LINK #146
Fe br u a r y 1 s t 2020
EUROPEAN UNION
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Content K.A.NE P. 4 - 6 KNOW US P. 8 P. 9 P. 10 ARTICLES P. 12 P. 14
Volunteers & Collaborators “Which one is the best / biggest benefit of the European Union?” “Do you feel well informed about the European Union?” “How do you see the European Union in 10 years?” P. 12
Working together Is European Union Collapsing?
COMPARING P. 16 Differences between Germany and Greece INTERVIEW P. 18 Interview with Local volunteer P. 20 Interview with a Erasmus+ volunteer ADVENTURE OF THE WEEK P. 22 “The French’s excursion” PLACE OF THE WEEK P. 23 IPPOSCHESI Kalamata EVENTS P. 24
P. 21
Previous & Future events
PLACE TO VISIT P. 26 Polyliminio waterfalls QUOTE OF THE WEEK P. 27 Angela Merkel’s quote SONG OF THE WEEK P. 28 “How does it feel” RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK P. 29 Pizza di Casa RECIPES P. 30 P. 31
P.v31
Spinach Pierogi Polish Paczki 2
CĂŠlia Payet Editor
Roque Ribeiro
Designer
@kane.kalamata +30 272 108 188 2
Editorial
www.kentroneon.worpress.com www.ngokane.org info@ngokane.org Salaminos 8 24100 Kalamata Greece
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Volunteers Anja
Hi! My name is Anja and I find describing myself really awkward and difficult especially because my personality is a product of a 25-years long and complex story and is evolving every second of the day. At THAT moment I can say for myself that things that make my heart sing are: when random strangers are super nice to me, diving deep into symbolism or mythology of movies, experiencing the art of being ‘’here and now,’’ reading books and making different types of art (poetry, painting), music, being mommy to green plants and being sister to two dogs.
Catarina
Hello! My name is Catarina and I’m a 21 year old girl from Portugal. After finishing my studies, I decided to stop for a year to clarify my ideas and decide what I will do next. Right now, I will be a volunteer here in Kalamata for the next six months, I’m working at KEFIAP and also at the Youth Centre. There’s not much to say about me, I’m a calm person and probably my favourite hobby is to listen some rock music while reading a book or walking around the city.
Celia
Hello! I am Celia, I come from Montpellier, a city in the south of France. Creative and volunteer I offer two months of my time to help a dog shelter association. Enthusiastic about learning every day through my work but also through new encounters and cultural sharing. So, I came to start my twentieth year in the Greek sun.
everybody! My name is Elisabetta, I’m a 22 years old itaElisabetta Hello lian girl who hates Italy and just wanted to escape for a little
bit from the ignorance and racism and homophobia and sexism typical of my country. I really have strong ideals about equality and respect towards people who are different from me and I love meeting new people and learn new things. I really enjoy music, singing and dancing even though I’m a very bad singer and dancer and I also love horses. I love being around them, I love riding them and I love taking care of them.
Hania
Kalimera! My name is Hania and I come from Poland. I am a volunteer in K.A.NE’s office and I will stay here in Kalamata for 8 months. I really like to travel, because I think life gets boring if you stay in one place for too long! One of my biggest dreams is to live for at least couple of months in several different countries, so I can truly experience other cultures – not just as a tourist.
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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.
Lucas
Hi! My name is Lucas, I am 23 years old, and I come from France. Due to family problems, I had to take a break from my studies a few years ago and I hope to resume them after my little pearl in Greece... I am here to discover new people, maybe another culture and especially to clear my mind, I work at the dog shelter for 2 months or I hope to learn a lot from others and a lot about myself.
Marlene
Hey! I’m Marlene a.k.a. Karen, from Portugal! Being in a constant process of discovering myself, I would say that, most of all, I consider myself as a very empathetic person, who loves to try to understand others. This comes with a lot of curiosity and willingness to learn and discuss about our human nature and the physics and metaphysics of everything. I am also very adventurous and a true hungry for discovery! I really love to dance, sketch & paint, and have efficient sleep time. Oh, and I am working at KEFIAP!
Marta
My name is Marta. I’m 25 years old. I’m from a small city of the southeast of Spain. I’ve recently obtained my College Degree in Social Work, and now I find myself looking for a job or a great and fruitful experience. I’m a tolerant, open-minded and passionate girl. Some interests about me: I love reading, music, tea, poetry, animals, having a time between the nature, rollerblading, and I’ve recently started climbing. I’m interested in discovering the world with my own eyes and in creating new bonds with different people. I’m a sensitive person who is also concerned and cares about environmental and social issues which are happening everyday in our reality.
