LiLink Editor: Daniel Payne Designer: Anna Khlghatyan
Winter is coming January 1st
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Content Contact About us Youth Center program
5 EVS, K.A.NE. 6 Who are we? 12
DIFFERENT ART Winter Food Tradition Music
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WINTER IS COMING Daniel Payne Niek Den Boer Marine Kafer Elodie Fremaut Ivan Doer Neda Mijovic Anna Khlghatyan
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ADDITIONAL TOPICS My Sending Organisation My Project Past Events Future Events Interview with a Local Volunteer Interview with EVS Volunteer
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Winter With Family A Christmas Poem 10 Winter Olimpios Fun Facts Winter in Lille Winter Depression Myths Who is Santa Claus? My First Winter Without Snow
K.a.n.e. EVS: Alexandra Morin Anna Khlghatyan Daniel Payne Elodie Fremaut Ivan Doer Marine Kafer Neda Mijovic Niek Den Boer
Staff members of K.A.NE.: Filaretos Vourkos Jelena Scepanovic Nancy Kanellopoulou Nantiana Koutiva Antonia Vrioni Georgia Griva
@kane.kalamata
Who are we
elodie
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carolinav Bonjour ! My name is Elodie. I come from France. I’m social worker educator since 2014. I’m in Kalamata for 6 months. I’m volunteer in a dog shelter and also, in a therapeutic horse-riding. I’ve decided to do this SVE for discover a new country and news cultures, acquire news skills, share my knowledges, to improve my english, meet other volunteers from other countries.
neda Hi, I’m Neda and I come from Montenegro. Activism has been my passion since high school days so I’m thrilled because of the idea of working at the K.A.NE’s office and help to create more opportunities for young people. Some of my other passions are traveling, dancing and good music and I hope I’ll get the chance to nurture all of them in the following 9 months.
niek I am Niek, I'm 30 years old. From a small town in the Netherlands called Lunteren. I will be a volunteer for 12 months here, in Kalamata. In my freetime, I like to create, read good book or scientific article (psychology, philosophy, history etc), or watch good art-house movie. Sometimes I like to make photographs.
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ivan
marine
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Who am I? A human being, or, an evolved animal? It's really hard to give an explanation by using only words. So, I'll prefer to let my actions speak louder than my words. But you know what? I'm Passionate about Life and Nature. I spend a lot of time studying human behavior, what is a sort of a hobby for me. My biggest motivation is to learn from life and make my eyes see wider. I decided to quit my job, so I could catch the opportunity to experience something unique in Greece.
Bonjour! My name is Marine, I’m 28 years old and coming from France. After studying Business Administration, working in Marketing and travelling the world, I will now stay in Kalamata for 10 months, working at the office of K.A.NE. I decided to volunteer here to get to know the functioning of an non-profit organisation and to set up my own European Projects! During my free time I like to play volleyball, go diving or read fiction books. This year, you also gonna find me at the German language workshop.
anna
daniel
Barev! I am Anna from Armenia. Honestly, in 28 years of life, this is my first time abroad in Europe. I am going to stay 8 months here in Kalamata and it is a long time for me to discover everything in Greece: live, love, experience new emotions, meet new people, create new stories, explore new streets. This is a great way and opportunity to get to know me, myself, to discover something new in and outside. After this project, I am going to make a short movie or a video about my story, my EVS, my vision, dreams and goals.
Hello, my name is Dan, I’m 19 years old, and I come from Manchester in the UK. I’ve lived in Manchester all my life and will be living in Kalamata for 2 months helping at the youth centre and the dog shelter. Manchester’s a musical city and that’s one of my biggest interests! I love to spend my free time listening to electronic music, producing it, DJ’ing or playing instruments. I decided to take part in an EVS project when I was in Romania for an Erasmus+ mobility of youth workers course.
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K.A.NE.
FILARETOS
jelena
Hello, I am Filaretos Vourkos. For the last 15 years I am working in the field of Non-formal education as a volunteer, youth worker and youth trainer. 10 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 K.A.NE. does, so I decided to stay and be part of it.
NANTIANA My name is Nantiana Koutiva and i am working in KANE as project manager. I have studied greek philology and I am teacher of greek language as well. I love travelling and organizing festivals. 10
Nancy
antonia
Hello World! I’m Nancy and I’m working in K.A.NE since 2017 as a Project Manager and EVS/ESC coordinator. I’m passionate about meeting new people and exchange knowledge, experiences and ideas. I love the fact that many young people visit every year my hometown Kalamata and contribute to our society.
