LINK #140 - Second Chances by NGO K.A.NE.

LINK

Edition #139 | September 15th, 2019

Edition

K.A.NE. Volunteers

K.A.NE. STAFF

K.A.NE. Opinion

Main Articles - Second Chances

Second chances in music

Second chance for cats

Susatainable fashion

Risky chance

Second ecological chances

Adoption

Second chance for prisioners

Giving ourselves a second chance

A second forced chance

Offer yourself a second chance

Content

Swapping

Veganism

Interview with EVS Volunteer

“My sending NGO”

Events

Past events

“My project”

Edition Editor

Desginer

@kane.kalamata +30 272 104 3006 www.kentroneon.worpress.com www.ngokane.org info@ngokane.org Salaminos 8 24100 Kalamata Greece

V Hi, I’m Agathe! French. I don’t know yet what I want to be Agathe when I grow up, but I can picture a happy place with trees,

animals, music and people doing what they like. One of my favorite activity is to laugh, and I am really good at it. I am also good at napping. I came here to work at the dog shelter and spread love to all those good boys & girls!

Alicja

Hey! My name is Alicja, I’m from Poland. I live in a small town near Gdynia. I graduated ecoonomic school. I’m interested in travelling and I really like hiking inin the mountains. I love music, that’s why I go to concerts and festivals when it’s possible and I realy love cats!

Olá! My name is Catarina and I’m from Porto, Portugal. Catarina My background is in International Relations, so being a

volunteer for a NGO is a useful way of gaining experience and developing valuable skills! I left my 5 cats and dog in order to embrace this project for 11 months and now my dog does not recognize me over our skype calls but I’m sure It will be worth it. In my project I’m assisting in the day care center for the kids with autism.

Chloé

My name is Chloé, I am from France, in the north of Lille. I’m 22 years old. I stopped my studies because I’m looking for training or work that really matches me. I think that my project at the horse therapy center includes everything I love, because in France I wanted to be a nurse but I also love animals, nature. I’m here to find my future project, to discover and share.

Hello, I’m Francesca and I’m from Bologna, Italy. I Francesca studied Social and Cultural Education and now I’m a

volunteer at the KEFIAP center which works with people with disabilities. I think this experience will help me a lot because my dream is to work in the social field abroad. I really want to get to know this city and meet new people.

Lea

Hallo! :) My name is Lea and I am from Griesheim, a small town near Frankfurt. I am eighteen years old, just finished school and now I am going to spend an entire year here in Kalamata. I am volunteering in the Youth Centre and hopefully will hear many different stories from totally different people. I am fascinated by the art of literature, stars and other people and really enjoy sitting on the balcony with friends and enjoying unwinding music. 4

Volunteers Mariana

When I decided to come to Kalamata, I promised that I wouldn’t describe myself based on my work or studies. I believe that we are more than that and people tend to reduce their history to their work. I born in 1993 and I’m the oldest sister of the two most amazing human beings. I find an amazing refuge in books and cinema, music and other kinds of art make me feel very good as well. We should see ourselves beyond our individuality and contribute to a better and sustainable world.

Hello! My name is Matilde and I’m a volunteer in the Matilde KEFIAP center.

I was born in Italy and I live in Bologna. I finished high school last year and I decided to do a gap year in order to travel around the world. I’m a sweet girl who looks strong and I like very much to dance, eat and enjoy my time with friends.

Patrycja

Cześć! Jak się masz? I come from Poland. I love travelling and one day I want to be a professional traveler. I like to take photos, to film, meet new people from all over the world and to learn more about foreign cultures and history! My other passion is everything concerning Latin America: speaking Spanish, the latin dances... I also study English and Portuguese. Now I’m in Greece for 6 months to do an EVS project and hopefully discover this country in the best way possible! Roque

Viva! I’m the short guy with dreadlocks who is coming from northern Portugal. For the next 10 months I’ll be spending my time in Kalamata as a volunteer in K.A.NE.. I came into this adventure so I could meet new people, a different and new culture and to learn Greek. I’d to share with others all my knowledge, interests and beliefs. If you like sunsets, swimming, nature, hiking and listening to music, what are waiting for?! Join me!

Uxía

Hola mundo! My name is Uxía Gómez and I am a 24 years-old girl. I am Argentinian but I have lived in the south of Spain since I was six… and now I’ll be in Kalamata for the next two months as a volunteer in the Kefiap Center. I am so excited about being a volunteer here because I just graduated my studies in Pedagogy. I love being in the nature, hiking and sharing good moments. I believe that humanity and knowledge is developed mostly in the contact with the others. Hiya! My name is Zuzanna, but literally nobody calls me Zuzanna that - you can use Zuza, please and thank you! I am a vo-

lunteer in the Kalamata dog shelter, ready to give all the love to the dogs. In my free time I like making music, drawing, reading books and poetry. I am currently on my gap year between high school and university, so I decided to travel and help those in need. 5

STAFF Filaretos

Hello, I am Filaretos Vourkos. For the last 15 years I am working in the field of Non-formal education as a volunteer, youth worker and youth trainer. 10 years ago,I decided to create the Youth Centre of Kalamata, in order to initiate youth work in Kalamata and promote active citizenship as factor for change.

Jelena

Hi, I’m Jelena Scepanovic,an EVS coordinator in K.A.NE. and a volunteer of the Youth center. I came from Montenegro in 2012 as an EVS volunteer. I really liked the idea of the youth center and the work that K.A.NE. does, so I decided to stay and be part of it.

Nantiana

My name is Nantiana Koutiva and i am working in K.A.NE. as a project manager and EVS coordinator. I have studied greek philology and I am teacher of greek language as well. I love travelling and organizing festivals.

Nancy

Hello World! I’m Nancy and I’m working in K.A.NE. since 2017 as a Project Manager and EVS/ESC coordinator. I’m passionate about meeting new people and exchange knowledge, experiences and ideas. I love the fact that many young people visit every year my hometown Kalamata and contribute to our society.

Georgia

Hello, my name is Georgia Griva. For the past few years I am a youth worker and project manager. This journey in youth field started in 2014 with my first youth exchange and my EVS in Istanbul. I am proud to be member of K.A.NE. which represents my vision and my values as human and as an active citizen.

What do you think about giving people a second chance?

Roque

They exist to be given. I believe that it is impossible to know someone’s behavior or way of thinking about certain point just because at the first chance something went wrong. People make mistakes and it’s up to us to give a second chance so that mistake can be corrected or explained.

Agathe

I don’t really understand why this question exist. Isn´t it obvious that at some point everyone is lost and struggling with life. Life is about trying every day, failing and falling and then trying again. How can we learn if we don’t fail?

Uxía

Alicja

It’s always worth giving someone a second chance because maybe someday we’ll need it ourselves.

Have you never made a bad decision? Have you never been wrong in your relationship? I don’t think anyone can say that he always does things correctly, so second chances are necessary - although you always have to look at the case as objectively as possible-. We must look at ourselves a little before we judge others.

Catarina

Zuzanna

Nobody’s perfect. Everybody makes mistakes. So I believe in giving people a second chance. But at the same time, it depends on the actions of the person.

I think giving people second chances is a good thing if this is well thought. Not everyone deserves a second chance and there are some people who are never going to change, that’s why you should always think it through.

Chloé

I believe that everyone has the right to redemption and especially because we are all humans and all the same. People should not be treated differently, your background should not impact your life. Some people come from disaster-stricken places, so are they doomed? Let’s talk about fairness and equality of opportunity.

What do giving jects a

Francesca

Aghate

I think it’s very important to give people a second chance because we all make mistakes and so we should have the chance to make up for our mistakes.

you think about products/ obsecond chance?

I think it is necessary to go back into this way of thinking. We have been over consuming for the last decades, and it is time we get back to essentials by reusing our stuff and repairing it instead of throwing it away.

Lea

From my point of view, it is kind of important to give other people a second chance because it is natural that we disappoint other human beings as everybody has different expectations. I do not want to stop believing that people can change to the better.

Alicja

The second chance for items is half the garbage, also creating something special and unique.

Catarina

Absolutely Yes! Giving products a second chance is a way to reduce our environmental footprint significantly!

Mariana

Give everything you got on the first chance. Do it like there is no second chance. Be kind, be fair.

Chloé

I think if everyone gave a little. There would probably be less war so less trouble and everyone would live in harmony.

Matilde

I think everyone should have a second chance because people can change. It is also true that it depends on situations and people.

Francesca

I think that giving objects a second chance is something we should all do today, such as recycling or reusing clothes and books. First of all, to have a more sustainable lifestyle, but also because I think that objects have a history and therefore have an added value.

Patrycja

I think in most cases everyone deserves a second chance. Everyone has ever made a mistake and will probably make it many more times. The main thing is go ahead and not waste time for a future that cannot be changed.

Opinion Mariana

Catarina

Lea

Giving objects a second chance, for example by upcycling, is a really nice way of reducing waste. I hope that in the future more people will reuse and reduce their consume instead of buying new stuff all the time.

Chloé

Matilde

This give the means to succeed this surpass, if the commitment to change is visible. The doors must not be closed.

We need to change our mindset related to objects. When you are throwing something away you are throwing it to some place. We need to care about objects, about reusing, recycling and reducing them.

In the first place, admit when you make a mistake. Second, apologize. Third, you have to be willing to change. You cannot expect to be given a second chance if your attitude is constantly the same. This give the means to succeed this surpass, if the commitment to change is visible. The doors must not be closed.

Francesca

If a project doesn’t work, I think that it doesn’t need a second chance.

Lea

Patrycja

I think it is necessary that you show effort in some kind of way so that the person sees that you really want to make up the mistake you made before. I think that it is also important to “analyze” your behavior and see at which point you could have done better in order to know how to behave better the next time, regardless if you are being given the second chance or not.

Roque

Until the nowadays products and objects were mostly seen as single usage items, which in my point of view makes no sense at all. We spend a huge amount of time and resources to produce something that we use it once. The solution is upcycling and/ or fix every single product and object. Maybe that bike is not finished yet, maybe those shoes can be fixed, think about it.

Mariana

Be willing to do better next time and consider the potential for the future.

Matilde

I think that people have to want a second chance and let other see this.

Uxía

The world is going to hell because of the thinking “Objects and products are exclusively for one use.”, because most people believe that the normal thing is to use it once and throw them away. Please review our concept of normality and think about the difficulty for the planet to produce the items we use.

Patrycja

Zuzanna

First of all, the most important thing is to recognize that we have made something wrong. After that the path may vary but the goal is the same in any kind of situation – to correct the mistakes and the impacts from the first given chance.

I think that you must learn from mistakes and try not to make these mistakes again. Honest conversation and apologies are also very important.

Roque

Recycling for the win!!! Our planet is not in its best condition and we should take every opportunity to not make the situation worse.

What do you need to do to be given a second chance?

