LINK January 1 st 2018
N°105
January Editor: Ola Kaczurba
Designer: Mina Duma
Cover Photo: Mirella Ka
LINK
#LINKEXPLORE
CONTENT Contact About us Youth Center - program Solidarity Project I workwed on Solidarity Project I would like to do Solidarity Project I admire Paquita Couppey Mirella Ka Mina Duma Yana Volkova Ola Kaczurba
Antía Fernández Martínez Majka Dokudowicz Joana Ganilho Marques Ophélie Cottier Mina Duma Majka Dokudowicz Antoine Werquin
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EVS, K.A.NE.
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Solidarity Actions
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Solidarity Actions Solidarity Actions Solidarity 5 Reasons To Put Volunteering In Your New Years Resolutin No Hate Speech Movement Climate For Peace Campaign Man Is What The Head Is. Chocolate Against Colinialism Fridges On The Street Food Not Bombs Hospitality As Solidarity Solodarity Months Interview With A Local Volunteer Christmas Fairy Tale Houses My Sending Organization
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K.A.NE. EVS: Angelina Kaysina Anna Szlendak Antía Fernández Martínez Joana Ganilho Marques Jordan Fourgeaud Mariam Sassi Majka Dokudowicz Mehdi Jaffar Mina Duma Mirella Karadzhova Ola Kaczurba Ophélie Cottier Paquita Couppey Sofiene Lahdheri Yana Volkova
Staff members of K.A.NE.: Filaretos Vourkos Fotini Arapi Jelena Scepanovic Nancy Kanellopoulou Nantiana Koutiva Vyron Giannakopoulos
ACT Volunteers: Antoine Werquin Bilal Zegoud Janae-Amira Jussa @kane.kalamata
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WHO ARE WE?
JOANA
OPHELIE
Angelina
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 !
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.
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PAQUITA
JAE
YANA
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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 :)
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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OLA
mirella
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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!
Hello, Earth-citizens! I’m Mirella Ka. and the Universe is my best friend. I was born on the Black Sea Coast in Bulgaria, but now only my base camp is in Burgas, as my nomadic nature always brings me to different places. As I love always trying new things and activities, I’ve been through variety of experiences - in art & communication field, in tourism, in aviation... I love to share my experiences as a traveler, as a volunteer, as an adventurer, as a discoverer of diverse interesting events, as an activist, as an Earth-citizen in my blog - Let’s humanize (click here). I came to Kalamata, because I felt in love with the description of the “ARTivist” project and after several tries to learn Greek, I hope this one will be the most successful one!
AntIa
ANNA
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!
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.
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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
Jordan
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. Καλημερα! My name is Jordan, I'm 23 years old and I'm from France. I wanted to come to Greece since a long time and finally I found this EVS in Kalamata. I'm really interested in the Greek culture and history. I was in Youth Exchanges before but never been a part of a long term project so this is the opportunity to do it and I have nothing to lose, so why not. I'll be at the dog shelter and I think that'll be a really good experience for me to help as much as I can the people there.
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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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solidarity actions Solidarity project I worked on MAJKA Black Protest in Poland - On 3 October 2016, thousands of Polish women went on strike to oppose the proposed legislation for a total ban on abortion, called "Czarny Poniedziałek" ("Black Monday").
ANTÍA In the autumn of 2010 some students of Humanities of the University Pablo de olavide were helping in a Spanish Civil War’s mass grave in Cazalla de la Sierra (Seville). An important step for recuperation of our historical memory!
JOANA Darte is an art therapy project that works with several schools in Portugal and where I had the privilege to be a volunteer. The mission of the project is education to be thought art, based on concepts of love, acceptance, dignity, trust, and respect.
OLA Blood donation was always the thing I wanted to do. Ever since I was little it was my big dream to give my blood when I will turn 18. It might sound a bit cliche, I know… but I am aware that the need of blood is high and giving some costs me nothing. And there always is a chocolate argument... 18
OPHÉLIE The hair donation is an opportunity to help women with cancer to purchase a wig. The rules are simple : cutting at least 20 cm of natural hairs and sending them to an organization. Some of them are making wigs directly, other are selling the hairs and then give the money to a woman who need to buy a wig.
ANTOINE "Toi Aussi Tu Peux Vivre" (You too can live ) – personal association created with some of my friends. In 2014 we had built a sanitary block in Muhanga, in the north of Burundi. Our future project will be held in August 2018, in the same village, to build a breeding and agriculture center. This sharing project will enable the inhabitant to be selfsufficient and create an economy in the village.
