The Network Commission, the commission in charge of caring about the antennae in our Network, is always trying to find new ways for locals to cooperate and grow stronger together. Locals can find their twin antenna and organise exchanges and activities together. There is also the Mentorship System, in which stronger locals can help and advise smaller ones. Lastly, there is a new app called tWinder, which places your local just one click away from the perfect couple. We asked some questions to NetCom Kristina Reshetova (AEGEE-Moskva), who is the current project manager, and former NetCom Mario Galea (AEGEE-Valletta), speaker of the Network Commission Agora Asturias-Agora Kyïv, who created the app.
The AEGEEan: What is Twinder?
Kristina: tWinder is the matching app run by the Network Commission in order to facilitate processes of finding twin souls, mentors and also exchanges for your antennae.
How does it work?
Mario: After some fast SWOT analysis, locals can start to build their “profile” highlighting their strengths and weaknesses and what they are interested in, they send a group photo and a “pickup line”, and they submit it to the database. When a good number of lonely hearts are wandering in the database, then the Network Commission gathers over an informal video conference (because it is much funnier and more bonding than an algorithm) and starts trying to match the profiles. The ones who clearly match in what both are looking for are contacted directly (and we do not limit ourselves to only couples: the more, the merrier!). The others, who still do not match with anyone present in the database, would have their profile photo with the pickup line, some appealing strengths and availability, posted over a dedicate section of the Network Commission Facebook page, as available and looking for. In this way, other locals can swipe through these pictures and if they find someone they like, they can try to match by submitting their profile and highlighting the crush they now have. Inspired by dating sites and Tinder (which was in vogue at the moment), tWinder brings some spice to the NetCom projects and aims at bringing all locals closer to each other in a fun way, because after all, twinning, mentorship and exchanges, apart from being an opportunity for the development of the locals, are of great fun!
Why did you decide to create such a method?
Mario: As part of our work plan, as always, we wanted to promote more the NetCom projects which were obscure for most locals and difficult to get started with in general. Usually, connections are created between board members during some event, which they later expand to their respective boards and antennae, and they work to evolve it into a twinning. However, this mostly happens with the stronger locals who have lots of active members and capacities, while locals with fewer resources, who would be getting the most out of mentorship especially, find it much harder. In fact, twinning and mentorship are like romantic relationships, and in today’s fast paced globalised life, society created alternatives for those who cannot afford an intense social life and came up with dating sites. Therefore, in a cold beginning of February 2015, with Valentine’s day looming ahead, I decided to revamp the previous unused form into a funnier and more interesting “dating site” style form which would have created a database of antennae looking for action. Since, as normal, not everyone is ready for long commitments, I decided to include also exchanges as an option, which can either be the first step leading to a more stable relationship, or can just end there, like a one night stand, leaving everyone happy.
tWinder was launched on ANNOUNCE-L early in December. How is it going? Any successful “dating” so far?
Kristina: As it was mentioned, this project was launched some time ago. For this term, I am the new Project Manager, that is why we decided to promote this awesome tool again! We got some applications and we are planning to match them in the upcoming weeks!
What is the importance of having a tWinder antenna?
Kristina: First of all, it can give you priceless experience. You will have an opportunity to exchange your knowledge and experience with another local and also learn something from them. Moreover, having a twin antenna means having a new family and the closest of friends.
Why should a local fill the form?
Kristina: To change their lives! To organise awesome events together, to learn, to share and to have fun! Who knows, maybe you will meet THAT someone through this experience?
Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona