Link issuu October 1st

LINK O CTO B ER 2 n d 2017

N°9 9

October Editor : Molly O’Doherty

Designer : Mariam Sassi

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#LINKEXPLORE

Content Contact

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About us

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EVS, K.A.NE.

Youth Center - program 12 Joana Ganilho Marques 14

News from the youth center

Yana Volkova 17

Pame Parko

Ola Kaczurba 19

Interview with a local volunteer - Vassiliki

Anna Szlendak 21 Bilal Zegoud 22

Recipe from my hometown Interview with an EVS volunteer - Ola

Gordana Scepanovic 26 Sofiene Lahdheri 28

My Sending Organization Photo Report - Pame Parko

K.A.NE. Staff members of KANE: Filaretos Vourkos Fotini Arapi Jelena Scepanovic Nantiana Koutiva Vyron Giannakopoulos EVS: Anna Szlendak Bilal Zegoud Gordana Scepanovic Janae-Amira Jussa Joana Ganilho Marques Mariam Sassi Mehdi Jaffar Molly O’Doherty Ola Kaczurba Sofiene Lahdheri Yana Volkova

K.A.N.E Social Youth Development Youth Center of Kalamata Plateia Othonos 10 Kalamata, 24100, Greece info@ngokane.org +30 272 111 0740 kentroneon.wordpress.com ngokane.org/index.php

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@kentroneon

WHO ARE WE ?

ANNA

Kalimera! I am Ania and I come from Poland. I will be working for KANE and running Photography and Ukulele workshops. I studied photography in the Institute of Journalism of the University of Warsaw and worked for press photo agencies when I lived in my country.

I enjoy every form of photography, I use both digital and

film camera, I also create my own pinhole cameras. Besides, I am totally addicted to travel.

OLA

JOANNA

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Hello there! I’m Ola but you can call me Alex. I’m 18 and I have just finished high school. I come from capitol of Poland – Warsaw. I love chocolate, breathtaking harmonies, good guitar riffs, totally crazy hairstyles and classic rock. I’m a dancer therefore I will be teaching contemporary/jazz dance and polish in the Youth Centre. Also, I will be helping with therapeutic riding in a horse centre.

See you around!

Hello ! My name is Joana, I’m 29 years old and I’m from Lisbon, Portugal. I studied fine arts, art education and museology and I just arrived Kalamata for a 12 months EVS project. I’ve worked for a lot of time in bookshops and I love to read. I like quiet places where I can be in touch with nature. I’m a curious person and I’m always better if I have a cup of tea with me

MOLLY

Hello everyone! My name is Molly and I come from the UK. I’ve moved here from a city called Bristol in England. I am going to be working in K.A.N.E.’s office.

I’ll be helping with the programming, development and evaluation of activities. I’ll also be helping out in the Youth Centre and running an English Conversation workshop. I love cooking, watching films and doing yoga. I also really enjoy helping people to connect with their local history. Before I came here I was working in

museums and archives for many years. I am really excited to be in Kalamata and I feel very lucky to be here working as an EVS volunteer.

GORDANA

YANA

Hello! I am Gordana Šćepanović from Croatia. I am here because I want to try different way of life, improve my English and to learn all I have been offered during this EVS project. I like to dance very much and I will contribute to this project with my dance or language classes and of course with volunteering in the horse riding center. This is a great opportunity and I know that the time spent here will be very important for me.

I am Yana from Ukraine. For 5 years I was studying architecture in university and I fond of everything about it as well as about natural building. Before coming here I was working as a project coordinator of the workcamps and as freelance graphic designer for different social festivals and non-governmental organizations. The last 4 years I’ve been travelling to different places in Europe such as eco-villages and rural areas helping people and promoting volunteering for

peace. All kind of arts, nature, voluntarism, and travel -- my biggest passions in life.

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MARIAM

Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things is the best way to grow, and this is what EVS is all about. My name is Mariam, I am 24 and I come from Tunisia. Passionate by traveling, arts, adventures as well as meeting new people and discovering new traditions, places and cultures. I decided to leave all of my normal steady life in Tunisia to come seek inspiration and and explore a new way of living in Greece, in the beautiful city of Kalamàta. I would use all of my

knowledge and dig even deeper to give the best of me, but also try to learn everything I can from other volunteers, from locals and daily life experience, either languages, dancing, music instrument, sports etc.

SOFIENE

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Taking a decision to leave everything what you have and take a deep plunge into something unknown is never an easy one. I took such a decision, left my job and decided to take one-in-a- lifetime opportunity to do my EVS in Greece. My name is Sofiene, I’ am 26 and I am from a tiny country in North Africa called Tunisia. I am a photographer, videographer, graphic designer and I am here to share my experience and knowledge as well as expand it and acquire new skills. I’m social, open minded and always curious about different cultures and meeting beautiful people.

Bilal

MEHDI

My name is bilal, I am 25, I am Moroccan but I come from Belgium more precisely from Brussels. I study tourism. I am passioned by boxing and fitness. I will be in Kalamata for 6 months working with Refugees.

There are at least as many things to know as there are humans and countries. EVS enables the possibility to know much more about our World. Καλημερα, Hello, my name is Mehdi, I am 24 and I come from France. Passionate about Life and Nature, my biggest motivation is to learn from other cultures, from people, from life. I decided to quit my job there too, so I could catch the opportunity to experience something unique in Greece, in Kalamata, and all the

Greek cities I will have the chance to see. I will bring you all I have, and I will learn from everyone all I can.

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K.A.NE.

FILARETOS

jelena

NANTIANA

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Hello, I am Filaretos Vourkos. For the last 10 years I am working in the field of Non-formal education as avolunteer, youth worker and youth trainer. 6 years ago,I decided to create the Youth Centre of Kalamata, in orderto initiate youth work in Kalamata and promote active citizenship as factor for change.

Hi, I’m Jelena Scepanovic, an EVS coordinator in KANE and the volunteer of the Youth center. I came from Montenegro 2012 as an EVS volunteer.

I really liked the idea of the Youth center and the work that KANE does, so I decided to stay and be part of it.

My name is Nantiana! I’m 23 years old. I live in Kalamata! I was living for 5 years in Patras! I was studying there greek philology and now I’m teaching greek to the youth center in Kalamata.

fotini

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Hi my name is Fotini Arapi and I am project manager in K.A.NE. organization and responsible, among other things, for all sending motilities (sending EVS volunteers, participants in training courses, interns, etc). Apart from my work in K.A.NE., I also volunteer in the Youth Centre of Kalamata, a volunteer initiative managed by a team of local volunteers. I am very proud of and I love the Youth Centre, its dynamic atmosphere, and most of all, its natural inclusiveness that allows everybody to feel

“at home” there. See you around :-D

VYRON

I would describe Vyron as an imaginative fast learning and inventive generalist with a passion for remarkable food and the great outdoors. That’s enough talking about myself in third person. Hello, I am Vyron Giannakopoulos, I consider myself a curious and open-minded person. I have studied the science of Geography and as the newest member of KANE I am here to help by managing the creative projects of EVS volunteers, planning events, creating new projects and

doing anything that will add value to our organisation. In my free time I like exploring new places and learning new things. But feel free to contact me on any issue if you need help.

Namaste

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NEWs FROM THE YOUTH CENTER A NEW YEAR IS BEGGINING

Autumn is here. Slowly we put the vacations, heat, long days and sweet laziness behind us and look ahead to a place that brings so many people together: Kentro Neon. A new year is beginning!

If for you nothing can be better than this -- pack you backpack and explore our beautiful planet Earth!

Last month we explored a tiny part of the Mani region and it was unforgettable trip.

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After a week and a half of registrations, we have over 400 people starting this journey with us: old students continuing old workshops or stepping out of their comfort zone to find new passions; new students looking forward to revisiting old topics or discovering new worlds. Backstage are a team thatcontinues to makes this happen every year: old teachers and new teachers; old coordinators and new coordinators. All bound together by the word volunteerism. But let’s start from the beginning...

Plateia Othonos 10 holds an old building that needs constant care. To prepare it for the new year volunteers gathered to do all kind of small work: fixing the walls, repairing the furniture, throwing old stuff away, painting the stairs. This is the first approach to ensure that we could welcome everyone.

Whilst doing this we started to spread the word: “The Youth Centre will open soon". Our volunteers went out in the city to reach out to the community and invite them to get involved. This year the Youth Centre was also shown on Messinia Live, at a press conference and on ERA KALAMATA radio, where we had a nice talk about our work.

For the first semester, the Youth Centre offers 11 foreign language workshops, Greek Language for Foreigners and Greek Sign Language; 10 workshops related to sports, health and wellbeing; 9 arts and crafts workshops; 2 music workshops; 2 children’s workshops and 3 other subjects.

Besides that, every Wednesday is Event Night and we will start the year by addressing a topic that we hold dearly: volunteerism. While we’re speaking about it, we couldn’t begin the year without a big opening party. So save the date: 6th of October is celebration day!

We also want to be part of your week outside the classroom. You can pass by for a coffee and some talking time, or choose to borrow a book from our library. Our space is open to the community and we welcome everybody to come and spend some time with us, as well as to be part of our volunteer team.

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Our preparations are reaching an end, not without dedicating some time to final tidying and decorating. We have drawn trees, put windmills on the ceiling, found plants for every corner of the space and made paper boats that contain the names of our volunteers’. We hope they can carry our dreams and helps us share our experiences and our message.

A big thank you to all who participate in this year’s beginning, and also a special mention to those who lent/donated some much needed furniture.

WELCOME EVERYONE

JOANA GANILHO MARQUES 16

PAME PARKO PICNIC EVENT Î&#x;n 9 September 2017 we organised an event: Pame Parko. It was an open-air picnic for the citizens of KalamĂĄta in the Train Park, in which the participants had the opportunity to bring their own food and share it with each other. In parallel there was a photo exhibition and video projection of the work of Dominique Shi, a French photographer, 6 different workshops lead by local volunteers such as Drawing, Yoga, Hip-hop Dancing , Weaving, Recycling and Theatre. We also created an EVS infopoint where people could get information about opportunities abroad and learn more about NGO K.A.NE.

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The main idea of the event was to give the local community the keys to understanding the power of volunteerism in Kalamรกta. This was in terms of intercultural exchange, knowledge sharing and solidarity. We wanted to encourage young people to take part in the cultural life of their city by raising their sense of active citizenship. We choose the Train Park as a location for Pame Parko as we wanted to promote it as an open space that belongs to its citizens. We also wanted to show that they can use it as a space for interaction, communication and relaxation.

Sara and I were very happy to work on this event together with the local community .

Many people were ready to help us voluntarily to make this event happen. Bars and restaurants provided us with food; teachers from the dance school, drawing studio and other individuals were ready to lead workshops for free. They were ready to give their time and energy.

After the event finished, we realised many things about the community of Kalamรกta. It seems that it is very difficult to propose such new events in the city. Most local people are still not ready for active participation in city life. That's why we shouldn't stop and we should continue to create such events more often. Together!

YANA VOLKOVA 18

INTERVIEW WITH A LOCAL VOLUNTEER IntervieW WITH VASSILIKI

Sometimes taking initiative and giving up your free time is not easy and definitely not the most convenient choice. However many people do it. One of the places that encourages locals to volunteer is KENTRO NEON – a youth centreconsisting of those who want to spend their afternoons teaching what they know by running workshops; and those who wish to attend them.

Today we’ll meet somebody who hasjust decided to teach there. Without any further ado, I present to you...

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Hello! Could you please introduce yourself?

Hi! My name is Vasiliki, I’m 22 years old. I’m originally from Albania but my parents and I came to Greece in 1999.

When and why did you decide to volunteer?

Actually it was 3 days ago so I’m very new here. When I heard about KENTRO NEONI thought, “Oh, that place needs some new volunteers andI want to learn about other cultures and countries and meet new people... why not?” It’s a mutually beneficial thing - I get to teach others and I will learn new things too. Everybody wins.

And what is your job exactly?

In KENTRO NEON I’ll be teaching Advanced Greek starting from next week. Besides teaching at the Youth Centre I’m a student at the University of the Peloponnese and I’m a singer.

What do you sing?

Mostly traditional Greek and popular music in a variety of places.

In some bars?

Yes exactly! I sing live in a couple of bars here. Not a very demanding occupation.

Nice! Are you also satisfied with your job as a volunteer?

Well… I haven’t started working yet but I am very excited. So far, the atmosphere in the Youth Centre is great and I believe I will be satisfied because this a completely new experience for me.

Are you encouraging others to become volunteers? Why/Why not?

Yes, I already told my friends about this place and I invited them to come, see, maybe attend some lessons or even teach something. I think they should try, if only to experience something new.

Ok, last question. What is the most amazing thing, that happened to you today?

Amazing… hmm… Oh I know! I bought this strap for glasses so they won’t fall off my head and so I can wear them comfortably around my neck. And it’s shiny.

Ok, thank you very much for this small interview. Have a nice afternoon!

You too! ...and thank you very much.

OLA KACZURBA

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RECIPE FROM MY HOMETOWN POTATOES PANCAKES - POLAND

In Poland we really love potates, we have a lot of dishes with this lovely vegetable. One of my favourite ones are potato pancakes (placki ziemniaczane). They are very easy, cheap, fast to do and – what’s the most important – it is delicious meal.

What You'll Need • 6 medium peeled and finely grated potatoes • 1 medium finely grated onion • 2 large eggs • Salt and pepper • About 1/4 cup all-purpose flour How to do it 1- Mix potatoes, onion, eggs, and salt and pepper. Add enough flour to bind the mixture together but leaving it still somewhat thin.

2 - In a large, heavy skillet set over medium-high heat, add enough vegetable oil to come to a depth of 1/4 inch. Heat until hot, but not smoking.

3 - Drop tablespoonfuls of potato mixture into skillet and spread out to a 3-inch circle, about 1/4-inch thick.

4 - Fry until brown on the bottom (don't turn until the pancake is brown or it will stick), about 3 to 5 minutes, reducing the heat to medium, if needed, to prevent burning.

5 - Turn the pancake and fry the other side 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels. Serve with granulated sugar or sour cream.

ANNA SZLENDAK 21

interview with and EVS VOLUNTEER INTERVIEW WITH OLA Today Alexandra takes a very special journey to a region of Greece which has been touched by the immigrationissue. We go live toKalamáta and interview Alexandra to learn more about her and her motivations for coming here.

Something to start with. How are you doing?

I’m good thank you.

How long haveyou been here and how long will you stay for?

I’ve been here for less than a month and I will stay for 10 more months.

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Why did you leave your home country and decide to volunteer here?

I wanted to spend this year doing something productive and amplifying and hopefully combine it with some travelling or the discovery of new places and cultures. I saw an opportunity with the EVS programme and I took it. One of my goals in life is to give as much as I can and to help those with fewer opportunities, so I decided that this is exactly the thing I want to do right now.

Were your family for or against you coming here?

My parents were very supportive. In fact my mother was the one who found and encouraged me to take part in this project. All of my friends were happy for me too.

What does your typical day here usually look like?

I usually wake up around 8, eat something and then enjoy my free time – walking, sitting in a park or baking. At around 4 p.m. I take a bus to Asprohoma where the horse centre is located and I start work. I’m usually back home at about 9 p.m. Then I go for a walk or go out with my flatmates.

What kind of project do you do? What are you responsibilities?

My project is called “Similarities in differences”. I work at the horse center, where horse therapies take place. They usually start around 5 p.m. Before children arrive, I prepare the round pan, clean the horse, and bring equipment to the area. During the sessions I either help with exercises/activities or lead the horse around. After all the therapies have finished, my job is to put everything back in its place and to feed the horses.

Which qualities and abilities are required for your work?

The most important ability is the ability to stay calm. When dealing with either horses or children this is a must. Most of the children are hyperactive, have problems focusing s or have other conditions. Therefore being loud, scared, unfocused or disruptive is not helpful. Also, being easygoing and willing to learn are good additions.

What kind of social purpose do you think your project has?

First of all being with horses helps children on manylevels. It helps them to concentrate, develop senses of responsibility and independence. During horse therapy a child does a variety of exercises that expends their physical and psychological abilities and sometimes pushes them to their limits.

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Other than that, throughthis project animals get a new and better life. Two out of three horses in the horse centre were mistreated previously and by expanding the centre they were rescued. The same goes for every other animal that the owners of the centre have.

Also I think that my project is a kind of model or rather an example for others. It’s an amazing initiative and in my opinion the attitude there should be widely promoted.

What is your relationship to refugees?

During the last two to threeyears more and more refugees have been seen on the streets of Poland. Personally, last year I took part in a theatre project where one of the groups was made uppurely ofrefugees or the children of refugees. Also next to my high school there is a ministry for refugees and immigrants.

What is your most beautiful memory? Are you satisfied?What isa memory that has marked you?

From Kalamáta? So far, I would say the goodbye party for Sara (French EVS). At night we went to the beach, lit a bonfire, looked at the stars and swam a bit.

In my whole life? I think I would choose my first professional performance. Not the performance in particular but the whole experience. And this amazing sense of joy from the eyes of the audience. That was the moment that I realised what I wanted to do most – bring joy and hope.

What advice can you give to a volunteer who would like to participate in the same project as yours?

Observe. Watch. Learn. Ask lots of questions. Admire your work. Don’t be afraid. Speak your mind. Be aware. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy yourself.

If you agree to it, I have some personal questions to ask you. ...so that the readers can learn a bit more about you and your journey...

How old are you?

I’m 18 What academic path did you follow? Were you any good?

This year I finished high school and applied for university to study Sound Engineering and Music Production. Unfortunately I didn’t get in but I will try again next year.

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Do you have any brothers and sisters?

II have three sisters and I am the second oldest.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

II don’t like this type of question because I don’t actually know the answer. I know that whatever I’ll be doing I will be enjoying myself.

What message can you give to the people who read this?

Enjoy every moment of your life. Ask yourself every day, “What is the most wonderful thing that happened today?” ...and don’t be afraid to live the way that you want.

Thank you for your time, Alexandra.

BILAL ZEGOUD

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my sending organisation EUROPSKI DOM SLAVONSKI BROD

Europe House SlavonskiBrod (EHSB) is a non-governmental organisation established in September 1998 to promote European and global integration processes and cultural, political and economic integration of Croatia into the European Union.

One of its main goals is the promotion and development of understanding of the importance of European interdependence and cooperation, human rights, environmental protection, natural and cultural heritage.

EHSB promotes, designs and carries out: Learning mobility and European active citizenship activities; Medium and long term learning projects; Cultural exchanges; Cultural, social, sports,recreational and editorial activities; Seminars and formative trainings aimed at organisations, social workers and citizens; Formative, promotional and informative initiatives related to specific themes linked to the above mentioned topics.

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EHSB’swork is based on active participation and involvement, non formal and informal education and has a cross-sector multidisciplinary approach.

They cooperate with: Public institutions especially at local and regional level; Schools, universities, vocational and other education institutions; Public and private social inclusion organisations (e.g. underage persons); Other NGOs EHSB is particularly active in the field of young people with fewer opportunitesand risk groups.

Most of the activists of EHSB have been involved in youth exchanges, leader trainings and seminars on social inclusion for youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds.

EHSB itself organises projects and activities on social inclusion at a local and international level.

EHSB activities are focused on: The integration of young people from rural areas, young people with different cultural, national, and religion backgrounds in economic, social and civil life.

This is done through trainings, workshops, individual support, international exchanges and projects.

EHSBwork both with adults and young people. They have several projects for young people with disabilitiessuch as: Internships in public administration, PCM education, Increasing active involvement of young people in their educational/working environments, Employment projects, ICT and other basic skills trainings.

GORDANA SCEPANOVIC

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PHOTO REPORT ! pame parko

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SOFIENE LAHDHERI 29

LINK

N°95

j u n e 1 st 2017

The volunteers responsible for this publication are hosted in Greece in the framework of the European Erasmus+ programme, KA1/youth - European Voluntary Service.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.