LINK #116 by NGO K.A.NE.

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J u n e 1 5 th 2 0 1 8

NÂ°116

June exploring greece Editor & Designer: Ola Kaczurba

Cover picture: EVS Volunteers

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#LINKEXPLORE

CONTENT Contact About us Youth Center - program Your favourite place: in Kalamata Your favourite place: in Greece Place you want to visit Ophelie Cottier Sheila Gomez Sandra Queirós Antía Fernández Martínez Paquita Couppey Majka Dokudowicz Valentina Argiolas Angelina Kaysina Maïlén Malengreaux and Nicolas Jaouen Maria Schädler Mina Duma Nicolas Jaouen Ola Kaczurba Angelina Kaysina Angelina Kaysina

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EVS, K.A.NE.

Exploring Greece

22 28 34 38 40 43 44 48 49 51

Exploring Greece Tasting Greece Dance Exploring Mental Health and travelling Literature to explore Greece Fish Art Exploring Jazz Festival Hit the hiking trail People and migration

54 57 59 61 63 64

My project - dog shelter Interview with ACT volunteer Interview with local volunteer Past Event: Future Event - DREAM project Future Event - Pain Your Life

Exploring Greece

K.A.NE. EVS: Angelina Kaysina Antía Fernández Martínez Blagovesta Georgieva Majka Dokudowicz Maria Nadja Schädler Mina Duma Ola Kaczurba Ophélie Cottier Paquita Couppey Sandra Queirós Sebastiano Bravi Sheila Gómez Valentina Argiolas

Staff members of K.A.NE.: Afrodite Katsichtis Antonia Vrioni Filaretos Vourkos Jelena Scepanovic Nancy Kanellopoulou Nantiana Koutiva

Interns: Lê Hồng Đức

ACT Volunteers: Nella Bey Nicolas Jaouen Maïlén Malengreaux

@kane.kalamata

WHO ARE WE?

OLA

PAQUITA

Angelina

Hello there! My fool name is Aleksandra but everyone calls me Ola. I’m 19 and I just finished high school. I come from capital of Poland – Warsaw. I love chocolate, amazing harmonies, good guitar riffs, totally crazy hairstyles and classic rock. I’m a dancer therefore I will be teaching contemporary dance in the Youth Centre but my primary job will be in therapeutic horse riding centre. See you around!

Hi ! My name is Paquita, I'm 26 years old and I'm from Marseille in France. I will stay here for 11 months. My mission will be working in therapeutic horse-riding centre and in KEFIAP Center assisting people with disabilities. I just finished my studies in Art-therapy and I'm very enthusiastic to begin my EVS. This will be a great experience for me :)

Hello! I’m Angelina and I’m 26 years old. I decided to come to Kalamata as a volunteer because I already knew about this kind of opportunities and it was time for drastic changes in my life. You can find me at the Youth Center where I’ll be leading Russian language and fitness + stretching workshop. Can’t wait to meet you at Kentro Neon.

Mailen

OPHELIE

AntIa

Hello there ! My name is Maïlén I'm 25 years old. I come from Brussels in Belgium and I've graduated a few months ago as a social worker. This year is my volunteery year : before Greece I was in Bénin for 2 months where I worked with abused young girls, now I came to Kalamata for 6 months to work on the ACT Project helping refugees. In my spare time, I'm a musician (singer and violinist), I love to read, art, watch series and movies and have a drink with friends.

Bonjour! My name is Ophélie, I come from France. I am in Kalamata for 11 months and will volunteer at the Day Care Center for children with autism. Living abroad is a wonderful opportunity to meet fascinating people and learn about cultures. It allows to become independent, open-minded and avoid ethnocentrism. I can’t wait to discover the greek way of life and visit the country. I’m also excited about tasting the food (of course!). I like to exchange and discover so… see you soon around Kalamata!

Καλημέρα! My name is Antía and I come from Galicia, in the northwest of Spain. I have arrived in this city because some years ago I made the “mistake” –but, who chooses these things? - of falling in love with Greece and with the Greek language. So, after finishing my university studies in Humanities and Literature, I decided to start my Greek periplus, periplus that, after Thessaloniki and Crete, has found its new stage here in Kalamata. Να μας δούμε στο ταξίδι! 7

MINA

NICOLAS

MAJKA

I’m Mina and I’m a 28 years old free spirit. I don’t like routine and I think that everything that seems interesting is worth trying. I’m fascinated about human interaction and being part of K.A.NE. gives me opportunity to meet and work with many beautiful people. I'm into si-fi and superheroes and I guess that shaped me into an idealist who believes that there is beauty and courage in everything, no matter how small. Therefore, our duty as human beings is to highlight it.

Hello, my name is Nicolas, I'm 25 years old, and I come from Lille in north of France. Last years, I worked as a volunteer in an association in Lille for a civic service. There, I worked with families in precarious situations, help them save money and, at the same time, raise their awareness of sustainable development. I am in Kalamata for 6 months to work on the ACT project to help migrants and refugees. I also hope to improve my english. In my life, I like music, reading books, watching series and having good times with friends.

Hello! I’m Majka, I’m 27 and I’m coming from Poland. I grew up in Warsaw, but the last 8 years I was living in Poznan, Wrocław and Thessaloniki. I’m a printmaker and a graphic designer, I’ve finish Academy of Fine Arts and I’ve participated in more than 50 exhibitions worldwide. In Kalamata, I will work in the office and I will also create my own projects.

SANDRA

My name is Sandra, I have 23 and come from the North of Portugal. I will be volunteering in Daycare Center for Autistic children. I’m very excited about this change in my life. I’m passionate about travelling, science, books and a TV series addicted. I decided do EVS for a new challenge in my life and I think that Kalamata will be a great place for it.

Sheila Kalimera, I am Sheila from Spain, I love Kalamata and sharing moments with amazing people. I am a volunteer in Kefiap - center helping people with dissabilities. I studied environmental sciences. I like nature, animals, travellig, dance salsa, capoeira and to have fun!

MARIA

Hallo! I’m Maria from Liechtenstein and I’m 19. I finished high school this summer and now I’m doing EVS to take a break before attending university and, hopefully, studying social education. Working at my parent’s restaurant and now at the dog-rescue-center is going to be a nice experience before my "normal life" begins. Because it might be interesting, I’ll answer some often-asked questions about Liechtenstein. Yes, we are a very small country (37000 people in 167km2) and we do speak German. It’s a pleasure to meet you all. Lots of Love, Maria. 9

VALENTINA

SEBASTIANO

BLAGA

Hello, I'm Valentina, I'm 27 years old. I come from a beautiful island called Sardinia, in Italy. I'm a curious woman. I love meeting new people, new cultures, discovering other realities and learning new languages. In free time I love reading, doing yoga and meditating. I have just ended my studies in midwifery. Now I'm enjoying this Erasmus experience before introducing myself in the obstetrician working network. During my experience I'll work in a natural farm with Blaga. It's the first time I will work in this field and I'm very happy to work with her in nature.

Ciao! I'm Sebastiano, but people call me "Seba". I come from a small city in the middle of Italy and I just finished 3 year course in Video&Graphic design. So basically I was working as a freelance videomaker before I decided to come to Kalamata as a volunteer! If you don't know me I can seem shy (I'm definitely not) but I just like to listen when I don't have anything interesting to say. I love music, movies and art in general, being open air, travelling and of course making new friends!