Uxía

Understand my mistakes, apologize to the person or people that I was mistaken and get ready for a change of attitude.

Aghate

Understand my mistakes, recognize my faults and be ready to act for change.

Zuzanna

Apologizing and understanding our previous mistakes is crucial for being given a second chance. You can never improve your actions if you do not think about them and let people know that you realize you’ve made mistakes.

Alicja

When we try hard and really care about being given a second chance, it will be available to us.

Second chances in music In the wonderful world of music, the subject most talked about is probably love. And in this great category related subjects such as deception, breakups, betrayals, and more are included inevitably. All those things lead to the question of forgiveness and of granting second chances to our partners. In those songs, the artists empty their bags, everyone has an opinion and if some artists beg for a second chance, others are intransigent and are the ones refusing or maybe giving a second chance to others. A lot of songs are about begging forgiveness, but let’s explore all those different points of view. The ones that are so in love that they offer to wait until they die (almost) for their ex-lover to change his/her mind: Take a chance on me - ABBA: If you change your mind I’m the first in line Honey, I’m still free Take a chance on me Bring it on home to me - Sam Cooke: If you ever change your mind About leaving, leaving me behind Oh, oh, bring it to me Bring your sweet loving Second chance - Caribou: Just tell me if you want my love Cause oh you know that I keep on waiting The basic “Forgive me I was wrong”: Forgive me - Louis Prima : Forgive me for all the pain I’ve caused you forgive me for unkind words I’ve said I thought once that I could live without you I’m paying with the broken heart instead Another chance - Above and beyond : All I ask for is another chance The “let’s try a new perspective, it’s not that bad”: Everybody gets a second chance - Mike + The mechanics: Does this condemn me Lock me away?

I will now use the following, easy going duet, as transition towards the intransigeants ones: Go away - Weezer : HER: Stupid boy, you keep on begging but I won’t let you in You keep on crying but you know what you did I’ll never let you back in HIM: I was wrong, I hurt your feelings when I did what I did I learned my lesson I’ll stop acting like a kid Can you give me one more chance? HER: So I ask, what did she have that I don’t have? You said you’d stay but then you went away That’s why I’m telling you to go away The very classic ”Kicking you out of my place”: Hit the road Jack - Ray Charles : Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back No more, no more, no more, no more The “Crawl back to me, I am not even looking”: I like it - Cardy B : I like sexes from exes when they want a second chance The fatalist lesson: Second chance - Peter Bjorn and John: You can’t can’t count on a second chance The second chance will never be found Hopefully, some leave it to chance with optimism: We’ll meet again - The Birds: We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when But I know we’ll meet again some sunny day Ultimately, as an answer to all humans relationships issues: You need a dog - Las Aves: - I wish i could find real love someday - you need a dog, you need a fucking dog Author: Agathe

Second chance for cats Is it fair and worth it to make the effort to give a new life to another being, even if they don’t want it? Even if it is not a human being, “only” a cat or another animal? Imagine a parking space on the highway. A few, small kittens stay close to their mother. They are hungry, but still feel safe with their mother. There are people who know that they can’t stay there, that their mother won’t protect them from the coming winter, frost and torrential rain. Cats must be caught, even if they escape as quickly as possible, even if they fight with sharp teeth and claws. People don’t give up and want a new home for cats at all costs. They want to help. And then the kittens get a new life. But a new start is never easy. They stay hidden in the darkest corner of the new home, they do not trust anyone. They do not like people; they do not trust them like their mother taught them. They even are not grateful for their lives being saved. But does that really mean that one has to give up? After cleaning up the next poo, after spending more money on medicines, throw it away because cats don’t want a second chance? Fortunately, people are patient, and slowly, step by step, they achieve to tame the little cats. And one day, a big cat will jump on their owners knees, look them in the eye and silently tell them that they love them. Was it worth giving them a new life? To give them a second chance? Let me tell you: IT IS WORTH IT! If you do not have the opportunity to adopt a cat, but you have enough time, then you can join many foundations or shelters where you could look after the animals and spend time with them a couple of hours per week so that they can get used to people. Even though you are not adopting a cat, you can still do a lot of good in this way to those little kittens.

Author: Alicja

Sustainable fashion Give old clothes a second chance!

It probably happens to all of us at a certain point in our lives: our clothes are either fallen to pieces, they do not fit anymore or need slight changes. And the easiest option is to just toss them away and buy new ones from one of plenty cheap fast fashion brands. And then they break again in a short time or are “out of fashion”. But what if we do not look at our garments as disposable goods but instead give them a second try by getting them repaired or upcycled? In the textile industry, 13,1 million tons of textiles are thrown away worldwide every year. Only a very small percentage of it is either recovered for recycling or reuse. The rest is going straight into landfills occupying 5% of its all space. If only we knew that a whopping 11 000 liters of water are used for the production of each pair of jeans which is enough to drink for 14 consecutive years. What’s more, the textile industry accounts for 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions – that’s more than international aviation and shipping combined. Our actions as a textile industry purchasers have a tremendous effect on our environment. By changing our habits and attitude towards our clothes we can reduce our environmental footprint significantly. Besides, by re-creating your clothes you increase their lifecycles and learn how to sustain your life independently. So, what you can do in the first place is: reduce - donating some unwanted clothes is good, but reducing how many new clothes we buy is even better! Second, it’s always better to reuse than buy new. Instead of buying a whole new wardrobe for Christmas, for going to the church or for going on a date, why not buy in Second hand clothes? In Kalamata there are at least 2 amazing shops! And you are not only helping the environment by buying second hand clothes, but helping your wallet too, because the prices are way more affordable! And this way you can reuse something that has been loved and donated. Last but not least, recycle! When clothes have finished their life in your wardrobe – give them a new lease of life. Clothing can be recycled in many ways. But it’s also important to do it right. Old clothing is not accepted in curbside recycling carts, but can find a new home in another place. Also, keep in mind that purchasing high-quality, sustainable products will save you more time, money and effort from repairing them several times to increase their lifetime. It is in your hands to value garments not just as frequently disposable things, but as life companions which could serve us much longer than a few months or a season. Author: Catarina

