Hey Florina, and thank you for answering some questions for us! First of all, can you introduce yourself and your team that created the sessions to our readers? Why did you decide to join the Summer University of AEGEE-Iaşi to hold workshops on social equity?

I’m Florina, member of AEGEE-Göteborg & AEGEE-Iaşi, and until August this year, I was the coordinator of the Social Equity Working Group. The sessions were part of the work I’ve done in the working group during the last term, together with my team, Anna Lena (AEGEE-Heidelberg), Carmen (AEGEE-Erfurt), Milica and Nevena (AEGEE-Niš), Alba (AEGEE-Alicante), Ana Isabel (AEGEE-Valladolid), and of course, Teddy,  our CD-appointed member. Since the drafting of our Activity Plan, we planned to collaborate with Locals and other EBs for at least two Summer Universities and when the opportunity came, we were more than happy to help and share our materials. Being a member of AEGEE-Iaşi and involved in this SU in the previous years, I was already following their work. And due to the situation in Ukraine and the involvement of Romania in helping refugees, they approached us to talk about discrimination based on place of origin. We focused on this topic before, under Action 4 of the Action Agenda (AA), therefore we wanted to share our sessions with others.

How did you perceive the reaction of the participants to the sometimes difficult topics you were covering? Were you surprised by some of them?

I joined the working group after its creation, in 2020, and what I have learned during this time is that we are always dealing with sensitive subjects as part of our work. Moreover, we cannot always have a session with participants with the same views. It is also very common to encounter some racist or discriminatory behaviour. This is why we do what we do: try to raise awareness, educate others and ask them to reflect on their own ideas. However, I was personally surprised by this SU, because most of the participants did not know that much about the thematic focus of the event, and still, they got involved in every discussion and shared their own views. Also, I had many discussions with the participants after the session and I realised that even after it was over, they were questioning some of the things presented and reflecting on their own positions. 

We had this session, for example, on what is privilege and how to recognise it, that we also delivered at the last Agora — though in this SU, we chose to change it a bit, use fictional roles and ask participants to put themselves in other people’s shoes. We tried role play because of the particularity of SUs, where people usually go to have fun and travel. However, after the session was over, I was surprised that many participants wanted to do it from their own perspectives. And this is always hard because it gets very personal when we realise how privileged we are in comparison with others. But they were so invested in this activity that they were willing to question their own position. I was there to share with them our knowledge, but in the end, I learned a lot of things from each one of them and hopefully, the working group can take it further. 

How did your team prepare the workshops? Was there anything you considered as particularly important? 

Our plan for this term was to have some sessions under each action of the Action Agenda, and,  in this way, raise awareness about all the topics we covered this year. For big activities like a SU, we always have to keep in mind that there are multiple sessions throughout the whole event, so we try to link them. Also, not everyone is usually familiar with these topics, that’s why we start with some introductory sessions and then dive into the main topic.  

For this SU, we actually combined some sessions created under Action 1, for example, about privilege, intersectionality or personal identity, as an introduction, and then we started talking about discrimination based on place of origin. We didn’t just want to present migration as a general phenomenon. We tried to bring to the discussion topics such as countering stereotypes about people with a migratory background, challenging negative narratives in the media or exploring humanitarian work on the ground. We had, for example, a collaboration with the Romanian Red Cross – Brașov Branch, where one of their volunteers shared with everyone about his experience helping Ukrainian refugees at the border. The most important thing for us in this event is what the participants can take further, practical tips about how they can tackle discrimination and negative narratives in their daily life. 

During the workshops did everything go according to the plan? How did you respond to problems?

When it comes to the issues mentioned before about the overall atmosphere in the group, we try to be prepared for everything. Luckily, even when having contradictory ideas, the participants managed to keep a high level of respect for each other and had constructive debates. We always had people participating in the discussions, but maybe not everyone was interested in these topics at the beginning. So sometimes we had to adapt and let them get involved in interactive debates, rather than sharing our knowledge on the topic. We even adapted the energisers and icebreakers to link them more with the main theme of the workshop. We had to “deviate from the original script” sometimes and let them share more, so they could understand better from their own examples and discussion. We also had some problems, mainly due to organisational reasons, such as a change of venue, schedule or missing logistics. But as mentioned, I was ready for it, so I think in the end we had an amazing learning experience.

One of the sessions you presented was dealing with the issue of refugees. In these times this is a topic more pressing than ever before as people have to leave their homes because of climate change, wars, economic downturns and other factors. Is there some fact about the topic of refugees or migration that you think everyone should be aware of?

When we approach the topic of discrimination based on place of origin in our sessions, we always try to highlight that there are different types of migration, with multiple causes, and that even defining the concept of “migrant” is complicated. There is a risk nowadays of blurring the line that separates different groups of migrants, because not everyone is a refugee, and knowing the difference between them, asylum-seekers, internally displaced people and other migrants, is very important. Different groups leave their home for different reasons, and they receive protection based on their circumstances. People don’t look for refuge in other countries only because of war, but also due to other factors, as you mentioned, which are sometimes missed in the conversation about migration. We also encourage people to look beyond these labels, as they are temporary and do not reflect the whole identity of those leaving their homes. Unfortunately, nowadays, the debate on migration rarely takes into account the facts or the individual life stories of those involved. Women are rarely quoted, while information that we receive through political discourse, on social media or tv, is dominated by misinformation, sensationalism and prejudices. Everyone should always pay attention to these issues and make sure to contribute to debunking the myths and stereotypes spread through different channels. 

What can we as members of AEGEE do to help people that have to leave their homes?

There is a short video from Amnesty International that we included in our sessions and that illustrates perfectly how anyone can help, no matter the resources or the country where you are coming from. We, as an organisation and individuals, most of us coming from a privileged background, have so much to offer, through different means: 

• Start by getting informed, be aware of the factors that force people to leave their homes and debunk all those stereotypes used to instigate hatred and discrimination. 
• Raise awareness and speak up, whether you do it on Social Media, in an activity organised by your Local, in a discussion of our working group or in a debate with decision-makers in your own city. 
• Support different campaigns to help people on the move and when possible, host refugees and asylum seekers in your home or look for volunteering opportunities in your city. 

Keep following the Social Equity Working Group, because the next Action Agenda has an entire action dedicated to this topic and they are planning many activities where you can get involved, individually or together with your Local!

AEGEEans are consciously devoting time and energy to AEGEE. It is fun and it contributes to the greater good of a borderless Europe. But are we also conscious about what we gain, both personally and professionally for our future lives? According to AEGEE Alumni, it usually takes a couple of years after leaving AEGEE  until one realises the impact of the experience, and that the spirit actually does not go away. 

“Our Career Training for AEGEEans wants to accelerate that insight, and help graduates make the most of their AEGEE related skills from the outset,” summarises Pierpaolo Vittoria, training coordinator  of Les Anciens d’AEGEE. Our European Alumni organisation realised that supporting AEGEEans in their transition into their first post-AEGEE job is actually a win-win-win idea for AEGEEans, Les Anciens d’AEGEE and AEGEE as it: 

• Strengthens the profile of AEGEEans in their job search and application processes 
• Shows the value of our AEGEE Alumni network 
• Fosters the brand and mission of AEGEE on the European and local levels 

How it works: A modular approach to respond to different needs 

As AEGEEans approach their graduation, and hence their job search, different questions may occur during that phase. Distinct career training modules reflect and respond to these questions, including: 

• Foundational session (creatively labelled ‘A’) on identifying your AEGEE skills and how to leverage them on your CV and in personal branding  
• Job market sessions, focused on how search and selection work for (‘B1’) Private Sector careers or (‘B2’) EU Institutions & EU Bubble careers 
• Development session to plan a European career for the future (consequently named ‘C’) 

“As this is a new offer, we do not yet know the priorities or needs of current AEGEE graduates first-hand, so we have created a pre-registration form,” explains Pierpaolo. The form allows AEGEEans to indicate which sessions they are interested in and in which months they could participate. 

