WELCOME TO HAMBURG!
editorial Joining EYP for the first time is a surreal experience. The only comparison we can think of is the thought of being able to try that amazing piece of cake you love for the first time again. God knows when we started we were nervous, insecure and fundamentally had no clue what this whole EYP malarkey was. Just as you are today, we were introduced to a completely different environment. Just as you are today, we awkwardly tried to get to know some new people. Just as you are today, we had no idea what we about to get into. Let us be honest, it’s scary- you are surrounded by strangers, expected to participate in almost infantile games and somehow also expected to be able to express yourself and your political opinion. But don’t let any of this scare you off. In this terrifying new terrain you find new talents, interests and , most importantly, friends. With EYP you cross the metaphorical bridge to discovery of what you are truly capable of, it may be a winding and confusing bridge but it is a bridge well worth crossing. In this smaller welcome booklet we want to facilitate your crossing of this bridge and break its initial confusion into pieces. An article by Alyona Vyshnevska explains how EYP works on international basis and provides insight to the inner workings of an organisation of over 10’000 members. On a more down-to-earth level Teresa Kerkhoff explains to us all the purpose of the different components of an EYP session, thus giving us a local and more general overview. In the committee profiles your chairs and journo are presented, so you can match a face to the name, or vice-versa of course. All we can hope is that you can find the same adoration that we have and we wish you all the best in the next couple of days here in Hamburg!
Theodor Hall (CH) & Berkok Yüksel (TR)
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content A warm welcome to a brand new experience
Welcome to the European Youth Parliament
Get to Know Your Chairs and Journos with
Chair & Journo Profiles
An explanation of the different elements of the session
Teambuilding, Committee Work and General Assembly
Brought to you by; Alyona Vyshnevska (UA), Teresa Kerkhoff (DE), George Ross (UK), Sorcha Foster (UK), Gonzalo Sola Rodriguez (ES), Jannis Kühlencord (DE), Tom Wagenhammer (DE), Giorgina Giani (GR), Anna Pusa (FI) Video-Editor: Oliver Kötter (DE) Editors: Berkok Yüksel (TR), Theodor Hall (CH)
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EYP
Welcome to the European Youth Parliament by Alyona Vyshnevska
The European Youth Parliament (EYP) is a politically
independent educational organisation that provides an opportunity for young people to freely express for their own opinions regarding current political issues and further discuss and defend them. What makes the EYP so unique is its fundamental concept: instead of “teaching” us the traditional way, EYP gives us freedom to discover, find out and practice. Back in 1987 the EYP was a small project in a school in Fontainebleau, France. Today it involves over 20,000 young people, 100 regional, national and international events every year, which are organised by 36 national committees. Schools from all over Europe apply to their National Committees to take part in the national rounds and try to get selected for an International Session. To increase the quality of National Selections, more and more countries introduce Regional rounds beforehand. §
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There are three International sessions every year: 2 main ones and a summer alumni reunion. This year Munich, Zurich and Tbilisi will host over 270 participants each. EYP is greatly supported by key figures in European politics such as José Manuel Barroso (President of the European Commission), Neelie Kroes (Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Digital Agenda) Jerzy Buzek (Former President of the European Parliament) and Thorbjørn Jagland (Secretary General of the Council of Europe). Last year the President of Estonia was the official patron of the 70th International Session in Tallinn. In order to follow the upcoming events of EYP, the best way is to become an official member of your National Committee and start receiving e-mail with calls for both national and international events. In addition alumni platform (http://alumni.eypej.org/) provides some information, as well as a group on Facebook called ‘Sessions!’. We hope you enjoy discovering EYP as much as we all have!
AFCO - AGRI Lucy Jane Claıre Bradfield (Presıdent)
Hometown: Montenotte (IE) Interest: Disney Films Studies: French and Italian Pirate alias: Lucy in the Sky with Pirates
Clemens Rawert (Chair) Hometown: Hamburg (DE) Interest: Movies and reading Catchphrase: It is goed man gap year / French As Haddaway once asked, what is love? Baby don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, no more. So philosophical, love is not being hurt then I guess, baby - no more no more George Ross (Journalist) Hometown: Stroud, Gloucester (UK) Interest: Music & quotes Studies: English, French, History & Politics Catchphrase: Schweeeet The Lovin’ Spoonful once asked ‘Do you Believe in Magic?’ What is your opinion on this? I think a little bit of belief goes a long way, you can make magic happen if you try hard enough.
