Path February 2015
Editorial Dear Reader, Firstly, let me introduce myself. I am Tim Backhaus, Board Member of EYP Finland for Communications, Public Relations and Academic Affairs and therefore responsible for doing and coordinating this new project. This magazine, which you are reading now, is the first Path - the Monthly Issue of EYP Finland. It will be including for instance alumni interviews, articles about sessions abroad and greetings from the Board of EYP Finland. You have a chance to participate in this project too! In future, I am hoping to get an article, an opinion of yours or photos from EYP events included in this magazine. It can be basically anything EYP related; creativity is the key word here! That is all from my side for now. I hope to get some feedback from you concerning the issue soon. If you are interested to participate to this project or in case of feedback, please contact me via e-mail. Have a pleasant read! Kind regards, Tim
Cover Photo featuring Saga Smith (FI) and Uchenna Emelonye (FI). Picture taken at Turku 2015 - 21st National Session of EYP Finland. Photo courtesy of Triin Naudi (EE).
Board of EYP Finland
From left to right: Tim, Iida, Laura, Marja, Iina, Jenni, Viktor
President of EYP Finland Marja Pentikäinen Vice-President for Events Coordination Laura Uusitalo
Vice-President for International Affairs Jenni Röynä
Board Member for Communications, Public Relations and Academic Affairs Tim Backhaus
Secretary and Board Member for Internal Affairs, Outreach and Inclusivity Viktor Salenius
Treasurer Iida Lyly
Board Member for Fundraising and Partnerships Iina Lappalainen
All Board Members can be reached at firstname.surname@eypfinland.org.
Farewell Words of Turku 2015 from the Head Organisers
Henriikka Hakala and Ayda Jodayri Hashemizadeh Picture taken at the Opening Ceremony of Turku 2015. Photo courtesy of Laurynas Keturakis (LT).
DearReader, A year full of exciting opportunities and new learning experiences - a year full of EYP activities - has come to an end. For us, the Head Organisers of Turku 2015, the past year has taught more than we could ever have imagined. The PED kicking in, it is great to look back on the project and see how much the EYP as an organisation had to offer throughout the year. Furthermore, we had the chance to get to know many inspiring professionals: phone meetings with the assistants of Jyrki Katainen and the meeting with the Canon Executive Management Team are just a few examples of what we got to experience during the organising process. Organising this National Session would not have been possible without the generous support of the partners and the Board of EYP Finland. We would also like to thank the organising team for the help to execute this Session. Last but not least, thank you dear Delegates. You are now the new generation of the alumni of EYP Finland, who will be responsible of organising events like Turku 2015 in the future. This Session would have not been the same without you!
Yours truly, Henriikka and Ayda
Alumni of EYP Finland N O I T go abroad I D RY E F
A U R EB
Teresa Artjoki, Kauniainen Teresa started her EYP path from Kuopio Regional Session 2013. After that she has been as a delegate for few times, including Riga International Session in Spring 2014. She is going to Traunsee Regional Session 2015 of EYP Austria in Gmunden on 18th- 20th February. She will be a Chairperson there for the second time.
Verna Lukka, Heinola Verna attended Munster sion of EYP Ireland on ruary as a journalist. It time as a part of the
Regional Ses6th- 8th Febwas her first Media Team.
Verna’s first EYP session was Tampere Regional Session 2013, and since then she has done seven sessions in total.
Juuli Salonen, Breda (NL) Juuli’s EYP career started in Tampere Regional Session 2012, and after that she has done several sessions, mainly focusing on organising. Juuli will try some delegating in the Academic Forum of EYP Portugal Porto 2015 on 20th to 22nd of February.
Silja Tuovinen, Oulu Silja will be part of the Media Team as a Journalist in Brussels2015: 21st National Selection Conference of EYP-Europolis Belgium on 24th - 27th February 2015. Silja has been part of EYP since 2012, and has done 13 sessions in several different roles after Brussels2015.
