LINK #106

LINK

January 15 th 2018

N°106

January Editor: Ola Kaczurba

Designer: Mina Duma

Cover Photo: OphĂŠlie Cottier

LINK

#LINKEXPLORE

CONTENT 5 6 14

EVS, K.A.NE.

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New

18 20 23 25 27 29 32 34 37 39 41 44

New What New 2017 Brought Us Eyes On the Prize The Measure of Time 2018 a Sporty Year When The Old Becomes New 10 Must See Exhibitions in 2018 Bailleul’s Carnival My Project Interview With a Local Volunteer Interview With an EVS Volunteer Winter Fun & Christmas Market 2017 Future Event My Sending Organization

Contact About us Youth Center - program New Year Tradition in Your Country New Thing You Want to Try This Year Ola Kaczurba Angelina Kaysina Joana Ganilho Marques Ophélie Cottier Antía Fernández Martínez Majka Dokudowicz Antoine Werquin Yana Volkova Ophélie Cottier Ola Kaczurba Bilal Zegoud Majka Dokudowicz Mina Duma

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K.A.NE. EVS: Angelina Kaysina Anna Szlendak Antía Fernández Martínez Joana Ganilho Marques Mariam Sassi Majka Dokudowicz Mehdi Jaffar Mina Duma Ola Kaczurba Ophélie Cottier Paquita Couppey Sofiene Lahdheri Yana Volkova

ACT Volunteers: Antoine Werquin Bilal Zegoud Janae-Amira Jussa

Staff members of K.A.NE.: Filaretos Vourkos Fotini Arapi Jelena Scepanovic Nancy Kanellopoulou Nantiana Koutiva Vyron Giannakopoulos

@kane.kalamata

WHO ARE WE?

OLA

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PAQUITA

Angelina

Hello there! I’m Ola but you can call me Alex. I’m 18 and I have just finished high school. I come from capitol of Poland – Warsaw. I love chocolate, breathtaking harmonies, good guitar riffs, totally crazy hairstyles and classic rock. I’m a dancer therefore I will be teaching contemporary/jazz dance and polish in the Youth Centre.Also, I will be helping with therapeutic riding in a horse 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 eleven months.

My mission will be to work in the therapeutic horse-riding and in the KEFIAP Center to assist people with disabilities. I just finished my studies in the Art-thérapy and I'm very enthusiast to begin my EVS. This will be a great experience for me :)

Hello! I’m Angelina an 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 the Russian language and the fitness + stretching workshop. Can’t wait to meet you at Kentro Neon.

JOANA

OPHELIE

AntIa

Hello ! My name is Joana, I’m 29 years old and I’m from Lisbon, Portugal. I studied fine arts, art education and museology and I just arrived Kalamata for a 12 months EVS project. I’ve worked for a lot of time in bookshops and I love to read. I like quiet places where I can be in touch with nature. I’m a curious person and I’m always better if I have a cup of tea with me.

Bonjour ! My name is Ophélie, I come from France.

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

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ANNA

JAE

YANA

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Kalimera! I am Ania and I come from Poland. I will be working for KANE and running Photography and Ukulele workshops. I studied photography in the Institute of Journalism of the University of Warsaw and worked for press photo agencies when I lived in my country. I enjoy every form of photography, I use both digital and film camera, I also create my own pinhole cameras.

Besides, I am totally addicted to travel.

I’m not the best at introductions, but here goes nothing. I’m Jae, I’m nineteen years old and have lived in Liverpool, United Kingdom almost my entire life. My journey with K.A.N.E in Kalamata is centred around a project that’s going to help the migrants and promote the migrant crisis in Greece. For me this is an adventure of self discovery, testing my limits and finding out what I’m capable of. Bring it on Kalamata!

I am Yana from Ukraine. For 5 years I was studying architecture in university and I fond of everything about it as well as about natural building. Before coming here I was working as a project coordinator of the workcamps and as freelance graphic designer for different social festivals and non-governmental organizations. The last 4 years I’ve been travelling to different places in Europe such as eco-villages and rural areas helping people and promoting volunteering for peace. All kind of arts, nature, voluntarism, and travel - my biggest passions in life.

MARIAM

Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things is the best way to grow, and this is what EVS is all about. My name is Mariam, I am 24 and I come from Tunisia. Passionate by traveling, arts, adventures as well as meeting new people and discovering new traditions, places and cultures. I decided to leave all of my normal steady life in Tunisia to come seek inspiration and explore a new way of living in Greece, in the beautiful city of Kalamàta. I would use all of my knowledge and dig even deeper to give the best of me, but also try to learn everything I can from other volunteers, from locals and daily life experience, either languages, dancing, music instrument, sports etc.

MINA

MAJKA

I’m Mina and I’m 28 years old free spirit. I don’t like routine and I think that everything that seems interesting is worth trying. I’m fascinating about human interaction and being part of K.A.NE. gives me the opportunity to meet and work with many beautiful people. I am fascinated about sciencefiction 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! 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 graphic designer, I’ve finish Academy of Fine Arts and I’ve participate in more than 50 exhibitions worldwide. In Kalamata I will work in the office and I will also create my own projects.

