IOV Youth Journal 2017

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Table of Contents Contributors Editors’ Note President’s Introduction Chair’s Report A Volunteer’s Journey The Preservation of “YOU” Youth Delegates Present A Heritage Of Stories Survey

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Contributors

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Ali Abdulla Khalifa

IOV World President

Dr. Luba Pirgova Morgan

Amsatou Diop

IOV Youth Chair

IOV Youth Deputy Chair, Communications

Tomasz Kisel

Dr. Jean Novak

Law Student

Kalina Veronika

PHD, CCC - SLP

Vann Ha

PHD Candidate

IOV Youth Secretary General

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Dr. Joanna Dziadowiec

IOV Youth Vice Chair Academics

Bushra Dabbagh

IOV Youth Vice Chair Special Projects

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Editors’ Note Myślenice is a small town located in the KrakÓw region of Poland. It is a charming picturesque city, filled with lush greenery, a downtown with shops and cafes and friendly people all around. It is also the heart of the Malopolska festival, a much anticipated annual event, with dance groups participating from around the world, food trucks, activities

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and excitement buzzing at each corner. The festival is immaculately organized and draws large crowds for every edition. The latest one took place in the summer of 2017. For the first time, the festival hosted the 5th International Organization of Folk Art (IOV) Youth Congress. We were delegates representing Bahrain and the United Kingdom, led by IOV President Ali Khalifa. We met with a bright group of young IOV members, artists, folklore advocates and passionate students from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. We were struck by the wide variety of folk art and folk culture each delegate was advocating for and by their own interpretation of Intangible Culture Heritage. The IOV contains of wealth of individuals and each one has a great story to tell. Youth make up an important part that connects the previous generation with the current one. This journal attempts to showcases some of the work that was done during the 5th congress and it will highlight the important dis6

cussions the delegates held. It is our sincere hope that it will inspire you to join the IOV and be a part of promoting and protecting the folk art and folk culture that is close to your heart. The congress was a big success and it is a pleasure to take you on a digital tour through it, using these next pages. We hope you enjoy reading and watching these videos, as much as we enjoyed putting the journal together. Shereen Ahmed Rafea & Maria Nagy Vice Chair of Publications/ Deputy Vice Chair of Publications

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President’s Introduction Ali Abdulla Khalifa IOV World Presedent

Youth is the most important sector of the International Organization of Folk Art (IOV). They hold in their hands the future of the organization and the ability to continue the path laid out many years ago by the founding members. Thus,

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issuing a journal that showcases the voices of IOV Youth and documents the great effort put forth in the last youth congress, reflects the positive change our organization is going through and the dedication of the new Youth Commission. We look towards this team with hope, that they continue the hard work and make their lasting imprint in folk art and folk culture. The mission of the IOV is unique. Not only does it support artisans, artists and academics, it also works tirelessly to raise awareness about their trade and to participate in protecting cultural heritage.

This is why the IOV contains a diverse palette of members, from around the world, each adding value to the organization. We aim for youth to be actively involved in the IOV, which is crucial for the continuation of our legacy and for the protection of the folk art each member holds dear to their heart. They must be an integral part of the organizational structure, bringing new ideas to the table and further developing our cross platform work, from festivals, to exhibits, conferences and more.

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“Our hopes lie in the IOV’s youth, whom you represent, and in young people playing a vital role in the course of events. Today we invite every branch of the organization, regardless of size or geographic location, to take action to preserve material and intangible cultural heritage, which are inseparable.�* It is a challenging task ahead; however it was encouraging to witness the flurry of activities at the IOV Youth Congress and to listen firsthand to the thoughts of the participants, each representing a different culture and ideology.

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acquisition. These challenges leave heritage - one of the most important components of culture - vulnerable.”* We wish the IOV Youth Commission success in the next two years ahead and we hope that readers become inspired by the pages in this journal and join us in the next congress

The congress, which was meticulously planned and filled with thought provoking topics for youth to ponder, is the exact direction the Executive Committee aims for the youth commission to go. It is clear that youth hold a lot of potential to protect their heritage. “I doubt that anyone fails to realize the magnitude of the challenges facing all cultures, religions, races and languages as a result of the conflicts among sects and races and the policies of displacement, hegemony and

_________________ President’s Speech at the Opening of the IOV›s World Youth Congress Krakow, Poland July 12, 2017

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Chair’s Report Dr. Luba Pirgova Morgan IOV Youth Chair

Introduction The 5th IOV Youth congress took place in Myślenice, Poland, from July 13- 16, 2017. The theme of the congress was Folk Fusion: Intangible Cultural Heritage and Inspiration by Folklore. This was the first congress to be conducted during

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a festival event, which brought many delights as well as a whole new set of challenges. IOV president Ali Khalifa gave a speech at the launch of the congress and participated in many of the discussions and workshops that took place. He also attended banquets and the Malopolska festival, which took place in conjunction with the congress. This was also the first congress to pioneer the new election bylaws and expand beyond physical presence as eligibility to nominate and to vote for the youth commission. Overall, the congress was a success that enabled the participants to share values, ideas, and experiences together while placing the first stones of building the youth into a stronger, more cohesive and united organization that can dream big and achieve amazing goals on a global scale. An Idea is Born At the IOV Global General Assembly in Bergamo, Italy 2016, a youth team organized several meetings in order to elect the next location for our congress. The team comprising of Oyuna (Russia), Elena (Italy), Piotr (Poland),

Yun (Japan), Luba (Bulgaria/UK), Minara (Azerbaijan), Mily (Peru / USA), Acharya (Nepal) had two meetings in Bergamo, and several after to discuss the organizational aspects of the congress as well as the new election bylaws. This is where Mr. Pitor Szewczyk kindly extended an invitation to host the congress for free at the Malopolska School Of Hospitality during the Malopolska Festival and taking the immense responsibility of organizing the logistics, the interactions with the festival such as invitations and transportation to evening concerts as well as the interactions with the place such as a trip to Krakow. At this point, a challenge arose as the chair of the Youth Commission had to unfortunately resign due to personal tragic reasons, and it is the chair that organizes the Youth Congress. The remaining board members invited Dr. Luba Pirgova-Morgan to become interim Chair and to take over the organization of the congress including devising the congress scheduling, workshops and variety of activities. 11