Pushing the Boundaries Written by Tim Backhaus
The first older alumna of EYP Finland that I am interviewing is Charlotta Lahnalahti. Charlotta started her EYP career in Turku Regional Session 2010, and since then she has done 20 sessions in total. She is studying Peace and Conflict Studies in Malmö University, but currently she is at Chinese University of Hong Kong as an Exchange Student.
© Uppsala 2014 Media Team
Charlotta Lahnalahti Age: 22 From: Turku, Finland Lives in: Hong Kong, China Studies: Peace and Conflict Studies in Malmö University Amount of EYP sessions: 20 Highlight session(s): Uppsala 2014 – International Forum of EYP Sweden and the 15th National Selection Forum of EYP Estonia in Tallinn Favourite quote: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
During our Skype conversation, Charlotta opened up greatly. Firstly, she remarked that EYP Finland has given her a lot of opportunities and a good basis for her EYP career as she has been in sessions as a delegate, journalist, organiser, chair and even Vice-President. While participating in EYP sessions she has been in a key role of developing Alumni of EYP Finland too. In 2013, she was the President of the Regional Committee of EYP Finland in Turku. This role gave her specific insight into the background and organisational work of EYP. ”I hope to give as much back to the Alumni for EYP Finland, as I have got experience from abroad. To my mind, it is very important to have this cultural exchange!” Charlotta had a so-called ”EYP gap year” in 2012 after graduation from high school. During that break, she realised that she missed EYP and because of this she did about a session a month in 2013 around Europe. During this time, she found a real passion for chairing, even though she enjoys being a journalist. The challenge of leading a committee and facilitating their work became of utmost importance to her.
She started studying in Malmö in autumn 2013 and studying in university has helped her a lot to improve herself in academic standing. Deep down, Charlotta always knew that she was strong in the academic side of EYP. ”As Socrates said: ”I know that I know nothing” describes everything. I thought I was having the best times of my EYP career, but actually everything before that autumn was only scratching the surface. In University you actually learn how to handle yourself and think about your actions critically. After that I realised that I have a lot to improve and found the kick and understanding for the possibility to actually go far deeper into EYP roles.” Charlotta is an adamant advocate of always being able to push the boundaries; there are always new levels to explore and deeper layers to achieve both personally and as part of a system. While it is important to try new things, but is paramount to challenge yourself in these concepts. This is true not only academically, but also your own discipline and manners develop. Charlotta believes that one of the best ways to learn about your ideal role would be to participate as a role below that. For example, if your ideal role were to be a chair, some of the best experiences are found when you are a delegate.
Photo of the Chairs’ Team in Uppsala 2014 – International Forum of EYP Sweden. © Uppsala 2014 Media Team
By mixing these development skills with sessions abroad you start valuing the special features of different National Committees and find your ‘own National Committee’, which you may like to visit the most. “What I try to say for my fellow EYPers, is that you need to try a lot of new things in EYP and find your own areas of comfort, not by assuming what they are. If you have a feeling that you are bad at writing then you most certainly try to be a journalist and prove to yourself that you are good at it!” I asked her about her favourite session that she has done and she came to the conclusion that it is very hard to select one absolute favourite. “My role at the 15th National Selection Forum of EYP Estonia in Tallinn was to be a Vice-President, and as a VP I learned so much more about how a session actually runs, sharing my knowledge to others and how to lead the Chairs’ Team. There was an extraordinary situation in Tallinn. Our session President was not able to attend the session at the last minute, so I actually had many extra responsibilities along with the other Vice-Presidents. Mistakes happened, but that turned out to be a very strong learning curve for me.