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SOFIENE

BILAL

Antoine

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Taking a decision to leave everything what you have and take a deep plunge into something unknown is never an easy one. I took such a decision, left my job and decided to take one-in-a- lifetime opportunity to do my EVS in Greece. My name is Sofiene, I’ am 26 and I am from a tiny country in North Africa called Tunisia. I am a photographer, videographer, graphic designer and I am here to share my experience and knowledge as well as expand it and acquire new skills. I’m social, open minded and always curious about different cultures and meeting beautiful people.

My name is Bilal, I am 25, I am Moroccan but I come from Belgium more precisely from Brussels. I study tourism. I am passioned by boxing and fitness. I will be in Kalamata for 6 months working with Refugees.

Amahoro !

My name is Antoine, I'm 25, I am here for 6 months.

I'm a Graphic Designer and engaged humanitarian since 6 years. I joined the ACT (Youth on the Move) project to help migrants and refugees in Europe. I like traveling, meeting new people, music, cinema, my family, my friends, love, parties and pitas.

MEHDI

There are at least as many things to know as there are humans and countries. EVS enables the possibility to know much more about our World. Καλημερα, Hello, my name is Mehdi, I am 24 and I come from France. Passionate about Life and Nature, my biggest motivation is to learn from other cultures, from people, from life. I decided to quit my job there too, so I could catch the opportunity to experience something unique in Greece, in Kalamata, and all the Greek cities I will have the chance to see. I will bring you all I have, and I will learn from everyone all I can.

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K.A.NE.

FILARETOS

jelena

NANTIANA

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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.

fotini

VYRON

Nancy

Hi my name is Fotini Arapi and I am project manager in K.A.NE. organization and responsible, among other things, for all sending motilities (sending EVS volunteers, participants in training courses, interns, etc). Apart from my work in K.A.NE., I also volunteer in the Youth Centre of Kalamata, a volunteer initiative managed by a team of local volunteers. I am very proud of and I love the Youth Centre, its dynamic atmosphere, and most of all, its natural inclusiveness that allows everybody to feel “at home” there. See you around :-D

I would describe Vyron as an imaginative fast learning and inventive generalist with a passion for remarkable food and the great outdoors. That’s enough talking about myself in third person. Hello, I am Vyron Giannakopoulos, I consider myself a curious and open-minded person. I am here to help by managing the creative projects of EVS volunteers, planning events, creating new projects and doing anything that will add value to our organisation. In my free time I like exploring new places and learning new things. But feel free to contact me on any issue if you need help.

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.

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new New Year's traditions OLA - POLAND In Poland we don’t have any New Year’s tradition. During Eve (Sylwester) we are usually with friends on a party and at midnight we watch numerous fireworks lighting up the sky.

ANTÍA - SPAIN In Spain the New Year’s tradition is eating twelve grapes when the clock strikes twelve. This happens in each Spanish house. We also have sayings referring to this fact. The first news that we have about the starting of this celebration dates from the last decades of the 19th century.

JOANA - PORTUGAL The first swim of the year is already a tradition worldwide; in Portugal it started in 1943,at Carcavelos Beach.

Nowadays, hundreds of people gather in beaches all over the Portuguese coast to welcome the New Year in the Atlantic water.

YANA - UKRAINE Long time ago in Ukraine we were celebrating New Year in spring -- when nature woke up new life is starting. I am very sad we lost our ukrainian traditions and now we are following traditions that were brought by powerful individuals from 1700 and more after 1914. I wish we can renew everything we lost and celebrate New Year together with Nature in spring.

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OPHÉLIE - FRANCE In France, from the Epiphany (6th of January) to Shrove Tuesday we could eat the traditional „La Galette des Rois”.

We are used to drink Champagne or sparkling wine with it. The best about this pastery is the lucky charm hidden inside. The one who finds it, becomes the Queen/King of the day!

BILAL - BELGUM On January 1st, it is customary to start the year with the sauerkraut in Liège, by placing a coin in the first plate. In the Antwerp area, children will traditionally sing door-todoor to receive candy or money. Last but not least, Walloon and Flemish farmers still observe the charming custom of getting up early on the first of January and going out from stable to stable and wish a happy new year for horses, cows, pigs and other domestic animals.

MINA - ROMANIA In Romania, in the New Year’s eve, people usually celebrate with a party and at 00:00 they are opening a bottle of champagne and light or just watch fireworks. In the first day of the year, people (usually children) use to say “magic poems” in order to bless one another with good wishes for the new year.

ANGELINA - RUSSIA At 23.55 we listen to the President’s end-of-the-year speech on the Federal channel. And at midnight Chimes of the Kremlin clock starts striking. Meanwhile you should write down a wish on a piece of paper, burn it, put the ashes into champaign and drink it till the 12th strike is over!

Done? So the wish will come true.

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new New thing you want to try this year OLA Not so far ago I realized, that now is exactly the time of my life, where I should gain as much as I can and do what I want. There are many things I want to try, but the one that is haunting me the strongest is to finally learn how to play the piano on high level.

YANA I want to stay my new “after EVS” chapter in life and want to find a job in some NGO as a graphic designer. It feels like it’s time to move forward!