Hey! I am Blaga, from Bulgaria. I am here in Kalamata to work in environmental field and I will be really happy to learn more about nature and life in Greece. Exploring new ways of thinking and living is a huge part of my life and I am always interested in diving into new realities and creating new dimensions. I am more and more concerned about nature and how I can interact with it in the most sensible way. So here i am for you people and our wonderful mother Earth. :)

duc

nella

Hello everyone! My name is Duc and I’m originally from Vietnam but have been residing in a small but beautiful city of Fredericton in the province of New Brunswick, Canada for the last 2 years. I’m currently studying Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership at the University of New Brunswick and will be in Kalamata for 10 weeks for my international internship with K.A.N.E. as a requisite of my degree. I chose K.A.N.E. because its objective aligns with what I’m passionate about such as youth development, civic engagement, social inclusion and volunteerism. Hello! My name is Nella and I am 20 years old. I just finished studying Inter national Trade in France. I am here, in Kalamata, for 2 months, to work with refugees for the Act Project.

K.A.NE.

FILARETOS

jelena

NANTIANA

Hello, I am Filaretos Vourkos. For the last 10 years I am working in the field of Non-formal education as a volunteer, youth worker and youth trainer. 6 years ago, I decided to create the Youth Centre of Kalamata, in order to initiate youth work in Kalamata and promote active citizenship as factor for change.

Hi, I’m Jelena Scepanovic, an EVS coordinator in K.A.NE. and a volunteer of the Youth center. I came from Montenegro in 2012 as an EVS volunteer. I really liked the idea of the Youth center and the work that KANE does, so I decided to stay and be part of it.

My name is Nantiana! I’m 25 years old. I live in Kalamata! I was living for 5 years in Patras! I was studying there greek philology and now I’m teaching greek to the Youth Center in Kalamata.

Nancy

ANTONIA

AFRODITE

Hello World! I’m Nancy and I’m doing my internship in K.A.NE as a Project Manager. I am really excited to be here because I was always admiring their work especially the Youth Center and Street Festival. I’m passionate about meeting people and exchange knowledge, experiences and ideas. I love the fact that many young people visit every year my hometown Kalamata and contribute in our society.

Hello, I'm Antonia and l'm 23 years old. I studied business administration in Athens and now I'm doing my internship in K.A.NE. as an office manager. I'm really enthusiastic to be a part of this team and work together so that young people have more opportunities to meet different people and cultures, exchange ideas, travel the world and OPEN their minds!!!

Hello, I am Afrodite. I studied Psychology and Human Resources Management and I have been working with volunteers for the last few years. I just arrived in Kalamata and started working in K.A.NE as an EVS Coordinator. I am really excited to be here and work with you!

exploring greece oNE LEGEND Your special FROM place YOUR inCOUNTRY kalamata OPHÉLIE Café Santé is definitely my favorite place in t h e c i t y. I s p e n t m y f i r s t n i g h t o u t i n G r e e c e as well as in Kalamata and as an EVS on the terrace of Fotis’ coffee place. I experienced the kindness of the Greeks, my first succulent typical food and the atmosphere of a Greek night. I also learnt “σιγά σιγά” and “γεια μας”. Since, it is the first place I speak about when s o m e o n e i s n e w i n t h e c i t y.

SANDRA The Port. One of my favourite things to do in Kalamata is walking in the port in the end of the d a y. I l i k e t o s e e t h e b o a t s , t h e p e o p l e c h a t t i n g while enjoy their coffee… And the sunsets. There are no place like the port to give some peace in the end of the day and create some amazing visual memories of Greece.

OLA I p ro b a b l y s o u n d w o r k a h o l i c t o o m u c h a l re a d y but... my special place and one of the most favourite ones is my work! I’m not kidding! I l o v e s p e n d i n g t i m e t h e re , e n j o y i n g t h e n a t u re , my amazing bosses (they give me food, ok?) a n d m e e t i n g a l l t h o s e i n t e re s t i n g p e o p l e . . . B u t m o s t l y, I l o v e t h o s e b e a u t i f u l m o m e n t s w h e n I a m completely alone with horses.

NICOLAS I don't think I have a particullary favourite place in Kalamata, but if I had to choose a p l a c e w h e r e I f e e l c o m f o r t a b l e i n t h e c i t y, t h e n I would say the Mezebar Gazoza. I enjoy this bar - restaurant as well to eat as to have a drink with my friends. The atmosphere and the music is very good, the staff very nice and it's not very expensive. But, I've only been here only for 2 months and so I still have so m a n y p l a c e s t o d i s c o v e r i n t h e c i t y.

SEBASTIANO M y sp ecial p lace in Kalam ata is for sure th e long p ier. I’v e b een there a thousand tim e s a n d I lov ed it in ev er y m om ent of the d ay. I’v e be e n t here som etim es in the m or ning for joggin g, in t he evening to enjoy the sun and at night to th in k and have a nice v iew of the m oon and the sta r s! I t’s am azing how m any p eop le are there a n d I often m eet som eone that I know! It’s at the sa m e t im e a p lace to b e alone and to m eet pe ople , and I really like it!

VALENTINA I have a lot of special places in Kalamata. I love going to the farm where I work because I have very special bosses and I like their way of being, I also love green, the air and animals there. I love staying at home because my flatmates are amazing! Sometimes I go to take a hot cappuccino and bouchava, my favourite Greek sweet in my favourite place. Sometimes I love to walk in the port alone or with my best friend on the phone. Another place is Pineapple during salsa night. I discovered in Greece that I love salsa and I love sharing this passion with Sheila and Mailen. 17

MINA I don’t really have a favourite place in Kalamata, but I can say that I love the beach, every bit of it. Most likely this is because back in my c i t y I d o n ’ t h a v e a b e a c h . S o , i f i t ’s s a n d a n d w a t e r, a n d p r e f e r a b l y s i l e n c e s o I c a n f i n d a p e a c e f u l s t a t e o f m i n d , i n t h a t m o m e n t , t h a t ’s my favourite place.

ANGELINA I could note beach, since the sea I dreamed about is so close now! But the place should be special, right? Paved marina onekilometer path unfolds the same beach, but from another perspective. Combined with mountains, it's enchanting in daylight, twice more - after the sunset.

MAJKA One of m y favour ite p laces in Kalam ata is m y b alcony where I'm sitting and just liste n in g from up to the noises of sm all Kafeni o a n d d iscover ing it's sp ecific r hythm . The othe r on e is just wand er ing around Kalam ata streets to ge t t o feel the city and the v isual p ar t of it.

MAÏLÉN I have a lot of favourite places in Kalamata like bar street where I have a lot of very good memories of parties we’ve done. I also love to take a tea at Chai Café next to the office because people there are so nice and friendly. My favourite place to eat (and to drink obviously) is the meze bar Gozoza’s. But the place where I feel the best is at home, Aristomenous, because my roommates are great and there’s a very good atmosphere there !

SHEILA Pineapple Café, there is Salsa party every thursday and I love to go and dance salsa, bachata, kizomba, also greek music. I like to enjoy this nights, when I was in Spain I missed too much the dancers too. My special place to enjoy Kalamata is the mediterranean restaurant Kastraki-Meteoro that has amazing view and good company made me feel the magic of the city.

ANTIA There are two special places that I really like in Kalamata: the Fotis’ bar (Cafe Sante) and t h e r o o f o f t h e Yo u t h C e n t e r. B o t h o f t h e m a r e r e a l l y c l o s e o n e f o r t h e o t h e r. T h i s p l a c e s are full of magic and good memories.

MARIA My favourite place (and I am not trying to sound sad here) is the train park down the main street because I like to sit in there (maybe even inside of a train) and listen to some music when I am sad. But even when I ’ m n o t , i t ’s j u s t a n i c e p l a c e t o r e l a x .

BLAGA M y f a v o u r i t e p l a c e i n K a l a m a t a f o r s u re i s t h e p a r k . A s I l i v e n e a r a m o u n t a i n w i t h a l o t g re e n a l l a ro u n d m e i n S o f i a , t h e p a r k i s t h e o n l y p l a c e t h a t I f e e l m o re l i k e a t h o m e . I e n j o y j u s t t o s i t t h e re o n m y o w n a n d o b s e r v e t h e n a t u re a n d p e o p l e . S i m p l i c i t y.

exploring greece your favourite place in greece OPHÉLIE I would say in a taverna with typical food (of course), friends and traditional musics/ dances but I will be told to speak only about f o o d ( w h i c h i s n o t w r o n g n e i t h e r. . . ) . S o f a r, I had big crushes on Mystrás, Meteora, Monemvasia and Crete.