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The Congress at the Malopolska School of Hospitality The 5th IOV World Youth Congress occurred between the 12th and the 17th of July 2017 in Myślenice, Poland. It was held in conjunction with the Malopolska Festival, a much anticipated event in Poland, filled with food, dance and stalls teemed with local artisan products. Dance groups for the festival came from Kenya, Pakistan, Peru, Paraguay, Brazil, Armenia, Bulgaria and Poland. The congress was provided with volunteers to give us support and obtain photo and video materials

that we could use for the journal and other publications. The theme of the Youth Congress was Folk Fusion: Intangible Cultural Heritage and Inspiration by Folklore in an attempt to explore the meaning of intangible cultural heritage for the youth. The theme was chosen to fit with the Festival that also presented a fusion of cultures, of folklore and modernity as well as of perceptions, values and ideas. There were about 20 participants in in the congress from countries such as Hungary, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Belarus, Vietnam, 12

Bahrain, Syria, Guatemala, Senegal and Austria to name a few. The participants spent a week in a flurry of cultural exchange, teaching one another about aspects of their heritage as well as trying to understand what ICH means for them. Activities There were many varied activities throughout the congress. • There were participant presentations that can be separated roughly into two themes: Crafts and Rituals, and A Focus on the Visual. Some examples include the Busho Festival in Hungary, an overview of Senegalese culture, ICH in Belarus, methods of Folk Crafts preservation in Hungary, Vietnamese folk paintings, an exploration of Syrian culture and the Aleppo Soap Industry, using art to battle depression in Guatemala, using art to bridge cultural differences, the significance and importance of storytelling, • There were many different types of workshops being offered during the

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congress that included both Academic and Practical Experience. Some of the workshops focused on discussing topics crucial to the IOV Youth’s development, which mainly revolved around defining Intangible Cultural Heritage or setting long and short term goals for the Youth Commission. Other workshops were more hands-on much more varied, and included the creation of rhizomes and multi-cultural squares that showcase each participant’s unique background; Hungarian, Polish and Belorussian dance sessions; making Hungarian Chicken Christmas Ornaments on traditional blue stamped fabrics; creating wooden dolls in traditional Krakow costumes; or teaching each other about songs and rituals. • There were also a variety of mini concerts or visual presentations that were part of the congress such as the Austrian Musical Presentation, Ukulele music performance, or the 1 hour film presentation. Vietnamese folk paintings were also shown as well as a variety of traditional national costumes.

We were also invited to a series of artist expositions (often modern art informed by folklore) in the nearby Craft Studios. • There were many guest speakers and presenters as well. For example, Dr. Joanna Dziadowiec presented a lecture titled: Intangible Cultural Heritage as an Inherent Part of the Present – the Thread of Intercultural Understanding and Guarantee of Sustainable Development, 13

while Dr. Jean Novak, presented a lecture titled: The Preservation of «YOU»: A Cultural Adventure Leading to the Ultimate «WE». There was also an address by the president of IOV World Mr. Ali Kalifa as well as a presentation by Karolina Druzgała-Pawlak, program Executive of International Folk Meetings - Malopolska 2017 that was about Polish Ballroom Dancing. • There were also many activities that we could do as part of the festival. We were invited to several concerts at the main square to see the folk presentations of a variety of cultures. a long with a Taste The World event, where we could try foods from different countries. There was also traditional folk dance sessions and disco evenings. We were taken on a trip to Krakow to experience the sights, but also the local culture. • A few surprises also occurred as for instance a surprise guest, the Peruvian Council in Poland found out about the

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congress in written form or can be given verbally during the Congress • Presence at the Congress is not mandatory for nomination to take place 2) Voting if not present • Once the morning nominations are pitched in the last day of the congress, the information will be published on-line on the Facebook page. • Those not present will have until a preset time to cast their vote by sending a Facebook message to the IOV Commission Page that much includes name, country, and e-mail address. 3) Voting if at congress • One vote per nation is allowed. • If a member of that nation is present at the congress, they have the final say of how the nation votes. They will be given information of how others from their nation have voted on-line, which they can take under advisement. • Only IOV Youth Members (under 35) may vote.

congress and came to listen and join in some of the presentations and workshops respectively. Elections At the final day of the congress, a general assembly was held to nominate and elect a new Youth Commission Board. Oyuna Baldakova, the previous Vice Chair of Communications led this portion of the congress and along with Dr. Luba Pirgova-Morgan, opened up the voting for vacant positions on the IOV Youth’s Facebook page. This was possible with the change in Youth Election Bylaws written, discussed and widely published prior the congress. These bylaws can be summarized as follows: 1) Nominations • Self nominations that must be supported by a short paragraph explaining the interest in the position and why the person would be a good fit for the post. • Nominations of others is permissible if their permission has been obtained prior • Nominations can be submitted prior the 14

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France Germany Guatemala Hungary Japan Lebanon Malaysia Nepal Nigeria* Philipines Poland Russia Senegal Syria Thailand Tunisia Turkey United Kingdom Venezuela* Vietnam *Supported the second stage of elections only, for Vice-Chair Practitioners and Festivals Due to the enthusiasm of the participants and the number of people interested in a single post, the previous board members agreed to allow deputy positions for some of the roles. It was argued that this would increase team spirit and cooperation leading to a better functioning board as well as encouraging more people to join the organizational layer of the youth. The proposal was discussed and agreed before the tallying of the election results. As a result, the board swelled from 7 to 11 open posts. 10 of these posts were filled during the congress elections and one remained vacant.

