The importance of giving back to the society you live in is one clear idea members from Sumgayit always had in their hearts.

The chance was given and they simply decided to seize it. In cooperation with “Children Happy Future Public Union” they created an event the main goal of which was to collect funds for children who need a heart transplant.

In a kiosk inside a big shopping mall, children had the opportunity to express themselves through artistic themes including “freedom”, “friendship”, and “love”. Though such themes may be hard to be explained even from adults, kids proved that the world is more simple than the way we actually perceive it.

The energy and the power of those kids proved not only to be worth the event but managed to attract the attention and the interest from the rest of the people gathered .

The mall turned to be a shiny, colorful place filled with kids’ laughs and creativity.

We feel more than proud that at the end of the event the amount of money collected was 7000 euros, which money will be used to save the lives of three kids in need.

‘Contact Sumgayit’ and their big hearted kids convey to us one important message –  that giving can be something greater and more satisfactory than receiving.

~Thank you  for reminding it to us!~

 written by Sophie Zafeiri, CONTACT Larissa

If there is one “language” that can be understood by each human being, it is probably music.

Music can bring people together. So there was no question for AEGEE-Düsseldorf to take the fact that Europe´s largest song contest, the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), organized in Düsseldorf, as an opportunity to organize it´s very first international event

–“Your Own Vision”,  12^th to 15^th.

Bringing people from all over Europe together to celebrate was one aim of the event – the other was to share each others’ visions of Europe, Challenge ourselves by decreasing the importance of stereotypes in addition to increase mutual understanding. Different workshops enabled the 28 participants from 11 different countries to do so – by means of Music, history, improvisation theatre and art. The art workshop was especially interesting to show what kind of ideas participants have about other countries, and this could helped foster lively discussions. Participants had to draw, paint and write their ideas of the countries of all participants on large sheets of paper sheets, and on the other side the citizens of those countries noted down their ideas of how they see their own country, an excerise that brought up many interesting results.

Recognizing that challenge is the key to motivation, the event encouraged participants to present their own countries in the most creative and reflective way they thought possible. The energy and the passion of motivated youngsters committed to an idea, and the power of their actions is the perfect example of broadminded and creative citizens of Europe.

written by Fabian Brüggemann, AEGEE Düsseldorf

This is the name of one of the albums we have in our heritage. A piece of happiness given to the others. Trying to make others not to feel rejected or alone. This is what AEGEE-Beograd has been trying to do during the last two years.

Every project we make is followed by a humanitarian action for children without parents. We ask our participants to bring us toys, clothes, and books for these children. As we were in research of finding ways in order to make our participants be committed to this, the families of those taking part in European events were helping our cause in every way possible.

Through this project we found the way to help those around us, to give away not just things, but something that is more important – love. What those kids were eager for were love and friendship. We visit them a couple of times a year and spend time playing with them. The most valuable thing in these projects is to see their smiling faces, those sincere eyes full of hope. These are the most valuable gifts we could ever get. We realized that AEGEE is willing to help, that we can change the world and that we are working on it!

We hope that many locals will include these kinds of actions, spread the idea, and AEGEE-Beograd will continue to cheer the children, who are already becoming part of our big family. Maintaining the message of love one can work hard, enjoy life and never stop helping those in need.

Everything is possible if you believe in it.

by Nevena Todorovic

Once more AEGEEans have proved that distance is not an obstacle to carry out our favorite activities on our European playground. Despite having more than 4000 km separating them and many differences between each other, Las Palmas GC and Riga found their similarities and are Twin Antennae today.

It was at the Autumn General Assembly in Istanbul where our association witnessed what today is an incredible sisterhood and co-operative bond. Members of both locals – those coming from Aristotle’s lost continent of Atlantis later on denominated Canary Islands and those from the biggest city in the Baltic States and European Capital of Culture 2014 – signed a contract which turned out to change their lives. What followed this fraternization was  a year of training exchanges, knowledge transfers between locals, Youth in Action exchange projects and many other initiatives which have contributed not only to widening each and every one of our horizons, but have also developed a very strong friendship which will last for many years, bringing together many more idealistic and inspiring initiatives.

Thanks to the Network Commission’s Twin Antennae project both AEGEE-Las Palmas and AEGEE-Riga are discovering new realities, exchanging, learning, feeling and living experiences they will never forget.  A living example of European Youth Cooperation; an initiative  which will contribute to the development of our members as future active citizens of Europe.

There is something we will always remember: AEGEE-Las Palmas loves AEGEE-Riga and will always do.

By having each other’s support we are welcoming the future full of motivation, inspiration, and desire to continue contributing in the place we call home, Europe.

written by Luis Alvarado Martínez, Network Commission and AEGEE-Las Palmas

We often hear words such as “Network”, “Projects”, “Training Courses”, “Commission”, and “CD”.

But who is really hiding behind all those “big” words? What do these entities which keep AEGEE running even mean?

I wonder if it could be described within few sentences or words.

A whole Network implementing projects, Training Courses following certain procedures by Commissions and run by the CD. That was not very helpful, was it?

For over 3 years now, I have been a member of AEGEE. I joined, as most of you, simply because I wanted to travel and visit countries that sounded like a dream to me.

Back then,  little did I know about who is hiding behind all that. Who is responsible and organising everything.

During the last year I decided to answer an open call and see first-hand what on earth is happening out there.

I met up with students like myself who are spending hours and hours of their lives thinking, programming, communicating, implementing, and working hard on their dreams. I saw young people dreaming of equality, true and meaningful education, and human rights. People who have goals and follow them with all their heart whilst knowing that they will get nothing in return, but:

A United Europe, a better future for us all.

These young people could have spent those few free hours of their student life drinking coffee with friends, going out, spending time shopping.

Instead, they all worked hard for what we enjoy right now: The chance of travelling around the European continent free and cheerful.

This power is called love. Love for your dreams, love for the future, love for AEGEE.

So next time you will be travelling somewhere, remember that behind this single travel many students have spent hours in front of their computers working hard for what you are about to enjoy!

I would like to thank all those really hard-working volunteers who keep dreaming and loving for 26 years already…

written by Sofia Zafeiri, AEGEE Larissa