SANDRA I think that my favourite place until now was Thessaloniki. Is that kind of city that have an a m a z i n g e n e r g y, f u l l o f y o u n g p e o p l e a n d i n e a c h c o r n e r y o u c a n f i n d s o m e t h i n g n e w. I t is full of museums, nice places and the upper town allow us have an amazing picture of the c i t y.

OLA I think the place I loved the most was Meteora. Yo u k n o w t h o s e f e e l i n g o f “ I c a n f i n a l l y d i e a f t e r d o i n g t h i s ” ? We l l … I c a n p e a c e f u l l y d i e a f t e r s e e i n g t h i s b e a u t i f u l p l a c e a n d I a m s u re t h a t I w i l l c o m e b a c k h e re o n e d a y. E v e n i f i t h a s t o be my ashes.

NICOLAS Not having left Kalamata yet, I will obviously c h o o s e t h i s c i t y. E v e n i f i t i s a l r e a d y t o o h o t for me here, I can only love this city for its warm atmosphere, its friendly inhabitants, its beach, and of course all the people I have met s o f a r.

SEBASTIANO M y favour ite p lace in Greece is the p ar t h e n on in Athens. I’ve b een there with m y fam ily la st weekend and it was AM AZ IN G. N ot only b e c a u se it’s a 2500 y ear s old str ucture, b ut also b e c a u se of the view from that hill. Athens it’s H UG E a n d I ’m not used to see all these houses sp re a d a ll ov er your v iew sight on the hills all aro u n d. I lov ed to b e there, and I also lov ed to w a tc h it from b elow, this is a p icture I took of it!

VALENTINA My favourite place in Greece is Pylos. I went some days ago by myself. I spent a lot of time alone just breathing and meditating in front of a beautiful view of the sea. So I visited the castle and enjoyed a lot the walking

MINA I didn’t travel too much since I’m here, but I am really happy that I got to Meteora! I loved everything about that trip: the mountains are amazing, the monasteries are mesmerizing, my trip companions were just lovable and the whole vibe was just the adventure that I needed when i most needed it! Pure magic!

ANGELINA W ith summer round the corner nobody wants to be cooped indoors. Especially when nature gifts perfect weather conditions and mountain location to explore. Last weekend I was lucky to hike the Bilivio route. Seems that Highland of Greece is my affection!

MAJKA I ’m som ewhere around Greece since few ye a r s now, I had a chance to visit a lot of p lace s, a n d ev en feel like hom e in som e of them (Thessa lon ik i and Athens) b ut m y favor ite p lace in Gree c e will b e forev er Γαυδος - tent, cam p ing, hiking, f ish in g, extr aord inar y views - for m e it’s a d efinition of χαλαρά.

MAÏLÉN The most beautiful place I’ve seen since I’m in Greece is the Polylimnio waterfalls next to Velika. The colour of the water is so blue and transparent ; it’s like nothing else on these earth could be more pure and precious.

SHEILA I love Greece I still can not choose my favorite place, the most beautiful places that I had visit is Voidokilia beach, Monemvasia and Kardamili all of them in the Peloponnese area.

ANTIA This is a difficult and tricky question…and I cannot choose only one. The two places that I would underline, also for the memories that I have associated with them, would be Oi Komboi, “my village”, a really small village not far from Kalamata and the beach of Spilies in Crete, between the city of Rethymno and the village of Panormos.

MARIA I haven’t visited that many places yet, but i loved all the ancient parts of every place i v i s i t e d . A s t h a t ’s o n e o f t h e r e a s o n s w h y i c h o o s e t o c o m e t o g r e e c e a n y w a y. M y l o v e t o g r e e k m y t h o l o g y. A t h e n s w a s g r e a t a s w e l l b u t t h e h u n d r e d s o f t o u r i s t s ( i t ’s not a surprise they were there) but they s a d l y t o o k a b i t o f t h e m a g i c a w a y.

BLAGA I h a v e n ’t v i s i t e d m a n y p l a c e s i n G re e c e a l s o . S o I w i l l s a y t h a t t h i s re g i o n h e re a ro u n d M e s s é n i e , K a l a m a t a , K a rd a m i l i i s m y f a v o u r i t e . I c a n i m a g i n e l i v i n g h e re a s a l o c a l g r a n d m o t h e r i n some beautiful house with a lot of flowers in the g a rd e n . A n d h a v i n g m y g r a n d c h i l d re n v i s i t m e for the vacations would be perfect.

exploring greece the place you would like to visit OPHĂ&#x2030;LIE T h a t â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s m y m a i n c o n c e r n s i n c e I a r r i v e d , I w a n t to visit everything from the famous places to the traditional villages. As it is not possible to travel all around Greece, I hope before to leave, at least going on an ionian island.

SANDRA Crete. The first time that I want to visit Greece was due to a travel magazine that had an article about Crete. The pictures were amazing and the description made me fall in love for the island.

OLA Just like everything? I want to see every piece of this country! But if I were to choose, I would really love to visit one of Greece's islands and go on a boat trip.

NICOLAS There are several places that would tempt me. There is of course Athens, especially for the Acropolis and the Parthenon, Meteora, for its magnificent landscapes, Sounion and its temple of Poseidon, but also the island of Rhodes and Mount Olympus.

SEBASTIANO I h a v e o n l y s i x d a y s l e f t h e re a n d I h o p e I c a n m a k e i t t o v i s i t K o ro n i b e f o re I l e a v e , b e c a u s e e v e r y b o d y a re s u g g e s t i n g m e t h a t t o w n a n d I â&#x20AC;&#x2122; m re a l l y c u r i o u s t o s e e h o w b e a u t i f u l i t i s ! I a l s o w a n t t o v i s i t m o re t o u r i s t i c p l a c e s l i k e C o r f u or Mykonos but I think Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to come back a g a i n i n t h e f u t u re t o g o t h e re !

VALENTINA I have only few days left to spend here in Greece and I would like to visit many place! I would like to go in Ancient Messini because I have ridden that is a very aged placed and well preserved. I would like to go also in Choroni, Methoni and Polylimnio. I have only to choose between them! For come back home I have to take the flight in Athens so I am going to spend one or two days here.

MINA I w o u l d v e r y m u c h l i k e t o v i s i t P o l i l i m n i o . I t ’s a s h a m e t h a t i t ’s c l o s e a n d I d i d n ’ t g e t t o i t i t y e t , but I’m sure I will manage to do so until I leave. I’ve heard so much beautiful things about the place, I suppose I’m just waiting for the right m o m e n t . I k n o w f o r s u r e t h a t i t ’s a m u s t !

ANGELINA After having my feet wet in hiking, I want to be knee-deep in it! Athens is a chaotic volcano, Peloponnese is the concentration of small cities a n d h o m e l i k e v i l l a g e s , b u t t h e n a t u re o f G re e c e i s s t a r t l i n g , h a u n t i n g l y b e a u t i f u l , w h e re v e r d i re c t i o n y o u c h o o s e . I ' d e x t re m e l y l o v e t o climb even higher in mountains or go to one of the islands, the wilder the better!

MAJKA I don’t know how exactly it works, but everytime I come to Greece I’m thinking about one place and say: ‘I will not leave until I go there’. And most of the times I don’t go there a t t h e s a m e s t a y, s o m a y b e t h i s p l a c e s a r e like magnets to me forcing me to visit Greece again? Delphi, Sounio, Hydra, Cape Matapan - just to name some.