• A ballot paper will be provided where the voter fills in the nominees names opposite the positions open. • Votes will be tallied up and announced immediately. The changes in the bylaws were decided prior to the congress and published widely as well as made clear during the congress. The changes were accepted with regard to both nominations and voting to include people who are not at the congress because as Youth we acknowledge that not everyone can participate in every congress but we want to encourage participation in the organization. If a Youth member did not have access to vote via Facebook, they were also provided with an alternative. The elections were a magnificent success with the highest youth member participation in the history of the congress. The page was alive with voters from around the world. The following 31 countries participated in the elections: Algeria* Austria Bahrain Belarus Brazil* Brunei Bulgaria Canada China Cyprus* (Zigazig) Egypt*

Results of Elections for the 2017 / 2019 Commision: • Chair IOV Youth Commission: Luba 15

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Pirgova-Morgan • Secretary General: Van Ha • Deputy Secretary: Minh Phuc • Vice-Chair Academics: Joanna Dziadowiec • Vice-Chair Communications: Herry Sipun • Deputy Chair Communications: Amsatau Dipo • Vice Chair of Practitioners and Festivals,: Vanda Anna Illés* • Vice-Chair Publications: Shereen Rafea • Deputy Chair Publications: Maria Nagy • Vice-Chair Special Projects: Bushra D abb ag h • Deputy Chair Special Projects: Olga Yanushkevich *Vanda Anna Illés joined the board after the vacant seat of Vice-Chair Practitioners was advertised to all Youth as the position remained vacant after the congress. 6 further countries showed support for Vanda and she was finally voted in few weeks later by a unanimous vote of the board. Highlights of the Congress Network: One of the key goals set by the

congress was to create a stronger and more in depth network for the organization. This included: 1- An academic database, with all academics in the field of folk art and culture listed. 2- A practitioner’s database, organized according to profession. Therefore anytime you wanted to hold an event related to a particular craft, you had a wealth of contacts at your fingertips. Participants also suggested that there be more resources available to each national section, to encourage them to be more active and to

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give them the tools needed to hold successful conferences and events. Some of the goals set: 1- Stronger network: social media pages and the blog need to be updated regularly and encourage interactivity. 2- IOV Youth can establish small awards in events to encourage further participation and award scholars and artists. 3- Partnership with AFS and UNESCO to extend the current database access. 4- Create a guide for each national section on how to spread awareness of Intangible

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Cultural Heritage. 5- Marketing products by local artisans and creating more projects for them. 6- Produce a youth music album/ record label, with different artist contributions. 7- Stay connected to encourage participants to attend future congress events. 8- Developing an app and a YouTube channel. Strengths and Lessons Learned: The congress was a successful mix of lectures and workshops, which encouraged the participants to move around and interact with one another in sometimes new and innovative ways. Phrases such as ‘we are making gold right now’, ‘this is so amazing’, etc. while talking of future goals and plans were common as was general excitement at the variety of activities. That being said there are several lessons that must be learned and carried forward. Better communication to participants, which events are mandatory for the congress and which optional so that they may plan when

they would like to add additional breaks for themselves. The schedule was full of activities, from morning till night and a clarification of what should be attended versus what are simply options would have made it for a more relaxing congress that would ensure and enable the participants to focus on the activities of their choice. Be more careful organizing the congress during another festival. First, make sure the festival does not take too much time away from the congress. Second, be careful of assumptions as for example if told there

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would be three mandatory concerts to attend, make sure they are different. There are of course many wonderful opportunities that present themselves with doing the congress during a festival such as an abundance of entertainment and a wonderful atmosphere. Overall, IOV Youth is showing great progress and we hope that the next board continues to add to the path laid out in 2007 and onwards. That is why; the last section of this report includes our plan of action for the next two years.

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Volunteer’s Journey Tomasz Kisel Law Student

International Folk Meetings Malopolska from the volunteers perspective

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Editors’ Note: Volunteers were a strong force behind the congress and the festival. Tomasz Kisel volunteered at the Malopolska festival twice, in 2016 and 2017. During the latest edition, he acted as an official guide to the guest of honour Ali Abdulla Khalifa, the IOV president. We asked Tomasz to reflect on his journey and compare the two festivals. This essay gives a great overview of what being a volunteer entailed and a glimpse into the ambitions of Polish youth in Myślenice.

A two –year journey International Folk Meeting Malopolska is a festival which has been permanently integrated into the calendar of international folklore events. In 2017 a small Polish town of Myslenice for the fourth time hosted 9 groups from every part of the world, for a spectacular cultural event. My name is Tomasz Kisiel and I have been a volunteer at this amazing event twice. In this essay I will try to explain what the festival looks like from my perspective. During the 1st edition in 2014, I remember being a watchful observer. Together with my friends I participated in this event as a part of the audience and at that moment I knew that in the future I wanted to be a part of it. We were astonished because it was a chance for us young people, to get to know the culture of the countries we would probably never visit. My adventure to be a volunteer at the festival began in 2016. I was inspired by the stories of my classmates - Kasia and Ola, who were volunteers during the 2nd edition in 2015. They assured me that it was worth sending my application to the organizers and remembered fondly their time at the festival. At the end of June I participated in the volunteer integration weekend, which was a clear acceptance of my desire to be a volunteer of the International Folk Meetings Malopolska. The festival in 2016 Before each edition of the festival, the entire organizing committee meets with the volunteers to discuss the program of upcoming events together, but also to build a team of people who will work together on the success of the festival. We were divided into two groups - guides and festival service. The guides are responsible for the groups in Poland during the festival. They are at their disposal at all times and they can help them at any time of the day. Due to the huge responsibility, but also the amount of tasks that they have on their shoulders, they work in pairs sharing the same responsibilities and providing the group with a comfortable stay in our country. Guides spend most of their festival time with their group and are often treated as members of that group. Thanks to the festival not 19

