The life of EVS volunteer is full of activities
and meetings, not just in the country of project, but also abroad. There is
short story about my trips to Germany
and Poland during youth exchanges. Youth exchange is project for young people
usually around 18-26 years old which aimed to share cultures, opinions among
people from different countries all other the world.
GERMANY
At the
begging of august I was participant at German-Russian Youth Exchange, which was
organized by JANUN e.V. Region Hannover (Germany) with cooperation of Russian
Youth NGO “OPORA” (Mari El, Russia). Have to mention that German NGO JANUN focused
mostly on Environmental Education and Russian NGO – work with socially disadvantaged
children and youth. The exchange was
based at village Großgoltern / Hanover in the big seminary house. The main aim
of activity was to get to know culture and traditions of each country and raise
up the active youth participation in society. Participants are mostly young
activists (volunteers, students, youth workers) about 18-30 years old. The
methods of meeting were simulation games, theater workshops, creative actions,
cooking traditional food and meeting with interesting people. In addition, we
also take a look at youth work in Germany and in Russia. Also during
educational part of the program we tried to create ideas for future
projects. As a cultural part of program
we had excursions to Hanover, Hamburg and Berlin. I hope that this
German-Russian Youth Exchange will built strong friendship between
organizations and countries in new youth projects.
Here some photos from exchange.
Presentation of idea about methods of motivation
the youth participation at local community. Work at mini-groups.
Drum workshop.
Making Pancakes for our German friends with our love.
By the way Germany somehow reminded me countries where I've been before: Austria, Sweden. The accurate buildings, no waste of lands and straight lines everywhere. People feel free to express themselves in appearance: kids with iroquois, adults with lots of tattoos. In Hanover there are around 180 representatives of different ethnic groups and nationalities.
I was lucky to visit other NGO which also doing on my opinion great work. One of them is KARGA - Association which works in multicultural level, consult immigrants on documents, organize proper language courses, cultural events and etc. There are about 70 workers on part-time and full-time positions. The atmosphere is incredibly comfortable there and every foreigner could feel safety here. Have to mention that the idea of the center established my Iranian immigrants.
Incredible Church (Hanover).
Excursion to Berlin. Next to Reich stag.
POLAND.
Second part
of youth exchange for Russian group was at Poland. We were guests at small nice
town Olawa, which quite close to famous Wroclaw. The host organization was “Porazumienie
Wschód – Zachód”. The aim of NGO is to organize cultural connections between
Poland (also countries from central Europe) and the Post-Soviet countries
(Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia and etc) through youth projects, exchanges,
concerts and etc. During our meeting we had opportunity to get to know more
about work of organization, organized the concert with Russian sings and dances
for citizens of Wroclaw at Regional Center for NGO and had excursions at Olawa
and Wroclaw.
It was my third trip to Poland, but it still surprise me. This time I saw amazing Wroclaw, met kind and interesting young people which really want to help with building the friendship between nations and raise the tolerance in this part of the world. I was impressed by Regional Center of NGO which really help to develop the NGO sector in all possible directions, which really give resources and provide consulting. I wish to have something like this in Russia one day.
Excursion to Wroclaw. The main square.
The Monument of Memory soviet soldiers are dead
during II World War at Olawa (Poland).
Thanks to this moments with old and new friends...
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