MAÏLÉN Well, there are a lot of places I would like to visit. But I really want to visit archaeological sites like ancient Messinia, Olympia, etc. I would like to visit some islands like Creta and Corfou and I also would like to climb the Olympus Mountain.

SHEILA Greek islands, Santorini in special.

ANTIA I have to be romantic in this point and recognize that I next place that I really want t o v i s i t i n G r e e c e i s t h e i s l a n d o f I t h a k i . Ye s , my literature part has a big influence in meâ&#x20AC;Ś

MARIA It might be one of the classics, but S a n t o r i n i . J u s t b e c a u s e i t â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s t h e p l a c e y o u see 80% of the times you google greece or you see advertisements about it. Also, o b v i o u s l y, b e c a u s e i t l o o k s m e s m e r i s i n g .

BLAGA I would like to visit Samothraki. Just because I have heard it has nice energy and beautiful mineral stones. I really love mineral stones. Quartz is one of my favourite. So if I have chance next time I come in Greece I would go for a yoga retreat in Samothraki. Why not?

exploring greece tas t i n g g r e e c e

“Exploring Greece” couldn’t be done without speaking about food. With the help of the knowledge acquired during a food tour in Kalamata and the writer’s own journey through the local cuisine, this article will introduce you to the Greek cuisine. Hopefully, as a “starter” it will give you the desire to taste and discover more. Kalamata Food Tour by Food Philosophy Would you like to taste typical Greek food and distinctive products from the Messenia area? Would you like to discover (again) Kalamata’s old town? Food philosophy has the perfect activity for you: a food tour around the city! More information might be find in their website http://kalamata.tours. 28

Saturday the 12th of May 7 members of K.A.NE (staff and volunteers) had the opportunity to spend 4 hours, walking around the old city center, fed by food and information given by the delightful guide, Sofia. We started our journey at 9:00 in the front of Ypapanti church with a quotation from Hippocrates and the promise to meet local producers, taste delicious food and learn from locals about Greek food and culture…What an exciting start! Let’s immerge into the Greek way of eating During centuries the country has been in contact (through commercial exchanges but also domination) with many cultures, so the Greek cuisine might be seen as an historical book.

Before bringing the food on the table, the Greek’s eating schedule needs to be explained. Everything concerning the meals is said to be late (by the Greek themselves). “The day starts with a cigarette and a coffee” may be a joke, it is not inaccurate neither! The breakfast (as the first meal included food) is usually taken at 9:00 or 10:00 dues to the late dinner (8:30 or sometimes even 11:00 in summer). Three hours seems to be the key to catch the Greek rhythm: at 12:00 it is the time for a healthy snack (pasteli, bread, fruit…), at 3:00 it is lunch time, at 6:00 snack again and at 9:00 dinner time. During the weekend or retirement time, snacks around 12:00 might be also metze with some alcohol and friends in an ouzeri.

Food is part of the culture as well as a complete part of the Orthodox religion, which is also an important part of the Greek culture. Baptism, funeral, wedding, day of the church’s celebration, Christmas, Eastern…you will always find a special dish for the occasion and/or a meal at the end. To name only few: dipples (typical fried sweets with honey and walnuts on top from Kalamata area) are eaten during weddings, kokoretsi and magiritsa (both with inside parts of lambs) are eaten for Easter…

Bread is an essential part of the Greek cuisine. Among the types of bread we tried during the food tour it was “lalagi”, fried bread typical of Kalamata and Mani’s areas. The long preservation of fried products made them popular when fridges didn’t excited. If the salt was also a good choice for the long preservation, the olive oil was the first in Greece. Olives (and their oil) are the treasure of Greece: 3rd worldwide producer of olive oil and 1st consumer with 13kg per year per person! Kalamata could not be mentioned without speaking about its famous olives: a protected name that guaranteed the best quality thanks to the collection by hands! We tasted Paximathia (rusk) twice baked bread (also for a longer preservation), which is the first ingredient of Dakos, a dish made with wet Paximathia, tomatoes, cheese and herbs. Koulouri, brown bread, kristinia, breads for special days (as lagana for clean Monday), pita… many choices are available in this country if you are a bread addict! To the author point of view, the most Greek way to eat bread is to put some olive oil on it or to do “papara” (taking the grave directly from the plates with your bread). You can also eat it -like a perfect Greek- with olive paste or tzatziki. Our stop in a grocery store gave us the opportunity to taste dairy products. Eating feta is a strong cliché abroad about Greece, but as well as Greeks do not dance sirtaki 30

every morning, they do not eat only feta. You can try Sfela and Graviera two typical cheeses from the Kalamata’s area, both made from goat and sheep milk. Halloumi, Saganaki, Kefalotyri, anthotyro, mizithra are also kind of cheeses discovered by the author during her stay in Greece. The Greek yogurt has to be tasted during the Hellenic food journey. Some of the traditional products can be added to the yogurt: the food of Gods aka honey, the symbol of Greek hospitality aka “spoon fruits” (all kind of fruits boiled in sugar) or with the energy giver since Ancient Greece aka figs. The local market was part of our journey as fruits and vegetables are part of the Greek cuisine. Thanks to its climate, Greece is producing many fruits and vegetables you can buy fresh. In every season you can find new products, which are making the cuisine diversified. The author envisaged Greek cuisine -before to come- only about three main ingredients: tomato, olive and cucumber. The Greek salad is of course an unmissable but, the Greek cuisine is much more: spinach, vlita (kind of spinach from the Taygetos mountain), all kind of beans (Fasolakia,mavromatika…), wine leaves, lentil, lemon, orange, mousmoula, figs… (the list is obviously uncomplete but the space is restricted!).

No one could pretend knowing the Greek cuisine without having tasted the sweets! For unregular customers, Greek pastries might seem really sweets due to an important use of sugar and/or honey and the taste of olive oil in some pastries might be surprising, however new tastes does not mean untasty! The Turkish and Middle East influences are important among the Greek sweets: Baklava, kenafeh, loukoum, basboussa, halva… The phylo pasta is a daily used ingredient for pastries and salty pies. I challenge you to find a bakery in Greece which is not selling spanakotyropita (pie with spinach and cheese) or tyropita (cheese pie)! Every bakery and every area have also their traditional pies (salty or sweet) made from phylo pasta and olive oil. Each religious time has its special sweets, to name only few: Kourabiedes and melomacaronia mostly during Christmas time, Koulourakia and tsoureki (Greek brioche) for Eastern… Individual portions of stuff chocolate named tealihta are also popular gifts among Greece.

Could we speak about Greek culinary traditions without mentioning the Greek coffee? The French author is used to filter coffee or “French coffee” as it can be called here and was surprised by the way to make the Greek coffee. The preparation is a process: one teaspoon of coffee and water have to be poured into the briki (the special pot to do a Greek coffee), then stiring only once and heating slowly are the rules. When it is rising it is ready! Four types are existing: “sketos” without sugar the stronger and bitter, with one teaspoon of sugar you have a “metrios”, with 2 it is “glykos” and with 3 it is a “vary glykos”. At the end, you will see foam in your cup; it cannot be drinking but dried it might say your fortune! Sitting for hours with one coffee is part of the Greek way of enjoying life. Coffee is so important that a single cup of coffee can be delivered everywhere! As part of the Hellenic traditions, the Greek coffee may also be seen as 32

