Link 42 Street Festival Edition

LiNK Nr. 42

P r e S t r e e t Fe s t July 2013 II

edition

Foreword

L

ess than one week before the 7th Kalamata Street Festival and the team of volunteers which is or-

ganizing the festival is going crazy! Too busy and too excited!

This year is actually the best year for the Kalamata Street Festival in terms of preparation, participation and parallel events.

The most rich program is result of the big success of the 6th festival which, from a small street festival, became an international festival, well recognized in Greece and abroad.

Among the others, this year you will have the opportunity to experience the acrobatics from SWAMP Circus from England, the graffiti art from France by the crews Paragraf and Therapicturale, breakdancers from Portugal and many many more.

Only if you join the festival you will experience this amazing atmosphere... . We are looking forward to see you in the 26-2728 of July!!!!!!!

Filaretos

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Editor: Taaniel Stoitsev Staff members of KANE: Filaretos Vourkos Fotini Arapi Georgia Giannakea Panagiota Arapi Giwrgos Housenbelli

Cover photo:

Long Term EVS: Alice Ponticelli Bjartur SteingrĂ­msson Dorian Agnel Ines Dupont Miault Jelena Scepanovic Leonard Pristl Loic Marchand Manuela Gascon Taaniel Stoitsev

I I I I I I I I I I

Short Term EVS: Edyta Jadowska Anna Rozecka Mateuzs Huptas Agnieszka Dymek Katarzyna Janas Yana Debusschere Dries Witdouck Ganizani Msiska Pieter Vandenberghe Tine Vandenberghe Marie Christine Exler Harald Hummer Magdalena Pauer Viktoria Spielauer Erwin Negl Anais Alexandre Ottavia Marangoni Kevin Andreazza Benjamin Marie Charlotte Clatot Ceyla Asker

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Lukas Bousounis

I I I I I I I I I I

Contact us: K.A.NE., Social Youth Development Youth Centre of Kalamata Plateia Othonos 10 Kalamata 24100 Greece

Tel: +302721110740 e-mail: evstaaniel@gmail.com; info@ngokane.org url:

http://www.kentroneon.wordpress.com http://www.ngokane.org

facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/kentroneon

Program of Street Festival

DAY 1

Rock day

DAY 2

Hip Hop day

#Friday, July 26, 5:00pm# 17:00 – Skates and BMX

#Saturday, July 27, 5:00pm# 17:00 – Skates and BMX

17:30 - In Situ by Martha in the frame 18:00 – Photo Exhibition by the Pho

of the project “The lives of

tography Club of Kalamata

others”.

18:00 - Photo Exhibition by the

18:00 – Photo Exhibition by the

18:00 - Handmade jewelry exhibition

Photography Club of Kalamata

Kallitexniko Steki association

18:00 - Photo Exhibition by the

18:00 – Graffiti

19:00 - Basketball Tournament

Kallitexnio Steki association

18:00 - Handmade jewelry exhibition

19:00 – Opening the Climbing wall

19:00 - Basketball Tournament

organised by the Mounteneer

19:00 – Opening the Climbing wall

ing Club of Kalamata

organised by the Mounteneer

20:00 – Hip Hop Concerts:

ing Club of Kalamata

21:30 – Rock Concert with:

Eisvoleas & friends Kazdall (Bit box from France)

Schooldrvers

Freestyle Open Mic

Daze of Youth

(Local and international MCs)

Mors et Amor

...and many more!

Dizzy Dizign Fetameriganoi

DA

Dan 17:00 –

18:00 – Ph

18:00 - P

Stek

18:00 - H

18:00 – O

by t

18:00 –

18:30–Re

19:00 - B

19:00 - A

20:00 - P

21:00 – S

AY 3

nce-Theatre day #Sunday, July 28, 5:00pm# Skates and BMX

hoto Exhibition by the Photography Club of Kalamata

Photo Exhibition by the Kallitexniko

ki association

Handmade jewelry exhibition

Opening the Climbing wall organised

the Mounteneering Club of Kalamata Graffiti

educeReuseRecycleWorkshopbyKalamataFreeSpace

Basketball Tournament

Alley Cat Race

Poetry Workshop by Vassilis Floros

Street Thatre and Dance workshops: Swamp Circus Χοροδιδασκαλείο Just Dance Fame Dance Academy Group 88 - “The poem ofYiani”

Pantelis Pagalos - “To xaratsi” Group 88 - “Kuku”

Crowdfunding for Street Festival

K

alamata Street Festival is a volunteer’ based structure willing to achieve a wider cooperation of the active organizations in the city of Kalamata.

