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15 Febuary 2015
62
Editorial I had a conversation the other day with an ex-volunteer of K.A.NE. organisation. She is from Germany and decided to do EVS (European voluntary service, now part of the ERASMUS+ program), during her gap year. One of the reasons she decided to do EVS instead of work or holidays, was to gain time in order to decide what she really wants to do in her life. The idea of volunteering and in parallel participating in an learning program (which is what exactly EVS offers at the same time), was more interesting than working in a cafeteria or a bar for a year. Also going to Greece, a country she’ve heard so much in school was exciting for her. Now, some years later her whole life is following a path which she draw during her EVS. And this “path” was, as she was telling me, the most weird thing she had to do during her EVS. Why? Because she actually had to draw a path in a sheet of paper, write down what she wish to do, everything she has to do in order to make her wishes true and put some milestones. This “path” was an activity she had to do in the end of her stay in Kalamata and accumulate all her experiences so far. This paper was lost somewhere at her parents’ house. She’ve been studying away for home, working as student, experimenting with different arts and courses and now, she has the “perfect job” (as she says). 6 years later, searching through her childhood stuff, she discovered her “path”. At this moment she understood how EVS changed her life at the most crucial moment. She just turned 18 few days before coming to Greece, draw her life path few months before she turns 19 and now at her 24 she
finds out that she was subconsciously following her dreams. Her basic question was: How did I manage in less that one year to transform from a child to an adult, to make decisions which my friends still cannot make and become an independent adult at my early 19’s? Second one: I had no idea what EVS did to me! (with a big laugh at her face). EVS is a life-changing experience indeed. One way or the other, being abroad, with people from all around the world, following a learning experience, can offer a multiple skills development which is summarised to valuable personal growth. And this experience cannot be replaced with anything else, or at least with nothing else which you don’t have to pay a dime. Do EVS for any reason you want. Gap year, volunteering, escape from financial crisis, escape from you parents or your girl/boyfriend or whatever... but one thing is for sure; EVS will change your life. And you will change the lives of many other people around you! And this is amazing!!!
Filaretos P.S.: EVS is a European program, part of the young people’s learning mobility through ERASMUS+. It is a way for small local organisations to do International Youth Work. And through International Youth Work to offer opportunities to youth from all around the world but most of all to built a network of active people who are constantly changing smaller or bigger things in their communities.
Who we are My name is lolita but you can call my lola also. I have twenty years old. I studie social work. I love animal and in particularity my favorite are horses. I like dancing, listen music. My personality adventuress, Philosophie of lolita : stay serious but when the time is for enjoy, laugh because life is simple ! =) Aye, i’m Laura nineteen years old and i come from the south of France. I’m interest in learning other language and cultre and that’s why i came the Greece. I’m more of an indoor person with a calm personality and i really like snow that why i love winter but i pefer spring for the flower. XD Hello people, I’m Nuno Davide and I twenty-three years. I’m from Portugal and I live in (Lisbon). I studied Graphic Design, and I love drawing, painting, listening to music, playing football and many things .. I came to Greece to evolve in my artistic career and learn and experience new cultures English Greek principaly. ;) I am Burçin BEZİRKAN, from Turkey. I am 25 years old and coming from Antalya. I studied Public Administration at Akdeniz (Mediterranean) University and I am doing master at same university and on the same major. Here in Kalamata, I am working in Farma Fifa with Mirto Fifa for Natural Farming Project. I love reading book and watching movies and I love this Country!!!!
Hello everyone, as you already may know, I am Daan the Dutch EVS’er. Don’t confuse it with Deutsch, I am from The Netherlands. You know, Amsterdam, cheese and weed. Ok, I would love to meet a lot of people, so if you are in for a beer or a coffee, you will find me! Hello, I’m Agnieszka, I’m 23 years old and I come from Poland. I’m volunteering in Youth Centre of Kalamata. I’m a big fan of music festivals and live music. My favorite season is summer, and the most enjoyable sport is snowboarding ;). Hallo! I’m Ines Hofer from Vienna, Austria. I’m 27 years old and studied Zoology (Animal Behaviour) at the University of Vienna. Here in Kalamata, I’m volunteering for Re-think Project and Farma Fifa Permaculture. I like being in the nature, hiking, travelling and enjoying life So..I am from Poland. My name is Kasia and I am 23 years old. I study Croatian language and literature. Balkan, most of all Serbia, is my place in this world, but I love to travel, to live in different places, to meet new people, because from this people I draw energy and joy. I love to dance and sing even I’m not the best in it. I love to listen to people and see some situations from different perspective. I learn by experience, project in Greece is next step in my “education”.