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only the guides but also the volunteers have the opportunity to visit the groups› home countries - which I think is one of the positive aspects of working at this type of event. Therefore, being a guide during the festival is for a young man a hard and responsible job, but also the possibility of establishing a deep relationship with others. The second team of volunteers are called “the festival service” team. They are made up of people who often work for the success of the event but are invisible. In 2016, the festival›s service was divided into several smaller groups according to the scope of duties, which meant that each volunteer was responsible for a different area of the festival. The first one and one of the most important was the canteen. The tasks of this section included preparing and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. All participants and volunteers were accommodated in the Malopolska School of Hospitality and there was a canteen where over 300 people met for each meal. The volunteers did not have to prepare meals, because the cooks did it. Our main duty was to serve meals

and to ensure that every participant of the festival could eat in comfortable conditions. Of course, it was not easy. I remember that girls often had to get up very early in the morning to start serving food from 7 am and sometimes even 6. However, everyone was very happy with their job. All the volunteers 20

knew that most of their acquaintances can be made during the meal times, which mad the atmosphere of work very cheerful. Another area was called the Café Festival, which had its premiere during the 3rd edition of the festival and was received by the audience with great enthusiasm. Before the concert in the garden of one of the restaurants in Myślenice, we held meetings and the festival off stage performances. The tasks of the volunteers there included the preparation of the sound system, the multimedia equipment and the distribution of promotional materials related to the festival to all guests. Another area of our work was workshops. Here, we needed to help organize and prepare artwork for children and adults, as well as to take care of the course. One of the most important elements of the festival was the reception - it was our duty to primarily help the participants of the festival and to give them different information on the issues they needed. It is also worth mentioning that every day in the school hall there is a disco prepared by another team of volunteers, i.e. a DJ team,

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who is responsible for organizing discos. The last, but equally important, area was the FIO, the festival information office, which was located near the main stage on the main market square in Myślenice and was responsible for providing information to the audience about the festival. I was assigned to 3 teams - Café

house a few weeks before the festival, so that everything was ready for the arrival of foreign groups. The period from Monday to Thursday passed on the routine. In my case, on the first day together with my friend we prepared the reception. We created a place where many participants stayed for a long time. On the

Festival, reception and DJ team which resulted in a lot of duties, but thanks to that I met many amazing people. For the volunteers, the festival week started 4 days before the official opening of the festival, which was on Monday. We were accommodated in the rooms and started to perform our duties. However, we had started working in a boarding

reception desk there were a large number of different catalogues and flyers connected with Małopolska, and next to it there was a multimedia screen on which we displayed the screen of Bartek›s television. It showed the festival program for a given day, the canteen menu, the current weather and the films promoting Poland. The memory of a picture 21

of several people who were sitting on the stairs, and with great enthusiasm and fascination were watching films showing the beauty of our country will be always on my mind. The receptionists were very responsive and were happy to answer the questions and help in various matters. We also visited the festival café every day, where we were responsible for the technical matters. Creating this place on the festival map of attractions was a great idea of the organizers because the intimate concerts of artists from different parts of the world were an unforgettable experience for both the viewers and the artists themselves. All the performers were practically at their fingertips, allowing for closer interaction between the groups and the audience. While drinking one cup of coffee, it was possible to make a musical trip from Costa Rica through France to Taiwan. The last team I worked in was the DJ Team. My task was to organize discos, which took place every day at the Malopolska School of Hospitality and was a time for fun and integration. Every night I was responsible for

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the musical part and to my satisfaction every night the attendance of the participants was at a steady, high level which may indicate that I was able to meet their musical tastes. An interesting attraction was the performances of the visiting groups, which at the appointed time took over the club›s discos. Wearing informal clothes and simply having fun provided the opportunity to get to know their culture better, not only through their folklore. One of the memories that come to mind about the festival is sharing meals in the cafeteria, because I often sat down with people from other countries and we chatted about culture, customs and various curiosities related to our homelands. As youth from a small Polish town, the fact that on our way to the canteen or along the corridor we could hear as many as nine different languages was an incredible experience and that memory will stay with me for a long time. After the first days of the festival, which was a prelude to the main weekend events on the main stage, Thursday was the day of the first

concert on the main market in Myślenice. Each of us from the morning was looking forward to the 19.00 o›clock, when the concert «And it is Malopolska» was supposed to start, during which the group Zepół Pieśni i Tańca Ziemia Myślenicka together with other folk groups were to present the cultural heritage of Malopolska. As part of this event, also in the afternoon there was a recital of Kurpie songs performed by Kondrad Cygal – an opera musician. To my great joy I could be a participant of this concert and it was a very amazing experience for me. Mr Cygal presented us with the songs and culture of an ethnographic group, which is unknown to most Poles, and the additional surprise was that his performance was an opera. After the recital, we all gathered on the backstage of the stage to take part in the recent mini-preparations. Unfortunately, the weather was not good, the rain and the wind came together, so the start came under the question. Fortunately, thanks to the positive energy of both the participants and the large 22

audience gathered, the clouds disappeared and for the joy of all the participants, the long awaited concert started. As usual, Ziemia Myślenicka as well as other group of the Polish folk performed in front of the audience. The biggest surprise, however, was by a group from Costa Rica, who dressed up in Cracow folk costumes and performed the traditional Cracow dance (krakowiak) in choreography by Karolina Druzgała-Pawlak. The artists from Central America had spent the whole week before their performance to learn this Polish dance. Their performance was a great delight among all those shown on the market square and the dancers themselves to this day have a great fondness of their performance