Associations, active groups, individuals, are putting all efforts on organizing a big festival (last year we gathered 3500 people), including more than 10 parallel activities for 3 creazy days, with a very low budget.

By supporting the 7th Kalamata Street Festival, you become one of us, one of the people who care about offering youth the chance to express themselves through their art and to local associations/groups to prove that people can organize a big international festival which includes everyone, with the strength of their cooperation and with limited budget.

http://gogetfunding. com/project/kalamata-street-festival

Let’s warm up for Street Festival Text authors: Edyta & Ines

Street Art Festival is not only an unusual event, which takes place between 25th and 27th of July. Parts of it are also various pre-fest activities which give opportunity to warm everybody up and taste a little bit of an atmosphere of the that are waiting for us in the last days of the month.

What was it? Why so much noise in the Plateia Othonos on the 12th of July?

The first pre-fest activity took place in the last Friday on the square next to the Youth Centre. The target of most of us were children. We prepared a lot of activities, which gave them a chance to improve their creativity and let them feel free in composing little pieces of street art.

Special corner with games offered them also face painting, so after few hours we could see colorful compositions and patterns on children (and EVS volunteers as well) faces. Very important part of the evening were special walls on which children could using different materials (sprays, various types of paints, markers, brushes, bottles of paints and even their own hands) paint what they wanted.

The inspiration for them was for sure a graffiti show which were giveb by a guest from France.

Volunteers from music workshop prepared a little concert - singing with accompaniment of guitars, uculele, harmonica and rattles.

Surprise for viewers in the square was a flash mob in which participated all short term vol6

untaries. Based on everybody’s own dance improvisation and song by Florence and Machine “Dog days are over” proved ballet skills of Charlotte and great spontaneousity of all of us. It was just the first part of pre-fest activities, the next one already took part on 19th of July in the port area. And during this week there will be some activities every day around the city Look at the pictures, they speak for themselves...

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Intercultural party

Text author: Anna

D

uring July and first week of August 2013 Kalamata is being overfloted by youngsers around Europe. Short EVS program bringed here 21 people from different cultures to help on festivals like Miden Fest or the star event of the summer - Kalamata 7th Street Festival + to have a time of the summer together with awesome companions and new friends.

gathered to the train park to show others what our countries are all about!

So Austria, Belgium, France, Poland and Turkey + Georgia - it’s not easy to present six countries during one night, nevertheless we made our best and showed the most interesting and the funniest elements of our cultures.

Then time for presentations came. Different dances were more interesting for me. We saw elegant Waltz, traditional Polish Polonez, crazy French Pakito and some Turkish movements.

We also had a quiz about participating countries. Quiz was sometimes tricky, but mainly banal. At the end we could all admire

During the long evening on the 13th of July we

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The event started with children games. After 5 minutes I was bored with listening to “Napoleon, napoleon,…” but local children apparently enjoyed it very much and were risking their lives just to win, to be the best, even though they couldn’t expect any prize they had plenty of fun time together with our multicultural crowd.

impressive fire show by Mateusz from Poland, as he cleverly manipulated flaming balls.

I think the volunteers enjoyed it, however it’s a pity that only few citizens of Kalamata were at the park at same time and - apart from children - they didn’t participate in our activities. Again something to learn from for upcoming events!

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First impressions from, always entusiastic group EVS participant, Yana

I

was very excited to come to Kalamata, because when I was reading about this program I immediately knew that I would like this. Things were not really prepared, but I’m always in for some adventure, so I packed my things in between all the other things I had to do the week before I left.