Risky chance Migrants risk everything for having a chance to a better life. If your life could be better elsewhere, wouldn’t you be leaving too? Well, maybe, if your life depended on it, you would, no? Across the EU, various promising initiatives have sprung up to support young migrants to become part of the European society, following the large-scale influx of migrants and refugees to the EU. Many young migrants and refugees came to the EU since 2015 when migration numbers peaked. Upon arrival, many roughly sleeped and many children and young people often received no education. Nearly 2 million people have received international protection since then, and many of them are really young. As they are likely to stay and settle in the EU, successful integration and inclusion is really important and will ultimately be a big benefit for Europe and as well as for the newly-arrived young people. There is some int gration boost the member countries are using in order to help, especially young refugees, to integrate succesfully. These range from social services in Swedish municipalities guiding unaccompanied children turning 18 as they move to independent flats, an ‘advice café’ in Bremen, Germany, offering counselling and information to young refugees to an Austrian scheme providing tailored support to help young adults find appropriate training and internships.

But Member States should do more. They need to provide support and opportunities that will enable young refugees to fully engage in society. This includes: • Improving access to education and employment; • Enabling family reunification; • Providing long-term housing solutions; • Offering social assistance as well as mental health support to cope with the trauma of having fled, travelled and arrived in a foreign country.

In 2015 and 2016, countries were unprepared and were not equipped to manage the sudden and large numbers of arrivals to the EU. Although numbers have fallen, migration still remains a contentious societal and political issue, and the challenge will remain. Refugee youth will only be able to fully take part in society, if the member states take the necessary steps to improve the integration and inclusion process. In doing so they can help ensure we do not lose, but instead gain, a whole bright new generation.

A migrant is rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by a member of Proactiva Open Arms NGO some 20 nautical miles north of Libya on October 3, 2016. Hundreds of thousands of migrants from Africa and the Middle East continue to make their way to Europe, fleeing poverty, war, and chaos in their home countries. More than 3,000 are known to have died on the journey across the Mediterranean Sea this year alone. Thousands are now racing to make the dangerous crossing before summer ends, as European authorities and non-governmental organizations struggle to rescue and accommodate the influx. I think everyone has a right to the redemption. Special assistance needs to be offered to rejected migrants, especially to those in detention. Help people who want to get out of it, they should not be put away.

Author: ChloĂŠ

Second ecological chances I believe in second chances, both when we talk about people and when we talk about objects and materials. There are countless ways to give a second chance.

Giving objects and materials a second chance means giving them a new life and reusing them for new purposes. Today, inordinate consumerism and non-recyclable materials have created great damage to the environment. We can give a second chance to a plastic bottle that can be transformed into various objects, such as a trash can and caps in jewelry or magnets. With the reuse of the fabric we can create bags, cases and cell phone holders. With the recycling of wood and in particular pallets, we can create furniture structures. An example is the project of an Italian boy, AR.CO wood workshop, which through the reuse of pallets has created a real eco-design project to build sustainable and scenic structures that give the context a unique and natural design. Californian artist Gregory Lincoln Kloehn has also started a project with the aim of building small mobile homes for the homeless in Oakland by reusing waste materials, waste and abandoned objects. Among these materials are the pallets that make up the load-bearing structure, the pizza cartons as insulation and all have wheels to make them easy to transport and thus allow the homeless to continue to lead their nomadic lifestyle. 16

Ecodesign means designing and manufacturing sustainable products whilst paying special attention to their impact on the environment in order to improve the quality of the environment and the home in which we live. Ecodesign means giving an ecological approach to design, which encourages people to act more responsibly. The responsibility, this type of design is based on, is not only an environmental one, it is also an ethical and social one too. Eco-designing means conceiving and producing design objects with the well-being of the environment and society in mind. The principles of eco-design apply to all phases of the productâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life cycle with the aim of reducing its overall environmental impact: from the supply and use of raw materials, which must be reusable, biodegradable, recyclable and non-toxic, and preferably found locally; to their processing in the production process and distribution, in terms of energy efficiency (reduced energy consumption in the production phase) and reduced environmental impact. The consumption of the product and the possibility of reuse also contribute to defining it as eco-friendly and sustainable: in fact, the life cycle of the product must be extended to the maximum, through potentially infinite recycling and reuse.

I believe that we should all give a second chance to the products and materials we use in order to live more sustainably and with less waste.