MINA I never made the “New Year’s Resolutions” but from time to time I do look back at what I’ve accomplished in the last few weeks or months.

Considering this, I believe that looking forward to improve my skills and be a better person everyday could count as a resolution.

JOANA Gardening is not exactly my strong suit – meaning I kill everything that needs to be watered. Well, it’s about time to change that. Starting with some nice succulents and aiming for a small kitchen garden, 2018 here we are: challenge accepted!

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OPHÉLIE As I am still in Greece for 8 months I want to discover the country more and more. I would like to celebrate all the holidays and events, spending time with the lovely Greeks and improving my greek. I will try to travel too. I also plan to try, as much as my stomach will handle (means not everything at the same time), all the traditional greek dishes (salty and sweet).

ANTÍA Literature and literature. What I really want to try this year is to go forward and forward with my personal challenge, the comparative study of the Greek and Spanish literature and to try to arrive at some port… or gas station, who knows.

AGELINA Personally I didn’t use to set any resolutions. It seems a bit cliche, especially this time of the year. Finally, I have given up. In hopes that it’ll keep me accountable, here it is - living and exploring an European country for decent period of time. By the word decent I mean not spending max 2-weeks vacation outside Russia, but experiencing more than 6 months abroad. And accomplish physical mini-challenges, monthly.

BILAL I always thought that in life, to be happy, it takes great projects to prove that you could accomplish great things and become someone. Yet, not long ago, someone made me realize that there were other ways of seeing things. That every gesture, every choice, every decision we make is a project. It all depends on how we perceive them. It's so true. So the only resolution I will take in 2018 is to be the same and do what I think is best: the mistake is part of the success.

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new What new 2017 brought us

As 2018 has started, I want to come back to the year that passed and refresh our memories of what great deal the inventions that were created contributed to society and knowledge. 2017 brought us some medicore creations that we should all acknowledge and be proud of! Or at least enjoy the fact, that we kept moving forward…

Let’s start this list with something literally eyeopening - eSight 3 Invention hailed by every single ranking and science magazine “the invention of the year”. It’s hard to disagree when the world got introduced to glasses enabling legally blind people to see! Yes, you read correctly. To see! Following their motto “everyone deserves to see”, organization launched eSight November 16th past year and numerous people had already regained their mobility and more will!

How it works? “Glasses contain a camera that captures images in front of the user, processes the image using an algorithm developed by the manufacturer, and displays the image on two screens facing the user’s eyes.” eSight is still not working for everybody regarding kind of visual impairment, but it’s a good starting point and, of course, a leap towards giving sight to everyone!

Second item is connected more with comfort of 20

use that revolutionarily – Ember ceramic mug According to several studies, you have approximately 40 minutes of enjoying perfect temperature of your coffee. Ember mug comes at hand for those warm drink lovers! You can choose your favorite temperature of drinking and inside of the cup will remain at that level until you finish your last sip. It’s made of steel on the inside and ceramic on the outside with heating system in between.

Ember comes as a ceramic, but also as a travel mug working on the same rules, so you can enjoy warm tea or coffee not only in your house. It’s one of those things I didn’t know I needed in my life!

A very useful thing when you want to get some fresh air… - Molekule For everybody who has allergies or easily get sick, the struggle is obvious and a solution has come…

While most of the air purifiers collect pollutants and trap them in filters, Molekule does more – it actually destroy them and transform remaining chemical substances into positive ones. Cutting-edge look only adds to the fact that this tool can, in several minutes, clear the air of 600 square feet (56 m2) room with the least noise. Sound really appealing to people who suffer from allergens, viruses, VOC’s and molds in the air.

The last one is nearly as fashionable as unhuman it can be – Rovables If you have ever feared of having bugs on your clothes than what would you say about tiny robots?

As creators say: “It is a centimeter-sized robot held in place by magnetic wheels that can climb vertically and move freely on unmodified clothing.

The robots are untethered and have an onboard 21

battery, microcontroller, and wireless communications. They also contain a low-power localization system that uses wheel encoders and IMU, allowing Rovables to perform limited autonomous navigation on the body.” But what does it mean? Basically that you have a tiny helper in your sleeve. Literally… It can tap you to remind you things, show something on a tiny screen, but recently, after company collaborated with Royal Academy Of Art creating Project Kino, robots are being used as a moving jewelry.

Isn’t it just cool that you can change detail of your outfit any second without actually needing to take anything out. Maybe currently it’s not the most usable creation, bout who knows what future will bring…

Summing up, we might not have yet found a cure for cancer or invented flying cars, but 2017 was definitely another good and productive year! Let the new one brings us new, unforgettable inventions!

OLA KACZURBA 22

new eyes on the prize

On the New Year's Eve people dream of having a new life, more vivid and resilient than they had the year before. There is a trend of making challenging assignments like turning over a new leaf, becoming a YES man/gym man/ superman, transforming into a team leader, savvy PC user, perfect housewife, etc. However, 1-2 months pass over with just a determined fighting spirit with no real action. Another 2 months and they are disappointed, even depressed as no result is seen on the horizon so far.