MINA
"Și tu poți fi Moș Crăciun" - “You can be Santa Claus too” - Local Christmas campaign in Sânnicolau Mare and Timișoara organized by Butterfly Dreamer. It includes creating Christmas decorations for the Christmas Market and the collected money are used to buy the products for a few social cases in order to offer them a Christmas dinner and a few clothes for the children
MIRELLA A life changing experience was to share a life for more than a year in an international community of activists and volunteers, who are changing the world by small and huge actions every single day. In 2015, the members of that organisation - Humana People to People worked in 45 countries on five continents and involved more than 14,5 million people in 860 development projects
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solidarity actions Solidarity project I would like to do MAJKA Make a wish - The mission of MakeA-Wish International is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
ANTĂ?A For sure there are a lot of very interesting projects to take part on there, but like it si not ever easy to know then, in the meanwhile, there a lot of small actions that we can do in our daily life to help to build a better future.
JOANA Reading and literacy project VoluntĂĄrios de Leitura is a project of active citizenship, where volunteers read out loud for a group on children in their local libraries, and schools, aiming to help children engage in reading.
OLA I always wanted to be one of those people who gets into a hospital and make patients smile. Because of personal problems I was visiting children wards a lot and I have seen how miserable and sad they can be in place such as a hospital.
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OPHÉLIE City Plaza Refugee Accommodation and Solidarity Center in Athens. This self-organized housing project for homeless refugees accommodates 400 people. This is an answer from the social movements to the refugee crisis in Greece and its borders and to the disastrous living conditions for homeless refugees in the cities and the huge, state-run camps.
ANTOINE I would like to work with young people in difficulty or in need. Show them and teach them a part of Graphic Designer's job, and make them aware of art and visual communication. My dream would be to pass on my passion to these people in order to create vocations and best future prospects.
MINA “Ador copiii” Association - It's a Romanian association that works with abandoned children. Their mission is to militate for the right of every abandoned child to a family no matter the age, ethnicity, religion and health state.In the last years, the association worked hard on the modification and simplification of the adoption precedure in Romania.
MIRELLA My biggest dream is to go to all the 195 countries on Earth and spend some time with the local people by volunteering for a project or cause that is needed and helpful in their community.
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solidarity actions S o l i da r i t y p r o j ec t I a d m i r e MAJKA Food not Bombs - i totally admire this action (you can read more in my link article) for the fact that is and extremely important and simple and diy.
MINA “International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement” - international humanitarian movement which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering.
ANTOINE I admire people in the medical community who choose to work in third world countries.Caring for people in need without making money a priority, I’s something that I find to be fantastic.
OLA On of the beautiful in its simplicity actions that I admire is writing letters for Amnesty International. It might be unbelievable that in XXIst century, human rights are still being broken and how writing one letter and speaking loudly about it can help.
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OPHÉLIE All hands volunteers is an ONG which is responding to immediate and long term needs after a natural disaster by engaging volunteers, partner organizations and local communities. They are demonstrating the power and value of volunteer service through the tangible work done, the hope it brings to suffering communities and the transformative experiences it provides for volunteers.
ANTÍA In November of 2002 the oil tanker Prestige sank in front of the Galician coast. The social response was a huge tide of solidarity, with hundreds of people arriving in Galicia to clean the beaches, the known as ‘marea blanca’ (white tide) and a shout of denunciation and demand of responsibility under the platform Nunca máis (never again).
JOANA Red Nose Superheroes - Operação Nariz Vermelho is an ongoing program in 14 Portuguese hospitals where a group of clown artists spread smiles and happiness to hospitalized children. They are superheroes that bring hope to many children in vulnerable situation.
MIRELLA The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by leaders of the 193 member countries, and officially came into force on the 1st of January 2016. These goals were set in motion so that countries all over the world, in all economic brackets, will start mobilizing harder than ever to promote prosperity while protecting the planet, up until 2030.
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PAQUITA COUPPEY 25
solidarity actions 5 reasons to put volunteering i n yo u r N e w Y e a r's R e s o l u t i o n!