A F C O
Şayen Tokyay (Chaır)
A G R I
Hometown: Ankara, (TR) Interest: Alternative rock bands Studies: Law Pirate alias: Mad Şayen the Pirate-Conquerer By the way I come from Asia.
Lea Rösner (Chair) Hometown: Frankfurt (DE) Interest: Baking and eating chocolate Studies: School I would love if EYP sessions would last longer.
Tom Wagenhammer (Journalist) Hometown: Traunstein (DE) Interest: Musical theatre and strong black women Studies: American Studies and Political Science I love the songs Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah, Barbra Streisand/Lea Michele - Don‘t Rain on My Parade, Queen - Bohemian Rapsody
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CULT - INTA
C U L T
Tua ‘The Viking’ Malmberg (Chaır) Hometown: Stockholm (SE) Interest: Singing out loud in public places Studies: Environmental Science If I were an animal I would be Tweetie the Bear.
Florian (Chair) Hometown: Traunstein (DE) Interest: Reading Studies: South Asian and Islamic Studies If I were an animal I would be Timon from The Lion King.
Gonzalo Sola Rodrıguez (Journalist)
Hometown: Sevilla (ES) Interest: Hanging out with friends in the pool Studies: Law Catchphrase: This is just water. I like siesta very much.
Karım Ben Hamda (Chaır) Hometown: Amsterdam (NL) Interest: Collecting old vinyl records and giraffes Studies: Political Studies If I owed the Russian mafia one million euros, I would swap my face with my archenemy.
Vanessa Janas (Chair) Hometown: Aschaffenburg (DE) Interest: Cooking, baking and playing football Studies: Biosystems Engineering If I could beat a world record, I would organise the biggest pie fight competition.
Jannıs Kühlencord (Journalist) Hometown: Hamburg (DE) Interest: Cooking with friends Studies: Political Science If I could pass any law I want, I would pass the law to love each other, like the bible says - but this time obeying it, because the world needs more love.
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I N T A
JURI - EMPL
JURI
Gregor Rawert (Vice-President) Interest: Turkish Tea (Çay) Studies: Law Hometown: Hamburg Pirate alias: Störtebecker
Mathilde Pascal (Chair) Hometown: Grenoble (FR) Interest: Translation Studies: European Governance Pirate alias: Lioness of Brittany (14th century female pirate)
Teresa Kerkhoff (Journalist) Hometown: Menden (DE) Interest: Old Movies Studies: History/Medicine Pirate alias: Sadie Goat (known for headbutting her victims)
J U R I
Dımıtrıs Zacharıas (Vice-President)
E M P L
Hometown: Athens (GR) Interest: I like to pretend I’m Russian. Studies: International Business and Foreign Affairs I would like to sail off to Madagascar as a horse.
Anna Kampfmann (Chair) Hometown: Aschaffenburg (DE) Interest: Reading and writing Studies: Law I would like to be a cat, they are nocturnal animals just like me.
Sorcha Odell Foster (Journalist) Hometown: Belfast (UK) Interest: Dancing, rock climbing. Dancing while rock climbing Studies:Economics Iwould like to be a cow. It would be a glorious life to eat grass and do nothing all day
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THE SESSION
Teambuilding, Committee Work and General Assembly by Teresa Kerkhoff
More than just points of program.
Going to an EYP session always means breaking the ice during teambuilding, debating during committee work and getting serious during GA. But why do we do all that stuff, especially teambuilding? Most of you might think that a resolution can be created even without jumping around or playing ninja- but that resolution probably will not be that good. The following guide shall explain the when, why and who of the typical session elements of EYP.
TEAMBUILDING WHO? Your entire committee, your chairs and your journalist. WHEN? It is set at the beginning of the session, often the first two days. WHY? This session element helps you to get to know people from your committee and breaks down barriers. It sounds like a flowery phrase but everyone running around madly and making sounds like a chicken will create a team that accepts different opinions. Considering different opinions will surely help you whilst writing your resolution. It also takes away most fears you might have regarding the challenging next days and you feel comfortable at the session and in your committee.