Like we say: we keep the best for the end so now K.A.NE people
Hello fellow EVSers! My name is Argyris, Αργύρης, Арјирис, 아라리스 (the last one is Korean, and the one before is my contribution to serbocroatian) and I am the most long-term Euphoric Violent Surrealist (EVS) in K.A.NE., I am an all around player, attacking with the power of unlimited love and laughter and defending with the shield of memory. I have been living in Kalamata and working for K.A.NE. since April 2014 and I know everything about the meaning of life and death. Feel free to ask me whatever you want ☺
Hi my name is Fotini Arapi and I am project manager at K.A.NE. organization and responsible 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 ini tiative managed by a team of local volunteers. I am very proud of and I love the Youth Centre, its dynamic, and most of all its natural inclusiveness that allows everybody to feel “at home” there. See you around :-D
Filaretos Vourkos / Last 7 years I am working in the field of non formal educa- tion as a volunteer, youth worker and youth trainer. 4 years ago, I decided to create the Youth Centre of Kalamata, in order to initiate the youth work in Kalamata and promote active citizenship as factor of change.
Help needed * CHAIRS
Strange as it may sound, the Youth Center is in need of chairs! As the Youth Centre acquires more and more members, and the use of the chairs is extensive, our poor old chairs are breaking down. As it is, it is impossible to have all the chairs that the workshops need. If you have any chairs that you do not use, or you think that you can spare, you can bring them!
* MARKERS for the white board
As all of the language workshops make use of the white board, we consume approximately 3 markers per week!
* Pens
You can never have enough of those!
* Computers
Unfortunately, the Youth Centre at the moment has only 1 working (almost) computer to be used in the info-point. We need at least 1 more computer to be used in the dance workshops (for now we are using a borrowed one) and 1 more for the outside activities‌
* Volunteers
As you may have noticed, most of the time in the Youth Centre, apart from our lovely volunteers from abroad, there is usually also a Greek speaking volunteer around, to give information about the workshops and help in case it is needed. If you want to become and volunteer in the Youth Centre and dedicate 2-3 hours per week to help with the running of the Youth Centre, please, do not hesitate to contact us at: kentroneonkalamatas@gmail.com
Books time Hello! I am back to you with a new book, FIFTY SHADES OF GREY! Some of you may know that now, an adapted movie is on theater. So, I thought it would be nice to give you some information about this book. Fifty Shades of Grey is the first book of “Fifty Shades trilogy” which has been written by British author E. L. James. The cover summary of the book is; “ When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms. Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control.When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.
Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty ShadesTrilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever. This book is intended for mature audiences. “ As you can also understand by this cover summary, it is an erotic romance which includes some wild sex chapters. For some people, that is a reason which makes the book a kind of written porn. I accept that reading some chapters without feeling shy and flushed face is almost impossible. But when you read it, you will also find the pure love after a while, especially if you are a woman. ;) Especially the second and third book of the trilogy. – Fifty Shades Darker, Fifty Shades Freed.Some of you will prefer watching movie to reading book but I suggest you to watch the movie after you read the book. And please read all books before you judge it. ;)
Burçin Bezirkan
Interview with volunteer Hello Laura. In Kalamata you are already few months, tell me about your impressions? It is really nice city with open people, I feel really welcome here. I share wonderful moments with my friends and enjoying the beautiful weather which is really better than the French one ;) yeaa. Nice, so tell something about you, your life in France. We know already that weather is not good there, what more? I live in the little village in the south of France with my big family, because we are 6 and I also have two dogs, so it is always crowded and funny! I am 19 years old; I’ve just finished high school… What are you doing in France every day? What is your hobby! It depends… because I stopped my study so last year I worked, ‘cause of that I save money to come here (red. Claver girl!). About my hobby I am in love with Asian culture! I am big fun of manga and k-pop music! I am also trying to learn Chinese! Wow, that’s amazing! Do you speak other languages? English of course. I have also Italian origin so I speak Italian. How is going your Greek language?