What I really love is the Greek sun, going for a swim in the sea, the smell of the bakery next door, the siestas, ‘zigga zigga’, the fact that people are gathering on the squares and at the beach every evening, always having somebody to talk to, hearing about other countries, talking about life with people from all over Europe, trying out the local drinks, going to the market to buy fresh fruits and vegetables and almost getting Our trip was ok, although we almost missed our it for free, trying out some Greek words we flight because the guys really wanted to drink learned, … . one last Belgian beer (Duvel). We were just relaxed, but when we realized it was almost time And I’m surprised to be a victim of the Greek for our flight to leave we had to run like crazy, mosquitoes, in Belgium they don’t like me, they were just closing the gate, we didn’t even but here they apparently love my blood. But of leave yet and we already had some adventure. course they can’t stop me of having a great time When we arrived at the hostel there were not a over here. lot of people yet, but Loïc (one of the long term volunteers) took us to have some pita (they love I’m looking forward to the rest of my stay here, pita over here, being a vegetarian in Greece is I’m sure it will be great! not easy I noticed, but the fruit and vegetables are so fresh and tasty, so I will be very fine).

Yana Every day new people were arriving, I was always excited to see who would join the group.

The first days we did all kind of activities to get to know each other. Since day one we were all getting along very well, all the people are enthusiastic and open minded and wanting to make something unforgettable of this experience.

We’re living together with a lot of people so of course there are sometimes some small issues, but I think everything is going quite well.

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First impressions from Youth Exchange participants

1/ Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, where you’re from, what you do, etc?

Well, I’m a traveler, not from anywhere really. I do currently live in Cornwall, a country inside Britain. We have our own language, really, as we call the place Kernow. I work with the local circus school, Circo Kernow, and am doing a lot of work in relation to youth projects.

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2/ How about Kalamata, and the street festival, have you been here before or is it your first time? If so, how come you’re here?

I haven’t been here before, it’s the first time. My circus group got invited, but as we’re very busy with many projects I decide to come here myself as a youth leader. I’m extremely interested in projects like this, especially in Greece, and I wouldn’t mind coming here later with my group doing some sort of a themed performance.

3/ What do you think about the street festival here? What motivated you to participate in one?

You know, I’ve been to and performed in many street festivals before. You soon realize how important they really are for the community. Life starts on the street, really, and getting so many young people together is a great possibility for free expression. A festival like this is a great communicator of ideas, a catalyst for change.

And, of course, from an estab-

lishment point of view this sort of thing is a great attraction for the town, commercially and tourism-wise, etc. I’ve been to many festivals in many many different places, China, Singapore, all around Europe. People sort of realize the impact and attraction they have so cities and companies have started to invest quite a bit of money in it. But of course the most important thing is what these festivals set out to achieve, the performance. Street art, hiphop, graffiti, these sort of physical performance are what really evokes change.

exchanges and events like these are really important in the sense that they build understanding. By getting all these young people together from different backgrounds, 5/ Aside from your own act cultures, religions, and giving of course, what are you them a chance to act, to make most excited to see at this something – it’s really something empowering. festival?

I’m really just excited to see the collaboration between all Interview by Bjartur the young people here. Youth get a bit isolated so it’s really good for me to come out here and work with all these young people, to see them share and create something together.

4/ So can you tell us a little about your contribution to the festival?

Well, I brought some of my students from the circus school, some acrobats, aerial artists, clowns and theatrical performers. I’m actually a director, of film, circus, theatre, you name it. I also lecture about physical performance at universities. I am here to work with Ferouc, the French choreographer to create a show for the festival.

I’m excited about this collaboration, working with all these different elements to create a great show, a spectacle for you guys. My job in Kernow can 13

From engineer to beatboxing clown 1/ Give me a little presentation of yourself.

My name is Sezo. I am 24 years old and I am from Istambul, Turkey. As an education I am marine engineer & naval architect.

I like diving, riding a bike (around 40km/day) being volunteer and learning sign language.

