Dogsledge Expedition Undertaken by and for Kids in Need

by Geneviève Montcombroux

Bornehjemmet in Uummannaq, northern Greenland, is a special home funded by the government of Greenland. Twenty five Inuit youngsters aged from five to twenty live at Bornehjemmet. They are learning to overcome traumatic experiences from their childhood through their Greenlandic culture, which is so closely linked to nature.

Uummannaq is a small, isolated town on a fjord, some 500 km (300 miles) north of the Arctic circle. Hunting and fishing are the main source of income. The children's home is always looking to provide educational therapy and positive experiences for the youths. One of the most successful therapies has been the dog sled expeditions.

As she has done for several years, Ann Andreasen, director of the home and originator of the sled expeditions, has organized a 1500 km (1000 miles) expedition which will be the longest of all. It will start from Uummannaq in March to reach Thule sometime in May. Jean-Michel Huctin, a French writer, photographer and lecturer, and a collaborator in the Children's Home, will also lead the expedition, along with the best hunters of Uummannaq district and the Bornehjemmet educators. They will be a fantastic sight on the ice, with no less than fifteen  sleds pulled by 200 dogs. The expedition can be followed on the Internet Home site, <http://www.arcticinuit.net > and on television. A film will be produced by Media Video Company - a French film company which has won several awards for its documentaries. A book will be published soon after the end of the expedition.

The aim of this therapeutic expedition is to let wild nature teach the youths to expand their energy positively. Being responsible for themselves as well as their dog teams and facing the daily difficulty of life in a harsh environment will develop self-confidence and pride. 

Alumni of Bornehjammet have gone on to higher studies or are holding down jobs. For the organizers, the dog sled expeditions contributed to their success. This is why they want to be able to continue, and for this they need sponsors. No contribution is too small. The address: Children's Home, P.O. Box 99 - 3961, Uummannaq, Greenland.