Personally, I didn't use to set any resolutions. It seems a bit clichÊ, especially this time of the year. Finally, I have given up. In hopes that it'll keep me accountable, here it is - living and exploring an European country for decent period of time. By the word decent I mean not spending max 2-weeks’ vacation outside Russia, but experiencing more than 6 months abroad.

This was one of my goals I set back in High school. Yet Destiny had another plan for me that time. Studies in the University and working in the office after graduating was the period of drifting back & forth. However, I kicked-off 2018 a month before with my EVS project and discovery of the small town of Kalamata. If I can get my progress grow that pace, then I'll be more than pleased. I've got some ideas lined up for the first few months of 2018 and I'm excited to learn where it will take me.

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With that in view I want to remind you that resolutions, targets, plans are not going to happen overnight. The best contributor in sticking to objective is motivation. What keeps you excited about your work/occupation/studies? Choosing a word of a year is a great way to center your mind on goals and set your focus on how to make them happen. Foolproof tip, actually!

A visual board is one more option to hold on to the goal. As the physical reminder it helps to be on the track with your intentions, dreams, inspiration. The base is the wooden board that is being sold in a stationary shop, book shops, etc. You may pin whatever makes you motivated: quotes, pictures, citations, symbols connected to the purpose, magazine cuttings. Since in the course of progress the motivation might change, it's better to use pins not staying-for-centuries glue. Put the board on the spot you may look at every day. The bedroom wall, desk at work, kitchen. Check this handy web site dreamitalive.com to get inspired.

Confession: one year ago, I did the Vision board but never put it on the wall. Recent revision of the closet contents revealed it and brought me back to the initial goal. Yes, with constant reminding it could be accomplished way faster!

All in all, 2018 is going to be a big year, for me, for you, for (I hope) everyone. Cheers to making goals happen and doing big things in the New Year!

ANGELINA KAYSINA 24

new t h e m e as u r e o f t i m e

Time is the indefinite continued progress of existence, a dimension in which events can be ordered from the past through the present into the future. It is also the definition of time that sustains concepts like old and new.

The act of name something introduces in it an order: we have a decision toward a thing that is external to us; in our mind, we are in control. We also measure things because the immeasurable is always out of reach: we cannot see it, we cannot shape it, we cannot contain it; we may not even be able to imagine it. We measure time so we can feel that we hold it – every new cycle is a reinsurance that we don’t live in total chaos, that we can situate ourselves, that we are able to predict; that we are somehow safe.

In 2014 I made the most truthful wish of my life: for the year that was about to begin I wished that my life could be filled with dreams, the strength to pursue them and to turn them into reality. I wished that I could find the courage to run after my goals and 25

the wisdom to realize what really matters. I wished I could find simplicity, I could learn to see beauty. I wished I could defy time and beat it: tell him that a thousand years can fit in a second. I wished to be amazed, to allow myself to be surprised by the fact that I live. I wished that I would only wish the essential. I also wished I could learn to say no, because I always have a choice.

I certainly didn’t know that I had the toughest years of my life waiting for me just around the corner, and what I could never expect was the understanding of how happiness works that those days brought. Time stretches and shrinks and it doesn’t really care about what you expect of it. You don’t beat it, you learn to keep along. And yes, when you find synchronicity, a thousand years can fit in a second.

Realizing what happiness means in the middle of chaos and deep suffering it’s a very strange feeling – but it taught me that happiness isn’t something that you reach or achieve, it is something that you learn. As everything else in life it needs to be nurtured so it can blossom and flourish: happiness doesn’t run on itself. It is an experience that you built for yourself and with yourself despite what surrounds you; it is a long conversation with yourself. And an endless one, I believe.

What I didn’t realize it back in 2014 was that those words were both wishes and challenges for a lifetime. And in the end, time is nothing more than a continuum of instances: new will always turn into old; not so often, old can also be turned into something new. For those instants that we share while we breathe, I wish we could forget about years, face that continuum without fear and let happiness be the only measure of our time.

JOANA GANILHO MARQUES 26

new 2 0 1 8 a s p o rt y y e a r

2018 will be a sporty year all around the world! Among the many intentional tournaments which will happen during the year, two main sporting events are programmed: the 23th Winter Olympics and the 21th FIFA World Cup. The 2018 Winter Olympics are taking place in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. The opening ceremony is on 9th of February and the closing one is on 25th. The athletes will compete in seven main sports and 15 disciplines across biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating and skiing. Paralympic Winter games will take place from 9th of March till 18th. Six different sport disciplines are waiting for new champions: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, icehockey, snowboard and wheelchair curling. The mascot is Soohorang, a white tiger, symbol of Korean mythology and famous figure of folk tales as a ÂŤ symbol of trust, strength and protection Âť. The stadium will be employed only for the 27

opening and closing ceremonies and after will be destroyed. A museum and recreational activities are going to be built afterward on the Olympic site.

From the 14th of June to the 15th of July it will be the 21th masculine football World Cup organized by FIFA. This year it will take place in Russia. Thirty-two countries are taking part to the tournament. The mascot is a wolf, Zabivaka which means « the one who scores a goal » in Russian. Twelve stadiums among Russia are going to host matches. Two grandmothers called "Bouranovskie Babouchki" are singing the hymn of the tournament, which is a mix between love of football and tradition.