Hello! I’m Antonia and I’m 23 years old. I studied business administration in Athens and now I’ve been working in K.A.NE. as administrative officer. 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 hearts to new adventures!
georgia Hello, my name is Georgia Griva. For the past 5 years I am a youth worker and project manager. This journey in youth field started in 2014 with my first youth exchange and my EVS in Istanbul. I am proud to be member of K.A.NE. which represents my vision and my values as human and as active citizen.
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WINTER IS COMING Winter Food
NIEK Winter is a time when you will see a lot of sweets on the table in the Netherlands. Aside from sweets there are some dishes that are common when the frost comes over the garden. One example is the Boerenkool Stamppot, which is curly kale mashed with potatoes and milk in a pan, with bacon and a sausage on top, it’s delicious!! My favorite winter food. Above a full stomach is a happy face!
IVAN If you belong to “Russian mafia”, then no doubts that you’ll have a huge bowl of “Russian Salad”, also known as “Olivye" [rus. Оливье́ ]. This is the most symbolic dish on every table during winter. Another one is “Dressed herring” which takes glorious second place for the most popular dish during the holidays. And remember, winter is the time of cold weather, so everything that is tasty and warm is more than welcome.
ANNA Armenian Cuisine is one of the richest in the world. If someone is Armenia or wants to visit, they have to try our tasty meals, different cakes, cookies, sweets, drinks and alcohol. For me it was difficult to write a short article about our traditional cuisine. We spread tables 3 meters long with
food at Christmas and New Year. In this magic holiday every home has dolma, blinchik, bowl of pork, cakes, drying fruits, our traditional wine and cognac. For people who like to eat, armenian cuisine is definitely for them, they should visit at least once in their life to Armenia. 14
MARINE The french winter food usually includes heavy dishes with a lot of cheese. For instance we have the ‘raclette’: a melting cheese spread on potatoes and delicatessen; the ‘tartiflette’: a gratin made of potatoes, bacon, onions, sour cream and a whole Reblochon cheese or the Savoyard ‘fondue’: three various cheeses melted and stirred in a special cooking pan with garlic and white wine, where we dip bread slices in…Delicious!
NEDA Kacamak is traditional montenegrin dish specific for the northern part of the country. It is made of potatoes and flower, and the rich taste of it comes from cheese and cream which are added in the end of making process.Earlier, people were mostly eating it after hard work outside in the snow, because this dish is heavy and very filling, but nowadays people usually eat it after skiing. Actually, kacamak is so popular in Montenegro that even though its a winter dish, we love eating it during the whole year.
ELODIE I come from the north of France. Winters are severe. We have to warm up. For that, we have the onion soup and can add cheese (gruyère) and rusk on top. . We also cook garlic soup but it’s more rare.
DANIEL Winters in the UK are cold! We have snow most years at least some point during winter and so we like to eat good comfort food. It’s a time for pies, sunday roasts, stews and soups. We don’t have any dish that we just eat at winter though as we eat this food all year round. One traditional english snack that just appears at Christmas however is the Mince Pie (picture) this sweet pastry is completely british and filled with a mixture of dried fruits and spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, I love them!. 15
WINTER IS COMING Tradition
ELODIE We have some traditions in France, one of them concerns Santa Claus and his reindeers. It’s a cute tradition. On the night of the 24th to the 25th, Santa Claus delivers gifts to every house. On the 24th, before going to sleep, children with their parents put a cup of water, bread and carrots near the fireplace or in front of the door of the house to feed the reindeers and thank them for their work. (Parents have a mission: make it disappear before the children get up the next day!!!)
NIEK I have to talk about the feast of Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas in Dutch). It is celebrated on the evening before Sinterklaas’ birthday on December 5th, especially in families with little children. It often involves the custom of surprises; gifts wrapped in an original way, customized to the receiver and accompanied by a poem, hinting at what the present is. This tradition was always a highlight in my childhood and the month of December was all about the 5th for me!
IVAN Winter is winter. Freezing cold weather, you know… But what is really important is the Christmas and the New Year. Here are a few typical traditions for these holidays. One of them is to watch the same movies on New Years Eve. During centuries before people were watching classical movies such as “Home Alone”, “Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future”, and of course, the legendary “The Irony of Fate” by Eldar Ryazanov. Also it will not be Christmas if you don’t have the famous “russian salad”. Besides this, it’s quite common to walk around your neighbors for congratulations and sharing food and drinks. Even nowadays some men dress up as “Russian Santa”, more commonly known as Grandpa Freeze (direct translation of [rus. Дедушка Мороз]). This tradition is pretty old, however it’s a perfect way to bring pleasure to children hearts! Even if they know that it’s their dad dressed up with a fake white beard. Who cares… Christmas is the time of miracles and dreams.