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WHAT IS IMPORTANT? Do not be afraid, your teambuilding has been planned completely by your chairpersons, thus nearly everything happens on purpose. It is furthermore important that you are open-minded for everything that might happen. The more you involve yourself into teambuilding, the less uncomfortable you will feel in your committee and it will also help you to feel more relaxed during the session. Be even more open-minded for your fellow delegates, they could become your friends, even if they seem totally weird in the beginning. And if you cannot become friends: Be tolerant.
ELEMENTS
COMMITTEE WORK
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
WHO? Your entire committee, your chairs and your journalist.
WHO? All delegates, the board and chairs. Journos and orgas in the background.
WHEN? Committee work takes place after Teambuilding, in the mid- WHEN? dle of the session. The core of an EYP-session often takes place at the last two days of a session WHY? This answer is rather simple: We want your committee to WHY? create a strong resolution. The previous teambuilding will I think that the ‘why’ is rather easy to answer because help you to respect different opinions and confirms your everything during the session focuses on General Assembly. position within the committee and therefore towards the Here you present your resolutions and get to know the topic. other resolutions.You can criticize them but also express your consent. WHAT IS IMPORTANT? As hard as committee work seems sometimes: It is fun. WHAT IS IMPORTANT? Why? During committee work you start identifying with Make sure that you are not too shy to do many points. our resolution and you and your committee become a part Your opinion is worth hearing, you may not get a better of that resolution. Prepare well and take into account every chance to express it and it is such a great feeling to deliver point that is made by your fellow delegates. Every construc- a speech or make a point during GA. However, if you take tive criticism and every point will lead you to a strong reso- an active part in the open debate, you will not have to fight lution that will pass in General Assembly. hard against your tiredness. Make sure that you prepare for the other resolutions as well by reading through the other committee topics and the respective overviews.
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DEVE - AFET Reınıs Tutāns (Chaır)
D E V E
Hometown: Riga, Latvia Special interest: Books, chocolate, cycling, basketball, cats Studies: Business Administration The one thing you would bring with you to a deserted island: A big box of chocolates, it’s really like an addiction.
Anna Dıehm (Chair) Hometown: Heidelberg (DE) Interest: Dancing, reading, drinking coffee, playing the violin and Harry Potter. Studies: Economics and English Guilty pleasure: “Watching Glee - and it’s guilty because even I can admit that most of the writing sucks”.
Anna Pusa (Journalist) Hometown: Turku (FI) Interest: Listening to music while snowboarding. Studies: International Law and Political Science My dream is to become an astronaut and snowboard down the Moon’s hills.
Oona Kııskınen (Chaır) Hometown: Joensuu (FI) Interest: Muay thai and thaiboxing Studies: Politics and French The journey as a whole and the people you meet on the way excite me so much in EYP.
Lewın Schmıtt (Chair)
Schmitt, from Bamberg, European Economic Studies. Hometown: Bamberg (DE) Interest: Basketball Maybe one of the weirdest moments in Eyp was when I got to know Karin, the most awesome, but certainly quite disturbing, editress of the International Youth Conference in Nuremberg.
Gıorgına Gıanı (Journalist) Hometown: Athens (GR) Interest: Travelling Studies: Law What I enjoy the most in EYP is getting to know different cultures and mentalities and having friends from all around Europe.
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A F E T
ITRE - EDIT Chrıstıan browne (Chaır) Interest: Kings of Leon Studies: Philosophy, Politics and Economy Hometown: Stroud, UK I would come to the GA wearing a dress, if my dog was kidnapped.
Katharına Koethke (Chair) Hometown: Hamburg (DE) Interest: Singing in a shower Studies: Oberalstergymnasium I wish to continue EYP. I will be at the Munich IS, next month.
Alyona Vyshnevska (Journalist) Hometown: Kyiv (UA) Interest: Good music in the background Studies: International Relations I wish my name would describe how nonEYPers react to Alele Kitaponga.
E D I T
(Editors)
I T R E
Berkok Yüksel (Editor) Hometown: Istanbul (TR) Studies: English Literature Interests: Islamic Poetry Pirate alias: Hairy-legs the Mischievous
Theodor Hall (Editor) Hometown: Basel (CH) Interest: Politically incorrect jokes Studies: Music Pirate alias: No-Beard the Rather Annoying
Oliver Kötter (Video-Editor) Hometown: Münster (DE) Interest: Photography and Filming Studies: School Pirate alias: Skinny O
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