a symbol of the cultural exchanges between Greece and Turkey. If coffee is not your cup of tea, do not worry you can also drink a warm local beverage, loudly and slowly with friends and family! Taygetos is offering a plant called “mountain tea” which is said to care the cold and relax, help to digest. Speaking about plants, the Hellenic ground is giving to Greeks many herbs and spices that are in the heart of the cuisine! Moreover, in the area, you can find “Mani salt”, healthier and traditionally gathered. Our final stop took place in a Ouzeri (or Metzepolio). The custom in Greece -in those kinds of places and in tavernsis to order many dishes and everybody is taking a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Forget about your own plate and the struggle when your “friend” ordered a salad and is taking all your French fries! Sharing is in the heart of family or friends gathering around a table. Fried (tiganita) vegetables or fish, meat or vegetable balls, dips, cooked vegetable, dishes with meat or fish… You can try everything! Depending of the place, of course, but most of the time you will eat and drink enough for less than 10 euros! Ouzo, tsipouro and raki (from Crete) are perfectly going along with metze, as well as white (lefko) or red (kokino) wines. About meat, here in Kalamata, pork is the number one! Gournopoula, is the female of the pork baked in the oven, which is very popular for the delicious crispy part on his top. Looking for other traditional pork dishes? You can find local sausages with oranges and siglino, which is smoke meat with herbs from the mountain and salt preserved in olive oil. Licking your lips at the prospect of tasting everything? It is time for you to try by yourself the Greek cuisine, adding your own discoveries to the unfinished list you just read! Would you be able to find your favorite Greek dish? This is a challenge the author failed to accomplish as the list her of favorite dishes is getting bigger and bigger…Would we dare to blame the Greek cuisine to be too good? It would be a shame!

OPHELIE COTTIER

exploring greece d a n c e e x p l o r i n g i n K a l a m ata

For dance lovers, there are many options in Kalamata to learn and to dance, to know good people, good music and attend many festivals. International Kalamata Dance Festival: Is the key event of the International Dance Centre of the Messian capital. The Center was founded in the spring of 1995, within the framework of the Hellenic National Cultural Network of Cities, charged with supporting and promoting the art of dance through research, education, artistic creation and production. After twenty- two years as an active presence in the Greek dance scene,and thanks with the support of the local authorities, the Kalamata festival has earned itself a special place on th festival map of the Mediterranean South, by building bridges with international dance creativity. A number of influential figures, whose work is shaping the history of contemporary 34

dance made their first Greek appearance at Kalamata, while the Festival has also taken care to promote and support Greek creativity in the field by commissioning works from talented Greek choreographers and supporting new companies in their experimental explorations. Another integral part of the Festival are the workshops and talks aimed at dance students and professionals alike, while other parallel events include publications and video dance productions. From the very start, the Festival was programmed with two considerations in mind: the range of trends in contemporary dance and the ever larger audiences this art form attracts. Tango Kalamata festival: From 30th of June 2018 until 3rd of July, you can go to this festival to dance milonga in open-air place with your friends in a paradise by the sea, a lot of dj, workshops and magnificent shows with people from different countries. More info: https://www.tangofestivalkalamata.gr/ Capoeira festivals: Capoeira is a martial art developed in Brazil around 1500 AD. by local natives and people from Africa who were used as slaves by the Portuguese colonizers. Below the dance mask, slaves have developed a true martial art accompanied by music, songs, dances and rituals. Capoeira likens to freedom. I improvise on the movements of what improvises on my movements. This is how the jojo is made. A dialogue with questions and answers, free to start and end up as it pleases, spontaneously. Capoeira's training is not intended to imitate a fight because it is meaningless. Capoeira is a game, a dance, a battle. To begin Capoeira, a human circle is created, the roda, where the top is the battery, 35

the instrumentalists, the orchestra. On the leg of berimbau (basic instrument) wait two Capoeiristas.Ie! is the cry we hear at the beginning and end of a roda. The first game starts with a ladainha or a quadra, singing on its own, the oldest capoeirista in the roda. When Mestre finishes the ladainha, and plays all the instruments in turn, they all sing together and start to hit their hands with the rhythm of the music. The Capoeiristas give their hands as an expression of friendship and respect and they enter the dance, the game, the battle. The philosophy of Capoeira is based on malicia (wisdom, cunning), mandinga (secret, misleading, magic) and manha (wit, scandal) expressed in maladragem. Capoeira can not be practiced alone. We almost always need a camara. The most important seminars are in Patra, and you can attend lessons in Kentro Neon Kalamata. Lindy hop exchanges: Lindy Hop is a type of swing dance that started in Harlem New York in 1920-1930 and developed along with jazz music of the same time.It reached its peak at the end of 1930s and the beginning of 1940s. It is danced in couples or solo and it's a happy-golucky, playful dance bringing together charleston, tap and jazz moves. Lindy Hop Kalamata is a member of Lindy Hop Greece and was founded 2 years ago in the city of Kalamata by Michael 36

Windmer, a Swiss lindy hopper who actually "brought" lindy in Greece for the first time 10 years ago.. Lindy Hop Exchange is an international event combining dance and tourism, during which the Lindy Hop dance community of the city invites dancers, musicians and aficionados of swing music from all over the world to come and visit the city and dance together. Bachata festivals: Di d y ou k n o w t h a t t h e c i t y of Kal am ata in G reece h a s t h e c u r re n t B a c h ata D an ce G ui nn es s R e c o rd ? A t o t a l o f 3 7 0 co u pl es made it p os s i b l e . B a c h a t a i s a s o ci al L ati n da n ce that wa s b o r n n t h e r ural areas o f Do min ican R e p u b l i c . I n O c t o b er i t wi l l be competition , s h o w s a n d m u c h m o re. Forro, brazilian dance: Aspire to contribute to the development of Forrรณ Culture around Greece, so that more and more people can enjoy this amazing dance in some of the most beautiful settings in the world! A lot of seminars in Kentro Neon Kalamata.

SHEILA GOMEZ

exploring greece M EN TA L H EA LT H A N D T R AV ELLI N G

When we think about travelling, mental health possibly is not the first thing that comes to our mind. Travelling means time to relax, bring peace to your mind and charge your energy. All of this is very important to our mental health, some therapists recommend travelling as one way to keep our mental health. Why? Well, in accordance with them the four main reasons are: It is a great stress buster, taking some days off the daily hustle and bustle is essential for our mind. It helps us to reinvent ourselves, travel to a new place always bring something new to our life and that can be very useful for reinvent our life or helpful in our daily life. 38

It boosts happiness and satisfaction, the new events, experiences and learnings help to rewire our brain hence boosting our mood and satisfaction. It makes you mental resilient. When we travel to a new place, we need to re-adjust and we also experience some emotional changes. This kind of readjustments can be very positive for our brain and help us to create new strategies of resilience to cope with work problems, emotional distress. As described above travel is very positive for our mental health but, on other hand, also can be a new source of stress. Travelling means that we need to make a lot of changes in our life and for a period you will be away of our comfort zone. Besides that, lots of things can happen and some of them will be out of our control and that can be scary. An important thing to do that can help us to cope with the stress of this kind of situations is preparing ourselves for the new environment. We should read and think a little about the situations that most likely will cause us stress and anxiety. Although we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t deny it, we can be more prepared for it. Other thing that also can help is looking for some professional to help us, especially if we are afraid of flight, crowd, etc. It can look unlikely but the prevalence of this fear is high and it should not stop us of the new experiences. In summary, travelling is very positive for our mental health but, in the other hand, can also cause some disturbances. It is important that we be able to enjoy the most positive side of it but we also recognize the negative one and know how to manage it.

SANDRA QUEIRĂ&#x201C;S

exploring greece literatu re to explo re greece

Greece, especially due to its historical and glorious past, has been a country that has attracted the attention of visitors and writers along all its history. Some of them, like important fiction-writers, have left their impressions and their experiences in the country in memories or travel books. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s took a look to some of them! Lawrence Durrell and Gerald Durrell moved to the island of Corfu in 1935 with their families (their mother, brother, sister and Nancy - wife of Lawrence). The result of the time that they spend is reflected in the works of both brothers.