It’s again that time of the year when we can push the button “restart”. We take a look back, then ahead and we consider what to add, what to remove and what to keep in our lives. The so called New Year’s Resolution List most often includes the intention to change an undesired trait or behavior, to accomplish a personal goal or otherwise improve your life. This “what-to-do-the-next365-days” plan can be very helpful for achieving a better version of yourself during the New Year! And as volunteering is the right action to do if you are heading to this better version of yourself, here I am to tell you my 5 reasons why you should put volunteering in your New Year’s Resolution list! 1. It’s a two-way profit! You give and you receive. You give your time, your energy, your skills and abilities to contribute for a cause and at the same time you receive new ones, that you didn’t even expect that are hidden iin you! Any solidarity action that you choose to take part in, leaves a print for a better world. Never forget that helping specific people and communities, actually is a step for a change concerning issues that affect the whole society and humanity. To understand better what I mean take a look at the so called 17 Sustainable Development Goals* that the United Nations have set up and you will understand how much there have to be done for a better future on our planet. 26
So, it doesn’t matter if you choose volunteering an hour per week in your local community or go to the other part of the world to dirty your hands, both are needed and helpful! Volunteering changes lives in both directions! 2. It’s the best way to travel! And for me travelling around the world is the biggest OPENER. It opens your eyes, your senses, your mind, your heart, your point of view, your consciousness, unlocks ideas, dreams, aspirations, unexpected qualities and skills, reveals horizons and opportunities ... Makes you revitalized. Reborn. And all this is many times stronger, more beautiful and effective when you do it by volunteering. That’s the best way to explore new lands and cultures and then you make friends from all over the world! 3. Everyone can be a volunteer! Yes, absolutely everyone! All you need is the desire to change the world for the better. Money is not the only way to support a cause. You can invest your time, skills, knowledge, personal qualities and abilities. Motivation, desire and faith are the key tools for building a better world. The rest is action! 4. There are plenty of different options! No matter whether you have just completed your secondary education or you are already retired, there is certainly something to contribute to a development project. Whether you are attracted to gardening or you are interested in AIDS prevention; you do love working with children or your dream is to teach, you can play a musical instrument or you are a master in crochet art; you know a specific type of dance or you are really handy in art crafts, your skills and abilities are constantly applicable in community life. What is better than putting your passion into something that will give a positive result to many other people? Actually, that’s what all of us - the volunteers from the Youth Center in Kalamata are doing! 5. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. Exactly this step can be the precondition for a huge impact in the world. For instance, before I learned about Humana People to People, I thought that issues such as HIV and AIDS, global warming, illiteracy and the fight against poverty were too huge and severe to be changed. But of course, it’s not the job of just a single person. Then I met dozens of volunteers, who did their voluntary service in Africa and India, and by hearing their 27
stories and experience from the project, I realized that even if one could not solve these enormous problems, collectivity could create an avalanche effect with huge results behind. For example, the Total Control of the Epidemics (TCE), a project run by Humana in Southern Africa, is committed to creating a personal HIV plan for each member of the community and thus reducing the risk of virus spreading and just for some years the work of the volunteers has changed the numbers of HIV victims a lot! The key for a better world is that many people should join their forces together, especially when it comes to global causes and international development. The key is to "do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Do not be discouraged by the scale of the challenges, because together, anyone who contributes with a drop into the sea, we can achieve a better version of the world we live in. Whatever way you choose to contribute for a better 2018 for you and for the world, do not forget what Margaret Mead has said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
MIRELLA KA 28
s o l i d a r i ty ac t i o n s n o h at e s p e e c h m o v e m e n t
The No Hate Speech Movement is a Council of Europe youth campaign programme to address and combat hate speech. This is made by mobilising youngsters to speak up for human rights and democracy online, and to reduce the acceptance of hate speech by reporting and denouncing it. It is composed of national campaigns in over 40 countries which together with European partners and online activists work to implement the campaign objectives and priorities. The No Hate Speech Movement has been run by the Council of Europe’s youth sector since 2012. It aims to combat online racism and discrimination, by mobilising young people and youth organisations to recognise and act against these human rights violations. The project is based on youth participation and co-management. The project is being carried out by young people with the support of governmental youth institutions. The campaign has been prolonged until the end of 2017 as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan on the Fight against Violent Extremism and Radicalisation Leading to Terrorism. In addition, the campaign contributes to the Action Plan for Building Inclusive Societies and the Council of Europe Strategy on Internet Governance, which advocates for an open, inclusive, safe and enabling 29
online environment. Starting 2018 it will be taken over by the Solidarity Corps. Online campaign for human rights The campaign is designed to promote freedom of expression online by providing a safe space for people to express free from without any fear of hate speech. The campaign seeks to decrease the levels of acceptance of hate speech, online and offline. It combats hate speech in all forms, including those that most affect young people, such as cyber-bullying and cyber-hate. The campaign is based on human rights education, youth participation and media literacy. National campaigns The campaign is run by the Youth Department of the Council of Europe - under the responsibility of the Joint Council on Youth. This is the European umbrella organisation through which national and local campaigns are carried out. The campaign is decentralised into national campaigns so as to better reach young people and reflect all the specifics issues and cultural and linguistic realities of the Council of Europe region. 30
Target groups The campaign’s main target groups are the public at large and Internet users, with specific attention given to young users. “Victims” and “haters” are also considered through specific measures and throughout the wider project. The approach towards each target group can be summarised as follows. - Online activists will develop practical tools and counter-arguments to hate speech; they can network and receive more support and recognition. - Young people, and the general public, will develop awareness on the prevalence and severity of hate speech and the risks it poses to human rights and democratic societies. They can support the campaign, denounce hate speech and advocate for human rights online. - Victims of hate speech receive recognition and support; they can be included in the campaign as participants with particularly relevant experience. - Perpetrators of hate speech are provided alternatives for expressing discontent while abstaining from hateful narratives. Their hateful expressions are denounced, possibly reported and counter-narratives are presented.
MINA DUMA 31
S o l i d a r i ty act i o n s c l i m at e f o r p e ac e ca m pa i g n
"Today climate change is for us what World War I was to Pierre Ceresole, the founder of SCI, in the early 20th century: it presents a growing threat to peace, nonviolence and human rights. All this means is that if we are serious about living the SCI mission and values in a meaningful way, we have to answer the call for climate justice!" The Climate for Peace programme is a worldwide activity of SCI branches, working groups and partners, that started in 2014. Its main aim is to inspire transformation of our cultures from consumerism and violence towards climate justice, sustainable living and peace on all levels (also with environment). The climate is changing rapidly around the planet and this change is without question caused by humans. Our fossil fuel based economy and culture of consumerism is contributing significantly to this process, through greenhouse gas emissions, creating pressure of natural resources and reinforcing inequalities. 32
Already today communities are suffering from violence due to climate change related events: extreme weather drives people out of their homes, climate change driven droughts escalate conflicts over resources (which then lead to increased migration and can further influence potential for instability and violence), rising sea levels will cause the people of low-lying islands to lose their homes and heritage. All this means that if we are serious about living the SCI mission and values in a meaningful way, we have to answer the call for climate justice and sustainability by running SCI workcamps – the activity that unites all SCI branches, groups and partners – according to common standards in relation to those topics. The guidelines below contain a list of practical solutions that can be applied to our activities, although every workcamp organizer will need to adjust those suggestions to their context. For more information about the Climate for Peace programme refer to the web page at www.sci.ngo/climate-justice-campaign - Organize a “Climate for Peace” workcamp or adjust already existing workcamps to “Climate for Peace” guidelines. - Hold a camp coordinator training focused on issues of climate justice and sustainable living (for ideas of activities refer to “Climate for Peace Toolkit”). - Create a “Climate for Peace” working group at your branch and organize projects in your community (for ideas see “Climate for Peace: Inspirations” booklet). - Mainstream the idea in your branch by organizing your activities and everyday work in a sustainable way. - Apply for funds through GAIA MicroGrants Programme and organize an activity for climate change adaptation or for sustainable food systems. - Organize a screening of "Nonviolence needs nature" or other “Climate for Peace” movies at your office and hold a discussion afterwards. - Look out for updates and new information in the “Climate for Peace” weekly newsletter (Friday Updates). More information you can find at www.sci.ngo/climate-justice-campaign YANA VOLKOVA 33
S O L I D A R I TY ACT I O N S M a n I s W h at t h e H e a d I s C H O C O L AT E A G A I N S T C O L O N I A L I S M
We identify chocolate as a pleasurable and mouth-watering treat. Containing countless of minerals this endorphin level raising snack all we think about is how nice it is to eat one piece. However, some people in the world don’t see this correlation. For many people collecting cocoa beans every day for enormous number of hours, working in a slavery conditions is the only way they can feed their family and yet, ironically, they can’t afford to buy one bar of chocolate. Although after Harkin-Engel Protocol signing, children are not used as much in an industry, adults still work very hard in places where the cocoa is being harvested, like Ivory Coast, Ghana or Congo. One of the workers - Mathieu Kilapi Kasiama from Democratic Republic Of Congo – thought “why not use cocoa as a way of protest!” and that’s how his idea with Chocolate Heads came into life. Kasiama creates head sculptures made of cocoa beans that were not used because of “bad quality” or from different reasons not exported to Belgium during Congo’s exploitation by western European countries. 34
Currently, alongside 10 other members and founder René Ngongo his sculptures are being shown around the world but their goal after raising awareness of still lasting post-colonial problem is to gain money for their community from the sail of small gift-sized works and larger gallery pieces. By selling his sculptures, Kasiama don’t need to worry about things like food, clothes and hospital. People from his community gained awareness that their lives don’t need to look like this. But, what is more important for consumption society, by organizing exhibitions in places like SculptureCenter in Long Island City, Queens, Museum of Contemporary Art in Warsaw, Galerie Fons Welters in Amsterdam etc. more people notice the problem. But is it seen enough? And do we still want to enjoy our piece of chocolate without thinking how many people could have died for this piece to be produced…
OLA KACZURBA 35
s o l i d a r i ty act i o n s Fr i d g es o n t h e st r eets