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because although it was very stressful but also extremely crazy because Polish culture was something completely new for them and the dance itself was very complicated. After the concert, we returned joyfully to the boarding house and celebrated the success of the first festival day. However, the celebration could not last too long because the second day of the inaugural concert was scheduled, i.e. the official launch of the 3rd edition of International Folk Meetings Malopolska. Early in the morning, all the groups went to rehearsal for the final details before their evening performance. As the stage on the market in Myślenice is open, there was a bad weather risk for the show, as the capricious aura was not conducive to the festival. Fortunately, the rain again missed Myślenice and the concert could start on time. As usual, we started with the traditional flagship presentation of each group. Then the festival director, Piotr Szewczyk, welcomed all the guests, especially the honorary patrons of the festival, who moments later gave their short speeches. After the end

of the official part, there was time for the presentation of the teams. Each country had its own 15 minutes during which they «grabbed» the whole audience to their country and proudly presented their belongings with great joy. The concert began with the performance of the group «Ziemia Myślenicka», which as usually presented perfectly some Polish folk dances. Then, the group from Brazil «CTG Nova Querência-Cristalina-Goiás-Brasil» took us on an incredible trip to this South American country and through their dance showed not only the beauty of their culture, but also a piece of history. After that, on the stage appeared the group «Bojmija» from Macedonia, which undoubtedly brought to Myślenic the spirit of Balkan landscapes. The Indonesian band «Komunitas Tari Fisip Radha Sarisha» showed us some amazingly dynamic dances, so it was hard to believe that in such a fast-paced dance people can perform such a difficult choreography. After the performance of the guests from Asia, it was time for a band from Slovakia «Folklore Skupina Zobor», 23

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which proudly presented the intangible heritage of their country. Then we moved to the southeastern part of Asia - Taiwan. The Taiwanese «Open Space Dance Troupe» and «Ming Mei Dance Company» charmed the audience with their traditional dances with the use of many reminiscences such as the dragon. Watching this performance felt like I was in the famous animation «Mulan». After the incredible performance of the Taiwanese, we returned again to the southern regions of Europe, specifically to Serbia. The band «Kud Đido Bečej» through their dance and singing, unquestionably did their nation credit performing a wedding story. The next group was the «Ensemble d›Arts et Traditions Populaires Arcadanse» from the French Burgundy. This group authentically recreated the customs of central France, and its sound brought us to the land of the Loire, full of charm and curiosity of the world. The penultimate group presenting their program on that day was the Hungarian «Rákospalotai Szilas Néptánce Gyüttes», which, in addition

to showing the rich Hungarian folklore from different parts of the country, sang the traditional Polish folk song «A girl was going to the forest», which positively surprised the Polish audience. As the last, «Compañía Folclórica Tierra y Cosecha» from Costa Rica performed on that day. Group operating at The Costa Rica Institute of Technology, with its positive energy, tremendous joy and a smile, definitely delighted the Polish audience. They presented a program that fully illustrated the beauty of their country, as well as a rich and

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varied culture. After the main concert, a special guest Ali Aftab Saeed appeared with the group - one of the biggest star of Pakistani music. On that day I did not miss any performance because they were so perfectly prepared that we could not take our eyes off them. The next day›s festival started early in the morning, for as early as at 4am the groups started working intensively in the kitchen to prepare their regional delicacies. This was related to the fact that in the morning there was another project in the festival called «Taste the World». As part

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of this event, each invited group prepared their own regional dishes, which they later offered to the gathered people. Once again, this event attracted a huge number of gourmets, so the dishes disappeared immediately. This event was another incredible trip around the world, but this culinary event only confirmed the fact that the International Folk Meetings Malopolska is a joy not only for the eyes and ears. I must admit that every dish aroused a lot of interest in me. Personally, I found French snails the most interesting. «Taste the World»

allowed me to taste this well-known tricolor dish for the first time. Another point of the Saturday›s part of the festival was going to be the parade of festival groups through the streets, but unfortunately the weather made us thwarted and with great regret we had to cancel the event. In the afternoon some of the groups went to Sucha Beskidzka, 30 km away from Myślenice, where they had their next concerts. It is worth noting that the International Folk Meetings Malopolska is organized in a few places because its task is to share the folk culture with as many people as possible. Despite the events in another city, the main market square in Myślenice was not empty, as the rest of the groups showed up again from the best side to the big applause of the audience. The last day of the festival was always very touching and full of emotions. From the morning the volunteers were busy with previously assigned tasks. Some of the groups went away to Miechow, 70 km away from Myślenice, to show their skills and participate 25

in the parade, while the other groups spent their leisure time on small interactions with others. In the evening on the main festival stage, the final concert started - a specific summary of the festival, which inevitably reached the end. Sunday›s time is like the last program presentations of the groups, which were most unique to me because of the circumstances surrounding them. At the end of the performance, all the groups and volunteers came out on the stage to thank each other for their wonderful time. Most of us were in tears, as we could not accept that this was the end of this extraordinary adventure. Many of us spent time with participants from e.g. Costa Rica or Indonesia, so we were saddened to think that we only had a few days more to spend together. The days before we left the group we had spent on integrating and making even better contacts. I still remember that when I left the boarding house for the last time, I was sure I would be back in a year. We did not have to wait long for the next festival meeting, because two months later, as part of

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the prize for our work during the July events, we were able to participate in the trip sponsored by a member of the European Parliament, Róża Thun. The 2017 edition preparations The last year of my high school went by very fast. When finally July came around, I was very happy. I knew that this festival would be different than others because, apart from the dance-music show, Myślenice hosted the 5th anniversary of the International Organization of Folk Art World Youth Congress. 30 young participants applied to participants in the congress, for example from Vietnam or Guatemala and aimed to discuss intangible cultural heritage. One of the guests of this extraordinary event was the President of the IOV Mr Ali Abdulla Khalifa, which definitely made us prepare perfectly for all the festival events as well as for the congress. Upon arrival at the boarding house, I met many familiar faces, which proves that it is difficult to break up with being a volunteer and year after year we develop a strong network thanks to this event. Of course there were new people as well.