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ANNA I didn't know how to start to write this article, but one of my fellow volunteers from France: Julien, who stayed a few months in my country gave me an idea to talk about “Armenian toastes”. Yes, yes, yes! In every holiday: birthdays, parties, weddings, events, even funerals we have a tradition around the table: toasties and after that drink! Also we have a person who is responsible for the event “tamada”. He wishes people to be healthy, lucky, happy and laughing, after that people can take shots and drink. After Tamada's speech, people around table continue this tradition. Parties can continue all night. These holidays people are visiting each others homes. We are celebrating 7 days, 7nights (lol).So “kenacd”. (Yamas)
MARINE Most of our traditions include… food! For example as dessert for Christmas Eve, we usually eat an ice cream cake in shape of a log of wood (picture 4). Inherited from a pagan ritual where a wood trunk was burned during the winter solstice, the Christians transformed it into the burning of a log of wood during the whole Christmas night. The wood-shaped cake reproduces this tradition now.
NEDA The most important thing during winter holidays in Montenegro is spending time together with our families. That’s why we use every moment available doing different activities together. There are some related to christmas in particular. In Montenegro, we celebrate Christmas on 7th of January. The day before that, on Badnje veče, how we call Christmas Eve, traditionally, everyone stays at their home for Christmas dinner. Following dinner, young people visit their friends, the elderly narrate stories from the olden times and Christmas songs are sung.
DANIEL The run-up to Christmas in the UK begins on the 1st of December. We open advent calenders (picture) from this date which contain a chocolate for every day on the run-up to Christmas. On Christmas-Eve (24th December) children leave out milk, carrots and a mince-pie for Santa Claus and his reindeers, which Santa collects as he climbs down the chimney and leaves the childrens Christmas presents. On Christmas Day (25th December) everyone opens their presents together with their family before having a big Christmas dinner in the afternoon, a big Christmas Turkey is the main attraction for this!
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WINTER IS COMING Music
ELODIE In France, we sing “Bons baisers de Fort de France”. This music come from Fort de France, on the island of Martinique.
NIEK My choice of music is and will always depend on the moment. So for winter it is mostly a bit more calm. For example, imagine a saturday morning waking up without an alarm, you walk to the kitchen and make a coffee while listening to Kasetophono. This is a web page that has a playlist for almost every occasion!! If you find yourself in a situation that you just want the music play itself. Kasetophono.
IVAN I assume there is no specific playlist for winter. Everyone is listening to something they like. This might depend on your generation though. But usually it’s something light and positive. For example, Christmas songs like Sinatra. What really matters is that you must feel the upcoming Christmas spirit.
NEDA Among other things, in winter in Montenegro there are numerous celebrations, holidays and events dedicated to winter. Large-scale festivals, flash mobs, historical reproductions and fairs, and of course, all that accompanied with good music is common in my country. Depending on the occasion, you might hear traditional Montenegrin songs, Christmas carols, or up-to-date contemporary music. The important thing is that there is music everywhere! 18
MARINE The most typical winter song in France is probably “Vive le vent d’hiver” (Long live winter’s wind), which we learn in Kindergarten. We generally sing it also on the Christmas night with our families.
ANNA In New Year we can listen every kind of music, jenres and singers. Most important thing that music should be rhytmic, we can dance and celebrate magic holdays.
DANIEL We have lots of cheesy Christmas music from the UK that only gets played at Christmas time. On Christmas Day and the days leading to it, the Christmas Top 40 is normally playing in my house, with songs such as “Last Christmas” by WHAM (picture). When putting up the Christmas Tree, and also preparing Christmas dinner are the most popular times to play this Christmas music in my family. Thankfully it’s only once a year it gets played.