What I really mean about sporty year is that for athletes this year will be very important and TV, sofa, beer and potato chips sellers and voices are going to be really busy!

OPHÉLIE COTTIER 28

new w h en t h e o l d b e c o m es n e w : li t er a ry r e i n t e r p r e tat i o n s

Lo más urgente es lo de ahora y lo de aquí; en el momento que pasa y en el reducido lugar que ocupamos están nuestra eternidad y nuestra infinitud .

(The most urgent is what is happening now and here; in the moment that is taking place and in the small space that we are taking up are our eternity and our infinity) (Life of Don Quixote and Sancho) Italo Calvino, in his article “Why Read the Classic?”, said that “a classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say”, and, even when this is not the only reason, it is one of those, that explains better, why the classics are constantly revisited and rewrote.

In this occasion, we will get closer to two of the most important classic books for the Occidental canon: Don Quixote and Odyssey, in two 20th-century reinterpretations of two 29

intellectuals with more things in common than a first impression could give. We are talking about the Spanish Miguel de Unamuno (1864-1936) and the Greek Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957).

The literary work of these two writers, despite of the geographical or generational distance, has some interesting points in common.

Firstly, both of them could not be catalogued simply like writers.

Prolific authors both of them; the literary aspect is constantly mixing with the philosophical in their work and in some of their books is difficult to delimit when one starts and when the other finishes, like it happens in the aforementioned works. Actually, this demarcation doesn’t exist.

Also, they explore similar issues and they have similar worries, like the religion and their personal faith or the meaning of the time. Even more, the admiration of Kazantzakis to Unamuno was manifested and, when they met each other in Spain during the Civil War, Kazantzakis described the meeting in his Spanish-centered travel book, where he also explores the figure of Don Quixote and Sancho from a philosophical point of view.

Miguel de Unamuno published Vida de don Quixote y Sancho (Life of Don Quixote and Sancho) in 1905 and in it, he reinterprets and analyses the different chapters of the classic of Cervantes, using the original story to create an allegoric reading, closer to an essay than to a novel, with a clear message: we must act like Don Quixote: ..your triumph was always the triumph of daring and not of being successful. What the merchants call victory was undeserving of you; your greatness was based on never recognized your defeat. Wisdom is [...] being conscious of being defeated and to use the defeat.

On his behalf, Nikos Kazantzakis’ Odyssey is not exactly a reinterpretation, but a “continuation” of it, like he proposed. He had written it in 1923, but final version was finished in 1938. Kazantzakis restarts the story after Odysseus comeback in Ithaki.

Soon after his coming back, he gets tired, and decide to come back to travel. This new journey served by the writer explores the meaning of the live, and exposes his 30

vision of issues like the religion or the freedom. If the Homer’s Odyssey narrates the adventures of the hero against monsters and mythological creatures, like Mermaids, Cyclops or Laestrygonians, the flights of the Kazantzakis’ Odysseus are spiritual and inner, they are himself and his thoughts... …χωρὶς θεοὺς κι ἑλπίδες, λεύτερος, μὲς στὴν ἐρμιάν, ὁλόρθος …without god nor hope, free, between the calm, unshakeable (Οδυσσεια, Α 1131) Because, like Italo Calvino knows, a classic never ends and, sometimes, the best things come from the old ones.

ANTÍA FERNÁNDEZ MARTÍNEZ 31

new 10 must see exhibitions in 2018

Face Forward …into my home National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST), Athens, Greece Now- 31 I 2018 YOU’VE GOT 1243 UNREAD MESSAGES. Last Generation Before the Internet. Their Lives Latvijas Nacionalais makslas muzejs, Riga, Latvia 8 XII 2017 – 4 II 2018 Art and Space Guggenheim Museum Bilbao 5 XII 2017– 15 IV 2018 32

Eugene Delacroix, Louvre, Paris, France 28 III - 23 VI 2018 Van Gogh and Japan, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam 23 III - 24 VI 2018 The EY Exhibition: Picasso 1932 – Love, Fame, Tragedy Tate Modern, London, UK 8 III - 9 IX Berlin Gallery Weekend Berlin, Germany 27-29 IV 2018

SZCZUROŁAP Contemporary Museum Wrocław, Poland 11 V – 21 IX 2018 Andy Warhol Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City, USA XI 2018 Bacon, Freud and the School of London Magyar Nemzeti Galéria, Budapest, Hungary 5 X 2018 – 14 I 2019

MAJKA DOKUDOWICZ 33

new

BAILLEUL's CARNIVAL

This is a carnival that takes place every year in my city Bailleul. It lasts five days and begins on Friday night with the carnival procession at night and the release of giant Gargantua (legendary Flemish character) on his chariot.

A large procession is organized on Sunday. Chariots are made by associations that decorate flowers, drawings and banners, they are pulled by tractors. Thus, with the passage of the trolleys in front of the crowd of the spectators, the associations throw confetti. The music is very varied but always very rhythmic.