The idea was born in Berlin and it is simple - the instalation of public fridges in the street so anybody can fill them avoiding the food waste in this way. The first of these projects was Food Sharing, an idea born in Berlin in 2012. Food Sharing is a digital network (www.foodsharing.de) in which particulars can offer food directly, deposit it in the solidarity fridges or in exchange points situated in different points along Germany. And it took only few months to copy the example in Hail, a city of Saudi Arabia, where an anonymous citizen decided to set a fridge outside his house. In Spain, the first of those was set in Galdakao, in the Basque Countries, village 11 kilometers away from Bilbao, in 2015. Ă lvaro Saiz was the promoter of the initiative in the city. In his own words, the collocation of the fridge born mainly with the purpose of avoiding the food waste, with the purpose of creating a destination different of the landfill for the food loft over or about to expire. However, it makes also a humanitarian labor, due the fact that the people with less recourse can make use of them*. Nevertheless, the fridges are being used by a lot of particulars; it is mainly used by bars and restaurants so the food is left inside the fridge with the date of deposition. 36
The success of the initiative was immediate, nowadays, under the umbrella of Nevera solidaria (www. http://neverasolidaria.org/), a network of fridges born with the same philosophy* and though to work together in the creation of a solidarity trend, we can find 18 fridges. *In the web page of Nevera solidaria we can read their statement of intents: “Queremos huir de etiquetas que no ayudan en modo alguno a la inclusión social, objetivo esencial de todo movimiento solidario. Insistimos, se trata de recuperar alimentos que, de otra forma, terminarían en la basura, no de dar de comer a los pobres. No estamos hablando de caridad” (“We want to run away from labels that doesn’t help at all to the social inclusion, main objective of any solidarity movement. We insist, the purpose is recuperating foodstuff that, in other way, would finish in the trash, not to feed the poor people. We don’t speak about charity”).
ANTÍA FERNÁNDEZ MARTÍNEZ 37
S o l i d a r i ty act i o n s Fo o d n ot b o m b s
Food Not Bombs is an all-volunteer global movement that shares free vegan meals as a protest against war and poverty. Each chapter collects surplus food that would otherwise go to waste from grocery stores, bakeries and markets, as well as gets donations from local farmers, then prepares community meals which are served for free to anyone who is hungry. The central beliefs of the group are: * Always vegan or vegetarian and free to everyone - food is vegan or vegetarian and free to anyone without restriction, rich or poor, stoned or sober. * Each chapter is independent and autonomous - there are no leaders, presidents or directors, and no headquarters. Everyone in each chapter is encouraged to participate in the decision making including those who depend on Food Not Bombs for their meals. * Food Not Bombs is dedicated to nonviolence - is not a charity but is dedicated to 38
using nonviolent direct action to change society so no one needs to stand in line to eat at a soup kitchen. Our volunteers not only provide meals to the hungry on the streets and at protests we also participate in planning and implementing campaigns of nonviolent direct action. Our volunteers helped organize and provided meals to activists at blockades, sit-ins, strikes, marches, tree sits and lock downs. Our actions can involve art, music, puppets, banners and many other creative strategies. Food Not Bombs was founded in 1980 in Cambridge, Massachusetts by anti-nuclear activists Keith McHenry, Jo Swanson, Mira Brown, Susan Eaton, Brian Feigenbaum, C.T. Lawrence Butler, Jessie Constable and Amy Rothstien. The people that started Food Not Bombs shared their first full meal outside the Federal Reserve Bank on March 26, 1981 during the stock holders meeting of the Bank of Boston to protest against exploitation of capitalism and investment in the nuclear industry. Although it’s hard to imagine that you could get arrested only because you’re giving free food - it happens! The first arrests for sharing free food were on August 15, 1988 at the entrance to the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. Nine people were arrested that day, including McHenry. The city went on to make over 1,000 arrests, and Amnesty International declared these volunteers 'prisoners of conscience'. You are thinking why arrest someone who is trying to help and who is not breaking any rules by doing that? Well, let me just explain that Food Not Bombs works to call attention to poverty and homelessness in society by sharing food in public, physically accessible 39
