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Content ...Editorial
...Overview  of  Youth  Centre
...EVS Â Cafe
LINK
...  Interviews  with  local   and     foreigner  volun  teers,  etc.
...New  section  of  <Who  We  Are>
NOVEMBER 2012
By my experience, these 4 years, running the Youth Centre of Kalamata, I've seen this change in the people. From those siting in a cafe and discussing how bad things are (but with no way to take action) to those who are taking action on their own or by volunteering in organisations or informal groups. Both categories still exist, but the second one is be- coming bigger and bigger, day by day... and this is amazing! We don't need to say, that those people are actually changing the world. Small actions which are making people's lives better are the ones which are changing our world. Volun- teerism means that you are not siting on your couch waiting for the others to take action for you. Yes, the state has the obligation to offer all those activities to its citizens, but when it doesn't? What should we do? Filaretos Vourkos
LINK KENTRO NEON KALAMATAS
This new wave of volunteers, differs from the ones of the past. They can distinguish the right and wrong motive of a non profit organisation and they can choose according to their interests, where to contribute and where not. They are also having the resources and the information in order to make a research for an organisation, before they participate.
Things are changing the last 5 years, as small grass roots organisations, started being cre- ated by activists, youth workers and active citizens with the aim to change something in the local or international environment. Environmental organisations, cultural organisa- tions and social organisations, with people having no patience to wait for the state to take action, started, with small activities, attracting the interest of the new wave of volunteers.
One of the main reasons is that in the old times, it was not necessary. Greek families and local communities were helping each other and solidarity was there without being called volunteerism or somehow else. It was something normal for the biggest part of the soci- ety. After 80s volunteerism became more popular and started having this negative mean- ing. People were thinking that if they volunteer, they will be considered as victims of ex- ploitation. Big NGOs with loads of money and connections with governmental organisa- tions, used volunteerism for the wrong reasons (as it happened everywhere in the world). Big corporations started creating NGOs in order to show a more "social" or "environmen- tal" attitude, as well as political parties did similar actions. Bad reputations don't need many efforts to spread around. And the biggest victims of all these, the small local organi- sations which faced difficulties in gaining the trust of the people.
What really volunteerism is, is a big debate which is bringing different arguments on the table. In some countries there is a volunteerism tradition and in some others volunteerism has a negative meaning. One of the countries, volunteerism has negative meaning is Greece.
Editorial
NOVEMBER 2012
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Overview of Youth Center
Article by Irene
Youth Center of Kalamata is growing more and more! We arrived to the 1050 registrations during these last few weeks, and we still have some free places in the language workshops of French, Slovenian, Estonian and Lithuanian with our EVS volunteers and also some free places in “Do it yourself” that just started this week! In “Do it yourself” you will learn to design and create new beautiful stuff from recycled materials with the wonderful ideas of our local volunteer Athanasia! Also we have a new workshop of drawing and we covered some free places in contemporary dance… but now it’s again full! More and more people are interested in participating in all our work- More and more people are interested in participating in all our work shops so check our website (www.ngokane.org) or our Facebook group “Κεντρο Νεων Καλαματας” for more details to be informed first about news of our activities!
LINK
As you might already know, in general the Youth Center of Kalamatas there is a big variety of workshops as Salsa lessons, Tango, Yoga, Guitar lessons, language exchanges, Capoeira, Traditional Greek dances, Per- cussion, Cinema workshop, Hip Hop, Sign language and much more!!
NOVEMBER 2012
And for last but not least, we have a really good new for our members: We finally opened our LIBRARY! It is located on our 2nd floor and you can find Greek books and also books written in other languages as French, English or German. To pick one book up you can take it by your own and after go to the Info-point on the 1st floor, where our volunteers will register your booking and you will be able to enjoy your literature for the following 20 days… is should give you more than enough time! After that you can bring it back and take another book to your home…as easy as that! We are waiting for You at Plateia Othonos, 10!!
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New EVS Volunteer We wish to say welcome to our new EVS volunteer Jelena from Montenegro, who is also helping around in Youth Center instead of Hrafnhildur, who have unfortunately gone back to Island on personal reasons.
Zdavo ! My name is Jelena Scepanovic, I am 27 years old and I live in Podgorica in Montenegro. I studied biology and then I worked as a sales manager. I love Nature and any activites in relation with Nature.