In the case of Durrell, he was still a child when he was living in Greece, and his memories of this time are filtered by his innocent and children glance. Durrell, who with the time would become one of the most important naturalists in the United Kingdom, expressed his adventures with his family and the fauna of the island in the called “The Trilogy of Corfu”, composed by the titles My family and Other Animals, Birds, Beasts, and Relatives and The Garden of the Gods, besides some short stories such “My Donkey Sally”. The TV serial The Durrells, released in 2016, is also based in My Family and Other Animals, showing the most idyllic aspects of their stay in the island, not always according to the reality, as befits a series of fiction. About Lawrence, his relationship with Greece was larger than the one of his brother, because after Corfu he was also living in Rhodes and in Cyprus, where he was working for the British Gover nment. The results of these three stays in Greece is his “Trilogy about the Island”, Prospero’s Cell: A guide to the landscape and manners of the island of Corcyra [Corfu], Reflections of a Marine Venus and Bitter Lemons (republished after like Bitter Lemons of Cyprus). Each of these books is a compilation of his memories in each of the islands, and specially the last one about Cyprus, of his personal experience about the historical moment (the independence process) that he witnessed by his own. Lawrence 41

Durrell also wrote a volume, The Greek Islands, more in the style of a touristic guide of the islands, but plenty of the humoristic style that characterised his written. Mov in g n ow f ro m t h e B r i t i sh wri ters to th e F ren ch , i n th e f i el d of the con tem p or a r y F re n c h l i t e r a t u re abo u t travel s , we h ave to s tand out the job of J a c q u e s L a c a r r i è re, a j o u r n al i s t wi th a h u g e ex perie nc e tr av ellin g aro u n d G re e c e a n d a vas t pas s i o n f o r th e An ci en t Gre e c e . H e captured a l l h i s e xp e r i e n c e aro u n d Greece i n h i s bo o k L’été gre c : une G rèce q u o t i d i e n n e d e 4 0 0 0 an s , th at i s n o t yet tran s l ate d to the E n glis h ( b u t t h a t w e c a n f i n d tran s l ated to th e S pan i s h wi t h the tit le Ver ano g r i e g o : 4 0 0 0 a ñ os de h i s to ri a co ti di an a). T h e vo l u me got soon a grea t f a m e a n d i s st i l l to day o n e o f th e bes t ways to kn ow the C on tem p or a r y G re e c e , i t s h i sto ry an d i di o s yn cras y. These three writers are only a small sample of the contemporary literature that we can find in the bookshops if we want to get closer to Greece. Of course, they are not the only ones, and the list could be really huge, but, at least, we hope these ones give you some ideas and motivation to go in Greece through the eyes of his past visitors. Enj oy th e tr i p !

ANTIA FERNANDEZ MARTINEZ

exploring greece Paqu ita Cou ppey - Fish

PAQUITA COUPPEY

exploring greece Ex p l o r i n g g r ee k a rt We all have most likely the same image in the head when we hear 'Greece': Acropolis Hill, ancients temples, sun. Greek art in our heads it's automatically associated with the ancient art. And of course there is nothing wrong with that as long as we keep in mind that the art in Greece didn't disappear after the Antique. As an artist myself, anywhere I go I'm interested to see the contemporary art. This lets you understand better the place you are visiting. Artists have this ability to speak freely through their works about things that "piss them off", that they feel are not ok, that need innervation or change. The contemporary art is inviting you (the viewer) to react to it, to search more, to see the bigger picture. Let's travel together over for some of us - new- territory for the discovery of Greek contemporary art. Athens If you visit the capital city, you have an almost unending possibilities to immerse yourself in contemporary art – both from institutional and institutionalist ways. The first place that cross my mind will be EMST - National Museum of Contemporary Art. It was established in 2000 but the building is now - old fix brewery - open for the public in 2016. It's permanent collection presents paintings, sculpture, photography, video, and even “experimental” architecture from both international and national contemporary artists to mention just some of them: Marina Abramovic and Ulay, Jannis Kounellis, Andreas Angelidakis, George Lappas or Vlassis Caniaris. But hey, if you watch all the artworks and fell like it's time to see some ancient ruins just go to the rooftop – the view of Acropolis is amazing. Just as in all Athens, in this museum you also see the blending between new and old. 44

Also, if visiting Athens, it's worth checking what and where is currently happening by NEON. Yes, exactly! You need also to check where â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they are not having one place of exhibiting. NEON is a nonprofit organization that works to bring contemporary culture closer to everyone. All of their exhibition are free. NEON was founded in 2013 by collector and entrepreneur Dimitris Daskalopoulos. I had a chance to visit one of the exhibitions they organized: 'Breaking News: Athens' by Michael Landy. It took place in old school building in the center of Athens, it was open to public to also present their works and it was strongly connected to the city and Greece (you can check the project here: https://neon.org.gr/en/exhibition/ breaking-news-athens). Since then, every time I have a chance to be in Athens I'm checking NEON website. Last, but not least, interesting place in Athens that I will mention is the CHEAPART space - Non-Profit Cultural Organization established in 1995 by Georg Georgakopoulos and Dimitris Georgakopoulos. CHEAPART operates as one of the first artist-run spaces and sustainable context galleries in Greece that maintains an annual agenda of group and solo shows, festivals and cultural projects in Greece and abroad.

Thessaloniki If you will be in the North of Greece, take some time to visit Thessaloniki and in there, you should visit the buildings of State Museum of Contemporary Art. One of them - Moni Lazariston - it's a little outside the city center but it's worth to take this trip. In this museum, we can see a part of Costakis Collection - masterpieces of Russian Avant Garde artists but also paintings and sculptures of Greek and foreign artists such as Chris Gianakos or Stylianos Antonakos. The other museum building is at the Port of Thessaloniki, the Warehouse B1 which hosts the Museums' periodical exhibitions, as well as the exhibitions organized by the Center of Contemporary Art. If you are already in the port, it's nice to visit also the Photography Museum. It's a 1000 square meters exhibition space dedicated to the art of photography in Greece and is supervised by the Ministry of Culture and Sports. It also have very vivid accompanying program, so if you are not feeling to comfortable by yourself with contemporary photography, you can join a free guided tours or artists talks. Finally, the museum that it's located in the heart of the city is the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art. It's a little hidden and maybe first time you may get lost inside the expo space but it's worth to put some effort in finding it. Museum have it's permanent collection and a space for temporary exhibitions as well. It's worth to take a look to get to know, not only artworks by Greek artists, but as well by world known ones.

Peloponez Although, so far it may look that the contemporary art places are only related to big cities, it's not true. In many smaller cities we can find small places presenting contemporary artist, either permanent or temporary. For example here, in Kalamata, we have a Contemporary Greek Art Gallery. You can find it in Cultural Center of Kalamata, on the fourth floor. It was founded in 1962. It collections include more than 430 works of paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures and constructions of important Greek artists, such as Gounaropoulos, Eggonopoulos, Fasianos and many others that represent all major art movements. The collection is focused around art from 1950s and 1960s but it's also presenting art from before and after this periods. The museum that it's the closest to my heart it's the printmaking museum of Takis Katsoulidis in Messini. It's hosting an extraordinary collection of Katsoulidis artworks starting from his university years and finishing with nowadays. It's presenting various techniques among others woodcuts, linocuts, lithography, silkscreens, metal techniques as well as paintings and books. What it's important for the foreign tourist, you can get an audio guide in multiple languages for free that will also explain you some of the technical details as well. And in the basement you can see the true, big printmaking presses!

