” Play Your Part – Active Participation in Civil Society”
A Seminar Series to Strengthen Civil Participation in Europe
25.-31.03.2012 (Introductory seminar in Weimar – Germany)
17.-21.09.2012 (Reflecting seminar in Brussels – Belgium)
The seminar series included opportunities to:
- have an intensive exchange and to network with people active in civil society,
- learn more about the implementation of ideas and activities in a regional and an international context,
- share experiences in different thematic fields such as youth empowerment, active citizenship and diversity and tolerance
- find future partners,
- develop activities and ideas for strengthening civic participation,
- identify further potential for personal and institutional involvement,
- learn more about EU-funding programmes and visit European organizations.
Pictures from this wonderful experience, you can view here
Martin Ivanov
Intercultural
Paintings Solothurn 2012
Every August since 2006 a unique youth exchange takes place in the beautiful town of Solothurn, Switzerland. Intercultural Paintings Solothurn is an art project gathering together students between 18 and 26 from all over the world. The aim of the project is to let young people express themselves through art and their own language in an intercultural environment.
This year’s participants came from 7 different countries – Georgia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Russia, Spain, Israel, and last but not least Switzerland.
The main activity of the project is painting. All participants paint around 6 hours a day during the project. I found really inspiring doing what I love with 26 other people who I can share ideas and experience with. There was no limit in what we can draw – we just had to include some writing in our own language and use imagination in everything we do. Our paintings were the product of the exchange that we sold at the market in the centre of the city. Something important about the project is that the money we raised, goes to children in need. We also had an exhibition in the local university the last night of the project.
A surprise for the viewers was our 15-minute performance which presented the different languages of the participants. We, the Bulgarian group, chose to recite a part of a famous Bulgarian poem written in the Sorbonne University – ‘Hadzhi Dimitar’ by Hristo Botev. The leaders of the project did not miss to plan some leisure activities for us. We celebrated our success on the market with a Saturday evening concert – a local band played just for us.
On Sunday we had a hiking trip to one of the highest points in the area – we enjoyed a magnificent view! Some of the afternoons we even went swimming in the river Aare that crosses the town. Something I loved about the project was the accommodation. We lived in a cozy cottage in the woods which provided a lot of outdoor activities as well as the feeling we are close to nature. I have to mention the project was really well-organized. We had neat schedules for our everyday tasks in the house and each task was performed by an intercultural team. Only the dinner teams were made up of people of the same nationality who cooked their traditional cuisine. This was one more opportunity to learn about other participants’ culture.
Living with so many different people of my age helped me improve my communication and teamwork skills. I cannot miss mentioning the last night of the project. All of the participants went to a local bar on the river bank and celebrated these amazing 10 days we spent together. This evening was probably the most emotional of the whole project especially for me because I had to leave earlier than everybody else.
I will never forget the group hug everybody gave me when I was leaving! I came home filled up with positive energy to the limit. I am really inspired to paint, communicate and continue following my dreams. During those 10 days, I really felt like I belong somewhere, I was amazed how all the participants are so talented and creative in their own way which makes them the most unique and inspiring people I have ever met.
Elena Marinova
A lot of pictures, but still not enough to represent the whole experience, you can view here
European Young Weeks in Germany /2012/
The European Young Weeks (EYW) is the best expirience in my life till now. In Waldmünchen, Germany I spent two wonderful weeks, met 50 new people from 12 different countries, found enourmously much about their culture and character and found a lot about myself too. Furthermore, I decided where I want to study thanks to this project as well as developed my English and German speaking and writing skills. My days there were filled with many interesting games and tasks. I met people who I am still in touch with. I remember what one of the ‘teamers’ said to me on the third day. She explained that she was a participant too and that EYW changed her. I did not believe that this could happen to me even for a second, but as I was at the trainstation leaving Waldmünchen and saying ‘Goodbye’ I understood how wrong I was!
Mariya Velkova
European Youth Weeks 2013 presentation and pictures
Jugendmobilität
Interkulturelle Malerei in Solothurn 2012
Seit 2006 findet jeden Augustein einzigartiger Jugendaustausch in der wunderschönen Stadt Solothurn in der Schweiz statt. Interkulturelle Malerei Solothurn ist ein Kunstprojekt, das Schüler zwischen 18 und 26 Jahren aus der ganzen Welt zusammen kommen lässt.
Das Ziel des Projekts ist es, Jugendlichen die Möglichkeit zu geben, sich durch Kunst und ihre eigene Sprache in einem interkulturellen Umfeld auszudrücken. Die Teilnehmer in diesem Jahr kamen aus 7 verschiedenen Ländern – Georgien, Bulgarien, Mazedonien, Russland, Spanien, Israel, und zu guter Letzt aus der Schweiz. Die Hauptaktivität des Projektes ist die Malerei. Alle Teilnehmer malen um die 6 Stunden pro Tag während des Projekts.
„Ich fand es sehr inspirierend das zu tun was ich liebe, zusammen mit 26 Anderen mit denen ich Ideen und Erfahrungen austauschen konnte. Unserer Kreativität waren keine Grenzen gesetzt – die einzige Vorgabe war, dass wir Schrift aus unserer eigenen Sprache und unsere Kreativität einsetzten sollten. Unsere Malereien, die wir auf dem Markt im Stadtzentrum verkauften, waren die Ergebnisse des Austausches.