Now, I am working in the Youth Center and I will stay in Kalamata for one year.
LINK
I chose Greece for my EVS because I think that I can learn a lot there. Besides, I like Greek language and Greek cultural heritage. I think that volunteering in Greece can help me to develop my skills and knowl- edge from my field and also help me to improve my general knowledge about Greek history and cul- ture.
NOVEMBER 2012
I choose to do EVS now because I really needed a change, to do something differ- ent and I have always found the experience a very rewarding learning curve. All this activities helped me to improve my interpersonal skills. Well, during this year, I think I'm going to miss my friends, my family and my moth- er's
LINK
NOVEMBER 2012
Interviewer: Ines Interviewee: Taaniel
Interview with EVS volunteer
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Interview with Interviewer: Ines Interviewee: Κοκόσαυρος KENTRO NEON KALAMATAS
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LINK
NOVEMBER 2012
LINK
What do you think about the situation in Greece nowdays? This is a difficult question with many aspects to be taken into consideration. I still am confused about the whole situation. On the one hand we have a harsh economic crisis that affects a large part of the greek population. New measures are being taken that make the situation even harder. However, you see most of the people maintaining a passive attitude against the oppression. Only a few out of the millions inhabitants of Greece demonstrate against it, in different ways. The large majority of Greeks feels like their only political action that they can take to change things is their vote. A vote that over the past 20 years or more, never changed anything. In my opinion, we have defective political and social education in Greece. On the other hand we have a rise of xenophobia, racism and fascism. I am really concerned about the reasons why this rise takes place. I am starting believing that we were racists before but due to the prosperity, it never came to surface. The state becomes tougher against people who demonstrate in order to keep the balance inside Greece. Human rights are being violated. They blame the immi- grants for this kind of situation and not the bad administration of the country. But even though such things happen in Greece, you observe them only in metro- politan areas of large cities of Greece. In the other parts of Greece, life is pretty calm. Finally I would like to state the fact that Greece's situation is part of an interna- tional problem that starts evolving and spreading all over the world. It should be dealt internationally and not individually, or else there will never be a sustain- able solution.
Would you like to do EVS ? Why ? I have been thinking about doing European Voluntary Servicebecause you meet people from different countries and also becauseI feel kinda guilty to start working for making money. I feel weird about that, because when you like something you do not mind doing it for free. So when you do volunteer work the money kind of pop out of the equation. When I provide help without getting paid, somehow like volun- teer work, you do this from your heart, because you want to and not because you want to make money out of this. So I feel less guilty when doing voluntary work because they only provide you what you really need and money (profit making) is outside the equation.
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local volunteer
NOVEMBER 2012
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Article by Manuela
Manuela's hosting
I am going to present you the association that has sent me here, in Greece, in Kalamata, in order to do an EVS with K.A.NE asso- ciation. It is a sending and also an hosting organization.
My association is named “Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture de Graulhet” (that means « Graulhet’house of youth and culture ». It is situated in the Southwest of France, in Graulhet, a small town which is at 30 minutes from Toulouse.
LINK
It is a Youth Center which really looks like K.A.NE. Every year, the Youth Center hosts volunteers from all over Europe, and creates new workshops for its members. Volunteers are free to choose if they want to give language lessons (like we do here in Kentro Neon Kalamatas), or to do workshops more “practical” like martial arts, music lessons, danse…
The “Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture de Graulhet” hosts vol- The “Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture de Graulhet” hosts vol unteers from all over Europe for doing EVS projects, and also for youth exchanges.
NOVEMBER 2012
The person responsible for the EVS program in the “Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture de Graulhet” is Mireille, she is really nice and she knows Greece since she spends one or two weeks of hol- idays per year in Athens. You can contact her: europe@mjcgraulhet.asso.fr. Link of the website: http://www.mjcgraulhet.asso.fr/
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Who We Are?
LINK
Hi everybody! I am Fotini and you have probably seen me some time or other in the Youth Centre. I moved to Kala- mata in July 2011, and started working for K.A.NE. My decision was easy, as I knew the city well (I fin- ished high school here) and I was already familiar with K.A.NE., its work and activities and, of course, the Youth Centre. I am happy to be able to support its work and be part of K.A.NE’s and the Youth Cen- tre’s team. See you around!