Monday night is the contest of masks and intrigues. Everyone must be creative and original to distinguish themselves from all participants. Then, the intrigue, allowed by the wearing of a mask is essential and constitutes a real game during the contest. The winners are then announced at the village hall where a free dance, organized by the Municipal Harmony of Bailleul, takes place.

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Like every year, since 1853, the carnival of Bailleul reaches its paroxysm on the day of mardi gras with the traditional procession. In the morning, Dr. Picolissimo (famous character of the carnival) arrives at the town hall of Bailleul where he is greeted with great pomp and early afternoon, the procession moves with the giant Gargantua on his chariot accompanied by his scullions, Scottish, ... and It goes through the streets of the city until the end of the procession around 6 pm, when Dr. Picolissimo works in his own, special way with patients suffering from "sinistrose" (pessimism) with a saw and an ax. The carnival closes with the return of giant Gargantua into his neighborhoods.

The carnival of Bailleul is distinguished by some very particular traditional songs such as "Piele Wiele Wit", "Treeze" or "barber Henryke". The air of the giant "Gargantua Galaffre", punctuated with French and Flemish phrases recalls the wellrooted origin of the people from Bailleul.

Carnival is a very popular festival where I live, it is the most anticipated event of the city. Every year, it's an opportunity to, for five days, celebrate with friends, meet new people or see childhood friends.

The fact that everybody disguises gives a certain equality, far from any difference of opinion, social, political etc‌ The city seems to be a parallel world filled with colors and fun things during those few days. From my point of view, it's also an opportunity to play a different character each year and to live without complexes for a short time.

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During this carnival, people gather in the bars of the city (which are always full) and if they are closed, some inhabitants invite others to come and continue celebrating in their own houses, often, with small local music groups to enliven the party.

The events in the cities are supervised by a large security staff (especially since the attacks in France) and volunteers to allow everyone to relax and spend their holidays safely.

ANTOINE WERQUIN 36

My project Ya n a V o lko va

I came here as an ARTivist to use art as a tool for social change! Did I change something? After almost one year as EVS volunteer I want to make kind of conclusion about everything I have done here. What I have done for local community, for other EVS volunteers, for myself.

I’m still not realizing, what exactly I’ve done in such a long period of time. Maybe this list will help me to.

Screening movie The Mermaid's Tears, Ocean Of Plastic in Boukadoura I organized a movie screening of the movie about plastic pollution of the oceans.

Cleaning Up of the beach: Let’s Do it Kalamata (check LINK93 p 41 https://issuu.com/kane.kalamata/docs/link_93) More than 30 bags were collected. 18 of them with the trash that can be recycled.

The main idea of the event was to raise awareness about the sea and ocean pollution with the plastic and to gather local community together to have fun and give “food for thoughts” about global issue.

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Trash Art workshop During my Evs I was doing a Trash Art workshop where we were making different artistic objects out of trash. By this I was trying to promote culture of recycling and non-waste.

It didn’t work so well as not many people were interested in environmental part of the workshop -- they were only motivated to do some decorations for theirs’ gardens.

Plastic Free Kalamata After some time I decided to find some organizations who are working with recycling, and I found Radikala! It’s initiative based in Kalamata where organization created a bike that shred plastic bottles in order to make a small sailing boats out of it. Together we decided to create a group PLASTIC FREE KALAMATA. So far I am the only person taking care of this page.

Street Music Day (check LINK 96 p 25 https://issuu.com/kane.kalamata/docs/link_95) Together with Anichka we decided to make an event Street Music Day Kalamata!

We organized 2 workshops: creating musical instruments and designing costumes out of trash!

After that we were parading on the street screaming: “No More Plastic!”. The idea was to use music as a tool to raise awareness about abnormal consuming of plastic.

After we end up by the sea playing instruments - music jamming.

Pame Parko! (check LINK 99 p 17) On the 9th of September 2017 we organized an event Pame Parko - an open-air picnic for the citizens of Kalamata in the Train Park in which the participants had the possibility to bring their own food and share it with each other. In parallel there were photo exhibition and video work of Dominique Shi, a french photographer, 6 different workshops led by local volunteers such as drawing, yoga, hop-hop dance, waving, recycling and theater.

Moreover, we created an EVS infopoint where people could get an information about opportunities abroad and learn more about NGO K..A.NE. The main idea of the event was to give the key for local community to understand the power of volunteerism in Kalamata in terms of intercultural exchange, knowledge sharing and solidarity.

Me and Sara were very happy to work on this event together with local community many people were ready to voluntarily help us to make this event happen.

YANA VOLKOVA 38

i n t e rv i e w w i t h a l o ca l V O L U N T E ER I N T ERV I E W W I T H M a r i sa

Arriving in Greece was a language challenge for me (see LINK #100 article « How it feels to move abroad »). I am interviewing Marisa because it is a perfect occasion for me to thank her. Since October she helped me to be able, siga-siga, to communicate in Greek and to stop being lost on every daily situation! By the way, I forgot to tell it: Marisa is volunteer at the Youth Center.

Hello Marisa! How are you?