Wichtig zu erwähnen ist, dass das Geld, das wir durch den Verkauf der Bilder gesammelt haben, an Kinder in Not gespendet wurde. Wir hatten auch eine Ausstellung in der örtlichen Universität am letzten Abend des Projektes. Eine Überraschung für die Besucher war unsere 15-Minuten Performance, die die unterschiedlichen Sprachen der Teilnehmer darstellte. Wir, die bulgarische Gruppe, entschieden uns dafür, ein Teil des Gedichtes ‘Hadzhi Dimitar’ des berühmten bulgarischen Dichters Hristo Botev vorzutragen, das er in der Universität Sorbonne geschrieben hatte.
Die Organisatoren des Projektes haben nicht versäumt auch ein paar Freizeitaktivitäten für uns zu planen. Wir feierten den Erfolg unserer Verkaufs auf dem Mark bei einem Konzert am Samstagabend – mit einer örtlichen Band, die nur für uns spielte. Am Sonntag wanderten wir auf eine der höchsten Anhöhen der Gegend und genossen eine wunderschöne Aussicht! An manchen Nachmittagen sind wir sogar im Fluss Aare, der die Stadt durchquert, schwimmen gegangen. Was ich besonders an dem Projekt mochte, war die Unterkunft. Wir wohnten in einer gemütlichen Hütte im Wald, die uns viele Aktivitäten draußen ermöglichte und uns das Gefühl vermittelte der Natur nah zu sein. Positiv hervorheben möchte ich, dass das Projekt sehr gut organisiert war. Wir hatten einen netten Stundenplan für unsere täglichen Aufgaben im Haus und jede Aufgabe wurde durch ein interkulturelles Team durchgeführt. Nur die Kochteams bestanden aus Leuten derselben Nationalität, die landestypische Speisen zubereiteten. Eine Möglichkeit mehr um die Kultur der anderen Teilnehmer kennen zu lernen.
Mit so vielen verschiedenen Menschen meines Alters zusammen zu wohnen hat mir dabei geholfen, meine Kommunikations- und Teamfähigkeiten zu verbessern. Ich muss unbedingt von dem letzten Abend des Projektes berichten. Alle Teilnehmer gingen in eine Bar am Flussufer um diese großartigen 10 Tage, die wir miteinander verbrachten haben, zusammen zu feiern. Dieser Abend war wahrscheinlich der emotionalste des ganzen Projektes, besonders für mich, weil ich früher als alle anderen gehen musste. Ich werde nie die Gruppenumarmung vergessen, die ich bekommen habe als ich abreiste. Als ich zu Hause ankam war ich aufgetankt mit lauter positiver Energie. Ich bin wirklich dazu inspiriert zu malen, zu kommunizieren und weiterhin meinen Träumen zu folgen. Während dieser 10 Tage habe ich wirklich das Gefühl gehabt, zu etwas zu gehören. Ich war darüber erstaunt wie talentiert und kreativ all die Teilnehmer in ihrer eigenen Art und Weise waren, was sie zu den einzigartigsten und inspirierensten Menschen machte, die ich je getroffen habe.
Elena Marinova
Viele Bilder, jedoch nicht genug um das ganze Erlebnis zu zeigen, kannst du hier anschauen
“Изиграй ролята си – активното участие в гражданското общество”
Серия от семинари за подсилване на гражданската ангажираност в Европа
25.-31.03.2012 (Въвеждащ семинар във Ваймар – Германия)
17.-21.09.2012 (семинар – обратна връзка в Брюксел – Белгия)
Серията семинари, които дават възможности за:
- интензивен обмен и създаване на мрежа от хора, активни в гражданското общество,
- научаване на повече за реализирането на идеи и дейности на ниво регион и на международно ниво,
- обмен на опит в сферата на различни тематични области, като овластяване на младежите, активно гражданство, разнообразие и толерантност
- намиране на бъдещи партньори,
- развиване на дейности и идеи за подсилване на гражданското учстие,
- разпознаване на потенциала за личностно и институционално включване,
- информиране за възможностите за финансиране от Европейски рограми и посещение на Европейски институции.
Снимки от това незабравимо преживяване, можете да видите тук
Мартин Иванов
InterculturalPaintings Solothurn 2012
Уникален младежки обмен се осъществява всеки август от 2006 г. насам в красивото градче Солоторн, Швейцария. Intercultural Paintings Solothurn е проект за изобразително изкуство, който събира ученици и студенти между 18 и 26 от целия свят. Целта на проекта е да даде възможност на младите хора да изразят себе си чрез изкуството и собствения си език в международна среда.
Тази година имаше участници от 7 различни страни – Грузия, България, Македония, Русия, Испания, Израел и последна, но не по значение, Швейцария.
Основната дейност по проекта е рисуване. Всички участници рисуват по около 6 часа на ден по време на проекта. За мен бе доста вдъхновяващо да правя това, което обичам с още 26 човека, с които мога да споделям идеите и опита си. Нямаше ограничения в това какво да рисуваш – просто трябваше да използваме въображението си във всичко, което правим и да включим нещо, написано на родния ни език. Рисунките ни бяха резултата от обмена, които продавахме на пазар в центъра на града. Важното е, че парите които събрахме, ще бъдат раздадени на нуждаещи се деца. Направихме изложба и в местния университет последната вечер от обмена…. продължава
Елена Маринова
Много снимки, представящи цялото преживяване, можете да видите тук