MAJKA DOKUDOWICZ

exploring greece En j oy i n g Ja zz Καρδαμύλη

f e s t i va l

The last month I went in Kardamyli for jazz festival with Blaga, another volunteer. I was very excited because it was my first little trip in Greece. When I was arriving with the bus, I appreciated the similarities of Messinia with my land, Sardinia. I admired the colours, the sun, tipical flora and the smell, the clearness of the water in the sea, the intimacy of the village. We took a walk in the village and then we looked for a restaurant where having a lunch. We found a restaurant with a beautiful view on the sea and a live jazz concert. We had a great lunch. I tasted a Greek tipical cheese named Saganaki matched with Tzatziki sauce and now is one of my favourite speciality in the tipical Greek cooking. I love jazz!!!! The band was very funny, they animated spectators with music, voice and funny moments. After lunch we enjoyed the silence of the rocky coast and then we come back to jazz festival in a nice bar in the main street. It was a difficult period of adjustment for the challenge of the Erasmus life, adjustment with the new city, new home, new people, another language and the job. The first time in Kalamata was a little bit hard for these causes and it was perfect to enjoy a moment like this, without doing nothing and saying nothing, only enjoying. Thank you Blaga and thanks to Kardamyli and Jazz festival! 48

VALENTINA ARGIOLAS

exploring greece h it th e h i ki n g trai l

With summer around the corner, nobody wants to get cooped indoors, especially when nature gifts perfect weather conditions and mountain location to explore. Thanks to the local Club EOS Kalamatas like-minded hike lovers gathered on sunny Sunday 20 May, 2018, to go through Bilivio Cobblestone pavement route. This path connects small mountain villages of Sotirianika with Altomira, West Mani, over 800 meters under the sea level. Wow, good start for newcomers! When all team members came, we got into mini vans and in 30 minutes approached Αγ. Γιώργης, our starting point. While well-equipped participants were joyfully lacing their hiking boots and checking climbing sticks, the amateurs and first-comers (like us, Blagovesta from Bulgaria and Angelina from Russia) were looking round with anticipation to go. Despite early hours, all the team were elated what made our spirits high. Add to the Greek language a pinch of English and Bulgarian and here we are - on the steep and forested slopes, getting upper with every zigzag turn. 49

The higher we got, the more seldom talks and cheerful songs were. Random stops for catching the breath or enjoying panorama took a turn. One can't reject the spectacular views of the hills buried in foliage, splendid green forests and ... Complete silence. Nothing disturbs this area on winter, only on summer weekends the villages come to life for a short. Better for nature lovers! One rare villager greeted us warmly, treated us with freshly home made cheese and welcoming smiles. Either the Greeks are indeed very open-minded, or they don't see people for really long time, but when our team drew on the horizon, even the local prayer brought us home made bread. Bonus for attentive ones was a surprisingly sweet wild blackberries, white mulberry, unexpectedly mild almond tree nuts and oregano bushes scattered all round the area. Adorable landscapes 100% justified the way up under the sun! With leisure stride, mild wind touching our faces, we took extra advantage! No wonder that we didn't want to come back down.. However first rain drops did its trick. Remarkable note: don't believe that going down is easier than climbing up! Cobblestones are stones anyway. It took me several times - when i was about to hit the ground - before I found the right slow way of moving. All in all, I did it with no fuss but more stops to turn round and to soak into those marvelous sights! We are grateful to the Hiking Club EOS Kalamatas for organising these excursions and opening the natural part of the Region in all its glory! PS. Special thanks to Mirella, Bulgaria, Burgas, who volunteered in Kalamata for 3 months, took as a rule to hit the trail with EOS Kalamatas every weekend, who shared her hiking stories and put seeds of desire to have the same experience! 50

ANGELINA KAYSINA

ACT youth i n m ovem ent v

P EO P L E A N D I M M I G R AT I O N : - WO M E N A N D I M I G R AT I O N

Since the beginning of the important migratory flows, we see only the image of the man travelling alone. Only behind this virile image of migration is hidden a softer and more feminine image that has a capital importance in the integration of immigrants in our societies. There was always talk of "workers and their families" who arrived in Europe through employment contracts between two countries (for example, Morocco and Belgium), but the presence of women was always underheard and they remained for a long time in the shadow of the history of migration. Indeed, these immigrant women were 51

always imagined as housewives, illiterate and unable to integrate socially. Yet, these marginalized women have been instrumental in creating social cohesion within their own communities and host communities. It is true that at the beginning of these migrations, women migrated mainly in order to join their husbands and companions. However, we can see that women migrate more and more alone over last ten years: for example, in France, 4 out of 10 immigrants are women migrating alone. But beware, this does not mean that they were not less present at the time: indeed, they constituted 47% of migrants in the world in the 1960s; against 49% in 2012 (including 52% in Europe alone). We are talking about the growing number of women who are migrating more and more alone! There are many reasons why these women take the risk of travelling alone: firstly, many of them, who are qualified, wish to find work commensurate with their diploma (38% of immigrant women graduated in 2014); secondly, as for most immigrants, they flee wars, famines, etc., and secondly, they are more likely to be able to find a job. Third, many women join their families later (for example, the father and children have left but for lack of means she has not been able to accompany them); fourth, more and more women wish to emancipate themselves and aspire to gain independence and autonomy. In some countries, such as the Philippines or Latin America, there is strong female emigration, while in most black African countries migration remains predominantly male. This difference is explained by culture: in West Africa, for example, travel is considered a rite of passage to become a man (proof that he can provide for his family). But women in these countries are increasingly migrating like men in order to support their families. They migrate both within Europe and within their own countries: these women come mainly from precarious rural areas and imagine that poverty does not exist in cities. Only, their massive arrivals in the big cities of their countries contribute to the expansion of the peripheries and thus of the slums. As a result, they remain in hiding on the one hand, and on the other, they become more vulnerable (prostitution, 52

rape, etc.). Also, it has an impact on the lives of their children, most of whom are out of school (because schooling is often financially inaccessible) and on themselves, who are prey to all possible and unimaginable diseases. Faced with these migratory problems, some African countries such as Niger or Mali want to intervene and set up controls on these exoduses to prevent people risking their lives while trying to reach Europe or losing everything by going to the cities. These countries want to offer sustainable solutions to encourage people to stay at home. Of course, the financial means are lacking to face such a crisis but some people think that to solve these problems, African countries would have to create alliances between them to be able to help each other; to make a European Union but in Africa. What is the role of women in the integration of immigrant populations? The presence of immigrant women is fundamental for the proper integration of one population with another: women are generally more involved than men with regard to community life, solidarity, etc. If we look at the history of humanity, we notice that it is thanks to women that cultures survive and prosper. For example, during the World Wars, while the men were at the front, the women made the countries turn and thus ensured a future for the future generations. We have to imagine that women are the foundations of a building and the rest of the building, i.e. society, is created on this basis. If this base breaks, the building collapses. This image of the "founding" woman is now targeted by wars: by raping them in a massive and destructive way, the kidnappers are certain to do irreversible damage. Indeed, if a woman is destroyed, mentally and physically (destruction of the genitals, etc.), she is no longer able to procreate and therefore no longer able to grow a culture. Thus, immigrant women settling in a host country participate in the evolution of societies because they establish links between immigrant populations, but also between these immigrant populations and the populations of host countries. However, let us not forget that men also participate in this cohesion, but they should become more involved and support these links between communities to better balance societies. MAĂ?LEN MALENGREAUX and NICOLAS JAOUEN

MY project working in a Dog Rescue Shelter

Poisoning of stray (and owned) dogs and cats is widespread throughout Greece and it happens on a daily basis. The poisoning is often excused as a necessary and cheap clearing up operation of the large numbers of stray dogs and cats which are seen as a problem. No one can deny that Greece, as many other countries especially in the south of Europe, has a huge problem with their stray animals, but we are here to give them a safe life, without car crashes, without fear, with food and without getting poisoned or killed directly in any other way.