3/ Is it your first voluntary work abroad?

I have already been a volunteer in Germany in Stuttgart for 3 weeks to build a playground for children. Then every Saturday I go to a prison for young criminals to teach, watch movies together, have a good time with them - to integrate them to the society. I have done this for 10 months now.

4/ What do you think about volunteerism?

First I would say that I really like making people smile. I think that it is like a mirror in front of you and I want to go behind this mirror… Voluntarism - it is to be a good person without making difference by our religion, race, etc… . One day I will die, so I feel like helping people. That’s why I am also learning sign language in order to be able to communicate with deaf people - it’s difficult but important!

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http://img.costumecraze.com/images/vendors/forum/66960-Teen-Big-Top-Clown-Costume-large.jpg

5/ What do you expect from this experience?

I hope to make new friends, discover new cultures, people. Take bart on several workshops, flash mobs and learn basic in some languages (for ex. Greek & Flemish) Beside as in Turkey we don’t have a lot black people and as my roommate here is black then 2/ What will you do for the Street Art it is experience for me as well.

Festival?

If I can fine the costume I will become a clown for this event and I will do beat boxing.

Interview by Ines

Break boy Samuel’s story 1/ Present yourself quickly.

I am Samuel, I am 26 years old, and I am from Portugal, Lisbon. I am a break boy for 7 years now.

2/ What do you do in your country, besides break dance?

I work as a graphic producer. After work, my friends and me have 3 hours break dance practicing per week. Normally we have more but recently, we could practice just these few hours.

3/ How did you hear about Street Festival of Kalamata?

The Street Festival of Kalamata is the 5th Youth Exchange in which one we participate.

4/ What will you present here during the Festival?

We will do a break dancing show with dancers from France and Portugal. We are preparing here a choreography with 3 French B-boys and 2 Portuguese B-boys.

Interview by Manuela

I work with an association in Portugal and since 2009, we do this kind of Youth Exchange. Actually, every single Youth Exchange in break dance or hip hop that is organized, we participate in.

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Festival Miden

O

n the 4th, the 5 th and the 6th of July, Kalamata hosted the short movie festival called Festival Miden.

It was the 9th edition of this video art event.

During these 3 days, more than 250 movies from all over the world have been screened in different places of the town. You could find screens at each moment of the day: mornings in the Archeological Museum of Messinia, evenings in Kalitechniko Steki, and nights in Ampheia Square. Besides these different projections, you could try freely a videogame called Banopticon, created thanks to a two years work of Παντειο Πανεπιστημιο Κοινωνικων and Πολιτικων Επιστημων Κεντρο Σπουδων.

For the organization of this festival, a team of 7 curators have worked during several months in order to create different thematics (“Mother”, “All about work”, “Cheer up”, “Come as you are”, “Lasting”…). After the open call launched in spring 2013, they received loads of short movies from every continent. Then, they watched all of these movies and selected the ones that fitted the more with their thematic.

Besides of that, some art schools, video art institutes or artistic projects participated in the Festival by sending one of their selections, let’s quote “Video Art Network Lagos” from Nigeria, “Where Dreams Cross” from Sweden, “Red Nomad: WAW” from Spain and the FILMHOUSE of Kalamata as examples.

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The festival started on Thursday, the 4th of July at 10:30 a.m. with the press release in the Archeological Museum of Messinia, lasted during the 2 days following and finished on Saturday, the 6th of July, with loads of smiles, thanks and good vibes.

Thanks to the Festival team, and to the help of the EVS volunteers from the Youth Center of Kalamata, everything went on in a perfect way. Our motivation and optimism was stronger enough to fight the small unexpected “surprises” due to technology problems!

I hope you could join at least for one night this amazing worldwide festival, otherwise, see you next year for the 10th edition. Let me tell you that 2014 edition will be an amazing week-end in Kalamata!

Text author: Manuela

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TeddyBear wondering around in Kalamata

F

or my last trip before going back to my native country (the majestic Siberian forests which offers a wide variety of flora and fauna), I decided to stay a bit in Kalamata to visit more this surprising and multifarious city!