It’s a little bit difficult, because there are some letter the same in Greek and French which sound is opposite or different. It is confusing!!! What
about
your
work
for
K.A.Ne.?
It is really interesting. I learn new things. After the project I will be the IT master :D Now I am creating the platform for all EVS programs in Greece. I am also working on website of K.A.Ne and designing the LINK magazine. So this is completely different from what I learned in school. Before I was learning languages and other cultures, now I develop my IT skills and I love it!!! I seam great! So, for the end few fast questions! Your favorite place in Kalamata? Aristomenos
street,
cause
I
love
shopping
;)
Favorite book? I love manga! This is my main books to read! And song? I don’t have favorite one, I am listening a little bit of everything. But the first on the list is Korean music ;) KATARZYNA CHOJNOWSKA
Valentin Valentine’s Day, also known as Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a celebration observed on February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it is not a public holiday in most of them. St. Valentine’s Day began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as “valentines”). In Europe, Saint Valentine’s Keys are given to lovers “as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver’s heart”, as well as to children, in order to ward off Saint Valentine’s Malady. Valentine’s Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards. While the European folk traditions connected with Saint Valentine and St. Valentine’s Day have become marginalized by the modern Anglo-American customs connecting the day with romantic love, there are some remaining associations connecting the saint with the advent of spring.
In Slovenia, SaintValentine or Zdravko was one of the saints of spring, the saint of good health and the patron of beekeepers and pilgrims.A proverb says that “Saint Valentine brings the keys of roots”. Plants and flowers start to grow on this day. There is no evidence of any link between St. Valentine’s Day and the rites of the ancient Roman festival, despite many claims by many authors. The celebration of Saint Valentine did not have any romantic connotations until Chaucer’s poetry about “Valentines” in the 14th century. Jack B. Oruch writes that the first recorded association of Valentine’s Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer wrote: “For this was on seynt Volantynys day Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.” [“For this was on St. Valentine’s Day, when every bird come there to choose his mate.”] Valentine’s Day customs developed in early modern England and spread throughout the Anglosphere in the 19th century. In the later 20th and early 21st centuries, these customs spread to other countries, but their effect has been more limited than those of Hallowe’en, or than aspects of Christmas, (such as Santa Claus). Due to a concentrated marketing effort, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in some East Asian countries with Chinese and South Koreans spending the most money on Valentine’s gifts.
In Chinese, Valentine’s Day is called lovers’ festival (simplified Chinese: 情人节; traditional Chinese: 情人 節; pinyin: qíng rén jié). The so-called “Chinese Valentine’s Day” is the Qixi Festival, celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar In Finland Valentine’s Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into “Friend’s Day”. As the name indicates, this day is more about remembering friends, not significant others. In Estonia Valentine’s Day is called sõbrapäev, which has the same meaning. In France, a traditionally Catholic country, Valentine’s Day is known simply as “Saint Valentin”, and is celebrated in much the same way as other western countries St. Valentine’s Day, or Ημέρα του Αγίου Βαλεντίνου in Greek tradition was not associated with romantic love; In the Eastern Orthodox church there is another Saint who protects people who are in love, Hyacinth of Caesarea (feast day July 3), but in contemporary Greece, this tradition has mostly been superseded by the “globalized” form of Valentine’s Day In India, in antiquity, there was a tradition of adoring Kamadeva, the lord of love; exemplificated by the erotic carvings in the Khajuraho Group of Monuments and by the writing of the Kamasutra treaty of lovemaking. In Japan the custom that only women give chocolates to men may have originated from the translation error of a chocolate-company executive during the initial campaigns. In particular, office ladies give chocolate to their co-workers.
Unlike western countries, gifts such as greeting cards, candies, flowers, or dinner dates are uncommon, and most of the activity about the gifts is about giving the right amount of chocolate to each person. Japanese chocolate companies make half their annual sales during this time of the year. Men are expected to return gifts that are at least two or three times more valuable than the gifts received in Valentine’s Day. Not returning the gift is perceived as the man placing himself in a position of superiority, even if excuses are given. Returning a present of equal value is considered as a way to say that the relationship is being cut. Originally only chocolate was given, but now the gifts of jewelry, accessories, clothing and lingerie are usual. According to the official website of White Day, the color white was chosen because it’s the color of purity. In korean like Japan women give chocolat on the 14th February ad men give thank you gift on the 14th March. On April 14 (Black Day), those who did not receive anything on February 14 or March go to a Chinese-Korean restaurant to eat black noodles and lament their ‘single life’.
