Your Vision for EUrope project is a new AEGEE project initiated as a campaign for Spreading Europtimism. Its purpose is to engage young Europeans from a wide variety of national, social and cultural backgrounds in an open discursive process of collective learning, opinion and will-formation regarding the future of Europe and make sure that their voices are being heard. The project launches now an online photoblog called Faces of Europe which aims at encouraging the sense of European community by sharing stories of various individuals from Europe. We talked with Viola Bianchetti from AEGEE-Bologna, who is the content manager to tell us more about this photoblog and what it does exactly.
The AEGEEan: Hello, let us begin by telling us a few things about this project. What is the purpose of Faces of Europe project?
Viola: Hello and thank you for this interview!
Photoblog by Alessandro Da Rold
First of all, Faces of Europe is part of the new AEGEE project, Your Vision for EUrope. This project, which is still in its launching phase, aims to facilitate discussion among young people with regards to the future of Europe. Our purpose is to educate them on European issues and politics, to stimulate active citizenship and to make sure that relevant policy-makers and stakeholders hear their voices. Stay up-to-date about our activities via our facebook page: we will soon have many news for you! And if you or your local are interested in our project, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Coming to Faces of Europe, it is an online photoblog which aims at making Europe more personal and spreading a sense of belonging and community by sharing stories of common people living across Europe. The campaign wants to show the great diversity of Europe and to give space to different experiences and views, and at the same time, underline the connection between the stories of individuals and Europe.
How was this project created?
The idea came up during our kick-off meeting in Brussels, in a session where we were brainstorming about concrete activities for our objectives (we simply put really big paper sheets on the grass in the AEGEE-house garden and got creative!). While everyone was writing something, somebody put down “Stories from Europeans”, this then triggered someone else to write down “Humans of New York”, and then “Humans of Europe”. In the session after this creative brainstorming, we then quickly agreed that we would like to launch a photoblog campaign, and the idea of ‘Faces of Europe’ was born.
Photoblog by Michela Gotti
Tell us more about this project. What does it consist of?
Every Faces of Europe’s photoblog consists of a portrait of a person and of a short text which tells his/her personal story and explains his/her relationship with Europe. The photoblogs are published on a (nearly) daily basis and shared on our online platform and on facebook. We aim at giving voice to people from different national, social and cultural backgrounds, and of different ages, genders and ethnicities. One important point for us is to include also statements which express doubts or fears about the current state of the European project, in order to create a comprehensive picture of what is Europe today from the point of view of its citizens.
How can we become reporters for this project?
Our recruitment is ongoing, so if you think you are the right person for our project and you would like to become a part of our wonderful team of reporters, don’t hesitate to apply!
In order to do so, you need to follow these two steps:
- Fill out the application form
- Send a mail with 1 or 2 photoblogs to yourvisionforeurope@aegee.org. The photoblogs submitted should be in line with the ones already published.
Is it an internal project for AEGEE members only?
No, we encourage people from outside AEGEE to apply as well. At the moment, the majority of our reporters are non-AEGEEans.
Is this project going to have a follow-up with the results?
Photoblog by Elisabetta Calzolaio
At the moment, we don’t have precise plans about it. ‘Your Vision for EUrope’ project will include a final conference where the various outcomes will be presented, ideally in the form of policy recommendations for relevant policy makers, so as to express the vision of young people about the future of Europe. We still don’t know how ‘Faces of Europe’ photoblog will contribute to this collection of final results. If the whole campaign proves to be successful and valuable, we can certainly take in consideration a specific follow-up (e.g. a dedicated publication).
How much do you think the recent events will impact the people’s vision of Europe ?
Europe is certainly going through a period of crisis, which means a crucial moment for its development. Starting from the Greece’s debt crisis, then considering the still ongoing refugee crisis, and finally arriving to the recent dramatic events in Paris, Europe is facing enormous challenges. I think that now more than ever people is questioning the identity and even the existence of the European Union. This isn’t necessarily a negative fact: it is the time for European citizens and in particular for the younger generation to think about what they want Europe to be and to shape a different future for our community. If we fail in this, it is possible that the European project will fade.
As a conclusion, do you have any suggestions for the people who are applying as reporters for Faces of Europe?
You don’t need to be a professional photographer or journalist to join our team: we are looking for reporters who love meeting new people and sharing stories. Another requirement is to have the time and will to submit two photoblogs per month. If you recognize yourself in this description, don’t wait and apply!
You can find Your Vision for EUrope Facebook page here and the Faces of Europe photoblog Facebook page here.
Written by Gabriela Geană, AEGEE-București