Charlotta In Chi Lin Nunnery, January 2015
Uppsala International Forum 2014 happened right after the Tallinn National Session. There, I was in a different position but with equal learning possibilities compared to Tallinn. I was chairing and I had a very strong supporting network behind me, and a chance to learn a lot more about chairing and trying out new things! Sessions like this one forum, where the Delegates are older than in regular Regional or National Sessions, actually presents Delegates in a whole new EYP light. Uppsala was also the last session before my exchange here in Hong Kong, so it is a good memory in my heart.” In years of experience of EYP, everyone has their own awkward moment. As Charlotta gave advice before, I decided to dig deeper to ask about her time of awkwardness. “In Spring 2013 I was chosen to be a Member of the Media Team in Bilbao at the 8th National Selection Conference of EYP Spain. I was glad to return to Spain as at that point one of my favourite sessions had been there. I travelled alone all day, found the hostel and suddenly heard people speaking English. Partly confused, partly excited I run into the room screaming “Are you with EYP?” The two people in the room turned out to be the President of the Session and a Member of the Jury, Ulrich Völker! I remember watching their faces grow in a stunned shock and confusion at a random girl running into their room, however, I was glad I got to be introduced to them before the Session began, even though I had no idea whom I had interrupted!” Before we ended our Video Call, as the last thing Charlotta wanted to say: ”Even though I sometimes feel anxious about this picture in my head: ‘OMG, I AM 22, and I have never been in an International Session.’ I probably have not actually been ready before, even though I might have had the chance to go there. One step at the time. Time, education and age bring experience and different viewpoints to EYP that you probably would not have had before. No worries people, your time will come.”
Charlotta and a group of Exchange Students in Macao in January 2015
Vice-Presiding in Tallinn, November 2014 © Tim Backhaus
Greetings from the Board of EYP Finland Call for Working Group Members! We are opening a call for Working Group Members. These groups are formed for giving a chance for the Alumni to participate in the management of EYP Finland. The five different working groups are: 1. Financial Management 2. Fundraising 3. Delegate Support for Sessions 4. School Tours 5. Innovation The more detailed information can be found in Finnish from the EYP Finland | Alumni Facebook group!
3rd Alumni Weekend of EYP Finland Registration to 3rd Alumni Weekend of EYP Finland is still going on! It is organised in Helsinki from 28th February to 1st March 2015. Sign up here before 22nd February!
Short summaries from the first and second Board Meetings of the Board of the EYP Finland: 1/2015 We went through the main areas for concentration of every Board Member’s portfolios. Acknowledged the new Boards of every Regional Committee and wished good luck for them via their Presidents. Dates for different key events of EYP Finland in 2015 were decided. 2/2015 Aftermath of Turku 2015. Recognised the new Head Organisers for Regional and National Sessions. Planned the Alumni Weekend and scheduled its programme. Heard the greetings from and Regional Committees and their first Alumni Events.
EYP FINLAND HOODIES AND ONESIES! Would you like to order an exclusive EYP Finland hoodie or onesie to wear during those short session naps? If so, then fill out the order form here to get yours!
All Board Members can be reached at firstname.surname@eypfinland.org.
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I, Tim Backhaus, the Editor of Path - the new Monthly Letter of EYP Finland, am looking for enthusiastic co-workers for this project. Path will be a modification of traditional EYP Session Media. I like to call it as a long-distance EYP Media.
Do bef you w ore ant goi to ng pra to ses ctice E sio n a YP jo nd urn be alis a jo m u hare the EYP Love? rna list ? Media Team Members of Path will be working mainly online, but hopefully we are able to have a real meeting at some point. I am looking for Editorial Assistants and Columnists, who would be around with this project until the end of the year as much as they can. On top of that I am looking for three types of Journalists: One-time Writers as Guest Stars, Casual Writers and those, who will write on a regular basis to Path. International applicants are also welcome! Call for Media Team Members will be opened on Monday 16th February.
Head Organisers for Sessions of EYP Finland in 2015-2016 From 7th to 8th of February, the 2nd Head Organiser Weekend of EYP Finland was organised. Here you can see who they are and where in Finland their sessions will be located!
Eastern Finland
Jade Jimenez
Solja Harjusalmi
Susanna Tenhonen
Helsinki Region
Anna Anttila
Elina M채kel채
Linda Turpeinen
Tampere Region
Alma V채nttinen
Elviira Luoma
Janita Karra
Turku Region
Roosa Eskola
Susanna Ahonen
22nd National Session of EYP Finland in Lahti, January 2016
Lotta Moisala
Tuulia Karvinen