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WINTER IS COMING Winter with Family
When I think about Winter I think about the cold weather: frost, snow on the trees, warm nights inside the house and cold days outside. But it’s also the time of year I feel most of us think most about family. Christmas (the pinnacle of winter), for most, is a time spent with close family, and also a time to meet distant family who live in other parts of the country/world, or we don’t see as for different reasons. In the UK, I have always spent Christmas Eve with my sister and mother, who I live with in Greater Manchester. In the evening it’s our tradition to eat a takeaway, before we go to sleep ready for Christmas Day. On Christmas Day, every year it has been different. Sometimes we host Christmas Day at our house and my Grandma comes to visit. Other years I have spent it at my uncle's house together with my auntie and their family. Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, me and my sister visit my Dad and step-mum. We share Christmas Dinner together and also exchange gifts and spend the day together, just like Christmas Day again! The day after this we usually then do the same again at my Grandma's house, together with my other uncle, auntie and cousin who visit from London. It’s a complicated situation sometimes, but one way or another I see all of my immediate family over Christmas. This year again it will be different! I will celebrate Christmas with my dad and step-mum in the New Year as they moved this year to a new part of the UK, the Lake District.
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This year I’m excited for Christmas in the UK. I will finish my EVS on the 21st of December, and then fly back to Manchester on Christmas Eve, just in time for my Christmas celebrations. It’s the first year I’ve spent the run-up to Christmas outside the UK, but I still feel the Christmas spirit all the same here in Kalamata.
Winter is a time I like not just because of Christmas, but also because it contains the new year. It’s a chance to look back on how you’ve changed over the year. What you’ve done, where you have been, and what you have experienced and achieved. You can then look towards the next year, set goals and make plans for anything you would like to do. It feels like the perfect fresh start to make any changes you would like. I spend a lot-of time with my Dad in this period, we spend a lot of time reviewing things and making plans for the next year. He showed me the idea of settings goals for the year and reviewing yourself when I was younger, I think it’s a great thing to do and I would recommend it to anyone else.
DANIEL PAYNE 21
WINTER IS COMING A Christmas Poem
***** Summer fading, winter comes Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs, Window robins, winter rooks, And the picture story-books. Water now is turned to stone Nurse and I can walk upon; Still we find the flowing brooks In the picture story-books. All the pretty things put by, Wait upon the children's eye, Sheep and shepherds, trees and crooks, In the picture story-books. We may see how all things are Seas and cities, near and far, And the flying fairies' looks, In the picture story-books. How am I to sing your praise, Happy chimney-corner days, Sitting safe in nursery nooks, Reading picture story-books? by Robert Louis Stevenson
NIEK DEN BOER 22
WINTER IS COMING
10 Winter Olympics fun facts
1. Denver won—then rejected—the 1976 Winter Olympics. In 1970, the International Olympic Committee selected Denver over three other candidates— Sion, Switzerland; Tampere, Finland and Vancouver, Canada—to host the 1976 Winter Olympics. As the projected costs and environmental impacts of the Olympics began to grow, however, so did public opposition. On Election Day in 1972, as President Richard Nixon swept to re-election, Colorado voters rejected a $5 million state bond issue to help pay for the Games. A week later, Denver stepped down as host of the Games, which were switched to Innsbruck, Austria, host city of the 1964 Winter Olympics. 2. Figure skating and ice hockey were originally part of the Summer Olympics. Two of the most popular sports on ice actually made their Olympic debuts during the Summer Games, albeit at more seasonable times of the year. Back when Olympic programs stretched over the course of months, men’s, women’s and pairs figure skating were first held in October 1908 at the London Summer Games. Figure skating returned along with ice hockey in April 1920 as part of the Summer Olympics program in Antwerp. Both sports shifted to the Winter Olympics when they debuted in 1924. 3. Horses and dogs once participated in the Winter Games. While equestrian events have been a long-time staple of the Summer Olympics, horses were also present at the 1928 Winter Games in the skijoring event in which competitors on skis raced each other as they were towed by riderless horses. Skijoring was a demonstration sport, so no medals were awarded, and the sport never returned to the Olympics. Canines, however, appeared during the 1932 Lake Placid Winter Games as part of the demonstration sport of sled dog racing. 4. A lack of snow required military intervention in 1964. While much coverage has been given to the anomaly of holding the Winter Olympics in the subtropical resort city of Sochi, Russia, a lack of snow in normally frosty Innsbruck threatened the 1964 Games. Called to action, the Austrian army scaled nearby snow-capped mountains and carted more than 50,000 cubic yards of snow to the ski courses and 20,000 blocks of ice to the luge and bobsled tracks. The soldiers packed down the snow and ice with their hands and feet. (During the 1928 St. Moritz Winter Games, a freak heat spell drove temperatures up over 70 degrees by the end of the 50-kilometer cross-country race.) 5. Only one country has ever boycotted a Winter Olympics. While the Summer Olympics was plagued by political boycotts during the Cold War, the same was not true of the Winter Games. However, Taiwan refused to participate in the 1980 Lake Placid Games after the International Olympic 23