“A demand-based approach just makes more sense at this time”, Pierpaolo adds. He also warns that a match might not always be possible – depending on availability of trainers etc. – but the flexibility of the online format will certainly help. 

Encouraging insight – enabling implementation

While the sessions have a clear outline and will always cover the basics, their content and delivery will have a degree of variability: different trainers from the AEGEE Alumni Community will design and deploy them, and each trainer will customise the format according to their personal skills and background.

 “What the sessions have in common,” describes Pierpaolo, “is that they will focus on the resources of the participants. We want to ensure that they have a chance to identify their unique skills and describe their personal strengths, as to leverage them for their future success”.  

The trainer pool includes Alumni from different AEGEE generations, various industries and a range of job functions as well. This reflects the diversity of the AEGEE Alumni community which naturally emerges from the unique diversity of AEGEE. Pierpaolo himself has been working in the corporate sector for 25 years, and after completing a second degree in Learning Sciences, he decided to volunteer as AEGEE Alumni’s training coordinator. He will connect AEGEE graduates with Alumni trainers and facilitate the preparation of training sessions.

Just one of many things AEGEE Alumni offer to AEGEE[ans]

Many AEGEEans have noted in recent years that Les Anciens d’AEGEE is changing and becoming more connected to and with AEGEE. After its founding, in 1990, the Alumni network was mainly aiming at providing a platform for former AEGEEans to keep in touch and offered on-demand support to AEGEE as well as financial project aids, e. g. via The Continuity Fund or the FATF. 

“Talking with AEGEE locals and CD over several years has shown that there are many more areas where Les Anciens d’AEGEE and AEGEE can be connected in a valuable way,” says Michael Stuber, Strategy Director and Acting Co-ordinator of Les Anciens d’AEGEE. He is the mastermind behind a multi-stranded portfolio that includes different offerings for AEGEE and AEGEEans including: 

• INSPIRE sessions that help motivate AEGEEans by showing the value and impact AEGEE has had on individuals and their professional and personal lives 
• LOCAL support for AEGEE in maintaining and growing their membership and their local Alumni groups – or re-founding former locals 

• Mentoring for active AEGEE members and career training for AEGEE graduates to support their personal and professional development 

All these activities rely on the interest and participation of us, AEGEEans, and we can all stay informed about and connected to Les Anciens on various channels so we do not miss an invitation or announcement: https://linktr.ee/lesanciens 

If you are an AEGEEan that graduates in 2022 and interested in the described Career Training, you can 

• Find more information on this website https://www.anciens.org/support-for-aegee/career-training/ or 
• apply to participate with this Pre-Registration Form: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYMHfKaYR-jP_Gd4Ac-RNKOaUhtCo8WEvMZXvvksEPewierQ/viewform?pli=1

Hey, for the beginning could you introduce yourself to your fellow AEGEEans? How long have you been a member of AEGEE, which antennas have you joined and what are your best memories with AEGEE?

Hey everyone, I am Aleksandra, but most people call me Ola. I am 20 years old, and I am in my second year of my bachelor’s degree in European Languages and Cultures. I joined AEGEE-Groningen in October 2019 and over the years I have created many great memories with AEGEEans. One of my most impactful moments in AEGEE and best memories I created were during my full-time board year. I was part of the board as the European Affairs Director, and my responsibilities ranged from guiding local committees to communicating with other AEGEE locals and European Bodies, and making sure that the opportunities available at the European level are well known in AEGEE-Groningen. It was an amazing year of getting to know the ins and outs of my local and AEGEE as a whole. 