places and facilitating community gatherings of hungry people so the truth is, city politics are not really pleased to see all this ‘problems’ on the main streets during the midday. For them it’s not about help or humans, for them it’s still about selling the image of the city being perfectly under their rules. But it’s also reaching higher than that. In 2009 state officials compere Food Not Bombs to terrorist organizations as alQaeda during the lecture in Massachusetts (USA). Just because the idea of redirecting tax money from military support into fights against poverty (hunger, medical and social care problems) it’s a dangerous. It’s dangerous to provide free food, to give opportunity for everyone to participate in solving the most important problems, to empower the public to take action, to support marginalized people. It is an extremely dangerous idea that Food is a right, not a privilege! - for those that holds the power. Anyone who wants to cook may cook, and anyone who wants to eat may eat. Food Not Bombs strives to include everyone. On Food Not Bombs website there are listed over 500 chapters in over 60 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. What is the message they want to pass? ‘Even though we provide meals and groceries to thousands of people, we are not a charity. Food Not Bombs is trying to inspire the public to participate in changing society and focus our resources on solving problems like hunger, homelessness and poverty while seeking an end to war and the destruction of the environment. We are also showing by example that we can work cooperatively without leaders through volunteer effort to provide essential needs like food, housing, education and healthcare. When over a billion people go hungry each day, how can we spend another dollar on war?’ If you want to get engaged or start your local community you can check Food Not Bombs website for details - http://foodnotbombs.net
MAJKA DOKUDOWICZ 40
s o l i d a r i t y ac t i o n s Hospitality as Solidarity There are a lot of solidarity initiatives in Portugal, some of them amazing, and worth of spreading and supporting. With the devastating fires of this summer Portuguese people, as a social society and often door to door, showed an impressive ability to respond to the needs of those who lost everything – a respond that arrived at the very first moment and still lasts. But to be in Greece and not to talk about their solidarity it is to be negligent as a European citizen; to do so it’s a huge responsibility. No other country is facing the extreme challenges that Greece is now with the migrant and refugees’ crisis. I truly believe that it is in times of greater need that one’s generosity comes out – and Greek people have proven me right. It’s time to speak out about it and to share it so the world can know. Greece is a country with 11 million people, and in times of deep economic crisis, had 1.3 million people passing its borders in the past two years to search for safety in Europe – 99% of those people request asylum. At the moment, there are people arriving, both by land and sea, at the pace of 200 people per day: the double since the beginning of the summer, and the highest rate since March 2016. 41
There are unknown heroes on Greek shores who save lives every day, brave citizens that refuse to let people die at their doorsteps. About some we might hear, just like Stratis Valamios and Aimilia Kamvisi, two Greek volunteers nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for their work in Lesbos – but the big majority is anonymous. There are uncountable volunteers in the refugees’ camps, both local and international, in loco and from distance, trying their best to gather good and funds, as well as provide assistance, to try to face this unprecedented humanitarian crisis. They are keepers, trying to improve the poor living conditions of those who are trapped in an endless waiting for a new home, for a better future. And then there are citizens who open their hearts to those who try hard to leave the past behind. Refusing fear and misconceptions, they welcome them and share a bit of what they have. They are common citizens that don’t allow small gestures to be shy and small objects to become too small to make the difference. Small acts of solidarity also deserve big a THANK YOU. To celebrate them and to acknowledge the solidarity of the Greek people, Amnesty International Greece and Oxfam created the “Museum without a home”. This project, an itinerary exhibition that already crossed Greek borders, shows real objects donated by Greek people to those in need of protection and comfort in order to make their daily lives a bit more manageable. Those objects testify how Greek hospitality is being transformed in solidarity, in short stories of kindness and hope that reflect the power of people to make positive change. Showed in places as Museum of Contemporary Art or the Cultural Centre Stavros Niarchos Foundation, as well as in different places and contexts in Belgrade, New York or Belfast, each object is displayed along with its story and of those who made it. But their message goes way beyond the cultural spaces. Now hundreds of those stories are being shared around Athens, at bus and tram stops or in the subway, through the photography of those objects. At the same time, this project also makes available at their website [museumwithoutahome.gr] the personal testimonies of the people that donated the objects and the people that received them 42
The Museum Without a Home is more than a place of celebration; it is much bigger than the people represented by it: it is a call for a basic human right, the right to be safe. It is also a call to each one of us to stand out for dignity, because their dignity is also our own. It is yet a museum of hope, the hope that kindness keeps bringing kindness, and that hospitality would never die inside of us.