Author: Francesca

Adoption Adoption: Giving children a second chance for family life. A big step for everyone involved. There are various reasons why parents decide to give up their children for adoption. Either because of an unplanned and/or unwanted pregnancy, problems inside the family structures, the fear, to fail as a parent or even not having enough financial resources to assure the well-being of the children - but those are only some of the many reasons which can lead to the case that the biological parents decide not to raise their child. Luckily, there are also many reasons to adopt one of those abandoned children. Adoption is all about giving a second chance. Mostly, the child is given a second chance - within the process of the adoption, the child regains the opportunity to be part of a secure and stable family structure under legal certainty. The main task in every adoption is to find suitable parents which care for the well-being of the child and which assure therefore important circumstances in order to create a healthy and adequate environment for the child which suits the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs. As big as this second chance through adoption is, as big is the responsibility for everyone involved: All parties involved have to show enough effort and enough will to make the adoption work and to create, hopefully, a strong, reliable and most important loving and caring family all together. Even though adoption always puts the well-being of the child at the top of the aims, adopting a child can also be a second chance for the people, who are becoming parents through the adoption: Maybe it is impossible for them to become parents in the biological way because of infertility or other reasons. And even though the adopted child is not their biological child, they still get the opportunity to build a family, transmit important values and raise a child into a wonderful human being. 43 % of the kids given up for adoption are being adopted within their first year of living. Another 34.6% of the children get adopted between the age of one and two. Only a small percentage gets adopted after the age of two: 13.5% of the adopted children were given a new home between the ages 5 to 9 and only 8.4% of the children were adopted after the age of 9. Those numbers are the result of an European survey of the 13 Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden and the UK). Another Survey between those members deals with different type of adoption especially in Europe: The most common one is the domestic adoption, where as well as the parents-to-be and the adopted child are part from the same nation and residences in the same country. The second most common type of adoption in the European Union is the Intercountry Adoption, which means that the origin of the parents is not being paid attention to, the most important thing in this kind is that the child has to change its place of residence. The third option is the International Adoption, in which the nationality of the parents is a different one than the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one. In this third type there is no attention being paid to the residence of the child. Sadly, although adoption always can be a win-win situation, less people adopt a child these days. The numbers of kids being adopted continuously decreases. Hopefully, more people start to see a big chance for everyone in Adoption and start to help building new families. Author: Lea

Second chance for prisioners Is it fair to give the prisoners a second chance? I asked myself this question before I started writing this article. By doing a lot of research, I understood that the answer could not be just black or white. It has been proven that in 68% of cases the prisoners return to commit crime and only the remaining 32% no longer commit crime. So at first glance the answer seems to be really simple: Prisoners should not be given a second chance and should always be excluded from society. But why? In most prisons,the logic of subtraction determines the prisoners lives. All their freedoms, all the concrete objects that make the detainee feel like a person and not like an outlaw are being restrained and taken away from them. This way of thinking changes the detainee to something, which is kind of similar to an automaton - unable to feel emotions and distinguish the right thing from the wrong one. Those restrictions and the way most detainees are treated kind of teaches them not to be part of the society anymore as they in fat are excluded from society and all the values that mostly determine a life in a society. From this point of view it is understandable why 68% of prisoners commit crimes just after getting out of prison. I was asking myself: Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it a good idea to take responsibility and make the prisoner feel like a human being? Why is this not happening? You will tell me that by breaking the law he has lost all his rights, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true, but no one can deprive another human being of the right to life - and there is a big difference between living and simply surviving. Prisoners are human beings who are part of society and must be included and protected as such.

Author: Matilde

Swapping Swapping is giving a second chance

In the era of consumerism itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very interesting to see social movements that contradict this tendency. We have zero waste advocates, second hand shops and websites and now there is a new trend that to gain power all over the world: the swapping movement. They can be organized to swap all kinds of things but generally the focus is on clothing. Taking in consideration this more common movement, cloth swapping is a type of event where participants exchange their valuable, but no longer used clothing for others they will use. Clothes swaps are considered not only a good way to refill oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wardrobe but are considered as an act of environmentalism. The notion of swapping is not a new concept, however many groups and organizations are gaining some relevance nowadays. Clothes swaps originated in San Francisco, California, with events hosted by Suzanne Agasi in the late nineties. Online clothes swapping has also become popular, with websites and apps offering an environmentally friendly and frugal alternative to shopping or second hand shops. So why can this movement been seen as an eco-friendly initiative? Well, buying new clothes isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly the kindest thing we can do for our planet. Every piece of new clothing can be the product of several chemicals and dyes, all of which can be harmful to the earth, air and groundwater. By buying fair-trade, eco-friendly and organic clothes - which of course is better for the people and the environment - can be expensive and can also have a bad impact on nature. For example, you maybe will not find always eco-friendly brands around you and you need to order from cities or countries far away and therefore transportation pollution will be created. Also there are still tons of clothes that end up in landfills, even considering all the advantages that people can take from thrift stores, recycling or upcycling their clothes.

So, a clothing swap is a meeting where people get together to swap clothes, accessories and other stuff they want to get rid off one the one hand, but also to give those products a new life. And it’s throughout this movement that you are giving a second chance to some belongings that you don’t use, or you don’t like it anymore or even if it doesn’t fit you, but that eventually will be the dream of someone else! Things that might seem old to you will be brand new for another person. Plus, you are saving money! And it’s so easy to organize! 1. Set the rules: In order for the event to be funny, fair and effective, you should set up some rules like a maximum number of pieces to swap - for example 10 - and the conditions of the clothes - clean, with good quality and in good shape. 2. Prepare the space: Set up some tables and hangers and create a space where people feel comfortable and can look around easily. It’s also important to have some private spaces where people can try on some pieces. 3. Promote it: Invite your friends and family and their families! Use social media and other platforms. Explain the rules in advance so everyone is in the same mood. Try to create some variety - women, men, children and different sizes - to turn your swapping as rich as possible. 4. Donate: In the end, if there are some spare clothes that were not adopted, just donate them to charity! As part of an eco-friendly movement, clothing swaps can also be a great moment to create awareness of the impact of consumerism and the harm that some specific industries are creating to the planet. So if you want to take a step further and give a stronger meaning to the swap movement, take advantage of this moment to share some numbers or books and documentaries about this issues or even to organize some upcycling workshops and debates. The magic about this kind of events is that it can be held not only for clothes but also for a lot of other things like books, children’s toys or household items, for example. It’s an amazing way of giving a second chance - or a second life! - to things that you don’t use anymore. At the same time you are saving a lot of money and you are also being kind to the planet by not buying brand new items whose production has a huge negative impact on the environment.

Author: Mariana

Giving ourselves a second chance

We often hear about second chances, giving them both to other people and to various products or objects, but many people forget that it is equally important to give a second chance to ourselves. From childhood we are taught that we should be the best at everything, that we should be punished for making a mistake. Children learn this at home, at school and then in other areas of life. This causes us to impose guilt, shame and punish ourselves. Very often it is us who are the hardest judges for ourselves. People should finally learn to give themselves a second chance and understand that mistakes are human and when you make it, you should get up and go further, not look into the past and worry about something that cannot be changed anymore. The same applies to the acquisition of new skills. People want to be the best at things that are just starting to learn right away. Often, after a few unsuccessful attempts, they give up without giving themselves another chance and forgetting that it is the practice that makes the master. Thanks to such an approach, in some cases it causes that people do not even try other things, because from the beginning they assume that they will not be able to do it anyway, so why try at all. Although it is difficult to change our minds and to destroy the barriers that have been built up in our heads, it is necessary to fight against it. Life is only one and it is a pity to waste it on your uncertainties or fears. And if something doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work out, you have to give yourself a second chance.

Author: Patrycja

A second forced chance? These images are showing emigrants with cardboard suitcases in the 60s who left Spain to America in search of work and a better life than the one they know in Spain. However, this phenomenon happens again in Spain but now the countries of destination are northern European countries and not the United States anymore. Although Spain has never been a work-stable country, nobody ever imagined that the consequences of the 2008 crisis would leave more than 5 million people unemployed and that it would be so difficult for young people to find work. Currently, youth unemployment in Spain is more than 40%. According to the press, around 300.00 young and trained people have left the country since the beginning of the 2008 crisis. According to the labor reform approved by the new government, during the first year of the contract, small and medium-sized companies may fire the worker without compensation or cause. This means more precarious and temporary employment, or the exile of young people to countries where jobs are not that precarious.

The number of young people in Spain is inexorably reducing. One of the consequences is the increasingly low birth rate, but obviously the high unemployment figures – it’s somehow understandable: When the income is unstable and people don’t even know how to afford their own life, how should they be able to afford to raise a child? The number of young people who take more than two years to find a job has increased fivefold compared to the numbers before the crisis.

The worst of this situation is not knowing how long it will last. Most of the young people flee to other countries as a temporary solution. They plan to work on the outside of Spain for a few years until the crisis passes and then to return home and look for a job there. However, what awaits young Spaniards? Is this migration a second chance to train in our first years of working life? Or should they create a life outside? Maybe the question is… Is it easier to find a second chance in another country than to fight for change the situation in the own country? Is it even possible to change the situation of the country?

Author: Uxía

Offer youself a second chan Self-confidence is something that we carry since the very first moment of our lives. From the first step, to the first day at the school or the first job, everything requires us to trust in ourselves to move forward and get out of our comfort zone. However, we might not be able to do those things at the first try.

As we all know, life is everything but perfect and sometimes, if not in the majority of them, we are not able to accomplish our goal at the first attempt. Because of that, in certain situations/ circumstances, our self-confidence to go ahead with our actions might be affected. Might happened that we didn’t get that job promotion or simply, we didn’t manage to go on that trip that we really wanted to take for so long now. This is where second chances topic comes in, in a way to play an important whole on how we deal with our behavior and will t keep on trying to do something that we really want to achieve. Luckily, we were given the ability to believe that yes, we can do something if we keep on trying and pushing our limits to take our projects and ideas further. Surely, if we do not have the knowledge or experience in certain topic, we may fail at the first try and most probably we will feel sad and not capable to keep on moving forward and keep trying until the time we actually manage to achieve what we were looking for. It can happen that we become frustrated, maybe because we felt down, and for that reason we can’t even understand that all we need is to give ourselves a second chance to face the problem which made us to not believe for 100% on our abilities and capacity to face the unknown, the adventure or the situation. As expected, if we do not feel well with our life, with our own behavior or with what we have accomplished, most probably we won’t feel good in dealing with those who surround us and whom we love and appreciate so much. Maybe by presenting my own experience during the last two year I can make this easier to understand. That was the time that took me to understand that I should give myself and second chance and raise my self-confidence. For the first half I was working in a job position that I really liked to be at. Everything looked good, I was in a placed I liked to live at, doing things I liked to do and meeting new people from a different town than mine. However, I didn’t feel like I could stay working at this job, simply because I couldn’t identify my values with the ones that the company had. Then, I decided to move to another job and due to this new opportunity, I had to move back to the place I born at. Everything looked great in this new experience that I was taking. I was working with some of my relatives, I was close to my family and my friends in the place that I love to be at. But, guess what? For some reason it didn’t work as good as I expected it to work. Maybe I had set high expectations for this, or maybe I just needed something else to motivate me.

nce I new I was missing something, something that would actually make me happy and that would keep me motivated every single day, while giving me the opportunity to change myself in different aspects. I needed to get out of my comfort zone, to go abroad maybe, or to do something that wouldn’t make me to work for someone’s profit. I was feeling sad, disappointed and not able to challenge myself. For some reason the first time that I tried something new it didn’t work out properly and somehow, I stop believing in myself and in my capabilities surely because everything looked a mess. I need to give myself a second chance then. I needed to strength my self-confidence because it was damage due to the first experience I was having. I start to believe that I could do more, to help others and above all, I could feel happy and fulfilled while doing this. Now, after a month in Greece I feel that I gave myself a second change and for sure it worth it because I’m happy and I feel that here I can make the difference, because I decided to come to a different country to challenge myself while helping another community very different than mine. Everyone looks happy and thankful whenever I give my contribute but one thing they don’t know – I’m the one who is feeling grateful. Because of the second change I decided to give to my self-confidence I came in this adventure that they are part of and so they are the ones who are actually making this to work so far.

This is just one of the several possible scenarios in which a second change for ourselves is a great idea, a must take or a must do. It doesn’t really matter if it is an object, a person, a product or even ourselves, it just matters that second chances exist to be given and, in the majority of the cases, they do bring us better things. Even if just because, when taking them, we carry the luggage of knowledge that we took from the first attempt.

Author: Roque

Veganism Veganism – the second chance for our planet.

Let’s make it clear – the Earth is dying. You can see it in the news, you can read it in the newspaper, you can hear it in conversations, and most importantly, you can see it with your bare eyes everywhere around you. Our natural resources has become extremely limited, the air is polluted to the point it has never been before. Human-caused climate change has already been proven to increase the risk of floods and extreme rainfall, heat waves and wildfires with implications for humans, animals and the environment. We are on the edge of a natural disaster, a global apocalypse. So what could we possibly do to prevent the disastrous changes? GO VEGE! The answer is easier than you could ever imagine. Going vegan has a huge impact on every aspect of the environment, human health and economy. Something as simple as changing your diet may be an answer to many bad things happening globally right now, at this exact moment. You may think that it does not concern you. That it is none of your business and not your decision to make, not your problem to solve. Although, if you do not feel responsible for the mess that has been made by companies and other people to provide you everything you use in your everyday life, are you really authorized in any way to call yourself a member of the intelligent, superior race? THE PLANET IS DYING... and the scale of damage is unimaginable. Did you know that: • one of the biggest glaciers of Iceland has melted completely and lost its status as a glacier, for the first time in history? • Indonesia has to move its capital because the current one is sinking due to rising sea level? • there is more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere than any time in human history? • and that we will consume all of Earth’s natural resources for this year by July 29, which is almost two times faster than twenty years ago? And of course, there is much more. Moreover, a major report on land use and climate change by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says the West’s high consumption of meat and dairy produce is fueling global warming.

Feeding massive amounts of grain and water to farmed animals and then killing them and processing, transporting, and storing their flesh is extremely energy-intensive. And forests — which absorb greenhouse gases — are cut down in order to supply pastureland and grow crops for farmed animals. Finally, the animals themselves and all the manure that they produce release even more greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. It is clearly visible that eating animal products and meat fuels the global warming and greenhouse gases emission. Reducing this products in your diet may be the easiest and most effective answer to all this mess and a second chance for our dying planet. According to scientists, if everyone in the world went vegetarian, we could cut our emissions by 60% - this rises to 70% if everyone went vegan.

TOO DIFFICULT...? So... how to actually do this? It can seem a daunting task, as switching to a plant-based diet is a big shift in our well-established routines. But keep in mind that you’ll make a difference simply by having at least one meat free day each week! Small steps work the best for many people. Why not try having a Meat Free Monday? It’s an easy way to increase the amount of plant-based foods in your diet and can be a stepping stone to a bigger change. Remember there’s a whole world of vegan recipes to experience, and taking the leap into veganism isn’t nearly as scary as the prospect of irreversible damage to our planet.

Author: Zuzanna

Interview EVS Volunteer

Why did you choose to go on EVS? It was both a personal choice and an opportunity that presented itself, I was trying to get out of my comfort zone when I was contacted by an organization through the European Solidarity Corps website, in the end I didn’t participate in that project but I decided to apply to another one... and here I am.

Name: Rodrigo Pea Barbeiro Nationality: Spanish Hosting City: Lisboa PORTUGAL Hosting NGO: Mais Cidadania

Could you describe your EVS experience in three words and ex- Are you plain why you selected them? perience Society, participation, youth. I think these words represent the main idea of my hosting organization and my project. Their goal is to engage the citizenship, especially young people for them to make their own choices and participate in the democracy.

happy

with

your exgeneral?

I would say so, I think my project has several tasks which makes it more interesting. On one part, office work, which can also be useful. Then we have events and workshops and activities with local youngsters. Also, it’s important to feel valued by your hosting organization, which I guess it’s my case. The working environment is great, and I think I got to see many different aspects of the organization so far.

Can you name three things from your host country that are completely different from your home country? The topic for the new LINK edition is I don’t think I couldn’t. I believe it’s more like a number “Second Chances” for both, people and of small things which are different so it hasn’t been a great products/ objects. Have you ever gicultural shock so far. ven a person a second chance? Why? Yes, many times. For personal reasons. It doesn’t always go well, but I believe it’s worth the risk because I would like to have the same opportunities for myself in those cases. At least give the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and change or improve. If we don’t give second chances it means we don’t believe in people anymore, which is a sad view.

Do you think that your EVS experience is beneficial for you? Why?

Of course! I would always argue that the mere fact of living abroad on your own is beneficial for everybody, but particularly an EVS experience. You get to expand your background or just participate in activities you wouldn’t be able to do otherwise, learn a new language and culture and if you are lucky, help others and feel useful for the society. Experiences that will be of terrific value when you finish your project.

How about for the local community? Do you think volunteers are valuable for them? Why?

I’d say it depends on your particular project. In my case, the fact that international volunteers like us take part in the different events and activities may encourage local youngster to have their own experiences, both on local and international volunteering.

Do you thing that by giving products/ objects a second change we would be contributing in solving some overconsumption issues? Why?

I guess it’s only one part of the solution, but a really important one and we have to start somewhere. Recycling or finding other uses for old or broken objects teaches a good lesson for everyone, against the modern trend of “buy, use and throw away”, which is just not substantiable.

Author: Roque

My sending NGO Bona Fides | Poland

Bona Fides is public benefit organization which has been actively building and supporting groups of inhabitants and local leaders for more than 15 years by teaching local leaders how to conduct an open and effective dialogue with inhabitants and non-governmental organizations and also by enabling young people to gain new experience through volunteering. The association is seated in Katowice and focuses its attention in particular on this city. Still, they also carry out activities throughout Poland. The main aim is that Polish villages and small towns, and cities will be pleasant places to live in and which are also open to the needs of their inhabitants. Bona Fides realizes their mission through: activities aiming to encourage inhabitants to participate in the life of their villages, country towns and cities; organizing activities in order to support local authorities in building a social dialogue and in general organizing activities and events which involve young people. Within the European Solidarity Corps - before: European Voluntary Service - Bona Fides sends young volunteers to Europe but also works as hosting organization for volunteers from various parts of Europe. Through volunteering activities, the volunteers have the opportunity to gain new competences, develop their passions and create civic sense.

Author: Patrycja

Events PREVIOUS EVENTS Registrations at Kentro Neon Kalamatas

The Youth Centre finally opens it doors! After renovating the ground and first floor, the registrations @KNK started on Monday, the 30th of September 2019. Until Thursday of the same week the citizens of Kalamata could register and join up various classes - either online or directly @KNK with the help of the volunteers. On the first day, already more than 190 people signed up for classes for the next four months. The offer ranges from art to language to sport classes and more. We hope that the students as well as the volunteering teachers will enjoy the classes and that the next for month will be full of fun! At this point, we also want to focus on the classes we as EVS volunteers give! Mariana and Catarina will offer the beginner’s Portuguese Class, while Roque will support the advanced Portuguese speakers in his own class. Lea will give a German Class for beginners as well as the “Green Kalamata” class. Check out the timetables, the offered classes and especially the project descriptions of the classes offered by the EVS volunteers on the next pages!

Beginning of the classes at Kentro Neon Kalamatas

Society, participation, youth. I think these words represent the main idea of my hosting organization and my project. Their goal is to engage the citizenship, especially young people for them to make their own choices and participate in the democracy.

Welcoming Event at Kentro Neon Kalamatas

I don’t think I couldn’t. I believe it’s more like a number of small things which are different so it hasn’t been a great cultural shock so far.

3rd Kalamata’s Choir Festival

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get this party started! On Friday, the 18th of October 2019, the Opening Party took place @KNK. Everybody was welcomed by heart to join the party and everybody had fun. Many friends gathered at the building while having some beers and listening to good music.

“My project” Daycare Center for Autistic Children Hey!!! I’ve been in Kalamata for 8 months now and my ESC project lasts for 11 months. My main task is assisting in the daily running of the day care center for kids (ages between 3-18) with autism. This center is an association between teachers, parents, friends and 35 children are part of it. There are prospects of expanding the space, since this is the only center in the Peloponnese region specialized in autism. On the first day, the first impression I had was that the people who work there love what they do! They want to do more and better, and they also seek to be constantly improving. So the fact that I’m working in a healthy work environment makes me feel even more motivated. My main tasks in the center are assisting in the therapeutic activities, as an observer and/or as a personal assistant. In the future, I hope to do my own activities, but for that to happen it is essential to learn the language. Fortunately, my hosting organization provides Greek lessons and, without a doubt, one of my ambitions is to learn the language! The purpose of the different activities is to help the child to communicate, to interact with other people and thus to learn new skills. I realised that each one of them are different! At this moment my biggest challenge is to understand the needs, interests and stage of development of each child. The part of verbal communication, particularly with therapists and not with children, has been very challenging. Some therapists don’t speak English and sometimes is complicated to understand or pass on the message. The way that I communicate with the kids is through Keywords (which I learned in the first week and it is essential) and visual support. This type of alternative communication consists of teaching children to select images, for instance as a way of asking for something or answering a question. Every day, the therapists organize a visual routine for each child, and my role also goes through assisting in this procedure.

THE VOLUNTEERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PUBLICATION ARE HOSTED IN GREECE IN THE FRAMEWORK OF TH EUROPEAN ERASMUS+ PROGRAMME, KA1/YOUTH - EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN FUNDED WITH SUPPORT FROM THE EUROPEAN COMISSION. THIS PUBLICATION (COMMUNICATION) REFLECTS THE VIEWS ONLY OF THE AUTHOR, AND THE COMMISION CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY SE WHICH MAY BE MADE OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN.