Visiting Vibenhus School

Wednesday, April 3rd

In the afternoon Crown Princess Mary arrived to Vibenhus School in Copenhagen. She was warmly welcomed by hundreds of children, who were all smily faces. Think the warm welcomed kinda surprised her and made her happy. The Crown Princess visited Vibenhus School on occasion of a Free of Bullying-event made in collaboration between the Mary Foundation and Save the Children.

More than 200 children participated the event along with Crown Princess Mary and Helle Østergaard, CEO of the Mary Foundation. Visiting Vibenhus School was all about good ethic online. HipSomHap (a sining duo) presented a brand new song about being a good friend on the internet. The message of the song is part of the Free of Bullying-project used by educators and teachers to strengthen children's social skills and good community online.

The Crown Princess also had the chance to try out a computergame (guided by some children), withness a small concert and surrounded by children, she enjoyed the new song by HipSomHap. During the entire visit, she one big smile. I truly think they all enjoyed themselves celebrating a new fase of the Mary Foundation's Free of Bullying-project.

70 years with 'Hjemmeværnet'

Sunday, March 31st

Dressed in green, large boots and a hat matching her uniform Crown Princess Mary participated the celebration of the Danish Home Guards 70th anniversary. She accompanied her mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe, celebration the Home Guards anniversary in Nørre Nebel.

The Home Guard is part of the military defense and supports the Army, the Navy and the Air Force in Denmark, when needed. On March 31st it was time to celebrate 70 years of military defense and support with a parade. It took place at Nymindegab Camp in Nørre Nebel, where the Home Guard School is also located.

Along with the two guests of honor; more than 500 members of the Home Guard showed up participating the festivities.

On occasion of the 70th anniversary Queen Margrethe also handed over gratuities to those how, voluntarily, have served the Home Guard since 1949. That is truly impressive, don't you think? Congratulations to all of them and to the Crown Princess, who was announced Captain because of her  attendance of a common course about three weeks ago with purpose to become captain, here.

Day 2. Work visit in Ethiopia

Wednesday, March 27th

Crown Princess Mary is visiting Ethiopia from March 26-27th. On her work visit she is accompanied by Danish Minister of Development Cooporation, Ulla Tørnæs.

The previous day the two of them visited Addis Ababa, here. On Wednesday the Crown Princess and Minister of Development Cooporation arrived to Shire, in Tigray - one of the cities in Ethiopia where most people of refugee populations are located. In Shire Crown Princess Mary payed a visit to, among others, a school in the refugee camp. The school became a reality because of a collaboration between Dansk Flygtninge, Norsk Flygtningehjælp, ARRA and UNHCR.

As part of her visiting the school in Shire, she planted a tree. Six students and the Minister of Development Cooporation helped out with the tree.

Crown Princess Mary also visited a home for unaccompanied minors, who have often fled on their own to be reunited with family members who, in some cases, have fled several years in advance.

Day 1. Work visit in Ethiopia

Tuesday, March 26th

Crown Princess Mary is on an unofficial work visit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on March 26-27th. The visit focuses on equality, health care and rights for girls and women. She is accompanied by, among others, Danish Minister of Development Cooporation Ulla Tørnæs. The two of them both visited a fertility clinic and a reproductive health center, here, and attended a meeting with female business executives and entrepreneurs, here. Crown Princess Mary also had the honor to attend a meeting in the Parliament.

From everything I see, she was in a splendid mood during her first day in Ethiopia. She was all smiles. What I read is that the Crown Princess impressed everybody with her presence. Seems like it was one big experience for her being in Addis Ababa.

Looks like Crown Princess Mary and Minister of Development Cooporation, Ulla Tørnæs started the day with a run in the streets of Addis Ababa, here.