Did you ever ask yourself who are you, where do you belong, what aim do you have in your life? Sure you did, you had to, because those are the questions that help us develop our personalities. Roads of it are various, and everyone of us chose a different one. However, these days situation is getting interesting and people have need for grouping more and more. Did you notice how these days, when you read the news at least one of them will be talking about Islam, islamophobia, terrorism? That is one of the signs of grouping.

Today Muslims are generally considered as owners of bad civilisation, and Islam  as a religion of hate. Indeed though, we should look at it from other perspectives as well and see that not all is so black and white.

For example, did you know that Muslims around the world represent 23% of all people worldwide. Muslims make up a majority of the population in 49 of the 232 countries. This makes Islam the world’s second-largest religion. Biggest number of Muslims is concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region, where 62% of all Muslims reside. The world’s Muslim population living in Europe makes 3%. Over the past two decades, the number of Muslims living in Western Europe has steadily grown, rising from less than 10 million in 1990 to approximately 17 million in 2010.[1]

As an overture to this problematic let us first meet Djemal and his story.

Djemal, an Algerian Muslim, who resides in Italy, had been for some reasons in the hospital. Djemal shared a room with an Italian man, who was afraid of Muslims telling everyone around to be aware and to take care because -there is a Muslim in the hospital-. The same man actually liked Djemal very much, and found him the kindest person in the hospital. On the day he realized that Djemal is actually The Muslim, the Italian man never spoke to him again. The Italian man was the one of  those who are not dividing men to good and bad, but one of those with prejudice and fears, he was islamophobic. For him it wasn’t important anymore that Djemal was the kindest person in hospital, he is a Muslim, and that is all that mattered.[2]

As far as we can notice, the continuing growth in Europe’s Muslim population is raising lots of political and social questions. A number of question has risen towards issues such as religion in European societies, the role of women, the obligations and rights of immigrants, terrorism.

As I said in the beginning, not everything is black and white. Certainly there have been events of terror and violence from the Muslim side. If we go in the past; the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in the U.S., a series of events ranging from the Madrid bombings of March 11, 2004, the murder of the Dutch filmmaker van Gogh in November 2004, followed by the London blasts of July 7, 2005, riots in the French banlieues in November 2005, and then the cartoon crisis in Denmark have caused a profound anxiety about the “Islamic threat” to security and the cultural well-being of Europe.[3] Moreover there is no need to go to past, if we take a look at the Paris attack on 07.01.2015. when 12 people were killed. Therefore, the growth of mosques, Islamic schools, head scarves, the traditional clothes, and facial hair have been turned into an anomaly in the European urban setting. The Muslim population seems to be seen as negative, dangerous and terroristic. Of course people are scared, but all people are scared, of all religions and nations when there are such brutal terroristic groups in question. However, is it the right thing to exclude and punish all Muslim population, is it the right thing to destroy a Kebab Shop, just because a man is selling Kebab, and that means that he is Muslim, and that means he is bad?

The world is becoming smaller, and what we are facing is an increasing interaction between consciousness and awareness of self-determination. With this I want to say that the feeling of belonging to some nation is in constant growth, which is making our world “smaller”, that’s why we may have problems with accepting different people from us. All this brings a ‘revival of religion’, and the ‘unsecularization’ of today’s world.[4]All these aspects may be seen in today society, and people’s will to belong somewhere, someone, to identify themselves, to self-determinate itself. Due to the need to feel different and special Muslims in Europe on their way felt as being in a hostile territory where they are equalized to the word terrorist and have been threatened from different sides.

It is important to point out that Muslims are not race nor a nation, they are people, sharing the same religion, but living world wide with different life styles, different perspectives and views, belonging to different races and nations. Today, according to Asef Bayat’s article ‘When Muslims and modernity meet’, 3 groups of Muslims are defined in Europe:

1. Secular Muslims: those who seem to be fully “integrated” as they try to reach out to the “majority” culture, and they are frustrated by the fact that many natives do refuse to recognize them as “Europeans.” They are educated, they respect European culture and refuse radical Islam.
2. The young extremist groups largely second-generation who rarely speak native languages, nor have much knowledge about “traditional” Islam. In other words primarily the “deculturation” of religion-the construction of a “pure,” abstract, and “fundamentalist Islam” devoid of human cultural experience and influence that inform these young Muslims.
3. It includes the first generation immigrants who try to speak the European languages, strive to hold regular jobs, and wish to live a normal life, but are oriented to practicing many aspects of their home culture-food, fashion, rituals, or private religious practices.[5]

Bosnia and Herzegovina together with Turkey are the countries of Europe where officially the most of the Muslim population resides. When visiting these countries, people may notice that there is no difference between each other. On the other side many are surprised going there and realizing that they are Muslims, and they have mosques, and still, they are going out, they are visiting theatres, they are having fun, they are laughing and living the life.

There the EU as a body stands for multicultural idea of ‘unity in diversity’, meaning that the EU shall promote the cultural diversity of its member states, yet also advance a set of values common to all.[6] European societies and institutions should follow the example of the EU, and take  label “unity in diversity” as the main idea of their governence. Despite postulates and rules, as rules are there to be broken, reality seems different these days and hate is in growing position towards the Muslim population. However what has to be accepted from the population is that a multi-ethnic Europe means also a multi-religious citizenry; it means recognizing the reality of mosques, minarets, headscarves, even burqas in public squares along with churches and temples. For the fight against terrorism, society needs to accept transformations that cultural changes may cause; society needs good Muslims to fight bad Muslims. If we alienate good Muslims too, deprive them of their right to speak and express, we will not learn, nor be able to fight against terrorism.

One of the important problems here is in focusing/unfocusing on difference. The focus has to be shifted more towards what civilisations have in common: the relationship of human beings to their environment, the importance of family, the significance of moral leadership and indeed the meaning and purpose of life.[7]

For now what we can do is work on ourselves, not be ashamed of our own cultures and nations, as we do live in a time when nation-states, and civilisations are rising again, present them in a right way, show that multiculturalism is something positive which make us even richer than we were, that is raising the level of our tolerance, making us better people, and at the same time we will make this world a better place to live.

Written by Sabiha Kapetanovic, AEGEE- Izmir

As many time in our lives, those unexpected decisions, seconds fast as blink of an eye, can change our life. There it was Balázs, night in a London and sudden application for Summer University, where everything started. Now Balázs is an active and well known member of AEGEE. On his way to improve himself more, and contribute to AEGEE more he decided to candidate for Comité Directeur (CD), position Human Resources Director. Balázs says that:”AEGEE provides significantly larger space for flexibility in terms of in-depth self-development and I am very passionate about doing what I love doing; spreading the word about this and contributing to further professionalising our work.”

 The AEGEEan: Can you introduce yourself, your work and participation in AEGEE? How everything started?

Balázs: I am Balázs from Hungary. After completing my studies with a scholarship in media and communications, I spent one semester in Denmark specialising in photography and journalism. Upon returning to home, I have been involved with international and regional non-governmental youth organisations. As of now, I am majoring in English and American Studies at the University of Debrecen while being the current president of AEGEE-Debrecen. It started in 2011. I had a free night in London right before attending my last event as a member of another international youth organisation. That midnight was the application deadline for summer universities. I managed and got accepted and been to a terrific Transylvanian adventure. There, I already decided which event to apply for next. Quickly I became an active AEGEE member.

After having been organiser of numerous events, I became our antenna’s public relations & marketing responsible and then president. Recognising AEGEE-Debrecen’s achievements, we received the title AEGEE “Local of the Month” in late 2013 affirming that a small, dedicated group of enthusiasts can also deliver remarkable results.

In the meantime, voluntarily as well as via national umbrella organisations I also participated in training courses outside of AEGEE.

Shortly after being elected as a Network Commissioner at Spring Agora 2014, I decided to resign from this position. The reason was that key figures of our antenna unexpectedly faced they could not commit any more to AEGEE as much as they would have been supposed to due to personal reasons. By facing the fragile nature of our fluctuating continuity in AEGEE, this period has added up a lot to me.

Why AEGEE?

I believe that AEGEE is what you make of it. It has allowed me to grow in multiple ways therefore I am ready to commit myself to it for another year by offering what I am good at and also to face another challenging period to stretch my own limits. Why? Unlike any other NGOs I have encountered with so far, AEGEE provides significantly larger space for flexibility in terms of in-depth self-development and I am very passionate about doing what I love doing; spreading the word about this and contributing to further professionalising our work.

How did you come to the decision that you want to candidate for Comité Directeur (CD)?

It has been on my mind for a while now. Based on my background, I think it is a logical step. Partly because I am very driven by AEGEE, someone who could and is very willing to contribute and also as I consider being a CD member a huge challenge. I just needed to make sure that I find the proper time to make sure it will be ideal to pause from my life back at home.

Why would you like to become a member of the CD?

I see working as a member of the CD as a mixture of a great deal of challenge while also an excellent possibility to contribute.

Which role would you like to take, which one suits you best, according to your characteristics?

In case of getting elected, my tasks will preferably be related to public relations and communications, human resources (internal education) and network development. Although based on my studies, strengths and overall experience, these would be my priorities I would be open to make the decision together with the team as well as assisting each other’s work if necessary and possible.

What can you offer us, what can we expect?

Once elected, I will prefer focusing on contributing to AEGEE’s internal development. Starting out will include getting to know thoroughly the current state of the areas I will be responsible for – with the help of my predecessors. Creating a common vision with the rest of the team and with the opinions gathered from the Network is what will follow. Then, in line with our multiannual Strategic Plan and after gathering the needed support for my ideas, I intend to further work on developing and promoting the idea of an internal cross-generational mentorship system, carrying on with the work of establishing an internal validation tool of Non-Formal Learning of members as well as with the establishment process of an online training system.

Naturally, all this will be up to a common agreement with the rest of the team as well as co-operating with relevant European bodies such as the Human Resources Committee.

What is making you different from others?

I am a dedicated, hard-working, persistent idealist with a touch of rationalistic orderliness. Furthermore, I am self-aware and emotionally alert – an articulate, resourceful team player who is also not afraid of running extra miles. I do not think all of these are unique qualities in AEGEE, yet they are among my most important defining characteristics.

If you win, what do you expect from CD?

If I’m elected I expect we will form a healthy team. I believe it is essential to get to know each other as well as making sure that – after a proper knowledge transfer – by creating a common vision and by compiling our activity plan we set up clear objectives and a detailed action plan. Besides, staying in constant close touch with the Network shall be the basis of our actions. I believe that a driven, open and dedicated, grounded team can only deliver if they keep making sure everyone’s equally appreciated and involved.

 What does your antenna think about your candidature?

Active local members have been very supportive and enthusiastic. Special thanking goes to Noémi Lőwy, Réka Salamon and Dániel Halász for their support.

Can you share with us some anecdote which shows how AEGEE became part of your life?

The most eye-opening and transformational happenings inspiring me to stay active were interestingly often connected to unexpected obstacles and crisis – sometimes also failure in the team.

Having been able to work on ambitious ventures with an ever-changing, diverse team with different temperaments and approaches proved to be a journey that I am very grateful for. Spending quality time together planning our daring next steps with others have always kept on feeding our inner drive to go for more, but it was our hardships that have been developing us significantly.

These obstacles taught me three major lessons. Non-Violent Approach: A spirit of equal tolerance, openness, inclusiveness, curiosity and affordable patience connected with extensive mutual awareness planning and support among team mates are what collective success in AEGEE stems from in the first place. The more one learns to maintain a constructive yet clear-cut, non-violent communicational sensitivity keeping unnecessary negativity away, the more capable that person will become of taking full responsibility for their contributions and the energy being brought to the table if all these meet with a pragmatic focus.

If You Fail To Plan, You Plan To Fail: Making sure of building up a strongly-connected team coming to an equally-shared consensus on what they intend to achieve in a given time frame is worthless unless there is a detailed, realistic yet innovative, plan created in the very beginning of their co-operation. Setting clear goals and measurable objectives shall be included to provide an ideal kick-start.

Strong Egos: Few things are more dangerous than overvaluing yourself, underestimating, disrespecting and disregarding the defining potentials others add up to productive team work. Understanding that in the volunteering context, mutual respect and cherishing team spirit is of fundamental importance makes or breaks everything. In AEGEE each seemingly individual success is ultimately earned by a team, but failure is also on the shoulders of many. Collectivism is to be preferred.

Barely Recognisable: AEGEE has been leading me through a series of extraordinary experiences that make my life (and me as a person) barely recognisable in several ways compared to what it used to be before joining. I feel ready and devoted to further keep on working for our AEGEE by taking up a challenge of becoming a member of the next Comité Directeur, since I see an endless potential for every member in becoming a multiplier of all that we have to offer. See you in Gijón!

Written by Sabiha Kapetanovic, AEGEE-Izmir

Did any of you ever hitchhike? If you never did, but you would like to do it, or you did and you love it, than you will enjoy the story of AEGEE-Nijmegen. To find out how everything started and how everything finished we talked with Renée van Schaijk, organiser of the hitchhiking trip.

What we found out was that hitchhiking in AEGEE-Nijmegen is a tradition. Every year they organise few hitchhiking trips through Europe filled with competition spirit so more people are eager to participate. It’s always more exciting and fun competing for awards, as in this case – two tickets for the cinema.

The hitchhike from Nijmegen to Bruges  happened during the first weekend of November. The journey started on Friday and ended back in Nijmegen on Sunday. There were 22 participants in nine teams composed by two/three persons. The distance between Nijmegen and Bruges is around 240 km that normally take around two and half hours by car without any traffic jam. But as our AEGEEans were hitchhiking it took them more time. The fastest team there made it in about four hours. It took around eight-nine hours for the last team to to arrive.

For those who do not know, the most exciting thing about hitchhiking is to stop the cars which will take you to your destination, and that is almost impossible to achieve by one car. So you are obliged to change cars constantly. In Nijmegen-Bruges hitchhike, the least changed car number was three and the most eight, said Renée. In fact, her team changed five cars to arrive to Bruges.

You have first to imagine the situation: you are on a highway, many cars pass by, some of them stop, some not, and as every person in this world is different, you may meet with some polite or less polite people. Luckily for our AEGEEans, they did not live any bad or unpleasant experiences. On the contrary, says Renée, reactions from drivers  were very positive. People were even apologizing if they couldn’t take them and some drivers were very enthusiastic when they learned about the competition and were keen to help them to win it.

Once AEGEE-Nijmegen’s hitchhike crew finally arrived in Bruges, they felt it was different than if you would arrive in Bruges by train. Renée says: “It is really nice to finish and also to see other teams and hear what adventure they had, because every team had a different story.” During the rest of the weekend, they walked through Bruges, took a boat trip, visited the Chocolate museum and spent some quality time in a pub. On Sunday they came back home safe and happy.

Asked to share with us some anecdote from the trip. Renée said “We started the competition at the railway station in Nijmegen. I started last because I was from the organisation team. My team member and I walked to the road which goes to the highway and we didn’t see anyone. This was really strange for us. Later we saw one other team. But a car stopped for us and we went with them. And when we drove to the highway we saw the other teams at different points on the road. And we waved of course. But it was a really nice feeling!”

As said in the beginning, hitchhiking is an AEGEE-Nijmegen tradition and next destinations are Gdansk and, in March, Paris. “For those who are considering/interested in hitchhiking, you should do it” says Renee. The beauty of it is that you meet a lot of different people who will share with you their stories and you will share yours too. And sharing stories, listening to others is one of the ways to discover ourselves and discover others too, a way to enjoy and appreciate life more.

Written by Sabiha Kapetanovic, AEGEE-Izmir