I am Filaretos and the last 7 years I am working in the field of non formal education as a volunteer, youth worker and youth trainer. 4 years ago, I decid- ed to create the Youth Centre of Kalamata, in order to initiate the youth work in Kalamata and promote active citizenship as factor of change. When I am not abroad for work, you will find me at the youth centre, in which, my biggest complaint is, that I don't have enough time to participate in any workshop...
NOVEMBER 2012
My name is Angela, I am 23 and I come from Crete, a beautiful island in the south of Greece. I passed the last 6 years of my life in Athens, studying Man- agement, Health Administration, Media & Commu- nications but I still haven't found what I want to do in my life. Searching for new experiences and moti- vations, I decided to spend this year in Kalamata to live, work and interact with volunteers from all over Europe and offer my services to the local com- munity by participating in KANE's projects.
My name is André Tavares, I am from Portugal, and I live in Estoril, 20min away from the capital, Lisbon. I’m in Kalamata for 3 weeks now, and I’m going to stay for 9 weeks more. I’m here because I signed in the “Leonardo Da Vinci” program which allows me to have a short duration professional experience abroad Europe, so the Youth Center (K.A.N.E.) received me, and now I’m working with them in some coordination tasks, office duties, helping to prepare and organize events, and I’m also teaching Portuguese in the youth center. Thank you, Greetings from Portugal.
Besides I am interested in Greek culture and the rich heritage. Now, I am working in the Youth Center where I am going to teach French and guitar. I also hope to create a band and have a good time.
I chose Greece for my EVS because I think that I can learn a lot there. Besides, I like Greek language and Greek cultural heritage. I think that volunteering in Greece can help me to develop my skills and knowledge from my field and also help me to improve my general knowledge about Greek his- tory and culture. I choose to do EVS now because I really needed a change, to do something different and I have always found the experi- ence a very rewarding learning curve. All this activities helped me to improve my interpersonal skills. Well, during this year, I think I'm going to miss my friends, my family and my mother's kitchen.
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Salut ! I am Ines and I come from Vierzon a small city in the center of France. I have finished my high-school studies this year to do my EVS in Kalamata. I have al- ready done voluntary work in Italy and in Germany. That’s why, I chose this project, in order to meet people and to have a great experience in an association abroad.
Zdavo ! My name is Jelena Scepanovic, I am 27 years old and I live in Podgorica in Montenegro. I studied biolo- gy and then I worked as a sales manager. I love Nature and any activites in relation with Nature. Now, I am working in the Youth Center and I will stay in Kalamata for one year.
Γεια σασ ! Με λενε Λωικ. I’m 27 years and I come from Melun in France( little city near Paris). My project is the Youth Center. I will work in Youth Center during 1 year, I will be in charge to French lesson, and I will help in workshop for kid and maybe other things during this year. I am a very open-minded and passionate person who likes music, cinema, circus and all forms of arts, and motivated to set up innovative projects of animation. I wish to work on various artistic disciplines and to use the artistic practices as tool of Insertion and Education. From my point of view, developing the link between cul- ture and social intervention is an original instrument. The culture is indeed the best way to integrate people in the society and at work. It allows persons who are facing to social problems to develop a positive dynamic and to solve loneliness issues. See you later on the youth center. Γαει!!
Hi! I am Irene, I am Spanish and I will be working at the Youth Center of Kalamata. I am 27 and it’s not the first time I live abroad but Greece it’s a country where I have always dreamt to live in! I studied An- cient Greek History and Litera- cient Greek History and Litera ture, so I think I arrived at the perfect place! I also did a Master in education and I think teaching is a way of learning in itself, so I am really happy to or- ganize the Spanish workshop and I am sure we will learn a lot from each other! Obviously, we will do many activities during this new adventure in K.A.NE, so be ready for that!!
LINK
Who We Are?
NOVEMBER 2012
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Who We Are?
I am called Taaniel, youngster from Estonia, the most northeast Baltic country surrounded largely by sea, Russian, Finland and Sweden. I have finished high school in Estonia, after that I studied a year in Denmark. I like to bike and snorkel and Kalamata is perfect place for that. From this Autumn I started to work as EVS volunteer and as a part of my project I am sup- volunteer and as a part of my project I am sup posed to help with center's website and also design this newsletter You are reading now - I hope You like it, and if You have any construc- tive critic, thanks to say, proposals etc. - all of it is welcomed to address evsTaaniel@g- mail.com.
Giasas! My name is Leonard Pristl, I come from a little city in central Germany called Bamberg where I have passed the last three years of my life. Until my 15th year, though, I was living in Greece, in a little village called Ag. Dimitrios, and for this reason I speak really good Greek. As a volunteer, I will be working in the KEKI- KAmeA in Kalamata this year. Now I am 18 years old and I love going for skiing in the winter, I love the white mountains and the nature but I also fell in love with the sea and the beaches here. I decided to come again to Greece to make my EVS project becaused I missed the good weather and the Greek lifestyle and be- cause I like to work with children.
Smile :)
LINK NOVEMBER 2012
I am Manuela, I am a 23 years French girl. I come from a southwestern French city named Toulouse. I am in Kalamata since the 5th of September and I will live here during 11 months, that is to say till the 4th of August. My project is the communication and the organization of the movie festival which will occur in July, 2013. But during all the year, I will organize some projection nights in the youth center andvt on Plateia Othonos. And I will also sometimes be in the youth center to help the other volunteers if they need. In France, I study communication and journalism, and that is probably why I really like to meet new people, speak with them and set up new projects all together. I hope this year will be full of this kind of events!
I love to read, sing, do yoga, travel and go out dancing with my friends. I like making pastries and even more so I like to eat them. I’ve done voluntary work before but going all the way to Greece to do so is kind of on the edge of my comfort zone - that’s what makes it is all the more exciting. I’ll spend my working days on a farm and right now I’m just looking forward to see or- anges on trees(!) for the first time .
Zdravo! I’m Kaja from Slovenia and I’m 22. I’m a last year student of so- ciology and an ac- tivist for the rights of LGBT people.
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Γεια! I‘m Ieva, 18 years old girl from Lithuania. I work on Natural Farm- ing & Environmental Awareness project. I‘m entirely in love with Mother Nature, so don‘t hurt her or you‘ll have to deal with me! I’m look- ing forward to spreading “green ideas” in Kalama- ta, also, you can join my Lithuanian lessons in the youth center. I spend my free time exploring secluded places around, so if you know any secret mountain path- ways, nice empty beaches or cozy little villages, let me know (:
Enjoy your lifeS, Dorian.
I arrived in Kalama- ta on 5th september. My first month was perfect with sun, beach and new friends. I hope I will learn a lot of things about other culture, languages, …
LINK
Hello, I am Dorian, I come from France and I am 21 years old. I really like to dance, specialy swing and rock'n roll which I practiced for 13 years before my EVS. I came to Greece because I really love this culture, and I want to live in this very beautiful country. Now, I am working in a Horse Riding School for disabled children. It is a very interesting proj- ect, I feel useful and it is gonna bring me a good experience for the future.
Hello everybody! My name is Gianluca and I’m just arrived in Ka- lamata. I’m an Italian guy of 28 and I have fin- ished in February my university, in Anthropolo- gy. So, I have decided to come in Greece as a volun- teer to work with children, because I like them (I had work with children for ten years), but also because I’m interested on the life in Greece and the Greeks themselves. I’m really happy to be here and my first impression ofthe association and the volunteers is really good! I hope to be useful for the project and for all of you!
Who We Are?
NOVEMBER 2012
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EDITOR: INÈS DUPONT-MIAULT GRAPHIC DESIGN: TAANIEL STOITSEV ARTICLES: INES DUPONT MIAULT MANUELA GASCON JELENA SCEPANOVIC ΑΝΤΖΕΛΑ ΛΕΚΑΝΑΚΗ LOIC MARCHAND IRENE PENA HERRANZ TAANIEL STOITSEV ΦΙΛΑΡΕΤΟΣ ΒΟΥΡΚΟΣ FOTINI ARAPI
Contact details: K.A.NE., Social Youth Development Youth Centre of Kalamata Plateia Othonos 10 Kalamata 24100 Greece
e-mail: info@ngokane.org url: http://www.ngokane.org facebook group: Κέντρο Νέων Καλαμάτας/Youth Centre of Kalamata
The volunteers responsible for this publication are hosted in Greece in the framework of the European Youth in Action programme, Action 2- European Voluntary Service. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communica- tion] 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.