Very well, thank you, Ophelie You are a volunteer at the Youth Center in Kalamata. How did you hear about that place?

Did you take part to workshops?

I know the Youth Centre from its activities in the city of Kalamata. I did not participate in any of its activities in the past, due to my maternal obligations :-D For how long are you volunteering there?

I lead the Greek language workshop in the Youth Centre since the beginning of the term last October.

Why did you decide to become volunteer?

I am a neighbor of Fotini, who suggested that I take over the Greek for foreigners’ workshop.

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How did you choose the topic of your workshop?

I chose to do the Greek for beginners’ workshop, because I have a degree in Greek Philosophy.

Is your workshop related to your job?

Unfortunately, I have been unemployed for many years, but the workshop is related to my studies.

Have you already volunteered before?

I have actively supported self-organized solidarity initiative in Athens and in Volos, where I used to live.

What do you like the most about volunteering in general? What did you like the most about your actual voluntary work?

My main motivation for participating in solidarity initiatives is that they prove in action that together we can achieve things. In this particular case, I also like getting out of the house – as I am an unemployed mother.

What is the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge in volunteering is not to feel a philanthropist.

What do you think volunteering works bring that « regular » jobs don’t?

Mental satisfaction.

What have you learn/acquire as a volunteer?

I have managed to get a 60-minute break from my role as a parent and, at the same time 60 minutes of fresh air for my family from my interaction with interesting and different people.

What would you say to people who would like to become volunteer but are afraid of jumping in?

Do not hesitate! ευχαριστώ πολύ Marisa!

OPHÉLIE COTTIER 40

i n t e rv i e w w i t h a n E VS V O L U N T E ER I N T ERV I EW W I T H A n g eli n a

Angelina is our new volunteer straight from Russia. She came to Greece to work in Κέντρο Νέον Καλαμάτα (Youth Centre of Kalamata) until August 2018.

Today we all have opportunity to get to know her a bit more.

Hello Angelina! What are your general thought after first month here, in Kalamata?

After one month of being in Kalamata, first of all I was amazed by the views of Kalamata, the town is small, but there are landscapes that made me feel impressed. Regarding the project, now I feel more committed to the social life of Kalamata and now I am ready to begin the new semester in Kentro Neon Kalamata. And I am anticipated for contributing to the Youth Centre working.

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Can you say a bit more about you… What were you doing before you came here?

I had a boring, office work, five days per week, 8 hours per day, which made me feel depressed and that’s why I decided to change the working space and get inspiration.

I feel like I am doing something sufficient to the society.

And about my “school” background… I was studying economy for 5 years at the university and I worked for 2 years as the import manager assistant. But still… people think I am sixteen years old *laugh* Why you decided to start something new – change a country and start volunteering?

Since my studies, I was kind of obsessed to master English knowledge and communication in English as good as in my native language. That’s why I wanted to go abroad and practice. As you can see… my success is not spectacular *laugh* but still I’m doing my best… You shouldn’t write this down *laugh* Enough of those boring things! Tell us something you are passionate about!

What do you like to do in your free time?

One more obsession… dances. During my school years I was a member of dance classes but I needed to put it aside during university but still, once you start active lifestyle, it’s impossible to betray it and make your body stop. So that’s why I continued physical education practices on my own. At the end of my university, I was lucky to meet people, with whom I made progress with my stretches and I achieved to have splits. Now I’m ready to share my knowledge to all of those, who wants to learn. I’m sure that active lifestyle cleans your mind, energize your body and give you strength to move forward and yet, you feel graceful and appreciated.

What is the thing you miss the most from Russia and what is the new thing you want to try here, in Greece?

Let’s go from the end… Before coming to Greece, I googled a lot about the culture, cuisine, details of local traditions, etc. the most impressing thing was diverged cuisine and I would really love to have a bite of every single traditional dish. As an advantage it is healthy and full of vitamins, so it’s like killing two birds with one stone.

About the first part of the question I miss nothing…. *laugh* I miss my friends and their company, anyway due to the social networks we keep in touch and it’s not like the communication stops…. Oh! And also, my family! I forgot! *laugh* So now I’m open about everything new and at this point I don’t regret anything.

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Is this your first big trip? If not where else in the world have you been? And where do you want to go? Do you have any dream destinations?

Several years ago, I have seen a video about global citizenship. This idea resonated to my mind, and from this point I tried to find any opportunity to be closer to this lifestyle.

Regarding previous experience, I went once to short-term work camp in Napoli, Italy.

For 2 weeks we built a platform for local carnival together with volunteers from Poland, UK, Spain and Italy of course. I had a great time and now I have good memories and I’m looking forward to acquire new skills here, in Kalamata and create a positive input.

Touristic destinations are not relevant to volunteering but I want to go to the Norway’s Trolltunga mountain. I want to stand there and do some amazing stuff. It’s kind of extreme trip… You can go there only in summer but the buses don’t reach there. It’s not so easy and still, the continuous problem for me is visa…

Ok last but not least, tell me what is the most amazing thing that happened to you today?

Today? It’s difficult, let me think... just before this interview, I had eaten a really tasty tangerine from local fresh market in Kalamata. Thank you, local farmers, for this piece of your hard work and orchard!