WINTER IS COMING
Committee prohibited it from being called the Republic of China in order to placate the People’s Republic of China, which was returning to the Olympics for the first time since 1952. 6. West and East Germany competed together on three occasions. The two countries on opposite sides of the Iron Curtain competed together as the Unified Team of Germany in both the Winter and Summer Games in 1956, 1960 and 1964. 7. Norway has captured more gold than any other country. Although it is a country of just five million people, a similar population to Colorado, Norway entered the Sochi Games with a record avalanche of 107 gold medals and 303 total medals. It is one of only three countries—including Austria and Liechtenstein—that has won more medals in the Winter Games than in the Summer Olympics. 8. Only one person has ever won gold in both the Winter and Summer Olympics. American Eddie Eagan captured gold in the light-heavyweight boxing event at the 1920 Antwerp Summer Games, and a dozen years later he was a member of the four-man bobsled team that won at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Norway’s Jacob Tullin Thams, East Germany’s Christa Luding-Rothenburger and Canada’s Clara Hughes are the other three athletes to win medals in different sports in the Winter and Summer Olympics. Luding-Rothenburger achieved her feat in the same year by winning silver in the match-sprint cycling at the 1988 Seoul Summer Games just seven months after winning gold and silver medals in speed skating at the Calgary Winter Games. (Sweden’s Gillis Grafstrom won gold medals in the 1920 Summer Games and 1924 Winter Games but in the same event—figure skating.) 9. It took 82 years for a British curling team to receive gold medals. Great Britain won the curling event at the inaugural 1924 Winter Olympics, although the competition was not stiff. Only four teams competed, and two were from the same country—Sweden. Curling did not return to the official program of the Winter Games until 1998. For decades, curling was considered to have been a demonstration sport at the 1924 Winter Olympics. However, in 2006 the International Olympic Committee ruled that the sport had indeed been part of the official program, and it upgraded the curling team’s gold medals from demonstration to official status. 10. Two men’s hockey teams from the United States arrived at the 1948 Games. Talk about awkward. Two teams, backed by rival hockey associations, arrived at the 1948 St. Moritz Winter Games claiming they were the rightful squad to compete for the United States. The team backed by the American Hockey Association, which included professionals, was ultimately recognized as the official American team, while the strictly amateur squad sponsored by the Amateur Athletic Union and the United States Olympic Committee sat on the sidelines and even booed their compatriots from the stands.
MARINE KAFER 24
WINTER IS COMING Winter in Lille
The winters are magical in the city of Lille. Often, in December there isn’t snow, it arrives around January of February. The city centre is transformed into a Christmas village. In the city square, “Grand Place”, there are lots of restaurants, a ferris wheel, and a Christmas Tree. A lot of people come to walk around and stroll (more than one million visitors every year). Close to the ferris wheel, there is a Christmas market. This market has existed since 1989. Here you can find clothes, food specialities and decorations. To warm up, warm red wine is offered (with cinnamon, orange, lemon and cloves). The restaurants offer you typical French meals, for example: “Tarte au Maroilles” (Cheese Pie) , “Chicon Gratin”, or “Potchevlech” .Also, there are Christmas concerts given by Lille’s music schools.Every year, I visit this place with my family or with my friends. It’s very famous in the North of France. The atmosphere is warm and the city is dressed in beautiful colours. In some cities around Lille there are even outdoor ice rinks. My visits represent the start of the Christmas atmosphere for me.
ELODIE FREMAUT
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WINTER IS COMING Winter Depression Myths
The changing seasons can influence your mental health in a variety of ways. When winter is approaching, many animal species are busy preparing nests or burrows for a few months of hibernation and many are busy fattening themselves up for the long barren season ahead. Winter is an interesting season in which we are encouraged to be merry and bright while the days are shorter and the weather generally rawer. There is a widespread myth that suicides increase during the Winter holiday period. We somehow assume that the dark days of winter drive the at-risk individuals to extreme behaviors. Although scientists have not yet determined a universally accepted reason for this, it is likely that the growing dread some might feel in Autumn towards the season of forced good humor and good cheer may lead those who have been contemplating this tragic option to take action before the holidays out of a misplaced sense of compassion for others. As for the spike in Spring, it may be that the weight of witnessing the world springing back into new life and a sense of new opportunities and rebirth may be too much for those at-risk to bear. Being present for “one last Christmas” may also be the driving force that works as a protective factor for individuals who recognize the pain that their absence would cause for others. Have you ever been annoyed by someone who is always reminding you to “think positive” or “be more optimistic” when you are wallowing in negativity? If so, maybe you need to do a little more listening and a little less kvetching.Researchers have found that optimism and positive thinking actually are related to improved mental and physical well-being. If we let ourselves feel hopeful about the future and get ourselves out of negative rumination or worrying, we are more likely to feel good about ourselves and to heal faster, if we are ill.