We also had some foreign volunteers for the first time, who had already been in Poland but as members of different groups. Having seen our work, they decided to return to Myslenice and try their hand at a completely new role, wanting to know the festival from a completely different side. I had a good relationship with the new volunteers, because they were open-minded people who had a very positive attitude towards life and who were not afraid to broaden their horizons. From the first hours of my stay in the boarding house I went to work which I had been assigned to. Once again, the volunteers were assigned to various teams. I was assigned just like a year before, to the disco section and the new one - the congressional one. It was a pretty new thing for me, which made me very curious. The director of the festival asked me to care for the president of IOV, Mr. Khalifa. I was to be his guide while visiting Poland. It was a great surprise for me and also a joy because I got the chance to show my country to such an important person. Before he arrived, I helped 26

the others with the preparations. On the 1st day on the main market square in Myślenice there was an outdoor exhibition «FACE FOLKLOR. MAGDA & MICHAŁ «prepared during the previous year edition. The artists showcased the portraits of selected artists in both folk costumes and in plain white T-shirts. That first festival event attracted a large group of media, because the Polish national television TVP took the patronage of our event, which was an unquestionable distinction for the festival and a chance to make it famous all over the country. On the first day due to the

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huge work on that two undoubtedly important undertakings, the organizers decided to hold daily evening meetings of the festival service during which we summarized the passing day and discussed the plan for the next one in order to fine-tune every detail. The next day we prepared for the first concerts and other interesting events, which had been so successful the year before, i.e. festival cafés or workshops, which got even bigger this year. Tuesday was also the day of the first disco, and despite all the new nationalities we managed to match the musical tastes of all participants and create a great atmosphere for fun. As in the previous edition, each country presented its short program at a disco which always attracted the attention of the other participants. The next day was Wednesday, the day I was about to start my job as a guide. I was very happy to go to the airport to Krakow, where I met Mr Khalifa and began to present the beauty of my country. The remaining volunteers that day attended interesting events which included a lecture by Dr Joanna Dziadowiec – a scientific

consultant, and some concerts in the café. On that day we had to finish the discos earlier, because the next day was supposed to be one of the most important in the festival›s history. Thursday was the bottom of the inaugural session of the IOV World Youth Congress. More than half of the volunteers had been preparing this event since the early hours of the morning. Speaking immediately, we did not disappoint and the event started as planned with the performance of the previously mentioned «Ziemia Myślenicka», followed by 27

all the guests welcomed by Leszek Zegzda – a member of the Board of the Małopolska Region and the festival director Piotr Szewczyk. In connection with the inauguration of the young people›s conference, the lecture was delivered by the President IOV Mr. Ali Abdulla Khalifa. At the end of the inaugural session, the young congressmen went to the discussion panels and the volunteers returned to the tasks of their teams. However, they were mostly thinking of the upcoming first concert on the market in

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Myślenice. As it turned out, this year›s weather was our ally and we did not have to worry about the festival›s main events. At 19 o›clock, a «Folki & Polki» show began, during which the short presentations were given by the groups from Armenia, Algeria, Bulgaria, Brazil, Peru, Paraguay, Kenya, Pakistan and Poland. It was a foretaste before the main concert, which was to take place the next day. After the concert, we all went to a joint dinner, which was the perfect opportunity to talk with the congress participants and the band members and to exchange views on various topics. The next day, Friday, just like a year before, was the inaugural day of the festival. Until the evening time passed very quickly and at 18 o›clock we were all ready for the main market square in Myślenice. The official opening of the festival was made by President Khalifa, who welcomed everyone gathered on the market. Then, according to the tradition, there was a flagship presentation of all the groups and the main concert began. The 28

first performance belonged to the hosts of the festival «Ziemia Myślenicka», which every year surprised the audience with a specially prepared program. On the musical journey we were taken by the group “Stanimaka» from Bulgaria, which showed us songs and dances from different parts of their homeland. Then «Grupo Folclórico Alma Guaraní» from Paraguay took us on a trip to South America. The main feature of their show was the presentation of the national dance called «polka». Next, Madiha Gul from Pakistan captivated our admiration of her amazing dance skills for the 3rd year in a row. Then came the «Gauchas» from Brazil, which showed us a completely different perspective on folklore than the Brazilian group of the previous edition. After the Brazilian show we once again moved to another continent, this time Africa. «Nairobi» from Kenya showed a lot of different tribal dances, and also invited the audience to their performance, which was a great honour for the youngest audience. The groups, the «Araks» from Armenia, brought us

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the culture of the Caucasus and Eastern Europe. The closure of the artistic part was made by «Peru Multicolor» from Peru, which proudly presented traditional dances and songs of their country. Just like a year before, I along with other volunteers, admired the performances of the groups while performing our duties, such as the distribution of promotional materials or the information about the festival bands. In the intervals between the performances we were eagerly looking at food trucks, which related to the theme of the festival and served various snacks from all over the world. After a successful concert we returned to the boarding school to celebrate the day and integrate. Saturday was for most of us a very intense day in the morning, the volunteers together with the groups prepared dishes for the proven format «Taste the World». As every year, a lot of citizens of Myślenice came to this event, as well as the guests who wanted to taste dishes from all over the world. Shortly after this event, it was time for a parade along the streets of the city, which is a wonderful initiative thanks to which

the audience from very close distance can observe the participants of the festival. The dance bands stepped on Myślenice›s streets to reach the market and start performing on the main stage. On that day there was also a concert in the picturesque village of Wiśniowa located near Myślenice, which was the partner city this year. The groups from Paraguay, Algeria and Pakistan performed there. The remaining

groups stayed in Myślenice, where they once again showed a wonderful show presenting some of the longer programs prepared for this year›s edition of the International Folk Meetings Malopolska. All good things come to an end and just like 29

a year before, we could not accept that it was Sunday - the last day of the festival, but this year also the last day of the congress, so from the morning we were preparing for the final session, which had to have a very festive character. To me, personally, it was one of the most special days of my life, because thanks to hard work I got the «Folk Culture» award, handed by Mrs Shereen Refea. I was very proud and surprised by this fact and it made me very happy. On the official part, together with representatives of the organizing committee, we said goodbye to Mr Khalifa, who also expressed his deep interest in the festival and the whole organization, which undoubtedly pleased us very much. In the evening there was a concert ending the festival, during which, like last year, it was hard for us to think that this time passed so quickly. On our return to the boarding house we organized the longest Polish disco, during which we taught all the participants some traditional Polish dances in the rhythm of music sung by the local highlander band. Once again, as volunteers, we made friends