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! I’m the short guy with dreadlocks who is coming from Roque Viva! northern Portugal. For the next 10 months I’ll spend 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!
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Collaborators I am Filaretos Vourkos. For the last 15 years I am working Filaretos Hello, 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.
my name is Georgia Griva. For the past few years I am a youGeorgia Hello, th 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.
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st Q U E S T I O N
Which one is the best / biggest benefit of the European Union?
Lea Peace. For sure.
Anja
Lucas
I’d say freedom- but not in an absolute philosophical sense but in a straightforward way (lots of possibilities to study/work anywhere, freedom of speech, open-mindedness,...).
All I know (‌). Marlene Safety perhaps! But at this moment, I am feeling the real benefits of having no-borders, no-visa and yes-opportunities.
Catarina New and more opportunities for everybody. Celia European cities are the least polluted in the world. Always hoping for higher standards to control our footprint and especially that they are respected. Elisabetta
Marta
The freedom that we have in travelling, studying and working in other european countries.
Easy cooperation between European Union countries, freedom and safety movements. Opportunities for travelling and studying and working abroad. Melisa Freedom of movements. Patrycja The biggest advantage, in my opinion, is the lack of borders between Uni countries and European citizenship, which makes it possible to travel, work, study and live in another country without any difficulties.
Hanja
Roque
Cooperation of the countries. I think my country benefited from joining the EU and it has developed a lot in a very short period of time.
The free exchange of people and goods, due to the inexistence of borders. Somehow it makes us all falling in love for others’ cultures.
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Lea
Do you feel nd well informed Q U E S T I O N
Yes. In school we talked a lot about the historical background of the EU, all it´s institutions and also about current politics regarding the EU. I think in school there is provided a lot of information for sure as it is an obligatory topic.
about the European Union?
Lucas No.
Anja
I feel that I’m somewhere in the middle. I’m informed as much as I want to, which means that no school provided me with information, but I had to be self-initiative enough to start learning about it by myself.
Marlene Safety perhaps! But at this moment, I am feeling the real benefits of having no-borders, no-visa and yes-opportunities.
Catarina Personally yes, but I feel like in Portugal a lot of people are not informed enough.
Marta
Celia
Easy cooperation between European Union countries, freedom and safety movements. Opportunities for travelling and studying and working abroad.
For my part, I have been well informed about its history and actions of EU at school. However, I do not find a lot of information in the media day by day.
Melisa I feel well informed about EU but it is because of my department. Even if being part of EU is always remaining on the agenda people actually does not know it’s important points. They have some biases about EU. Patrycja
Elisabetta
I think I am well informed about the European Union.
Yes, even though in middle and high school we never spoke about EU or learnt anything about it. Hanja
Roque
Yes, because I learned about its structures and history at school. I think in Poland we are also quite well informed about the opportunities of applying for grants/funding or participating in big EU projects like ESC.
I do feel well informed about EU. However the knowledge I have was mostly obtained by meeting other youngsters who are taking part in European projects and not through EU itself.
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rd Q U E S T I O N
Lea
How do you see the European Union in 10 years?
I hope that the younger generations will appreciate the work of the European Union more than most people do it nowadays and therefore that the EU has more support from the European citizens. The EU as an institution can be only as strong as their members want it to be. Lucas I (...) see it.
Anja
Marlene
I don’t have predictions but wishes: I hope it’s gonna continue to improve in ecological things, that it’s gonna be more open about minorities,...firstly, every citizen has to realize that just all together we can make great changes. If that happens, we can act on international level.
It depends on the Brexit process, I think. But I see the creation of more opportunities of youngsters at all levels. Marta I really think that the EU has a lot of benefits for the european community but I hope that they continue doing improvements and have projects to get a more equal community and also a society more environmentally aware.
Catarina If the Status Quo doesn’t change, the EU will be as powerful as it is now in my opinion. But if extremist parties gain even more power, I think the EU will eventually lose some members and will be less powerful.
Melisa There are some theories about future of EU but I think they will be more powerful after it because they will see that they could stay together after this event. So I believe that it help them to get more stronger and maybe they can achieve to establish a European Army finally.
Celia I wouldn’t know what to predict... I just hope that the European Union will remain united, possibly with other countries as well. But also that more and more ecological measures are taken and that countries will share their developments on social, political and economic issues.
Patrycja 10 years is a long time to predict anything, but I believe that everything will be going in a very good direction and improving, and that the European Union will be a great place to live both in terms of people’s mentality (openness, tolerance) and public solutions (law, medicine, services, etc.).
Elisabetta I hope that the EU will stay united and continue to provide opportunities for young, old and less privileged people all over Europe.
Roque
Hanja
I see a multicultural place where people will continue to be able to exchange ideas, culture and goods. I believe that we will be more and more willing to accept what is different from our country.
Cooperation of the countries. I think my country benefited from joining the EU and it has developed a lot in a very short period of time.
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How to say? “Nice to meet you!?”
Schön, dich kennen zu lernen!
Enchanté de te rencontrer!
Piacere di conoscerti!
Mło mi cię poznać!
Encantado/a de conocerte!
Tanistigima memnun oldum!
Prazer em conhecer-te!
Me veseli, da sem te spoznal/a!
Author: Elisabetta
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Working together Why is working together the only way to save the planet?
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he problem of climate change caused by greenhouse gases emitted by human activity is well known for decades, but still no longer than just couple of years ago, people were convinced that taking small, individual actions would be enough to prevent it. Unfortunately the alarming data collected by scientists shows us that, as we face the potential future catastrophy, we have to take radical steps on national and international level. In that case, what is the European Union’s role in preventing the disastrous effects of the climate change?
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(...) EU is supporting (...) the research on renewable energy (...)
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The European Union is all about peace and solidarity. Its main goal is to create a peaceful, respectful environment, which enables the economies and societies to progress. However, this would not be possible in the face of the dangerous climate change. So, in order to create an environmentally friendly economy, protect Europe’s natural resources and safeguard the health and wellbeing of its residents, the EU implements an extensive environmental policy. It has an ambitious goal of becoming completely green, low-carbon, resource-efficient economy by 2050. To achieve this goal, the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) was launched in 2000. It underlines that the international effort must be put into keeping the rise of global mean temperature under the maximum of 2°C compared to pre-industrial times. That means that national industries must stop relying on fossil fuels and must reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. But this is not the only serious challenge that the EU faces in this matter. Another problem is also various forms of pollution (including light and noise) and unsustainable consumption and production.
According to the information on the official website, the European Union is on track to meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2020. It is possible thanks to the Emission Trading System (ETS), which enable to control and cut the emissions from large-scale factories, industry and aviation sectors. The planned target for those emissions is to be cut by 21% compared to 2005. Additionally, each country is required to implement a national policy to reduct the emissions from other sectors, like housing, agriculture, waste and transport. The national governments are also resposible for raising the share of renewables to at least 20% in their energy consumption by the end of 2020, according to the Renewable Energy Directive. The European Comission is monitoring the progess of those national policies. To encourage the implementation of those eco-friendly solutions, the EU is supporting and funding the research on renewable energy technologies and innovations, also considering access to safe drinking water, improvement of air quality or proper waste disposal and recycling.
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(...) strict laws on cutting emissionsv (...)
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The school ignores the skills that are essential for us (...) It is clear that the EU’s idea of an effective policy of protecting the environment from further harm, is based on implementation of wide-ranging programmes on each level: • Individual – by raising awareness amongst the people and providing basic guidelines on eco-friendly lifestyle, • National – by setting ambitious targets and strict laws on cutting emissions and switching to renewable energy sources, • International - by close cooperation of the international partners, monitoring the implementation of EU’s guidelines in national laws by the European Comission and creating funding programmes enhancing research on the topic of renewable energy.
It’s important to realise that in the face of potential crisis, we will be able to build a „green” society and sustainable economy only by working together. Everyone can contribute and everyone should take part in decreasing their individual carbon footprint (check the EU’s guidline on how to do that: https://ec.europa. eu/clima/citizens/tips_en). But the government should guide us in the right direction by providing new solutions to change the society’s lifestyle. And to make a change significant to the entire planet, our governments need to be involved in consistent, international policy with the external control and the common goal.
Author: Hania
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Is European Union Collapsing?
T
he idea of the European Union is based on the European Coal and Steel Community which was established by 6 countries on 18 April 1951. The community aimed to stabilize the continent and reduce disputes by creating economic relationships between partner states. Throughout history its name has changed several times and finally by the Maastricht Treaty in 1993 it took European Union name. Today, the European Union is more than an economic community that has it’s own norms, laws, currency, and organs. It is a supranational organization. It means that union is superior than member states.
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%52 of people who voted preferred to leave from the union.
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The increasing influence of populism also leads to some criticisms about the European Union too. The last and most significant example is Brexit. In June 2016 a referendum was held in the United Kingdom to decide whether the UK should leave or stay in the EU. %52 of people who voted preferred to leave from the union. %73 of people aged between 18 and 24 voted to stay in the European Union. It means that the youth of the United Kingdom which born into the advantages of the European Union wanted to remain in the union. However, negotiations still in progress because all member states are experiencing it the first time in their history. There is no right or wrong way. The formal deadline for Brexit is 31st January 2020 but it seems like they have to extend the deadline. These political events also brought some scenarios about the future of the European Union. Some researchers argue that it can result in a domino effect and other member states started to questioning being a member of the union. For example, Germany, the UK, and France are the ones who contributed to the EU budget mostly according to their GDP. The budget is also used to development of other member states who have some economic problems such as Greece or Portugal. This is why this movement can destroy the whole idea of unity.
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For example, The German far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has voted to campaign for the country’s exit from the European Union. Also, prime minister of Scotland Nicole Sturgeon said that they are planning another referendum for independence if the United Kingdom leaves from EU so if Scotland becomes independent they can be still a member of the EU.
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Greece strongly opposed it.
Another Balkan country North Macedonia also made some amendments. The conflict between Greece and North Macedonia did not allow them to be part of the EU. In the past name of the country was just Macedonia but Greece strongly opposed it. They argued that this name is unacceptable because they have a region called Macedonia and then the name of the country is changed as North Macedonia. However, still, they did not invite them to negotiations maybe this situation will change after Brexit.
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(...) lot of possibilities for the future of Europe that nobody can predict.
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Another scenario is about opening the doors of the EU to new member states. When one member state leaves, there will be a place for other countries. Besides, the United Kingdom one of the most important actors of the EU, so it seems like European Union losing power this why they search for new partners. Some journalists argue that Turkey can be part of the EU because it helps to extend the efficiency of union both territorially and economically. Throughout history, Turkey became one of the biggest partners of the EU and their negotiations still going on for more than fifty years. Therefore maybe if they take advantage of it and finally become part of a union. Montenegro is another strong candidate to be part of the EU. They adopted their laws according to the European Union and accepted it’s norms. Brexit can foster their process.
There are a lot of possibilities for the future of Europe that nobody can predict. At the beginning of their history, they could not imagine today. We have to wait until this day. Maybe Europe will lose some power or maybe they will gain more power, who knows?
Author: Melisa
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What’s different? The differences between Greece and my home-country.
Germany
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reece and Germany for sure have a lot of differences, and it’s not only about the weather. I really appreciate here in Greece how generous and heart-warming most of the people are. I am used to have friendly and open-minded people around me, but I am really not used to the generosity which is in my opinion really typical Greek. I remember the first time I went to the Agora to buy fresh fruits and veggies and when I “only” took two oranges, the market seller told me to just take them, without giving him money. And I even if those two oranges might be worth only 20 cent here in Greece, I wanted to give it to them, because I mean, they are worth the 20 cents. But he continued to refuse to take the money and just wished me a nice day. And since then, every week he is giving me two oranges for free. And that is not only happening with him, that happens with a lot of really generous market sellers. But most Greek people are not only generous regarding money. For instance, when I came back home from Germany and took the first bus in the morning to And that’s one thing I think we Syntagma - it was still dark and really could adapt more in Germany. cold outside - the bus driver drove me to another bus station so I didn’t have to change to the metro and than to another bus. And he even waited with me, even though it was his last drive that day and he had already finished with work, so that I do not have to stay alone in the dark. Pretty amazing. And that’s one thing I think we could adapt more in Germany. People really care a lot, but most of the things there have to be too accurate, especially regarding money.
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But as well as this surprised me positively, there were also things that shocked me - but not in a positive sense at all. I am used to separate my trash into biological waste, paper, plastic, and special/ other trash. Wherever you want a plastic bag, you need to pay for it now. Also, for every plastic bottle we buy, we pay a deposit of 25 cents for that bottle and when we return it back to some special recycling machines, which exist in every supermarket, we receive the 25 cents back. And here in Greece, kind of nobody separates their trash and if they do so, in the end the trash is being put in the same barrel. Also, the barrels are not closed most of the times, which causes that the paper for example can’t be recycled and that the trash is flying out of the trash barrel. Or people just don’t care and throw their trash, especially plastic bottles and single-use-plastic-cups with the plastic straw and plastic top, on the street. Sometimes the Greek generosity is also getting too strong, especially regarding plastic bags at the market. Today, when I wanted to buy two lemons at the fresh market and told the owner that I don’t need a plastic bag, in the end he refused to sell me the lemons because I did not want to take a plastic bag. Like why?? Seeing how less a lot of people here care about the environment was shocking me and making me angry a lot. So, I guess as most Germans could learn to be more generous, a lot of Greeks could also learn how to live more environmentally friendly and how to keep Greece a bit cleaner. I noticed another cultural - or maybe more political- difference, which seems important to me and applies to our main topic: the point of view Greek people have towards the European Union. For me it seems like a lot of Greek people don’t really identify with the European Union. It happened various times that Greeks were talking to me about the European Union and after, they talked about Greece and how this certain situation is there. It was really strange to see them distancing Greece that much from the European Union. And that’s not happening in Germany at all. I mean, there is a political party in Germany that wants to get out of the European Union and it has quite some people supporting their idea, but everybody knows and feels like we are part of the European Union. And here in Greece, it seems like many people don’t feel included at all and that they know that Greece is part of the EU de facto, but that’s it - only on the paper, not in a sense of personal, cultural or political identification. I hope, that in the future this will change and Greeks will feel more included into the European Union - because then we can work better together, celebrate our differences, but also start to learn from other countries. Author: Lea
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Interview For this edition we are interviewing Lena Yfanti, she is 57 years volunteer at the Youth Centre, Lena lives here in Kalamata for 26 years and she is from Lamia.
Local Volunteer
Name Lena Yfanti Organization Kentro Neon Kalamatas Type Youth Centre Volunteering Coordination Place Kalamata | GREECE
Interviewer: For how long have you been a volunteer here? Lena: I’m a student here at the Youth Centre for 3 years now, right now I’m part of Tai Chi class and also part of art history class and since October of 2019 I’m also a volunteer here twice a month. Interviewer: What is exactly your work here? Lena: I work at the information point and my job is to inform people about the classes, I also receive the money for the classes and I make the declarations. I take care of the administration during my time here.
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Interviewer: Why are you a volunteer? Lena: I’m a volunteer because, right now, I have time to help and I want to help because I believe the Youth Centre is a good project and it does not receive money from the outside (from the state or other organization), so everything depends on the volunteers. If the Centre does not have volunteers it will probably close, because it does not have money. Besides, I can also practice some languages, like English or Spanish.
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Which one is the best benefit of the European Union for you?
Interviewer: This Link edition is about Europe. I would like to ask you some questions about Europe, so you can share your opinion. Which one is the best benefit of the European Union for you? Lena: For me is having no borders, this way we can travel freely and we can find new opportunities.
Interviewer: Do you consider your role here important? Why? Lena: Yes, all volunteers are important, because they do everything, without the volunteers the centre does not work.
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I know a lot about the European Union
Interviewer: What is the most important aspect of being a volunteer for you? Lena: For me, my job is important because they are not paying me to do this, in case I knew that I was taking someone else place, a paid job, because I was a volunteer, I would feel bad.
Interviewer: Do you feel well informed about the European Union? Lena: Yes, I’m well informed. I know a lot about the European Union as I worked at a company called “Οπεκεπε” , and I had to control and administrate the subsidy that EU provides to some sectors, such as agriculture, wine production. I had to understand if the project was worth it or not to receive the EU’s money.
Interviewer: Do you think that the youth centre is important for Kalamata people? Lena: Yes, very important. It is, for many people, young and old people, especially for people who do not have enough money, because the Youth Centre gives them opportunities to learn new things, to have new perspectives, to open our mind and we can also learn more about ourselves.
Interviewer: How do you see the European Union in 10 years? Lena: If the EU continues with this politics, nothing good is going to happen. I personally wish for more solidarity and no borders.
Interviewer: One last question about your volunteer project, how long do you consider being a volunteer here? Lena: I want to be a volunteer here as long as I can.
Interviewer: Catarina
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Interview This time, we will go through an interview to Anja, a short-term volunteer from Slovenia.
Erasmus+ Volunteer
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(...) sharing good practices with different cultures is the best way (...)
Interviewer: Why did you decide to do an EVS project? Anja: I’ve been volunteering in Slovenia for the last 5 years and I’ve been enthusiastic about it since the day I first started. The only thing that I was like lacking was being a volunteer in another country because I think that being in another country can really make you learn more things, because sharing good practices with different cultures is the best way, I think to find new solutions for problems that we are trying to solve.
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(...) I really feel that we really are making a change (...)
Interviewer: What’s the best part of your experience as an EVS Volunteer? Anja: I’m working in a dog shelter, and the dogs are, of course, the best part of this experience. It’s amazing how I really feel that we really are making a change being there and helping with stuff. It’s like actively changing stuff. So, that’s the best.
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Name Anja Trobec Nationality Slovenian Hosting NGO K.A.NE. Volunteering Dream Of A Safe Haven (DASH) Place Messini | GREECE
Interviewer: When you decided to do an EVS project, was Greece your first choice for a destination? Anja: When I decided for a project, I did not really search up for countries, I just saw that project and I fell in love with the project itself because of working in a dog shelter and not because of Greece but I’m here and It’s amazing, so I love Greece now. Interviewer: Have you ever thought or planned about doing a volunteer project out of Europe? Anja: Yes, I used search for an ecological project like planting new trees, I think that one of the projects was in Camboya, others like in exotic countries. But, yes, for sure, why not.
