But Eurovision is not the only vision. Tag has a vision, too. There are two Azerbaijans, even two Bakus. The first – represented by the glitzy Eurovision preparations – is the emergent, confident, aspirant, thriving country, where prosperity and development are powering ahead.

The second is the poorer, less-developed, sector, where improvements can still be made in education, healthcare and social services. Even in Baku, almost side by side are amazing new buildings hosting and housing the wealthy and the far less-attractive premises, left over from the Soviet era.

Working with our local partner – the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society (AzRC) – we are looking to do our small part to address the gaps. We are fortunate to have access to knowledge that can do much good, and over the years we have sought a variety of ways to share it to maximum impact. As the relationship has grown so has the adventurousness of our projects.

Our latest project involves helping to build resilience in communities along the frontline with Armenia, where a bitter three-year war in the 1990s has left a strained ceasefire characterized by heightened tensions and ongoing dangers.

Following a joint assessment and planning period in 2011, which culminated in an official opening ceremony at AzRC headquarters in Baku in May 2012, Tag and AzRC professionals travelled to Qazakh and a training period in First Aid, Health Promotion and ODT (Out Door Training) was launched for seven local trainees. The Bus for All of Us project is now in full swing, with the trainees who have graduated to trainer status travelling to six frontline villages every week, one a day for six days, bringing health and resilience-building community skills and tools to children, youth and adults.

Consider the verse from the famous Psalm (23) “the valley of the shadow of death.” Living in a place where there is a risk of a child at play detonating a landmine or drawing sniper fire casts a shadow over people. Living in a conflict region plays games with one’s mind, saps one’s nerves and imposes additional strains on families and communities. Our work aims to dispel that shadow through sharing a range of approaches to strengthening coping mechanisms and sharing new community-building skills.

Whenever I return to Azerbaijan, I feel we are truly among friends. Given the disastrous scores clocked by my country, Britain, in Eurovision over recent years, I asked my colleagues at the Red Crescent whether they could see that we were not humiliated this time. Still, Britain again came near bottom, so Eurovision 2012 will go down as another Eurovision disaster for us.

However, I was not disappointed at HeyderAliyev airport, where I went to catch my flight home, when I discovered to my joy that free wireless was available. I had even remembered to bring my computer cable, and was looking forward to a couple of hours of productive work when I discovered that I had packed the plug adaptor in my suitcase and my laptop was low on battery!

So instead of enjoying the free wireless and getting to work, I had time to reflect on what I would write in this blog! From what you have just read, you can tell that regrettably that effort wasn’t productive either!

Aaron writes:

My colleague Yoel Siegel who invited me to take part in this mission didn’t reveal the half of it. Words cannot describe the unique situations we faced and the true bond I felt with the people we were working with. On his previous trips, Yoel had managed to set all this in motion. There was true magic in the air in those 10 days in the Solomon Islands.

I have met a proud and genuine people, with an amazing culture with roots in the Holy Land. I was so impressed by the level of education, intelligence, humility and enthusiasm in all those we met along the way.

And when I say “met,” here’s an example of how we were received: In the north and south we were greeted by the tribes “mock defending their land” with bows, arrows, spears and machetes, and conch shells being blown in the background. Then we were given wreaths of orchids and led to the village hand in hand with women singing songs, some local, some gospel songs, with all the villagers watching and smiling on the sidelines.

There is such an abundance of fruit, vegetables and fish around, that there is no major famine or disease. Everyone looks healthy and can easily “get by” the way things are. This I feel may be harmful rather than an asset. We learned that according to local custom one is supposed to supply money, jobs or food to relatives, free of charge, and often businesses fail because of this.

Still, I have traveled the globe quite a bit and rarely have I encountered a group of people who have impressed me like the Solomon Islanders from Malaita Province. They truly want to take the first big step out of the bush and develop, and hope that these Tag projects will bring jobs and opportunities to young Malaitans who are leaving the island for Guadalcanal in search of work. There is great tourism potential here as well, because of the unspoiled, natural beauty, bird watching, surfing, crocodile worship… So long as the beauty remains!

As for my work, I “walked the land” that I was to design, asked many questions and received very good answers. There was lots of discussion and with photos and a survey I was able to get to work on 40 hectares for the Kadabina demonstration farm, industrial park and fish farm. I produced sketches that were shared with all parties, received their feedback in real time, took notes, and made revisions. After compiling all the data with the tribes and landowners on site, I photographed the hand-drawn master plan of the farm on my iPhone, sent it to my colleagues in my office in Jerusalem, and received it two days later in computerized form as a Power Point presentation that I was able to share with the islanders. Unspoiled perfection married cutting edge technology!

The first project in Kadabina in the north (a demonstration farm and industrial park) HAS TO SUCCEED so that the enthusiasm I saw on the island will be sustained. It has to create the example of turning around the area economically as quickly as possible.

I have to mention Leliana, the Hon. Israeli Consul, who has such amazing grace and proved himself a master of logistics, getting us around (despite a few close calls). The Malaita provincial government, from the PM on down, was truly supportive of all our endeavors, and made things happen on the ground whenever needed. Shaika Stern, a Tag Programme Manager who previously worked with MASHAV, was a delight to be with, and I learned much from his travel and agricultural experiences. His knowledge of agricultural farming and different methods from around the world is inspiring.

Yoel Siegel, Tag’s Senior Programme Manager, has been in Solomon Islands four times over the past two years and set in motion the Malaita Chazon Authority (MCA) – the development company that is implementing the new Tag-assisted projects in Malaita Province, that include disaster preparedness, agricultural development and mini-enterprise centres. Along with the local tribes, the government and land owners, this company, similar to the Jerusalem Development Company, will be also running the new wharf and market being built today.

Yoel has created a truly inspiring environment of new development projects with the local provincial government, and a feeling among the islands’ population of a new beginning for work and prosperity. He is truly a “mover and a shaker” and it was exciting, (and exhausting!) to try to match his pace.

I am exceedingly grateful for the rare opportunity to experience the Solomon Islands and be part of this unique venture.

I was privileged to fly to Sri Lanka on an auspicious day, 11.11.11, through Tag International Development, to help design an agricultural training centre in the northeast.”

My trip started in the capital Colombo on the west coast. I was met by my Sarvodaya coordinator Mr. Manoj Silva, and whisked away to Sarvodaya headquarters, south of the city, for a briefing with Dr. Vinya, Executive Director of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, where I received an in-depth description of the project that is in process at the Sarvodaya Batticaloa Training Centre on the formerly war- torn east coast of Sri Lanka.

Arriving in Batticaloa in the late evening, we started to work early the next morning. Mr. Manoj picked me up and we drove through town, gathering the other team members, Professor of Agriculture Mr. Arulnandhy and the Project Coordinator Mr. Thuwan. We then drove to the Training Centre where we were greeted by the director, the energetic Mr. Kareem.

Still early morning, we walked through the newly planted agricultural lands adjacent to the centre’s new buildings. The land has been broken up into small parcels starting from the basic “ kitchen crops “ most villagers grow, and including mango, palms, corn and paddies (rice) in the lower lands, and plantation crops of neem evergreen trees and herbs. Near the existing deep well there is an area for seed propagation.

I was very impressed to see the different varieties of crops. My only comment as a designer was that two “outdoor classrooms” are needed in two specific areas to provide protection from sun and rain.

We continued to the southern agricultural lands where we saw an older cashew plantation; an area set aside for individual crop parcels for students; a new cattle structure containing underground collection tanks for cow urine and manure (eco organic gardening); a large vegetable garden; cattle grasses; and an area for future forest trees. This area was also very impressive as part of the agricultural unit on the ground. Here as well I proposed that two “outdoor classrooms” be erected.

It was then that I first saw the main objective of my visit: A 1970s structure that is to be converted from one large open space into a separate classroom and demonstration room for 30 students; a laboratory; exhibition space; and AC room. My job is to synthesize all the elements required for a good design: light, air, acoustics, accessibility, budget, proportions, to name a few…

Working as a team we got out our tape measures and measured the open hall floor to ceiling, while trying not to disturb a small group working in the space. Equipped with my notes and the dimensions I barricaded myself in an adjacent room with sketch paper, a scale ruler and colored pencils and began to redesign the space.

There is something very fresh and correct that comes from designing on-site, feeling and seeing the area in question, stepping in and out of the space and accessing it again while jotting down dimensions and ideas. I was able to pop in and out, asking questions of my colleagues about lab setup, type of machinery, local construction methods, desk sizes, audio visual needs, etc.

After five hours of work I felt I was ready to present a rough concept sketch to the team. The feedback was good, I made some more changes, and by that time I was more than ready for bed.

The following day we traveled back to Colombo through the war-torn north where I saw Hindu temples, hot springs, amazing beaches and new infrastructure projects at every corner. Least to say, the 15-hour journey was an experience. Back in Colombo I spent the day in the Business Centre of my hotel, putting together a Power Point to show to the Sarvodaya team and Samuel, a well-known local architect. The presentation went well and in general the whole work experience with the dedicated Sarvodaya team was extremely positive and productive.

Back in my office in sunny, wintery Jerusalem, I am preparing detailed plans to send back to Sri Lanka for follow-up and implementation.

“Your meteorological service is amazingly accurate,” they chorused, walking through the glistening Haifa streets on the last night of their international course. “When they say it will rain, it rains, when they say the sun will come out, it shines!” In Indonesia, they explained, people with paranormal powers manipulate the weather in response to requests from families who may be planning outdoor events or festivities. This is why, they elaborated for an uncomprehending Israeli, they can never trust their weather reports. In addition to Israeli meteorologists, they felt they could trust the professionals at Rambam Medical Center, as well as those at MATAV, Israel’s largest homecare for the elderly NGO, all of whom they were able to meet and share knowledge with, courtesy of Tag.

The General Practitioners, neurologist and senior paramedic from Indonesia’s 118 Emergency Ambulance Services (EAS) and Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI), the Indonesian Red Cross, were at the Rambam Medical Center to attend a seminar entitled “8th Seminar on Developing and Organizing a Trauma System and Mass Casualty Event Organization” jointly sponsored by Rambam, the Foreign Ministry and the Health Ministry. Their attendance was not to be taken for granted, as they hail from the world’s most populous Muslim country, that does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.

Asti, Edi, Muhammad and Lilis all said the course has provided them with a more efficient system for organizing their Emergency Rooms and their ambulance services, and that they will bring these systems back to Indonesia where they hope to adapt them to local conditions. They are also in need of additional training for paramedics, which Tag has pledged to provide upon their request. They recounted happily that the seminar had included tours around Israel and that they had been pleasantly surprised to learn that the country is full of warm, welcoming people and not a “war zone” as media reports often lead them to believe.

Dr. Muhammad Arfan of PMI said he has set up a trauma system in a PMI Emergency Room in Bogor Hospital in west Java that he will be able to greatly improve, following the two-week Rambam seminar for 27 physicians and nurses from 17 countries.

The participants shared their experiences and coping strategies during the workshop. Lili Widgaga, Head of the Health Division at PMI, described a community-based Emergency Medicine project and a project in Central Java that teaches community response to outbreaks of disease, such as malaria. She also mentioned that while PMI hospitals are fully-equipped, they could benefit from an improved management system, like the one they were exposed to at Rambam.

Asti Puspita Rini, Deputy Director of 118 EAS and Dr. Edi Prasetyo, a neurologist, along with their colleague and senior paramedic, Muhammad Syukri, arrived in Israel a week before the others and also participated in a joint Tag-MATAV Home Care Seminar, to learn about Israel’s highly-successful MATAV homecare-for-the-elderly model, which they hope to adapt to serve the needs of the population of 10 million in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.

At the conclusion of her stay in Israel Asti said, “It is my honor to be a little part of Tag. The trauma course at Rambam was fantastic. And so was the seminar with Matav. We learned a lot from Matav. We have many new ideas about what we will do in Jakarta.” And Edi added, “I feel sad I shall leave Israel because of the many sweet memories and all the new experiences and knowledge I have gained. I feel I have a new family now.”

As a nurse and health promoter I went with health facilitators (HF) on home visits in Batticaloa. Their target group was pregnant women and children.

That area is very damaged by war, tsunami and floods. Some people keep a few goats, chickens and cows. Crops are hard to grow as the area is inundated with salt water. Sweet water is available but very difficult to obtain, for washing one hardly uses any water at all. Hygiene, therefore, needed to be taught in order to prevent diarrhea and other diseases.

Explaining growth curves to the HFs so that they can help the mothers with nutritional advice was enjoyed by the learners and by me. To convince the mothers and HF that yoghurt made from goats’ milk is very nutritious for children and adults was not easy. If only a few families will start using this “free” product their children will grow better. Nobody realized that medicine storage can be a problem; most were wrapped in paper and stored on the floor, easy for toddlers to find and eat.

The, by me refuted myth, that breast feeding is a means of birth control was not well received, I am almost sure nobody believed me.

Everywhere I saw a lot of dental decay and empty spaces in mouths as a result of wrong hygiene and difficulties receiving dental treatment. Wherever I taught, e.g. in a primary school, I told the children and teachers how and when to brush their teeth with salt water (many cannot afford tooth paste).

With children I practiced, with a lot of laughter, how to fight fair and not bite each other when angry. Awareness of HIV and hepatitis transfer is not high among the youth.

I made, together with teachers, puzzles from paper and leaves. This activity is known to help children develop mathematical thinking, and for them it was a new activity that fascinated everybody.

During a hospital visit I noticed a nurse in the treatment room who never washed his hands in between patients, nor did he wear (the available) gloves. My comments to the head nurse, who was showing me around, were received well.

I also worked with traumatized youth from a vocational training center – twenty six 14- to 24-year-olds, and their teachers participated. During the morning sessions I worked with them on relaxation and imagining a good future. The participation in exercises where they were asked to draw their dreams and later their problems with solutions was very positive. During the afternoon we practiced CPR and Heimlich maneuver and how to not to get infected with HIV or hepatitis when giving first aid.

Sometimes the groups I was asked to teach were not exactly what I had expected. One time I was supposed to meet 12- to 18-year-olds and the children were aged from 5 to 18; sometimes also adults decided to join us. To work with such a mixture was a challenge. Hand washing, nail care, hygiene and dental cleaning were always a success, demonstrations and role playing kept the audience alert, and often I made up games that teach cooperation and coordination.

To share my knowledge with people whot have suffered for many years is an experience that always enriches me. I am proud to be instrumental in teaching the less fortunate how they can help themselves to better their physical and mental health.

TAG has been tasked with establishing an agricultural project in Rwanda that will make the best use of Israeli technology in the field. But the issue of land in Rwanda is a contentious one. Where 90 percent of the population practise subsistence farming., competition over land was implicated in the Rwandan genocide – those who had bigger plots where amongst the first targeted by genocidaires. Because of this weighty social context, our project will also include an element of community building.

Our first meeting with government ministers and governors make it clear that  TAG will be working in an environment where the government has an articulated vision and control. I am amazed with the openness and eagerness expressed by officials to work with us newcomers., and it assuages my fears of working in Rwanda.

I go into meetings not intending to mention the genocide.  After all, a country and its people are more than a terrible tragedy that occurred over the course of a few months in 1994. Surely, I reason, Rwandans do not want to be known only for that part of their history?  Soon, however, I hear our local counterparts mention it as a way of measuring time. “After the genocide we still had attacks in town, so that it is only since 2000 that the ministry has been able to operate.”

I begin to understand that in Rwanda, there was one life before the genocide and another life after it. When I ask a new acquaintance the innocuous question, “where did you go to school?”  He responds, “ before the genocide, I was at secondary school in Kiyovu. After the genocide, I could not go back to school, I had too many responsibilities, I had to look after my brother’s children..”

Again, unsuspectingly, I asked some colleagues how they knew each other, and he replied,” we are part of the Student Survivors Association. We shared a house for many years and had the same adopted mother and father. “

John Cleese in the series Fawlty Towers may have told his staff about his German client, “ just don’t mention the war,”  here it is mentioned in every conversation.