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with people from all over the world. The festival teaches us that what matters most is what kind of people we are. It shows us that the present world does not create any barriers that could prevent, for example, Polish-Peruvian relations. For me as a two-time festival volunteer it is something unique. It is the only place on the earth where, during one week, I can learn so much about people from different parts of the world. As we say volunteering is nothing bad for us, we just like it because it gives us tremendous opportunities for development. At the festival we can create a kind of a family that supports each other and helps. Everyone is equal and no one is forced to do anything. I personally cannot wait for the next edition of the festival and I am sure for a long time I will be a part of this event. I keep in touch with many people I met at the festival and we all say with one voice: ÂŤSee you in a boarding house in a year!Âť

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The Preservation of “YOU” Jean M. Novak PHD, CCC-SLP

The Preservation of “YOU”- A Cultural ”Adventure Leading to the Ultimate “WE Global Cultural Fusion: A Multi-Cultural Quilt Activity

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1.0 Background Addressing cultural fusion is a tremendous and daunting task. As a Polish-American bilingual/ bicultural speech and language pathologist, I

have always struggled with the concept of self-identity and defining who I am. I was born in the United States to parents who immigrated to the United States (US) after World War II. I was raised in the US in a family heavily immersed in the Polish culture, with English as my second language. Even though I was born in the US, my introduction to the English language began when I started going to school, at around 5 years of age. Learning English for me was very difficult. Fitting into American culture and society was also not a simple or easy process. My parents brought to America their cultural perspectives, which included their fears, hardships, and concerns, especially after experiencing many tragedies as the result of WWII. I spent my childhood being educated in private schools in the United States, but my summer vacations and free-time were abroad, mostly in Poland with the majority of my cousins and close relatives, but also in France with my uncle. For over 50 years of my life, I spent each year both in America 32

and Europe. I would say from this perspective, I experienced cultural fusion on a yearly basis. I have been referred to and called a bridge child. As a bridge child, I would constantly traverse across the bridge and try to connect two very differing and distinct cultures. Sometimes, I ended up standing on the bridge, not sure in which direction to travel, uncertain if I am American, Polish, Polish-American, or neither. I experienced on many occasions, cultural identity confusion. 2.0 Bridging the Cultures – Cultural Fusion or Confusion? Searching for my roots and self-identity has been a life-long process. Although I was born in the US, I was raised Polish, with Polish traditions and customs. As a result, unfortunately, in the United States I was not considered American because of my Polish background. On the other hand, in Poland, since I was not born there, I was not considered Polish either. For me, this created an identity crisis within myself. I began looking for my identity through

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my Polish background, by studying Polish folk culture. I studied Polish folk dances and choreography, ethnography, costumes, customs, and traditions. I was provided with a connection to my roots. Through the customs, traditions, and social behavior of my Polish relatives, since both my parents were born and grew up in Poland, I tried to identify with a particular group of people. Years later, my educational career in the United States, allowed me to pursue my interests in working with individuals that have communication and linguistic difficulties from various cultural backgrounds. My personal experiences with having difficulty learning English allowed for my ability to empathize and better understand the communication difficulties experienced by those coming from different countries to the United Sates. I finally was able to start defining and identifying myself through this cultural fusion and through cultural resiliency. Through the process of cultural resiliency, I was able to connect with my cultural background and overcome my own

adversity. I was able to maintain and continue to grow within my cultural domain. In 1989, I formed the VISTULA Polish folk dance company of San Francisco in the United States, and as a speech and language pathologist, I was able to address the cultural linguistic concepts that affect individuals, and to best of my abilities address the personal needs of the individuals being served. Pursuing both of these perspectives on a personal and professional level allowed me to start looking at myself and who I am. It became more evident that I am dictated by my culture in

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that my experiences reflect my culture and that my cultural identify allowed me to better understand my background. My journey from no only from within but also from the outside looking in. I would argue that individuals are strengthened by group collaborative efforts, in which both nature and nurture are taken under serious consideration. From an anthropological perspective, it is known that history is embedded in-group collaborative efforts known as folk culture. The importance of taking past generations and making them present should be considered, thereby recreating history. This preservation of history gives us a glimpse of the lives that came before us. Spending time with grandparents helps us learn about family roots. By knowing our cultural history we try not to repeat the same mistakes made those who came before us. Folk songs and dances express life situations that are exhibited in various traditional social and religious celebrations. The symbolism expressed in various customs and traditions, shape our understanding and

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behavior. This can be observed in weddings, religious events, and holidays. For example, the singing of Christmas carols brings people together from a similar cultural background, and gives individuals the feeling of belonging to a group, which is important from a social point of view. These cultural aspects bridge the generations that allow us to enjoy how we have evolved and allow for the advancement and the evolution of an individual.

3.0 Getting the Youth to Self-Reflect Using A Multicultural Square Activity It was an honor for me to present at the V IOV World Youth Congress in Myslenice, Poland 2017. In addition to my presentation, I also lead the participants of the congress in a reflexive activity known as the Multicultural Squares. This activity is designed to challenge an individual to think about how would they define themselves culturally and how to describe those definitions using a visual modality. The multicultural square is an activity that I developed for my graduate students to allow them to reflect on their cultural identities, which is important in any setting including that of the melting pot of the United States. The challenge, however, is two fold, because in addition to the introspection required, the participants can communicate who they are on a 21cm square. They participants can decorate this 21m square with any photos or objects that serve to describe what cultural symbols represent their self-identify. It 34

is critical and important that individuals who work with people from varied cultural backgrounds have an idea about themselves, their beliefs, and their background, so that they will be more sensitive to understanding the similarities and differences of another person’s cultural perspective. That is why, during the V IOV Youth World Congress Meeting in Poland, each participant was asked to prepare and verbally present a personal multicultural square. Particularly, the participants were asked to think about who they are and what is important to them. Some additional specific questions were posed

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The Multicultural Quilt served to showcase the diversity and multi-culturalism of the congress as well as to highlight many of the similarities bridging the different cultures. After the activity, the individuals who participated communicated that the multicultural squares were a learning and a growing experience that allowed them to think about their own identity and culture, a reflection that then they shared with the others in the group. Their creativity and consideration of this project was evident as they shared their squares with each other and took many photos to commemorate the activity. It was a touching moment to be part of this process. The Multicultural Quilt served a visual representation of the symbols and cultural expressions of the participants of the V IOV Youth World Congress that perfectly fit within the theme of the congress: Folk Fusion: Intangible Cultural Heritage and Inspiration by Folklore.