OLA KACZURBA 43

Past event Winter Fun & Christmas Market 2017

This event has already taken place from 24 November to 31 December 2017 in the center of Brussels and with "Winter Pop" in Squares, Haren, Neder-OverHeembeek and Laeken.

The Winter Wonders, the big holiday market, returns to the center of the city of Brussels. The event is organized on the Grand-Place in Brussels and around the Stock Exchange, on the Place de la Monnaie, Place Sainte-Catherine and Place du MarchĂŠ aux Pisces (Vismet).

The Winter Fun 2017 is also: - a Christmas market of more than 200 chalets; 44

- Christmas animations (rides, ferries wheel, ...); - an ice rink (Place de la Monnaie, until January 7, 2018); - a huge Christmas tree and light animations (sounds and lights) on the Grand-Place; - a showcase (musical event) at the Grand-Place (Tuesday 19 December); - Light parades, every Saturday between 18h and 20h, everywhere in the city center; - choirs and choirs at Place Sainte-Catherine; - the Grand Place Ball (Friday 22 December).

This year, winter villages were created in 4 districts of the City of Brussels: Squares, Haren, Neder-Over-Heembeek and Laeken; - Ambiorix Square: November 24th, 25th, 26th; - Haren: 1st, 2nd, 3rd of December; - Neder-Over-Heembeek: the 8th, 9th and 10th of December; - Laeken: December 15th, 16th and 17th.

BILOU ZEGOUD 45

future event Workshops presentation

On the last wednesday of January (31st) the weekly event in Kentro Neon will be dedicated to the presentation of the workshops that were taking place in Youth Center this semester. That’s the thing for sure you shouldn’t miss. On the one hand it’s an opportunity for instructors and students to present what they achieved and learnt during last months on the other hand is a chance for people that are not involved yet in Youth Center to get to know who we are, what we are doing here and how to join Youth Center.

As the program of Kentro Neon this semester was very versitaly you can expect a lot of diversity and energy! You can watch the video from last summer presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYSe2pp_zws (just click it) 46

The list of workshops that took place in Kentro Neon this semester: - Polish - French - Albanian - Italian - Arabic - Greek - Romanian - Portugees - Bulgarian - Sign language - Conversational english - Trash art - Art of collage - Religious painting - Video production

- Painting - Creations with rugs - Book-binding - Guitar for kids - Ukulele - Decoupage - Creative arts - Yoga - Tai chi - Salsa - Traditional Greek dances - Kick boxing - Contemporary jazz dance - Flamenco - Capoeira

MAJKA DOKUDOWICZ 47

MY SENDING ORGANISATION Â D omino AssociationÂ

The Domino Association has been founded in 2004 in Craiova, Romania and it is a non formal NGO with humanitarian structure, non-profit and without a patrimonial goal, not politically affiliated.

The Domino Association organizes accredited courses (by the National Council of Adult Development Training) in 27 fields and its trainers have learning, teaching and networking experience in international contexts.

The Domino Association has working partnerships with youth, adult and child education institutions from 7 counties of Romania and 17 countries and it has experience in working with different stakeholders, such as county inspectorates, NGOs on all fields of interest, schools, prisons, libraries, social protection organisms etc.

Goals of the DOMINO Association: - Promote the values of civil society for the sustainable development of the community through formal and non-formal education.

- To contribute to fulfilling the legitimate desire of young Romanians to actively participate in the exchange of international values, helping the most deserving of them to make their voice heard internationally.

- Draw attention to the problems of the quality of life, social indicators and other fundamental aspects of development, starting from the beginning on both 48

a theoretical component and empirical and practical components.

- Respond to the needs of marginalized people and groups, promote their interests, combat racial discrimination and xenophobia.

- To contribute to the formation of a balanced lifestyle of young people by identifying risk factors and preventing their influence on health.

- To contribute to the education and development of both the personal and the professional of the citizens.

- Promote European values and cultural diversity, encourage and run programs that consist of international exchanges.

- Promote and encourage volunteering.

- Help young people get involved in public life.

- Promote integrity, transparency and responsiveness as the strengths of today's society.

- To act in the sense of the fight against corruption, the rule of law and the protection of human rights.

- To develop a network of cooperation with European organizations operating on the same profile.

Objectives of the DOMINO Association: - Organizing cultural events in the form of colloquia, seminars, symposiums.

- Organization of meetings open to young people dedicated to themes of general interest.

- Developing partnerships with the local, national and international community.

- Organization of cultural-entertaining shows, general culture contests and exhibitions to promote young talents.

- Making friendships and mobilizing young people for cognitive purposes.

- Organization of study tours, foreign language courses and sports activities.

- Knowledge of cultural practices and mentalities through educational and leisure activities.

- Using art as a form of combating racism and discrimination and exploring cultural diversity through artistic activities.

- Achieving didactic documentation on the methodology of developing the personal skills of socio-professional integration of post-institutionalized young people.

- Promoting results and methodology developed within ethnic programs.

- Organizing of informal learning workshops.

- Initiating or participating in European projects.

MINA DUMA 49

LINK January 15th 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.