IVAN DOER 26
WINTER IS COMING Who is Santa Claus?
The man we know as Santa Claus has a history all of his own, and it is a couple of centuries old. He wasn’t wearing a red jumpsuit, gliding through the sky with his reindeers and more importantly (SPOILER ALERT) existing as a real person.
The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. Much admired for his kindness, St. Nicholas became the subject of many legends. It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. Over the course of many years, Nicholas’s popularity spread and he became known as the protector of children and sailors. His feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, December 6th. Celebrating St. Nicholas was a part of Christmas tradition since the holiday’s rejuvenation in the early 19th century. Stores began to advertise Christmas shopping in 1820, and by the 1840s, newspapers were creating separate sections for holiday advertisements, which often featured images of the newly-popular Santa Claus. In 1881, political cartoonist Thomas Nast drew the cartoon which is considered the first appearance of Santa Claus as we know it today. His cartoon depicted Santa as a round, cheerful man with a full, white beard, holding a sack laden with toys for lucky children, located in his North Pole workshop, surrounded with elves and his wife, Mrs. Claus. 18th-century America’s Santa Claus was not the only St. Nicholas-inspired gift-giver to make an appearance at Christmas-time. Similar figures were popular all over the world. Christkind or Kris Kringle was believed to deliver presents to well-behaved Swiss and German children. Meaning “Christ child,” Christkind is an angel-like figure often accompanied by St. Nicholas on his holiday 27
missions. In Scandinavia, a jolly elf named Jultomten was thought to deliver gifts in a sleigh drawn by goats. English legend explains that Father Christmas visits each home on Christmas Eve to fill children’s stockings with holiday treats. Pere Noel is responsible for filling the shoes of French children. In Russia, it is believed that an elderly woman named Babouschka purposely gave the wise men wrong directions to Bethlehem so that they couldn’t find Jesus. Later, she felt remorseful, but could not find the men to undo the damage. To this day, on January 5th, Babouschka visits Russian children leaving gifts at their bedsides in the hope that one of them is the baby Jesus and she will be forgiven. In Italy, a similar story exists about a woman called La Befana, a kindly witch who rides a broomstick down the chimneys of Italian homes to deliver toys into the stockings of lucky children.
NEDA MIJOVIC
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My first winter without snow!
December 2018, Kalamata, Greece Me, Christmas, and another country. This is the first winter without my family, my homeland and without snow. This time of year in my country there is a lot of snow outside, cold weather, people wearing thick clothes and everyone hurrying to do Christmas shopping and preparing their Christmas food on time. For me i t
is one of the most beautiful holidays that people celebrate all around the world. It is the time for new changes, new perspectives in life, new hopes and motivations. I really miss my family, friends and homeland. Christmas is a family holiday for me, but now I have an opportunity to celebrate with the people whom I’ve known for two months that I live with. I really love them and we have become very close in this short time together. I am feeling the spirit of New Year here, even if there is no snow. A few days ago I was walking in the central square of Kalamata at night and there was music, dances, decoration and lights. Kalamata is very nice and I like the idea of celebrating this cozy holiday here with new but good people. In my country we have some saying: “”how you celebrate the new year, will follow you all year”. For this reason I always wish to go abroad and travel all year. So ,make a wish carefully, it becomes true.