I had many reasons to choose the shelter as the place I want to work in. Of course, one of them was the thought of how â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;funny and cuteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; working with animals might be, but also, more important, to at least for half a year, life my childhood dream of working with animals in the future. I was one of the kids that said she wants to be a vet when she grows up, but I was serious. I tried to get to internships but sadly they only made them possible for people doing an internship for school. So working here, not as a vet, but caring for dogs that really need all the help and love they could get, is an amazing opportunity for me to fulfil my dream. Not to sound selfish though, I obviously also wanted to help those dogs and people in need. This work is different than anything I ever saw at home. The situation of this country and its strays is not just bad, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s terrible. At work we are providing the 600+ (!) dogs we have with a life with fresh clean water, nice food, medicine sand, if needed, operations. Love (not enough, but definitely better than no affection at all) and most importantly: safety. But, even if we are doing all of this, those dogs still need a family, they need a job (Sheppards need an area to protect, hunters need a hunting session and the husky needs to run for hours and not to life in Greece!) They need people that care for them and love them endlessly. Still, I am incredibly glad to work in a Shelter that helps over 600 dogs to, at least, survive their life without a home. Those dogs give me more love back than I could ever give to them and I only have been working here since three and a half months. They make me feel useful and needed, they cuddle and some of them heavily wiggle their tails every Monday after finally seeing me again (or at least they act like that). 55

Work in this place might be hard, because it’s actual physical work, being heavy work like carrying the 20kg bags of food as high as possible so the dogs don’t tear the bag apart, or just the fact that most of us are used to sit a lot after school and university and, maybe, having an office job. Or be it the mental pain of seeing dogs that are heavily hurt, bleeding, looks very thin or are having different diseases. Or maybe just the fact, that you are working with 600 dogs, while they are all out of Messini, Kalamata and other nearby places, and still there are thousands of dogs left, not only in this area, all over Greece. Maybe it’s even just too gross for you, the thought of picking up shit, sometimes cleaning blood, and smelling different smells we are not used to normally. But I tell you. All of this physical and mental difficulties along with the pain are more than worth the situation. I fall in love with the dogs every day again. I love the feeling of helping someone that needs affection and help even though they are not humans. And they give you back more than they gave you. Plus, maybe you’ll not go home alone again, like me and my Nike will. This is just an experience I wish everyone to feel once in their life.

MARIA SCHÄDLER

interview with an act volunteer MAÏLEN MALENGREAUX

Hey, Maïlén! How are you? Can you tell the readers something about yourself? Hello, I’m fine, thank you. I’m 26, I am from Belgium and I’m a social worker. I am volunteer in the ACT project and after my experience here so far, I hope I will find a job in my area of interest when I get back home. Since when are you here and how long is your project? I’m here since the end of March, so…around 2 months already. My project lasts 6 months, so I have 4 more months to go :)

So, in this 2 months, have you had the chance to travel around and explore the beauty of the nearby Kalamata Greece? The nearby, yes…a bit. I’ve never actually got too far. Until now I’ve only went to Velika, to Stupa and to Polilimnio. That’s nice! And which one is your favourite so far? Obviously, it’s Polilimnio waterfalls! It’s just amazing, definitely a “must see”! Do you have some places in mind that you’d want to see before you finish your project? Yes, of course! I would like to do lots of things. I really want to see Mistra, Monemvasia and Crete. Also, I would love to visit as many archaeological sites as possible and to get to Corfu, but also, I’d love to get to climb the Olympus mountain! I would have liked to be able to go with Paquita and Ola, but the timing doesn’t match because I will be in Athens when they plan to go. I will have some friends from home visiting! It’s great that you have already planned a trip to Athens, since it’s your list. Do you think you’ll get to see all that you wish to? How long are you staying? I don’t know, I do hope that we will have time for everything that we want to visit. Obviously, I can go back in Athens at any time, but I do hope that I will manage to see as much as I can in one day. Make lots of pictures and show us when you get back to get ideas what to visit too. And for any future trips, let me know also. My pleasure but try not to miss them! Thank you very much for your time, Maïlén! And I wish you to have a great time exploring Greece! Anytime, with pleasure!

MINA DUMA

interview with a local volunteer Eleanna Hello and thank you for accepting this interview, can you tell me a few words about you? Hello, my name is Eleanna, I am 24 years old, I have studied archeology and tourism. For how long are you a volunteer at the Youth Center and how did you know this place? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the first year for me as a volunteer here, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve known this place from my mother who attended some of the workshops. What were you doing before becoming a volunteer? I have studied and partialy worked. I am from Greece (Kalamata) and I have studied in Crete.

For how long are you in Kalamata? I’m here for 24 years (except the year of my studies). I’m gonna leave in summer for working and then go back here in Kalamata, at the Youth Center. I want to continue working at the Youth Center when I gonna be back. What do you like to do during your free time? Do you have a special place in Kalamata? Actually, the sea and nature in general, although I usually spend my free time with friends or at home with my family or my craft. Do you have a favorite place in Greece? I have travelled a lot in Greece. I’m not sure about what to choose but if I have to, it would be Crete, because I have studied there, it’s a beautiful place. And it has many options. Is there a place you would like to visit? A lot actually. I would love to see the pyramids in Egypt, for one, and if it would be possible, to visit many different places and meet different people in order to get to know new cultures.

NICOLAS JAOUEN

Past event

Ka l a m ata ' s Yo u t h c e n t r e r o o ft o p c l o s i n g pa rty

As the summer is few steps from here and so w o r k s h o p s i n t h e Yo u t h Centre of Kalamata are finishing, is there any better opportunity to close the year with the feast? F r i d a y, t h e f i r s t o f J u n e , we all gathered on the rooftop of Kentro Neon Kalamata, to enjoy our company and celebrate the grand year that just came to an end. Blessed with music of various kind, symbolic drinks and warmth of the night, we took a chance to say g o o d b y e t o e a c h o t h e r. With some maybe it was the last place to do soâ&#x20AC;Ś The purpose of the party was not only for its sake but, as always, all m o n e y g a t h e re d d u r i n g t h e n i g h t b e c a m e a d o n a t i o n f o r d e v e l o p m e n t a n d m a i n t e n a n c e o f t h e Yo u t h C e n t re . O n b e h a l f o f t h e c re w, v o l u n t e e r s and students, we say thank you and hopefully see you soon! 61

P S : D u r i n g t h e s u m m e r, K e n t r o N e o n i s h a v i n g a n o t h e r a m a z i n g a d v e n t u r e ! J u s t 2 d a y s a f t e r c l o s i n g p a r t y i t b e c a m e a Yo u t h Hostel and a place to live for our newcomers! Between this time, all the volunteers made it possible by transfering beds, wardrobes, equipement for workshops etc. etc... Whoever would want to enter the place, recognizing it will be a quest... but what is a life without some changes, surprises and challenges?

OLA KACZURBA

future event dream project

Remember the last LINK ("Cinema") edition? Plastic free lifestile is in its' action already! To remind those who lost the track. Since 2nd of June, 2018 together with the help of 1- month sort-term volunteers, we will make our town less plastic. Have you bought water/cola/other bottled drink? After the last drop, save the plastic bottle and bring it to Hamid Perseas Roshangar - our active volunteer and leader of Radikala movement. Plastic, after being shredded (bike-shredded to be exact) by school children during their sport hours, will become material for sailboats. 23 rd of June freshly made boats will be put on water first time and help children in acquiring new skills. Join our team on the event! ANGELINA KAYSINA

future event paint your life

"PAINT YOUR LIFE" event invites Kalamatas citizens and guests to mark the day more colorful! The venue: Mundialito 5×5, Άνοιξης 12. Start at 19.45 Ticket price is 6 euro (before the event) or 8 euro (on the day of the event) and includes the color powder. It is safe for using since the product is eco friendly and acceptable for people with skin allergies. Stop thinking, just buy the ticket and color outside the line and dance like it's your last time!!

ANGELINA KAYSINA

LINK j u n e 1 5 th 2 0 1 8

The volunteers responsible for this publication are hosted in Greece in the framework of the European Erasmus+ programme, KA1/youth - European Voluntary Service. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.