JOANA GANILHO MARQUES 43
s o l i d a r i ty act i o n s Solidarity months
Pink October All around the world, October is dedicated to the awareness about breast screening and the need of financial support for research teams. The aim of the international « pink wave » is to raise women’s vigilance about breast cancer but also solidarity for women who are suffering of it. For example, in France, for 24 years the organization « Le Cancer du Sein, Parlons-en! » promotes breast screening. For 9 years, in October, they award « pink ribbon » to support research and innovations about breast screening and breast cancer but also progresses about reconstructive surgery, psychological support and daily life conditions. The donations from private companies and individuals plus selling the products related to Pink October allows « Le Cancer du Sein, Parlons-en! » financially award theses researcher, laboratories, etc. Events are organized all around the world to promote « Pink October » and 44
awareness about breast cancer: famous places are pink illuminated (Eiffel Tower, Niagara Falls…), races and athletic challenges are taking place to raise funds, on social medias hashtags are being released, simple explanations for self-breast screening are spreaded, concerts are being organized, pink umbrellas are being opened on the streets, flash mob etc. etc. Movember There are health inequalities between genders. Men are dying younger, they are suffering more frequently from mental diseases, masculine cancers are significantly decreasing life expectancy… However, the masculine health is not a national or international concern. From this observation in 1999, the Movember foundation decided to set up and create Movember to alert the general public about masculine health and prostate cancer. The second aim, after awareness, is raising funds to support researches. To defend this cause, the foundation calls men to let their mustaches grow. The official first step is to register on the foundation website, then letting mustache grow and finally calling for donations (social medias, among their friends and family, colleagues). At the end of November, events are organized all around the world to celebrate all men who decided to let their mustaches grow. 21 countries are electing their « Mo Bro » of the year and an international election is organized to choose the international « Mo Bro » of the year.
OPHÉLIE COTTIER 45
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 S o t i r i a
Hello, Sotiria! You’re a volunteer in the Kentro Neon Youth Center of Kalamata. Can you tell us more about yourself? Hello! I’m 29 years old, I am from Athens and this is my first year in Kalamata. I came here because I felt the need to change something in my life. How did you decided to be a volunteer? My aunt told me about Kentro Neon, what it’s it about and I really liked it. So, when I went there and I was trying to register for the workshops, they told me they needed volunteers to help with the coordination. I was new in Kalamata so I thought “why not?”, I have the chance to meet new people and not only locals. 46
Can you tell more about your activity at the Youth Center? I help in the coordination, I help on the events, I’m helping in the administration of the Youth Center and I am also a mentor. And I am also participating in workshops. What workshops do you participate at the Youth Center and which one is your favorite? I attend sign language, Spanish and Sevillanas. To say which one is my favorite is difficult, but I think I choose sign language because it’s something very new and special for me. It’s a new experience because it’s not like you learn another language, it’s just a different form of expression. Do you think that being a volunteer helps you in a personal development way? Of course! I meet so many people from so many countries and so many cultures. People rely on me for anything that I have to do. All of these things develop my personality and open my horizons. So, what does volunteering mean to you? For me, volunteering means communication, exchange, diversity and solidarity. You mentioned solidarity. Can you develop that? I believe that my solidarity work should be helping people (especially EVS volunteers) to integrate and be part of the local community. Have you been part of any solidarity actions? Apart of being a mentor here in Kalamata, I was also a volunteer in Athens in the hotspots of Piraeus and Eleonas. There were many refugees that needed help and I was part of an NGO that was helping with donations for food and clothing. It was a very new and exciting experience for me. I was very happy that I could help the people from there and I could actually see the how grateful they were. That was just amazing for me. Some people say volunteering is working for free. What’s your opinion about that? I would tell them that the things that you feel when you help others is so much of a reward that you don’t actually care about the money. I love working with people and helping them and that makes me very happy as a volunteer! Thank you, Sotiria! MINA DUMA 47
Past event C h r i s t m a s fa i ry ta l e h o u s e s
During the weekend 16-17 of December Youth Center volunteers, alongside with EVS and ACT volunteers were creating free activities for childrens during the Christmas fairy tale houses on the Central Square of Kalamata. Face painting, fishing game, christmas cards from stamps, animals for christmas tree - attract a lot of children on Saturday and Sunday to visit Youth Center House. Except of all this activities we also asked children to write a wish and send a message of love to the children of the world. With all this warm words we create a big chain, that brings hope and smile. Although the weather wasn’t helping - we manage to spread the positive spirit of volunteerism for this christmas! 48
Parallely, we held a BAZAAR, where we offered christmas decorations, gifts and biscuits made by us and also by Youth Center teachers and people participating in workshops, to support the Youth Centre of Kalamata.
