Link 29

Content

...Editorial

...Overview of Youth Centre

...EVS Cafe

... Interviews with local and

foreigner volun teers, etc.

...New section of <Who We Are> K

ENTRO NEON KALAMATAS LIN

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EditorialWhat really volunteerism is, is a big debate which is bringing different arguments on the

table. In some countries there is a volunteerism tradition and in some others volunteerism

has a negative meaning. One of the countries, volunteerism has negative meaning is

Greece.

One of the main reasons is that in the old times, it was not necessary. Greek families and One of the main reasons is that in the old times, it was not necessary. Greek families and

local communities were helping each other and solidarity was there without being called

volunteerism or somehow else. It was something normal for the biggest part of the soci-

ety. After 80s volunteerism became more popular and started having this negative mean-

ing. People were thinking that if they volunteer, they will be considered as victims of ex-

ploitation. Big NGOs with loads of money and connections with governmental organisa-

tions, used volunteerism for the wrong reasons (as it happened everywhere in the world).

Big corporations started creating NGOs in order to show a more "social" or "environmen-

tal" attitude, as well as political parties did similar actions. Bad reputations don't need

many efforts to spread around. And the biggest victims of all these, the small local organi-

sations which faced difficulties in gaining the trust of the people.

Things are changing the last 5 years, as small grass roots organisations, started being cre-

ated by activists, youth workers and active citizens with the aim to change something in

the local or international environment. Environmental organisations, cultural organisa-

tions and social organisations, with people having no patience to wait for the state to take

action, started, with small activities, attracting the interest of the new wave of volunteers.

This new wave of volunteers, differs from the ones of the past. They can distinguish the

right and wrong motive of a non profit organisation and they can choose according to

their interests, where to contribute and where not. They are also having the resources and

the information in order to make a research for an organisation, before they participate.

By my experience, these 4 years, running the Youth Centre of Kalamata, I've seen this By my experience, these 4 years, running the Youth Centre of Kalamata, I've seen this

change in the people. From those siting in a cafe and discussing how bad things are (but

with no way to take action) to those who are taking action on their own or by volunteering

in organisations or informal groups. Both categories still exist, but the second one is be-

coming bigger and bigger, day by day... and this is amazing!

We don't need to say, that those people are actually changing the world. Small actions

which are making people's lives better are the ones which are changing our world. Volun-

teerism means that you are not siting on your couch waiting for the others to take action

for you. Yes, the state has the obligation to offer all those activities to its citizens, but when

it doesn't? What should we do?

Filaretos Vourkos

KENTRO NEON KALAMATAS LIN

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Overview of Youth Center


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Article by Irene

Youth Center of Kalamata is growing more and more! We arrived to the

1050 registrations during these last few weeks, and we still have some

free places in the language workshops of French, Slovenian, Estonian

and Lithuanian with our EVS volunteers and also some free places in

“Do it yourself” that just started this week!

In “Do it yourself” you will learn to design and create new beautiful stuff In “Do it yourself” you will learn to design and create new beautiful stuff

from recycled materials with the wonderful ideas of our local volunteer

Athanasia! Also we have a new workshop of drawing and we covered

some free places in contemporary dance… but now it’s again full!

More and more people are interested in participating in all our workMore and more people are interested in participating in all our work-

shops so check our website (www.ngokane.org) or our Facebook group

“Κεντρο Νεων Καλαματας” for more details to be informed first about

news of our activities!

As you might already know, in general the Youth Center of Kalamatas

there is a big variety of workshops as Salsa lessons, Tango, Yoga, Guitar

lessons, language exchanges, Capoeira, Traditional Greek dances, Per-

cussion, Cinema workshop, Hip Hop, Sign language and much more!!

And for last but not least, we have a really good new for our members:

We finally opened our LIBRARY! It is located on our 2nd floor and you

can find Greek books and also books written in other languages as

French, English or German. To pick one book up you can take it by your

own and after go to the Info-point on the 1st floor, where our volunteers

will register your booking and you will be able to enjoy your literature

for the following 20 days… is should give you more than enough time!

After that you can bring it back and take another book to your home…as

easy as that!easy as that!

We are waiting for You at Plateia Othonos, 10!!

New EVS Volunteer


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Now, I am working in the Youth Center

and I will stay in Kalamata for one year.

I chose Greece for my EVS because I think

that I can learn a lot there. Besides, I like

Greek

language and Greek cultural heritage.

I think that volunteering in Greece can I think that volunteering in Greece can

help me to develop my skills and knowl-

edge from my field and also help me to

improve my general

knowledge about Greek history and cul-

ture.

I choose to do EVS now because I really

needed a change, to do something differ-

ent and

I have always found the experience a very

rewarding learning curve.

All this activities helped me to improve my

interpersonal skills.

Well, during this year, I think I'm going to

miss my friends, my family and my moth-

er's

Zdavo ! My name is Jelena Scepanovic, I am 27 years

old and I live in Podgorica in Montenegro. I studied

biology and then I worked as a sales manager. I love

Nature and any activites in relation with Nature.

We wish to say welcome to our new EVS

volunteer Jelena from Montenegro, who is also

helping around in Youth Center instead of

Hrafnhildur, who have unfortunately gone

back to Island on personal reasons.

Interview withEVS volunteer Interviewer: Ines

Interviewee: Taaniel


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Interview withInterviewer: InesInterviewee: Κοκόσαυρος


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local volunteer


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Would you like to do EVS ? Why ?

I have been thinking about doing European Voluntary

Servicebecause you meet people from different countries and

also becauseI feel kinda guilty to start working for making

money. I feel weird about that, because when you like something you do not money. I feel weird about that, because when you like something you do not

mind doing it for free. So when you do volunteer work the money kind of pop out

of the equation. When I provide help without getting paid, somehow like volun-

teer work, you do this from your heart, because you want to and not because you

want to make money out of this. So I feel less guilty when doing voluntary work

because they only provide you what you really need and money (profit making)

is outside the equation.

What do you think about the situation in Greece nowdays?

This is a difficult question with many aspects to be taken into consideration. I

still am confused about the whole situation. On the one hand we have a harsh

economic crisis that affects a large part of the greek population. New measures

are being taken that make the situation even harder. However, you see most of

the people maintaining a passive attitude against the oppression. Only a few out

of the millions inhabitants of Greece demonstrate against it, in different ways.

The large majority of Greeks feels like their only political action that they can

take to change things is their vote. A vote that over the past 20 years or more, take to change things is their vote. A vote that over the past 20 years or more,

never changed anything. In my opinion, we have defective political and social

education in Greece.

On the other hand we have a rise of xenophobia, racism and fascism. I am really

concerned about the reasons why this rise takes place. I am starting believing

that we were racists before but due to the prosperity, it never came to surface.

The state becomes tougher against people who demonstrate in order to keep the

balance inside Greece. Human rights are being violated. They blame the immi-

grants for this kind of situation and not the bad administration of the country.

But even though such things happen in Greece, you observe them only in metro-

politan areas of large cities of Greece. In the other parts of Greece, life is pretty

calm.

Finally I would like to state the fact that Greece's situation is part of an interna-

tional problem that starts evolving and spreading all over the world. It should be

dealt internationally and not individually, or else there will never be a sustain-

able solution.

Manuela's hosting

I am going to present you the association that has sent me here,

in Greece, in Kalamata, in order to do an EVS with K.A.NE asso-

ciation. It is a sending and also an hosting organization.

My association is named “Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture de

Graulhet” (that means « Graulhet’house of youth and culture ».

It is situated in the Southwest of France, in Graulhet, a small

town which is at 30 minutes from Toulouse.

It is a Youth Center which really looks like K.A.NE. Every year,

the Youth Center hosts volunteers from all over Europe, and

creates new workshops for its members. Volunteers are free to

choose if they want to give language lessons (like we do here in

Kentro Neon Kalamatas), or to do workshops more “practical”

like martial arts, music lessons, danse…

The “Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture de Graulhet” hosts volThe “Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture de Graulhet” hosts vol-

unteers from all over Europe for doing EVS projects, and also

for youth exchanges.

The person responsible for the EVS program in the “Maison des

Jeunes et de la Culture de Graulhet” is Mireille, she is really nice

and she knows Greece since she spends one or two weeks of hol-

idays per year in Athens.

You can contact her: [email protected].

Link of the website: http://www.mjcgraulhet.asso.fr/


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Article by Manuela

My name is André Tavares, I am from Portugal, and I

live in Estoril, 20min away from the capital, Lisbon.

I’m in Kalamata for 3 weeks now, and I’m going to I’m in Kalamata for 3 weeks now, and I’m going to

stay for 9 weeks more. I’m here because I signed in

the “Leonardo Da Vinci” program which allows me to

have a short duration professional experience abroad

Europe, so the Youth Center (K.A.N.E.) received me,

and now I’m working with them in some coordination

tasks, office duties, helping to prepare and organize

events, and I’m also teaching Portuguese in the youth events, and I’m also teaching Portuguese in the youth

center. Thank you,

Greetings from Portugal.

My name is Angela, I am 23 and I come from Crete,

a beautiful island in the south of Greece. I passed

the last 6 years of my life in Athens, studying Man-

agement, Health Administration, Media & Commu-

nications but I still haven't found what I want to do

in my life. Searching for new experiences and moti-

vations, I decided to spend this year in Kalamata

to live, work and interact with volunteers from all

over Europe and offer my services to the local com-

munity by participating in KANE's projects.

Who We Are?

My name is André Tavares, I am from Portugal, and I

live in Estoril, 20min away from the capital, Lisbon.

I’m in Kalamata for 3 weeks now, and I’m going to I’m in Kalamata for 3 weeks now, and I’m going to

stay for 9 weeks more. I’m here because I signed in

the “Leonardo Da Vinci” program which allows me to

have a short duration professional experience abroad

Europe, so the Youth Center (K.A.N.E.) received me,

and now I’m working with them in some coordination

tasks, office duties, helping to prepare and organize

events, and I’m also teaching Portuguese in the youth events, and I’m also teaching Portuguese in the youth

center. Thank you,

Greetings from Portugal.


K NOVEMBER 2012

Hi everybody!

I am Fotini and you have probably seen me some I am Fotini and you have probably seen me some

time or other in the Youth Centre. I moved to Kala-

mata in July 2011, and started working for K.A.NE.

My decision was easy, as I knew the city well (I fin-

ished high school here) and I was already familiar

with K.A.NE., its work and activities and, of course,

the Youth Centre. I am happy to be able to support

its work and be part of K.A.NE’s and the Youth Cen-

tre’s team.

See you around!

I am Filaretos and the last 7 years I am working in

the field of non formal education as a volunteer,

youth worker and youth trainer. 4 years ago, I decid-

ed to create the Youth Centre of Kalamata, in order

to initiate the youth work in Kalamata and promote

active citizenship as factor of change. When I am not

abroad for work, you will find me at the youth centre,

in which, my biggest complaint is, that I don't have in which, my biggest complaint is, that I don't have

enough time to participate in any workshop...

12

Zdavo ! My name is Jelena

Scepanovic, I am 27 years

old and I live in Podgorica in

Montenegro. I studied biolo-

gy and then I worked as a

sales manager. I love Nature

and any activites in relation

with Nature. Now, I am with Nature. Now, I am

working in the Youth Center

and I will stay in Kalamata

for one year.

I chose Greece for my EVS because I think that I can learn a

lot there. Besides, I like Greek language and Greek cultural

heritage. I think that volunteering in Greece can help me to

develop my skills and knowledge from my field and also

help me to improve my general knowledge about Greek his-

tory and culture.

I choose to do EVS now because I really needed a change, to

do something different and I have always found the experi-

ence a very rewarding learning curve. All this activities

helped me to improve my interpersonal skills.

Well, during this year, I think I'm going to miss my friends,

my family and my mother's kitchen.

Who We Are?13

Γεια σασ ! Με λενε Λωικ. I’m 27 years and I come from

Melun in France( little city near Paris). My project is the

Youth Center. I will work in Youth Center during 1 year,

I will be in charge to French lesson, and I will help in

workshop for kid and maybe other things during this

year.

I am a very open-minded and passionate person who I am a very open-minded and passionate person who

likes music, cinema, circus and all forms of arts, and

motivated to set up innovative projects of animation.

I wish to work on various artistic disciplines and to use I wish to work on various artistic disciplines and to use

the artistic practices as tool of Insertion and Education.

From my point of view, developing the link between cul-

ture and social intervention is an original instrument.

The culture is indeed the best way to integrate people in

the society and at work. It allows persons who are facing

to social problems to develop a positive dynamic and to

solve loneliness issues.solve loneliness issues.

See you later on the youth center. Γαει!!

Salut ! I am Ines and I come

from Vierzon a small city in

the center of France. I have

finished my high-school

studies this year to do my

EVS in Kalamata. I have al-

ready done voluntary work in

Italy and in Germany. That’s Italy and in Germany. That’s

why, I chose this project, in

order to meet people and to

have a great experience in an

association abroad.

Besides I am interested in Greek culture and the rich

heritage. Now, I am working in the Youth Center

where I am going to teach French and guitar. I also

hope to create a band and have a good time.

Hi! I am Irene, I am Spanish

and I will be working at the

Youth Center of Kalamata. I am

27 and it’s not the first time I

live abroad but Greece it’s a

country where I have always

dreamt to live in! I studied An-

cient Greek History and Literacient Greek History and Litera-

ture, so I think I arrived at the

perfect place! I also did a

Master in education and I think

teaching is a way of learning in

itself, so I am really happy to or-

ganize the Spanish workshop

and I am sure we will learn a lot

from each other! Obviously, we

will do many activities during

this new adventure in K.A.NE,

so be ready for that!!


K NOVEMBER 2012

I am called Taaniel, youngster from Estonia,

the most northeast Baltic country surrounded

largely by sea, Russian, Finland and Sweden. I

have finished high school in Estonia, after that

I studied a year in Denmark. I like to bike and

snorkel and Kalamata is perfect place for that.

From this Autumn I started to work as EVS

volunteer and as a part of my project I am supvolunteer and as a part of my project I am sup-

posed to help with center's website and also

design this newsletter You are reading now - I

hope You like it, and if You have any construc-

tive critic, thanks to say, proposals etc. - all of

it is welcomed to address evsTaaniel@g-

mail.com.

Smile :)

Who We Are?


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Giasas! My name is Leonard Pristl, I come from

a little city in central Germany called Bamberg

where I have passed the last three years of my

life. Until my 15th year, though, I was living in

Greece, in a little village called Ag. Dimitrios,

and for this reason I speak really good Greek.

As a volunteer, I will be working in the KEKI-

KAmeA in Kalamata this year. Now I am 18 KAmeA in Kalamata this year. Now I am 18

years old and I love going for skiing in the

winter, I love the white mountains and the

nature but I also fell in love with the sea and the

beaches here. I decided to come again to Greece

to make my EVS project becaused I missed the

good weather and the Greek lifestyle and be-

cause I like to work with children.

I am Manuela, I am a 23 years French girl. I come from

a southwestern French city named Toulouse. I am in

Kalamata since the 5th of September and I will live

here during 11 months, that is to say till the 4th of

August.

My project is the communication and the organization My project is the communication and the organization

of the movie festival which will occur in July, 2013. But

during all the year, I will organize some projection

nights in the youth center andvt on Plateia Othonos.

And I will also sometimes be in the youth center to help

the other volunteers if they need.

In France, I study communication and journalism, and In France, I study communication and journalism, and

that is probably why I really like to meet new people,

speak with them and set up new projects all together. I

hope this year will be full of this kind of events!

Hello everybody!

My name is Gianluca and I’m just arrived in Ka-

lamata. I’m an Italian guy of 28 and I have fin-

ished in February my university, in Anthropolo-

gy.

So, I have decided to come in Greece as a volun-

teer to work with children, because I like them

(I had work with children for ten years), but

also because I’m interested on the life in Greece

and the Greeks themselves.

I’m really happy to be

here and my first

impression ofthe

association and the

volunteers is really good!

I hope to be useful for

the project and for all

of you!

Hello, I am Dorian, I come from France and I

am 21 years old. I really like to dance, specialy

swing and rock'n roll which I practiced for 13

years before my EVS. I came to Greece because I

really love this culture, and I want to live in this

very beautiful country.

Now, I am working in a Horse Riding School

for disabled children. It is a very interesting proj-

ect, I feel useful and it is gonna bring me a good

experience for the future.

I arrived in Kalama-

ta on 5th september.

My first month was

perfect with sun,

beach and new

friends. I hope I will

learn a lot of things

about other culture, about other culture,

languages, …

Enjoy your lifeS,

Dorian.

Who We Are?15


K NOVEMBER 2012

I love to read, sing, do yoga, travel and go out dancing

with my friends. I like making pastries and even more

so I like to eat them. I’ve done voluntary work before

but going all the way to Greece to do so is kind of on

the edge of my comfort zone - that’s what makes it is

all the more exciting. I’ll spend my working days on a

farm and right now I’m just looking forward to see or-

anges on trees(!) for the first time .anges on trees(!) for the first time .

Γεια! I‘m Ieva, 18 years

old girl from Lithuania.

I work on Natural Farm-

ing & Environmental

Awareness project. I‘m

entirely in love with

Mother Nature, so don‘t

hurt her or you‘ll have to hurt her or you‘ll have to

deal with me! I’m look-

ing forward to spreading

“green ideas” in Kalama-

ta, also, you can join my

Lithuanian lessons in

the youth center.

I spend my free time exploring secluded places

around, so if you know any secret mountain path-

ways, nice empty beaches or cozy little villages, let

me know (:

Zdravo! I’m Kaja

from Slovenia and

I’m 22. I’m a last

year student of so-

ciology and an ac-

tivist for the rights

of LGBT people.

Contact details:K.A.NE., Social Youth DevelopmentYouth Centre of KalamataPlateia Othonos 10Kalamata24100GreeceGreece

e-mail: [email protected] url: http://www.ngokane.orgfacebook group: Κέντρο Νέων Καλαμάτας/Youth Centre

of Kalamata

EDITOR: INÈS DUPONT-MIAULTGRAPHIC DESIGN: TAANIEL STOITSEVARTICLES: INES DUPONT MIAULT MANUELA GASCON JELENA SCEPANOVIC ΑΝΤΖΕΛΑ ΛΕΚΑΝΑΚΗ LOIC MARCHAND IRENE PENA HERRANZ TAANIEL STOITSEV ΦΙΛΑΡΕΤΟΣ ΒΟΥΡΚΟΣ FOTINI ARAPI

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communica-tion] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which

may be made of the information contained therein.

The volunteers responsible for this publication are hosted in Greece in the framework of the European Youth in Action programme,

Action 2- European Voluntary Service.

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