Laura Doddi
WHO ARE WE? – Part 2 EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE As you may know LINK magazine is run by EVS volunteers… but do you know what exactly means EVS? European Voluntary Service is international volunteer programme founded by European Commission. It aims to give opportuni ty to young people between the age of 18 and 30 years old to get involved into different voluntary activities. You don’t need to have specific skills and education… EVS is for everybody and.. it is totally FREE. Travel expenses, accommodation, food costs, local transportation, health insurance, language lessons and pocket money are covered and financed by the programme. You can be interested in art, culture, environment, climate change, human rights, sport, media, development cooperation, education… or maybe you would like to work with children, teenagers, adults, elderlies… or animals. You will find something for yourself as there are many different projects all around Europe. You can help to treat turtles in Turtle hospital in Greece or you can volunteer in French Kindergarten. There are many different possibilities… There are short term projects- up to 2 months and long-term projects up to 12 months. Participants of the EVS come from one of the European Union countries, EFTA countries, candidate countries, countries of Eastern Europe and the Caucausus or with
different procedure- partic pants from other countries of the world. EVS in Kalamata…
In Kalamata we are currently 8 volunteers. Burcin and Ines work for the natural farming and RE&THINK project, Daan works in Child Care Centre with autistic children, Lolita’s project is horse riding therapy, she is also assisting in one of the local schools for children with disabilities. Laura’s project is in K.A.NE., her tasks are related to media and communication, Nuno’s project is Artivistes Artorama, Kasia and me, we work in Youth Centre of Kalamata. We have two EVS flats in Kalamata. Ines, Burcin, Kasia, Lolita, Daan and me we share one flat in the Centre, in second flat, located on the beach side stay Nuno and Laura and they expecting soon new flatmates (new EVS volunteers)…. As you know we come from different countries, we are in different age, we participate in different projects and we have different interests, but we all enjoy our EVS life here and we build together our EVS experience:) Would you like to hear more? 26th February we- EVS volunteers from Kalamata organize EVS CAFÉ in the Youth Centre of Kalamata…
Agnieszka Lul
RE-THINK Project Background RE-THINK PROJECT: composters in action - a composting program implemented for three years in Kalamata The idea started in Kalamata on February 2010 by the teacher and artist Myrto Foifa, which through its strong activism towards environmental problems arising from uncontrolled landfills polluting activities in the region (Landfill Maratholakkas Taygetos and D .Paralias), giving entity concept community-composting, creating the RE: Think Project. Re:Think project is a social, educational , cognitive tool in self management of waste, this tool attracted a non formal group of energized local citizens of various background, scientist, artists, teachers and activists. They created a local movement against this phenomenon. This project includes the construction, the placement and the scientific research and guidance of the Community District Compost network in the municipality of Kalamata, as well as informative workshops on composting in residential and neighborhood. The network expanded by placing about 45 bins at various points in the city and in the surrounding villages. Composting Definition: The process of rottening and recycling of natural materials, which can further be used in the cultivation of plants due to its high nutritious value.
Benefits: • • • • • •
Cheap organic fertilizer Plants get resistant to disease Better flavour and aroma of the products Products are healthier and richer in nutrients Soil is fluffier, micro organisms work better Can help the tired soils regain organic soils
Reduce: • the dumps • your overall waste up to 40% • your ecological footprint on nature How can we reduce trash that ends up in landfills?? Namely: If you think that 35-50% of our garbage, whether it comes from our kitchen or vegetable origin, and approximately 75% (up to 100%) of them to become compost soil, we understand that making composting, we reduce our overall waste UP to 40% (under strict procedures for composting) and at the same time protect the environment. Home preselection is a total BETTER AND CHEAPER
way of processing pure compost. Compost producers have the possibility to take whenever they like and with no cost PURE AND CERTIFIED compost that he has produced, from its closest neighborhood compost point.