ANA KHLGHATYAN 29
MY SENDING ORGANISATION
iPEICC (stands for International Exchanges Culture and Citizenship Projects)People and Culture is located in the district of La Paillade in Montpellier since1988. The association iPEICC develops actions in a field that extends from artistic expression to active citizenship, the development of associative life to international exchanges and the involvement of young people.In this "openair laboratory", the animators experiment new animation tools with the inhabitants in order to promote individual and collective emancipation, social transformation. iPEICC makes available to everyone:A Project Space / Support point for the voluntary sector For years iPEICC accompanies associative project leaders, trains volunteers, advises leaders in their decision-making. iPEICC is one of the founding members of VIASSO, a network of support points for community life in Languedoc Roussillon. Third Cultural and Artistic Place The development of arts and cultural education for all is a fundamental democratic issue in terms of citizenship, development of critical thinking and creativity. Created in 1999, the “Third Cultural Place” is an area of proximity and mediation, artistic creation, exchange and meetings. It’s a space where are invented new ways of seeing, thinking, and watching its own daily life and environment. Workshops of artistic practice are held (visual arts, writing, photography...), but also cultural mediation, support of artistic projects... A Citizenship Center / University of the Citizen The objective is to achieve a co-production of inhabitants and decision-makers, based on the principle that every inhabitant brings knowledge complementary to that of the institution. The inhabitants mobilized in groups of speech, reflection and training meet in plenary assembly where they have the possibility to formulate upon experts their requests of information on the subject of their choice, and to make proposals to decision-makers able to take them into account. The citizen's university is a gateway to participatory democracy. It is also a response to state directives on the participation of inhabitants in city politics. 30
An International Exchange Sector, European Mobility Base The international exchange sector is a meeting and tutoring space for young people aged 18 to 27 who wish to go on a 1 to 12-months experience abroad. It is also a network of private and public associative partners invested in mobility actions to support young people seeking experience, training or employment. The iPEICC organization also supports and accompanies young people who wish to engage in local life through volunteering via the civic service system. The association also organizes exchanges of young people with a cultural, artistic or environmental vocation. An Engineering-Training / Action Sector The courses offered by iPEICC are intended for anyone who wish to take this necessary time to question their practices, develop their critical analysis skills and learn about techniques of social and cultural animation for emancipatory purposes.
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MY PROJECT I spend my Wednesdays and Thursdays at Fifa Farm Permaculture. I have a different task to most of the volunteers in this place. My days at the farm are filled with a diversity of things. Like in every farm or garden there is always work to be done. To make it look nice and to keep the plants and trees in their best condition every season is in itself a task. I have the opportunity to learn about permaculture and composting while doing this. In the same time we carry out maintenance of the tools and the farm itself. It's a big place, so there’s always something to improve or to repair. For example, after the storm we had a while ago, there were some treebrances that needed to be cleaned up, but this was a great opportunity to reuse the wood that came down! At any time we can RE-THINK what to do with this free material, we try to reuse as much as possible! Here are some ideas that we have done, we are working on, or will be implemented: - building a table or a lamp for the garden; - creating Christmas decorations; - building ‘grow-houses’ for the seeds and plants; - improving the aesthetics of the garden.
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From my point of view, this is a practical project where I can use my creativity at any moment!
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P a st E v e nt s
EVS CAFE
On the 21st of November the people of Kalamata had the opportunity to hear about Erasmus +, youth exchanges and how can they became part of a project. They got the information from people who had experienced one of the Erasmus + programs (EVS) - Carol from Portugal, June from Spain and me. Carol and June are now back home at the time I’m writing this, but it doesn’t change the fact that the we did a good job of informing young people about the opportunities that lie ahead of them and got at least couple of them interested. Here are some photos from the event:
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F ut u r e E v e nt s
Chill party with Charlie
A New Year is coming with new changes and amazing events. The first of these is coming to the Youth Centre of Kalamata. Hurry up and join us and Charlie Chaplin on January 11th 2019.
Chill Party and Charlie Lights Nights
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I nt e r v i e w
with a local
Volunteer
In this issue of LINK magazine, you'll get to know Irini, a local volunteer.
CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS SO WE CAN KNOW YOU BETTER? My name is Eirini, I am 24 years old and I am from Sparti, but the last 6 years I have lived in Kalamata. I came here in order to study at university and after my graduation I decided to stay.. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT IN THE YOUTH CENTER? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROJECT? The last 3 years I’ve been a volunteer in the Youth Centre of Kalamata. I mostly help in the coordination, but also in anything else that might occur such as the parties. I’ve always liked volunteering and the YC offers a great opportunity to do this since it has many tasks that you can deal with. You can meet and connect with other people and you can see other cultures and different ideas. WHAT SKILLS DID YOU ACQUIRE DURING YOUR PROJECT? During my volunteer service in the Youth Centre I found out how to communicate in a better way with people from different countries who don't speak my mother tongue. I also developed teamwork skills because there are many volunteers who have to cooperate in order for everything to be perfect. Another benefit for me is that I learnt a lot about the job of a secretary since the coordination of the youth centre is related to this.
