” said Ana-Maria Manda, a Romanian legal counsel.

In addition, all the individuals who took part in this journey are also making sure that the achievements made climbing the mountain help to create a platform for an open dialogue.  According to Tiberiu, the efforts for more collaboration in the region should not end in Georgia. 

“Share, write and speak about your experience and give it back to your community,” said Tiberiu.

“Be the ones standing for values, rights and cooperation wherever you will be.”

A message that many of the climbers are already turning into reality as they have used the trailer, and movie of this adventure to promote more cross- cultural understating across the Black Sea Region

Despite the positive outcomes reached on this initiative, there are still barriers that Adventure Diplomacy is trying to overcome when promoting this expedition for broader audiences. Not only are certain countries within the region not always receptive towards the experience shared in the trailer and the movie, but it is also harder to reach the young generation of the Black Sea countries, who do have access to the internet and social media. 

Regardless of the challenges, this has not prevented the team of Adventure Diplomacy to successfully move forward and promote this experience to the wider public. Most recently, citizens from Ukraine and Azerbaijan have already shown interest in learning more about this project, as the program continues to receive invitations to participate in festivals and events.

Initiatives like the Caucasus Adventure are crucial to shape the future of the region. It is a story where the differences among the states are not perceived as a problem but as part of the solution.

“The diversity however is not an obstacle, it is an opportunity,” emphasized Istrate.

“Just like in our expedition, I wish for my country, that we all become a team.”

This project is mainly a story of cooperation and unity, where the youth is able to have a broader sense of community in the region.

 “We were one and I feel that we still are, even though we have a Black Sea and 1000km between us,” Nadiya Pashkova, a Ukrainian participant said.

Read more about Adventure Diplomacy here.