I must say every event I join is unforgettable. My first event ever was the NWM in Aachen in 2019. Till this day, NWMs are one of my favourite events, because of the useful thematic sessions focused on the needs of locals and the small group of participants which makes it easier to get to know everyone personally. Another highlight in my AEGEE memories is the recent NYE Snowball Effect organized by AEGEE-Brescia. Trying out different winter sports with such a fun and wholesome group of AEGEEans was the best way to spend the week around New Year’s Eve. And it’s great that we keep on meeting each other somewhere in Europe. 

Network Commission is arguably one of the most prestigious positions in the entire organization. However, being Network Commissioner is highly challenging. What motivated you to submit your candidature and why do you think you are suitable for it?

I have tried on a few roles in AEGEE, ranging from being active locally in committees, in the local board and now as main SU organizer, to being active at the European level in project teams and the SubCom team of the Network Commissioner Ilse Driessen. With the experience that I have gained with the different functions in AEGEE I feel prepared to be a candidate to be part of the Network Commission. My driving force is helping others and sharing experience, which aligns with the tasks of the Network Commission,  namely to support the locals in any reasonable way. That is why I see the Network Commission as a very important European Body and the perfect place for me. I also enjoy organizing events a lot and collaborating with others in a team.

What are some current policies or projects in AEGEE-Europe do you disagree with and why? What solutions would you suggest to solve these problems?

AEGEE-Europe has many great thematic and funded projects. The variety of opportunities brought to all AEGEEans with these projects is of great value, therefore it is very good that they exist. A lot of AEGEEans are also enthusiastic about many of these projects, take a look at Summer Universities, Europe on Track or Where Does Europe End 2.0. However, everyone can notice the lack of human resources or sometimes lack of interest in making use of all of the opportunities available. Also, a low number of participants at certain events can be noticed. These go hand in hand with each other, many unused opportunities and low engagement from the network. I would suggest examining closely what the causes are  (COVID-19 is definitely one of them) and looking into establishing an effective (and unified) way of communicating about all the opportunities. 

Do you have a preferred Network Area? What would you do if you’re appointed to another?

Since I am familiar with many locals which are currently in the BING area because of my term as SubCom, I would be open to starting my NetCom term with a similar area. During my short SubCom term I enjoyed working with the few locals which I have under my wing. However, it is very important that the local distribution suits the Network and the Network Commissioners. Therefore, I am looking forward to Network Areas which will be based on a logical and useful distribution.

Is there something you want to tell us? Now it’s your time to do so.

I am very happy that we can finally join a physical Agora. I hope through my answers you got to know me a bit better and I’m looking forward to answering any questions in Novi-Sad. See you soon!

DISCLAIMER: THIS INTERVIEW WAS FINISHED BEFORE THE NEWS WAS KNOWN OF AEGEE LOSING THE OPERATING GRANT!

Welcome, can you tell us who you are? What are your experiences with AEGEE and what was the moment you realized AEGEE is for you?

Hello dear AEGEEan! My name is Paul van Hoorn, and I have been a part of AEGEE since October 2009. In this long period, I have lived countless experiences thanks to our wonderful association. Countless travels and meeting new people, taking up functions, and trying to get as involved as possible in AEGEE activities, be they social or thematic. For example, I have helped numerous times in either local event, statutory events and Summer Universities.

My best AEGEE experience so far? Being an International helper on none-other than The TransSiberian Dream volume 11 Summer University! (SHOUTOUT) However, another AEGEE experience that I enjoyed even more: Being Network Commissioner! This is truly a fantastic experience as I really feel that I can contribute to our Network in many ways. I can only recommend people to consider getting involved in this commission!

The moment I really got contaminated with the AEGEE virus was at a barbecue event organised by my first antenna AEGEE-Maastricht. This was in May 2013. And that was the first time I met people from another antenna than myself, namely members from the neighbouring antenna AEGEE-Aachen. I was only active on a local level before, not knowing anything of what laid beyond my antenna, but meeting these foreign AEGEEans was the moment where I started to realise there was something more than just the local level. And gradually I became more active on the international level. Looking back on these many years, I have come to realise how much AEGEE has brought me and how much it has shaped the person that I am today.

What are you looking forward to most in the case of your successful candidature?

Getting to work!

AEGEE has given me so much, I am very committed to directly starting to work on my CD tasks and responsibilities. Despite the workload being intense and the challenges being numerous, I am confident that with the right approach and work I can really contribute to our network. Applying for Comité Directeur is something I have contemplated for some time, and I believe that now is the time for me to take that step.

CD position requires teamwork in AEGEE, how do you see yourself fitting in a team?

On several occasions (in AEGEE or otherwise) I have worked as part of a team. I’m doing the same within the current Network Commission.I like to work with others to achieve ambitious goals and I like to think I have flexibility in dealing with all kinds of tasks, as well as having good improvisation skills. Everyone has his/her own way of working, and even though I have my way of working, I am capable of working with team members that have a different working style.

What are some of your skills that would keep the team motivated?

I see myself as someone sociable and very communicative. I always listen to the opinions and ideas of others and I stick to commitments I have made. I have also been able to perform under stress and complicated situations on various occasions, and I have a natural disposition to be an optimist. Should an unexpected problem occur, I do not dwell on negative aspects, but start thinking about ways of solving that problem. Being cold-blooded helps to keep the team motivated.

Another important skill I possess is that while being concentrated and serious in my work and attitude, I also know when to not take myself seriously. Humor is a very potent tool to remain positive and cold-blooded and it’s important to lighten the mood at any possible occasion to keep the team going. I have a very active sense of humor (people around me have often told that I should start a career as a comedian, maybe after AEGEE?) and although my jokes don’t always land, I do believe that people appreciate to work with me because of that capacity of being both committed and also detached and joking, whatever the situation is.

Moreover, I have knowledge directly linked to where the AEGEE head office is located: Brussels. I know the city very well and having such a person is always an advantage. New CD members often arrive in Brussels and are not familiar with the ways the city works, but I know it well, being it how Belgian administrations function, how lobbying and socialising work and in general places to see and visit. After all, CD members should, next to their work, also enjoy their time in Brussels and discover the many great things the city has to offer.

Lastly: I’m a great cook! Eating good and healthy is non-negotiable for me, that’s very probably due to my French roots. Besides being good at cooking, I love to cook for friends and share a good moment around the table! Being elected, my teammates can be assured that I will cook and feed them!

Say, there are some policies that you do not like but they go through in consensus. How do you see yourself compromising with the decision?

Compromising is crucial when you work in a team.Sometimes I have a differing opinion and I will definitely voice it if I feel it is necessary. But in the end the final decision is up to the team, and even if I don’t like the approach, I will comply with working on the policy dutifully.

What area of AEGEE would you like to focus on as a member of the CD? What are some of your skills that help fit this role?

As mentioned in my candidature I want to focus on three main objectives: continuing current projects and looking into potentially starting new ones, improving attractivity of AEGEE to new members and trying to secure additional resources for AEGEE. Namely, funds.

A very important objective I also have is to make the functions within our framework more appealing. I want people to apply for positions. Especially that of Member of CD. It is well known that it is a challenging commitment: intense workload and responsibilities, very little time and space for a personal life, living in an expensive city like Brussels… This partly explains resignations during a term and people finishing their term with very little motivation.

To achieve this I can rely on my extensive experience of AEGEE and of the best ways to work while living in Brussels. I mentioned earlier getting more funds in order for CD members to feel more valorised. This goes along with continuing the efforts of previous CD teams to professionalise and expand the Secretariat. Elected CD members will thereby rely on a better structure and have more time to work on the projects they want to achieve.

Yes, this sounds ambitious, and the efforts will span over several years, but I do believe this can be achieved with the right approach and dedication. At the end of my term, I hope to will have made the various functions in AEGEE more attractive so that more people will apply to take up these functions.