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TO COINCIDE WITH THE THEME OF THIS MAGAZINE, WHAT DO YOUR PREFER MOST DURING THE WINTER SEASON? During the winter season I really like holidays such as Christmas and New Years Eve when everything is decorated and everyone is in a good mood celebrating with their loved ones. WHAT DO YOU ASSOCIATE WITH CHRISTMAS? Christmas for me is being with family and friends, eating all together and giving and receiving many gifts. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO A FUTURE YOUNG PERSON WHO IS INTERESTED IN DOING VOLUNTEERING? Everything associated with volunteering is really interesting and offers you the opportunity to give but also receive. While you volunteer you come across many different cultures, languages, ideas, and you learn new things and develop new skills. Being a volunteer is amazing and everyone should do it, especially at a young age when you are forming your own character.
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I nt e r v i e w
with an evs
Volunteer
HI DAN, CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF? Hello, my name is Daniel (Dan or Dani, whichever you prefer), and I come from Manchester in the United Kingdom. I’m here in Kalamata volunteering for two months on a short-term EVS project in Greece until Christmas Eve when I will head back home.
HOW DID YOU FIND ABOUT EVS? I found out about EVS after taking part in an Erasmus+ training course during February and August this year called International Bridge Builders. I’d heard about EVS before this actually, but knew nothing about what it really was until this year when I took part in the training course.
WHAT LED YOU TO DECIDE TO DO YOUR EVS? During International Bridge Builders I got to know two participants who had previously done long-term EVS projects before, one in Romania and the other in the Czech Republic. My main motivation was hearing their stories about how the experience changed their lives, they spoke so highly of it and really motivated me to go and do it. After the experience I had on my training course I wanted to experience living with people of different cultures in a new country for a longer period of time and so I came to do my EVS in Greece just two months after finishing the training course.
WHAT IS YOUR EVS PROJECT? I work one day a week at Centre Neon, The Youth Centre of Kalamata, and three days at D.A.S.H, the dog shelter. I enjoy my work, the dog shelter was a really new experience for me, I’ve never worked with so many animals before, it was a bit of shock to be honest! But I feel more comfortable with it now and enjoy helping out.
CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE WORK OF D.A.S.H? Of course, D.A.S.H stands for Dream of a Safe Haven and they help care for and re-home the abandoned and stray dogs across the peloponnese region of Greece. The shelter is based in Messini and is run solely of donations to provide food, shelter and veterinary care for dogs, along with the help of local and overseas volunteers to maintain the shelter and care for the dogs. 39
Your EVS project will finish soon, what are your future plans? When I return home, the biggest thing I would like to do is gain my independence. I still live with my family and I would like to move out into the city centre of Manchester or go abroad to do my long-term EVS. I really liked the experience of being completely independent on my EVS and living with new people, it’s something I want to continue when I return to develop myself more and experience new things.
HOW HAVE YOU SPENT YOUR FREE-TIME IN GREECE? Lots of travelling! I’ve been to the Sparta, Olympia, The Polylimnio waterfalls, Kardamyli, Monemvasia, Methoni, and I plan to visit Athens the weekend before I leave also! When I wasn’t travelling I enjoyed spending time with the other EVS volunteers in Kalamata: visiting the different restaurants, bakeries and cafes of Kalamata, and of course Kalamata Beach!
HOW WAS IT FOR YOU ADAPTING TO THE LIFESTYLE OF GREECE? I found it difficult, not just adapting to the lifestyle of Greece, but also the lifestyle of living with other people 24/7. I found the Greek culture to be very different to UK culture, people are more laidback for sure! In the UK it’s frowned upon to be overly late for an event or occasion, but in Greece it seems to be widely accepted and okay. I’ve been living in a shared apartment with 6 other volunteers which I also had to adapt to, it was a new experience for me but I love it now with the people I’m with.
WHAT WAS YOUR FUNNIEST EVS MOMENT? There was a backpacker from France, called Ulrich, one day we let him stay over at our house for one night. He made a soup for us and it was a nice soup, nothing amazing, but nice! Anyway, he left, and the soup stayed in the kitchen covered. Then it stayed in the kitchen some more and eventually it was over week since he had left. One day questions were being asked about the soup in our house and the time came to dispose of it. Once we removed the lid the smell filled the kitchen, and honesty it was the most horrible thing I’ve smelt in my whole time in Greece, even at the dog shelter! Seeing Caroline and Elodie trying to get rid of the soup was one of the funniest moments for me! 40
Link
December 1st 2018
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.
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