Ines Hofer
Pastry Cream For 1 litre dof cream you need: *1/2 l of milk *100 gof sugar *5 egg yolks *60 gof flour First warm up the milk in a pan. during this time mix the egg and sugar i an bowl until it make some faom and that the mixture becamne white. Add after the flour to the mixute. Add a little bit of milk in the bowl and mix it before putting the mixute in the pan with the rest of the milk. Mix over low heat until it thicken. Put the cream in a bowl in pt in the fridge for 30 minutes and degust it with a cake. Try by EVS volunteer of Kalamata and they really like it. if you want to add some flavour: chocolat, vanillia fell free to do it. And be careful with the milk if i have a recommndation put less them more because it appear most of the time too much liquide.
Laura Doddi
WISŁAWA SZYMBORSKA Love at First Sight They are both certain, that what linked them together was a rush feeling. Such certainty is beautiful but uncertainty is even more. They presume that because they didn’t know each other before, there was nothing between them, what about the streets, stairs and corridors on which they could have passed each other? I would really like to ask them if they remember face to face in some revolving door? „excuse me” in a crowd? „wrong number” on the phone? - but I already know the answer. No, they don’t. They would be so surprised that for a long time the chance had been playing with them. Not ready to change into the fate for them, first brought them closer and then took farther away,
crossed their way and, stifled its giggle, jumped aside. There were same signs, cues, but what of it? it was all unclear Perhaps three years ago or on last Tuesday a certain leaf flew from shoulder to shoulder? Was something lost and picked up Who knows, it might have been a ball in the thickets of childhood? There were door-handles and door bells on which beforehand one touch laid down on the other. Suitcases beside each other in the luggage room. Perhaps there was one dream on a certain night but forgotten immediately after waking up. Every beginning is just the continuation, and the book of events is always open in the middle.
KATARZYNA CHOJNOWSKA A poeme from Poland
POLITICAL SITUATION IN GREECE Interview with the Greek person 1. What your name ? My name is Amalia 2. How old are you ? I am 33 years old. 3. What was the political situation before, wich partie was it ? In 2010 Greece seeked an international bailout from our Europen partners. Since then Greeks have suffered unemployment, deep poverty and social dislocation . In 2012 the centre-right New Democracy party won the elections but failed to obtain an outright majority. So a new coalition government was formed. It was a three-party alliance led by the conservatives, other partners included the socialist Pasok and small Democratic Left parties. Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras was claiming that the main goal of that alliance was to save the country from the crisis and ensure it remains anchored to Europe. 4. With the new president, wich partie it is and and what will change for the Greece ?
In January 2015, Syriza won the elections and formed a new government with a right-of-centre party called‘Independent Greeks. Sriza is a coalition of left social democrats, radical socialists and communists, environmentalists, anti-globalization campaigners and human rights advocates. This government has the difficult task of re-negotiating bailout terms with the so-called troika (the EU, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund).
5. What is you opinion about the new polical situation, do you think that it will change something for you country ? I think that the actual social and economic situation in Greece is pretty bad. As a result of austerity measures and the recession, Greece has seen its GDP shrink by nearly 25 per cent over the last five years. Investment keeps falling, poverty and public debt are still growing, and our institutions are falling apart. I think that the new government should continue debt-negotiating but we also need deep institutional reforms. The removal of austerity is necessary but it will help only followed by the necessary structural reforms in the public and private sector. I hope the new government is ready to support radical changes and create conditions for growth.
6. Did you think there was a demonstration to the Greek government to supported by the population ? Yes, I know that there are many demonstations in Greece and around Europe to support the greek government. 7.
Did you go ? What do you think about that ?
I think that we should support the actual government in order to negotiate and succeed a debt relief. But i am not willing to support anti - European voices and politics because I am persuaded that Greece needs to be part of the European family.
Lolita Garcia
Interview with local What is your name? My name is Argyris Papadopoulos How old are you? I’m twenty-eight years old Where are you from ? I am from Makrygialos Where do you work? I work in Kane What do you like doing? I like playing theatre, basketball, eating, learning language and reading books. What is your dream? I have a lot of dreams :) I dreamof swimming in all the waters of the world. Nuno Davide
What’s New? New semester in Youth Center began, and new workshops also:
Now we have even More Latin class Break Dance class Drawing class And Serbian for Beginner
Coming Soon EVS cafe next week
Speial time where our EVS voluneter will inform you about EVS around some snack end coffee
The End
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.