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(...) I just saw that project and I fell in love with the project itself because of working in a dog shelter(...)
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Interviewer: What do you think that the European Union contributes to projects like EVS? Anja: The biggest part I think is the economic and financial support. Interviewer: Do you think that this project would exist without the existence of the European Union? Anja: Yes, but I think that the financial part would be a little bit more difficult, but I think it would exist. And also, that maybe, me as an individual would have to search more to find it. Now, you have Facebook and other pages where you look for a little bit and find like 50 options. And because you know that this project is supported by the European Union, it gives you some security apply for it.
Interviewer: Marta
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Adventure of the week A ride of Happiness
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n this edition, I want to share my life changing experience of having a bike in Kalamata. And trust me, it is life changing! Some miracles start to happen, like the fact that car drivers begin to give you priority to cross the road. Magic starts to happen also, and all of the sudden, you have time to enjoy the sun at the beach after work, feel the breeze of hot January in your face and the comfy and warmy scarf on your neck because hot January is not that hot. I would recommend you to just go with the flow of the roads, with the sun as your company, and with far away beaches as destination, both East and West of your starting point (as a not-that-well-in-shape person, this was the perfect option for me). Go with some money to buy a typical Greek food and some paper and pen to record cute landscapes or just thoughts. If you go to the East side of Kalamata, you can find a road right next to the sea, perfect for a bike ride, with a stunning view all the way.
So, for your goodness, get a bike for one weekend and explore, explore, explore! Author: Marlene
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Place of the week ΙΠΠΟΣΧΕΣΗ Καλαματας “IPPOSCHESI Kalamata”
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f you like animals and nature and if you like working with animals surrounded by nature the horse centre in Analipsi is the perfect place for you! It’s a no-profit organisation owned by two amazing people specialized in therapeutic horse riding. They have three handsome horses (two of them are rescued horses) and six rescued dogs and around the centre it’s just olive trees. A place so peaceful and happy! Kids with disabilities enjoy this centre so much because they have the opportunity to do some sport and be in touch with animals and nature, it’s like a piece of heaven here in Kalamata.
Author: Elisabetta
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Events
Previous CELEBRATION
New Year’s cake Organizer: Kentro Neon Kalamatas Place: Kyttaro Rock Bar Date: January 22nd
YOUTH CENTRE Closing event
Organizer: Kentro Neon Everybody gather to celebrate the New Year with a Kalamatas party, cutting our cake at the Kyttaro Rock Bar. The Place: Platia Othonos 10, atmosphere was amazing. From local to Erasmus+ Kalamata volunteers, passing by the students and everyone’s Date: January 29th friends, the rock bar became alive since the begining to the end. As usually, there were some gifts for those The 1st term of the Youth Center of Kalamata came lucky ones who found the coin in the traditional cake. to an end and like every year some of the workshops presented the amazing things they were creating! They the chance to watch a short presentation of some workshops and to ‘sneak a peek’ in what is happening when the door closes and the lesson begins!
CONCERT
Music For Ordinary Life Machines Organizer: Kalamata Creative Documentary Centre Place: Kyttaro Bar Date: January 25th
ARTS Painting exhibition Orgaziner: Leonidas Angelopoulos Place: A49 Gallery Date: January 31st
Originally the underground 80s in Greece, MFOLM sketches a music subculture in Greece, which left its mark indelibly on the hearts of those who fell in love with the sound of “engines”. On this concert we could experience a summary recording of the Minimal Synth & Synthpunk scene in Greece from the ‘80s to the present, starring synthesizers, rhythms & kids who loved them.
Painting exhibition by Leonidas Angelopoulos with works from 1999-2019. Leonidas Angelopoulos was born in 1973 in Kalamata. From a young age he is involved in painting and music. At the exhibition we could see the way he has been involved in painting since he returning in Kalamata , in 2001. Author: Roque
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CINEMA Live Broadcast | Porgy & Bes Organizer: The Metropolitan Opera in Greece Place: Job Centre Kalamata Date: February 1th Time: 19:55
Future
The rare, folk opera “Porgy and Bees” is being presented in a new production directed by James Ro- HIKING binson, making his Met debut. The “folk opera of America,” as its creators had baptized it, unfolds in a poor suburb of Charleston, South Carolina, and tells the story of handicapped beggar Porgy, played by Eric Owens and his beloved and Bes.
LIVE MUSIC & FOOD
Hike to Castle of Pídimatos Organizer: E.P.O.K.K Efthis Place: Castle of Pídimatos Date: January 9th Time: 09:00 Cost: €8
Every Wednesday until 27th May, a Beer Pong Tournament is happening in Kyttaro Rock Bar Kalamata. There will be many surprises, including a giveaway gift. A period of 16 weeks, with 16 winners from 1 championship. The prize is a whole barrel of beer.
“78 Turns”
Organizer: Aristoteleio Place: Kyttaro Rock Bar Date: February 2nd Time: 15:30 Cost: Free
As usually, on Sundays, everyone is welcome to listen to a beautifull live show from “78 Turns”. What else HEALTH could be better than having a delicious meal while listening to good music.
Thai Massage
Organizer: Christina Zanni Place: Hrdayam Yoga DOCUMENTARY Center Date: February 9st The Silence of Others Time: 09:00 Organizer: Kalamata CreatiCost: €35 ve Documentary Center The seminar is an introduction to this healing art. Place: Mpenaki 11 It is a care exchange meeting that requires no prior Date: February 3rd knowledge or experience in massage. Basic stress Time: 21:00 techniques will be taught as well as stretching exerCost: Free cises in pairs for the whole body, but focusing Monday’s February screenings return to the Kalamata on the relief and relaxation of the back and neck Creative Documentary Center with the award-winning documentaries of the 6th Peloponnese International Documentary Festival! Author: Roque
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Place to Travel Πολυλιμνιο καταρρακτεσ “Polyliminio waterfalls”
We visited Polyliminio waterfalls and it was beautiful! It looked like several superimposed basins, into which the water flows successively. Then we walked on small hiking trails that go up to the top of the torrents. The water was turquoise but unfortunately, there is some plastic waste in the water. We crossed, many, many, many people, which is not at all usual for a secluded corner like this one, but it turns out that these waterfalls seem to attract a lot of people because they are really beautiful. We walked a long time to discover all the surroundings. We found a very strange path when we drove by car, where we had to do ‘’zig-zag’’ to not damage wheels. I wanted to take a shower under the waterfall but fortunately, my friends reminded me of the temperature of the water! We threw a coin in the water because in France we do that for good luck; well, normally it’s in a fountain but everyone can see what he wants. We balanced rocks while getting drunk with a bottle of bottle champagne. It was beautiful and catastrophic at the same time but well nobody drowned, that’s the main thing.
Author: Elisabetta
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Quote of the week “So, one has to try to find compromises with mutual respect, but also with a clear opinion. That’s politics - always looking to find a common way forward.” Angela Merkel
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Song of the week “How does it feel” By Akua Naru
LYRICS My ghetto butterfly flew away from me I wait patiently, by windows and doorsteps Play make-believe as my tears pour, chest Won’t succeed to breathe, if not the air of you Surely there has never been a shade so blue A stink attitude, so not mad at you, uh Not a magnitude to encompass the latitude Of my love for you No space or time compatible What do I have to do? What do I have to do? Ooh, my friends say I got it bad for you I do, but there’s nothing in this world I’d rather do Uh, but you I want to make love to your existence, uh Drenched in the colors of your energy Then masturbate to the memories I wanna lose myself inside yourself Until you find me, confine me To the freedom of your prison Exist in the same space, same time Combine until your thoughts slow grind with mine Combine until your thoughts slow grind with mine Combine until your thoughts slow grind with mine My, I wanna drink the sweat of your intellect Reflect, and watch your light passion mark my neck Caress the sights of your presence with no question Undress to the nakedness of love, pure love
Author: Anja
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Restaurant of the week Pizza di Casa Italian Restaurant
4,7 Average cost: $$ Address: Amfias 40, Kalamata 241 00 Contact: 2721 304627 Openning hours: Monday 18:00 - 01:00 Tuesday 18:00 - 01:00 Wednesday 18:00 - 01:00 Tuesday 18:00 - 01:00 Friday 18:00 - 01:00 Saturday 18:00 - 01:00 Sunday 18:00 - 01:00
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That pasta was everything I needed at that moment! I could feel that Napoletana sauce was homemade (...)
W
hen I decide to eat outside is probably because I need a short break from cooking or cleaning the dishes, but this time I just wanted to eat some authentic Italian cuisine. A few years ago I had to eat at least one portion of pasta per day to fulfill my carbohydrates needs, but then I started changing my eating habits. Coming here in Kalamata ‘’pushed’’ me back into old habits when it comes to cooking and pasta is now again no.1 (numero uno) love of my life. Pizza di Casa is located in a cute and small square which gives nice and hungry vibes right away. When we put our first foot in the restaurant, the waiters were already super sweet and welcoming. My taste buds were crying and screaming and the only solution to comfort and shut them up was ordering pasta of course. Firstly they brought appetizers which we didn’t order but it was still a very kind and delicious gesture: the waiter brought fresh bread with cheese and olive spread. After that, I finally got my pasta and it was a time to put it on a test. Cooking pasta is not a hard thing to do, but somehow some restaurants still managed to disappoint me - a lot! Since I don’t eat a lot outside, I really wanted this pasta to be amazing…. and my wish was fulfilled this time. That pasta was everything I needed at that moment! I could feel that Napoletana sauce was homemade, and even though it’s a simple dish, it had a taste of perfection. I can say that I’ve never had better pasta with Napoletana sauce in my life! The portion was too big so I took leftovers in a doggie bag and finished it the next day- in my opinion, this portion was big enough to feed one very hungry person, and it costed only €5 for the dish. I would definitely recommend, it’s a 5/5.
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Author: Anja
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Recipes of the week
Easy 00 h 30 mins 4 servings
Spinach Pierogi Ingredients: Dough:
Filling:
- 3 c. flour - 1 c. water - 1/2 t. salt - 1 egg
- 1 t. butter - 1 shallot, minced - 2 cloves garlic, minced - 16 oz. frozen spinach, cooked & drained
- 6 oz. cream cheese - 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese - 1 slice Havarti cheese - Salt & Pepper & Nutmeg
Preparation: Dough: Combine all ingredients, knead dough, until smooth and less sticky, or if using a Kitchen Aide with a dough hook, just continue to mix, incorporating another 1/2 to 3/4 c. flour. Wrap in plastic wrap until ready to use. Spinach filling: 1. Saute shallot and garlic in butter until translucent; 2. Combine with all remaining ingredients; 3. Heat until cheeses are melted and well combined, (other than the cream cheese, use any combination of cheeses, the Parmesan and Havarti were just what we had on hand and like); 4. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, allow filling to cool. Assembling & Cooking: 1. Roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness; 2. Cut into large circles, about 3.5 inches; 3. Lightly moisten, just around the edge, on half of the circle; 4.Fill with one teaspoon of spinach mixture, fold in half, sealing edge, and crimping with a fork; 5. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add about 10 pierogi, stir occasionally, cooking just until they float to the top; 6. Remove pierogi with a slotted spoon and drain; 7. Some people will eat the pierogi, as is, at this point, we prefer to saute them in butter with onions. Author: Patrycja
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Polish Paczki (Donuts)
Easy 00 h 40 mins 8 servings
Ingredients: - 1 1/2 cups milk (warm, but no warmer than 110º F) - 2 packages active dry yeast - 1/2 cup sugar - 4 ounces butter (room-temperature) - 1 large egg (room-temperature) - 3 large egg yolks (room-temperature) *Optional: - Granulated sugar; - 1 tablespoon brandy (or rum) - Confectioners’ sugar - 1 teaspoon salt - Fruit paste (or jam, for - 4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour filling) - 1-gallon oil (for deep frying)
Preparation: - Gather the ingredients. - Add yeast to warm milk, stir to dissolve and set aside. - In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the sugar and butter until fluffy. - Beat in egg, egg yolks, brandy or rum, and salt until well-incorporated. - Still using the paddle attachment, add 4 1/2 cups flour alternately with the milk-yeast mixture and beat for 5 or more minutes by machine and longer by hand until smooth. Old-fashioned directions call for beating the dough with a wooden spoon until it blisters. The dough will be very slack. If too soft, add remaining 1/2 cup flour, but no more. - Place dough in a greased bowl. Turn to grease the other side. - Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk, anywhere from 1 to 2 1/2 hours or follow this quick tip to cut the rise time. - Punch down and let rise again. - Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Pat or roll to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut rounds with a 3-inch biscuit cutter close together so you will have fewer scraps. Remove scraps, and re-roll and re-cut. - Cover and let rounds rise until doubled in bulk, 30 minutes or longer. - The next step is to fry them. - In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat oil to 350 F. Place pączki top-side down (the dry side) in the oil a few at a time and fry 2 to 3 minutes or until bottom is golden brown. - Flip them over and fry another 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. Make sure the oil doesn’t get too hot so the exterior doesn’t brown before the interior is done. Test a cool one to make sure it’s cooked through. Adjust cooking time and oil heat accordingly. - Drain pączki on paper towels or brown paper bags. - Roll in granulated sugar while still warm. If you want to fill them, poke a hole in the side of the pączki and, using a pastry bag, squeeze in a generous dollop of the filling of choice. Then dust filled pączki with granulated sugar, confectioners’ sugar or flat icing. - Pączki doesn’t keep well, so be sure to gobble them up the same day you make them or freeze them.
Author: Patrycja
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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.
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