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“The more we understand who we are and our differences, the more we can see our likenesses – the better we can understand each other as we live TOGETHER on this amazing planet called EARTH. As we become a global family, “you” turns into “us”, and we become ONE family belonging to the human race.”

to help the participants begin their reflections such as: • What things do you like? • What things do you enjoy doing? • What symbols represent you and your culture? • What objects represent you and your culture? • What words identify who you are? • In general, how do you see yourself through pictures, words, and objects? The participants were told they could use personal photos, pictures from magazines, small objects that represent or symbolize them, and/ or cultural interests that they may have. Words could also be utilized on the square. This endeavor was completed by 20 of the participants of the congress and here are some examples of the multicultural squares they completed. The participants each took turns describing their square to the group and explaining the reasons for the finished artifact. After each presentation, the square would be collected and attached to or “sawn” into a Multicultural Quilt.

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Youth Delegates Participants of the youth congress gave presentations at the Malopolska School of Hospitality about the aspects of Intangible Cultural Heritage that inspire them along with their personal stories. Their presentations rich with art, history and culture and showcase the depth of work being done by IOV Youth. This section compiles some of these presentations and takes you on a journey around the world.

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A Heritage Of Stories Shereen Ahmed Rafea

Presented at the Youth Congress When I was 9 years old, I would sit next to my grandmother in the afternoon. She would lie down to rest on my small single bed and I would be on the floor next to the headboard, listening with my short attention span. Her eyes would light up and like most times, she would tell me a story.

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Her best friends were women named Zubaiyda and Zainab. They lived in the small town of Muharraq, in my home country of Bahrain and their lives entwined in a close community. There was no such thing as a lock on the door. After lunch, when the sun quieted down, and people had a chance to digest their food, friends would visit each other. They did not of course, call first. You would serve them anything you had available. A bowl of fruits, some dates, tea coffee…it didn’t matter, anything you had would do. And then they would sit together on the rug made from palm tree leaves and they would talk and talk and share the hearts. Some of their husbands were pearl divers, gone for months on end, leaving them to take care of the children and home. If I close my eyes, I can see her sitting there with her friends, her abaya, with its soft black satin fabric, hanging neatly on her shoulder, swapping recipes and talking about their children. I was too young then to appreciate how her

stories became a part of me. But I know that now. To illustrate my point, I will keep going with some more stories. My parents love to tell them as well. It is how they taught my sisters and me their most valuable lessons and gave us a sense of who they are. It was also how they told us that they were much better teenagers then we were and didn’t give their parents as much trouble. Before I went to university, they gave me

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some of their memories to hold onto and to learn from, stories about a horrible course, an earned “ A+”, what it felt like to see snow for the first time, writing letters home, watching Kung Fu movies with friends and developing an intense love for teaching and education. I recorded these stories in my brain consciously andsubconsciously. In my choices, I would utilize the judgment I learned from my parents that started with their parents and those that came before them. My experiences and their experiences all

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combined together to help form my opinions today. Stories bind us all. Stories taught us all and gave us an understanding of who we are as people. Each generation adds a little something to the tale and passes it along. If we listen to stories and reflect on them and cherish them, our lives can be so much richer and they might surprise us by how they turn out. I am a product of my family’s stories and my own. In University, I chose to major in journalism. It was my mother’s idea. Of course. It was fate. Turns out, I was always a storyteller. It was in my blood. To circle back and tell you just how much our past can shape our present, I will tell you one more thing: Do you remember my grandmother’s best friends? The two women, Zubaiyda and Zainab? Well… they have granddaughters… Guess who I went to university with? But that’s another story… 44

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SURVEY Survey of the 5th IOV Youth congress 2017 Written By: Shereen Ahmed Rafea Luba Pirgova Morgan Maria Nagy

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As the results of the survey show, 23.5% of the participants were not members of the Organization during/after the congress.17.6% are from Hungary and 11.5% of the members are from Poland, the remaining 48.4% is an even distribution between Bulgaria, UK, Russia, Sweden, Bahrain, Vietnam and Austria. 35.3% of the participants were informed about the congress through an online page, while the remaining participants were informed about it either through their home section/friends/ work or attending a previous congress. 81.3% of them found the provided information sufficient; however some participants reported that they did not receive it in time.

Tying the congress together received a warm welcome, but 11.8% of the participants felt that the attendance at the evening programs was a bit overwhelming as that took time away from focusing on activities that would benefit the Organization. 75% of participants found the schedule to be clear and easy to follow, but there were lots of last minute changes and a participant reported that the schedule was tight and there were not enough “layovers” between two activities/events. The same issue came up with the question that directed towards the number of breaks. Only 29.4% of the survey responders felt

that there were sufficient breaks provided, the rest of them reported the lack of breaks and recreational, “recharge” time. Overall, respondents were quite pleased with the knowledge they gained, and they were pleased with the structure of the brainstorming sessions, only a small number of them felt like they were a bit tight on time and there was not enough time to get into issues or topics in a bit deeper level (which reflects the overall opinion regarding the congress) In conclusion, the congress was an excellent networking event but it needs improvement on the field of workshops, activities and things tied to the heritage closely.

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For more information of IOV Youth or to contribute to future publications, contact: Shereen Ahmed Rafea Vice Chair of Publications sh.rafea@gmail.com

IOV

Maria Nagy Deputy Vice Chair of Publications mnagy200@caledonian.ac.uk

YOUTH JOURNAL

Designed by: Maryam Mahmood Yateem Designer maryam.yateem.1993@gmail.com

Photos by: Gongress Photos: Izabella Lenart

www.iov.world

Festival Photos: Magda i Michal Turczyk

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