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MAJKA DOKUDOWICZ, PHOTOS: MIRELLA KA, ANTOINE WERQUIN, BILOU ZEGOUD 50
MY SENDING ORGANISATION Â ADICE (ROUBAIX-FRANCE).Â
A few months ago, I wanted to live an experience abroad to make myself useful. For a long time, I had the idea to go abroad to help migrants and refugees in the countries of Europe affected by the crisis. Advised by a friend, who in 2016 went to Morocco for 6 months for an International Civic Service, I approached the association ADICE (Roubaix-France). I told them about my project and after several meetings they offered me to go to Greece for the KA3 project. The objectives of the adice Since its creation in February 1999 in Roubaix, the Association for the Development of Citizen and European Initiatives (ADICE) promotes equal opportunities by allowing people with fewer to live an experience abroad thanks to various French and European mobility programs. The association ADICE acts for the social and professional promotion of the public by allowing everybody to benefit from international experiments taking into account the capacities and aspirations of each one, in a logic of promotion and by favoring a dynamic of courses. 51
The ADICE acting in priority for young people aged between 18 and 30, facing economic difficulties by their access to employment also, they often encounter people with social and/or economic difficulties or those who may be discriminated by their ethnic origin or otherwise. ADICE offers them opportunity to participate in European and international mobility actions, which will allow them to develop social skills (open-mindedness, autonomy, critical thinking, solidarity, self-confidence), professional skills (team work technical and linguistic skills) and intercultural skills (discovering a country, a new environment, accepting differences, getting rid of stereotypes, sharing this experience on return, being open to other ways of life) etc… Types of mobility: There are 6 different types of mobility with which ADICE can accompany participants from Nord-Pas de Calais (North region of France): • The KA3 project "Neighborhoods in crisis, Youth on the move: ACT" Erasmus+ (My project): Aims to create innovative citizen pathways for young people, enabling them to carry out a volunteering project with migrants or refugees in Greece and Italy. • International Civic Service: The Civic Service commitment is for young people aged 18 to 25. It is a voluntary commitment lasting six to twelve months for the accomplishment of a mission of general interest in one of the nine priority areas recognized for the nation, within organizations nonprofit or legal persons under public law in France or abroad • European Voluntary Service (EVS): The European Voluntary Service (EVS) allows you to discover a new culture and acquire new skills. This is an action of the Erasmus + Program, implemented by the National Agency Erasmus + France Youth and Sport.
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• Mobility of Youth Workers: It is aimed at all those working in the field of youth in a voluntary or professional way: youth leaders, social workers, elected officials and technicians of associations and popular education movements, but also local authorities and all stakeholders’ civil society dealing with European issues related to youth. • Internship abroad: The Erasmus + internship abroad allows a job-seeker to develop professional skills. • Erasmus for young entrepreneurs: The Erasmus program for young entrepreneurs is for people who meet one of the following conditions: - Have a concrete project, presented in a business plan - Having started his business for less than 3 years. About the general organization of the adice ADICE provides follow-up before, during and after the mobility project. Trainings are organized in their premises and infrastructures of the city of Roubaix with other volunteers coming from all France. These courses are designed to help young volunteers on different topics, such as interculturality, community life, traveling abroad, administrative help (insurance, papers etc...). A day of first aid training is organized, accompanied by a qualified trainer. We have a diploma at the end of this day, as well as a first aid kit to take with us in case of emergency abroad. There are also 2 days of targeted training on the projects of the various volunteers, during which the trainers of ADICE make us aware of the situation of the host country, tell us more about our project and its objectives, former volunteers also come to share their experience. Once we left, we are in contact with our coordinator for all the duration of the project. Follow-up emails should be sent monthly, dealing with different topics, such as our impressions, testimonials, our questions, our expectations, photos and reports of our actions on the spot, etc ... Once back, we make a general report of our projects with the ADICE. We bring (in our turn) our testimonials to future volunteers, to answer some of their questions, give them our advice and to testify to our experience abroad. ANTOINE WERQUIN 53
LINK January 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.