So, I arrived directly from Tallinn by boat to Kalamata (it took me around 25 days staying in the hold, but it was much cheaper!) and I walked along the beach trying to avoid the bikes and the crowd of the path.

Then, I went to lie down on the sandy beach to relax a bit from my tough trip. The gentle sea breeze stroked my face and the smell of fish pampered my nostrils. It reminded me

Article: Ines Photoediting: Loic

one of the main goals in my life: to fish octopus; and I went to the dock to meet some old sailors and we fished three octopus that we barbecued.

Then, Dorian called me to go in his flat next to the beach. There, we had, what we could call a party. Funnily enough, I did not understand very well the rest of the evening. I remember some conversations, a girl coming in the kitchen who did't seem pleased and to see a nice and rather new computer on the coffee table in the living room...

The next day, I hanged out in some "bobo" bars such as Stolidi, to join a literary circle and talk politics while eating profiteroles in the yard.

My head was full of anarchist and revolutionary ideas which gave me a strong urge to go to the battlefields of Exarchia. However, I preferred to stay calm and to go to visit my foreign friends in the Youth Center. There, I met Antzela, she was so radiant and sparkling with life, I hadn't seen her in this mood for many months. Everyone is so happy now, as it’s summertime here! :) At night, I went out in the taverns to drink tsipouro, to have a royal dinner in Bakalogetos and play the bouzouki in Omonia. It was a beautiful evening that reminded me of my childhood in Siberia, my parents and then my first wife, our long summer nights of running naked in the forest... Haa the nostalgia of a sweet and bygone past...

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Anyway, for my last day in Kalamata, I decided roaches for the dessert. I was more than deto visit the old town, because I really like the lighted ! castle and its old amphitheater. And I rented a motorbike to go around the city, to knock down a nice biker on the road, to drive as far as possible on the highway and to pay the final fine.

Well, before going back to my country I had to say goodbye to my hosts and to give them a huge kiss with tears in the eyes. But to paraphrase an old and wise bear friend: Then, other volunteers have kindly invited me " Leaving is dying a little, but staying is to eat at home for a family meal. On the menu: dying slowly". raclette (the most odorous thing I've ever smelt in my bear life), wine and some grilled cockI’ll miss You all my frinends ...

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Filaretos Vourkos, Greece

Who We Are

Office + Long Term EVS

Alice Ponticelli, France

Fotini Arapi, Greece

Georgia Giann

Manuela Gascon, France

Leonard Pris

Bjartur SteingrĂ­msson, Island

Dorian Agn

Panagiota Arapi, Greece

Giwrgos Housenbelli, Greece

stl, Germany

Loic Marchand, France

Taaniel Stoitsev, Estonia

Ines Dupont Miault, France

Jelena Scepanovic, Montenegro

nel, France

Who We Are

nakea, Greece

Pieter Vandenberghe, Belgium

Dries Witdouck, Belgium

Erwin Negl, Austria

Who We Are

Group EVS volu Katarzyna Janas, Poland

Edyta Jadowska, Poland

Kevin Andreazza, France

Ottavia Marangoni, France

Yana Debusschere, Belgium

Harald Hummer, Austria

Charlotte Clatot, France

Marie Christine Exler, Austria

Ceyla Asker, Turkey

Agnieszka Dymek, Poland

Viktoria Spielauer, Austria

Anna Rozecka, Poland

Anais Alexandre, France

Tine Vandenberghe, Belgium

Benjamin Marie, France

Ganizani Msiska, Belgium

Magdalena Pauer, Austria

Mateuzs Huptas, Poland

Who We Are

unteers

Thank You for Your time!

If You have any recommendations concerning LiNK, don’t hesitate to let us know [info@ngokane.org]!

See You all in the 7th of Street Festival in Kalamata on 26th to 28th of July 2013

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, anvd the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

The volunteers responsible for this publication are hosted in Greece in the framework of the European Youth in Action programme, Action 2- European Voluntary Service.