A CD member requires meditating skills to work with working groups and local bodies, and there’s bound to be conflict. In these situations, how would you bring two contradicting bodies to a negotiating table?

My legal studies have taught me that conflict solving is a very important skill, and that it relies on the following aspects: trying to cool down tensions, reassuring parties to the conflict and allow each of them to express themselves and try to understand the opinion of their opponents. I have already taken the role of mediator (inside and outside AEGEE) and by applying the techniques mentioned before I have generally booked great results and managed to cool down hostilities and make opposing parties work together again. 

Also, I don’t only believe in conflict-resolutions but also in conflict prevention. It’s an important skill to be able to anticipate conflicts to might occur in the future and make sure they are avoided, and I know I possess that skill.

Tensions will very probably arise during my term, but I’m confident that I will be able to address them efficiently.

Is there something you want to tell us? Now it’s your time to do so.

I would like to add one last thing, but sadly it’s a negative and worrying one: there are just not enough people applying for positions.I might be an optimist by nature, but I’m also a realist. If all people running for CD are elected at this Agora (for the moment there are three candidates), it will not be nearly enough to address the workload that awaits the team. Even if I’m dedicated to do my utter best, with only two other CD

people it seems unavoidable that some very hard and unpopular choices will have to be made. CD members should work on things they want to achieve, but I will have to work on many other responsibilities I’m not so comfortable with taking up, and this could affect my motivation. I would be lying if I would state that this is not the case, and I don’t like to promise things I cannot realistically achieve.

Once the future CD will have a better oversight of the situation, I think we will have to set priorities and redirect efforts in the most realistic way. Addressing the workload is why I mentioned that a more impactful Secretariat can alleviate the work of CD. But in the meantime, I ask the members of AEGEE to understand the situation as it currently is. The CD is the most important of AEGEE but not everything should be expected to be done by them. The strength of our association comes from its most important component: the AEGEE locals and every individual AEGEE member. Everyone can contribute!

As mentioned above I remain an optimist. AEGEE has faced problems before, and solutions were always found. With the right approach, namely trying to find Interim CD members and sufficient assistance I do believe that our term can be a successful one. As mentioned before, I will have accomplished my tasks successfully if at the next Spring Agora there will be many more candidatures for the open positions. I am not thinking only about the next year but the many years to come after my term.

Therefore, I have a request for all AEGEEans, new and old: GET ACTIVE!!! 

There are countless ways to contribute to our association, from speaking to your friends about how great AEGEE can be, to organise all kinds of events and applying for European bodies. And being able to try new things, to get out of your comfort zone and start projects that can contribute a lot to the vision of AEGEE. After all, this is exactly what I experienced myself: that AEGEE is an incredible playground to learn.

As final words, I wish to all Spring Agora Novi Sad participants an unforgettable experience in Novi Sad! The Agora as we knew it before the pandemic is back, and that is one wonderful thing we have to celebrate!

And really looking forward to see you somewhere in Europe!

Hello, can you introduce yourself to the AEGEE-network? When did you join AEGEE and what were your best experiences with AEGEE so far?

Hi everyone! My name is Kirsten Broekema, I am 23 years old and currently a BA International Relations and International Organisation student at the University of Groningen. I joined AEGEE at the end of the summer in 2017 after meeting the association during our city-wide introduction period for new students. Since then I have been active in multiple committees & other bodies in AEGEE-Groningen, such as the Summer University Committee, Conference Team and the Advisory Council. Furthermore, on the European level I had the pleasure of being part of the SUCT last year (2020-2021) as the Content Manager. 

As for my best experiences with AEGEE it is difficult to say, a lot has happened in the past years! However, if I have to bring it down to just a few I would definitely include the Summer Universities we hosted in Groningen in 2018 & 2019. These events were my first introduction to AEGEE-Europe, and not only did I learn a lot from organising these events, it was also so much fun getting to know other AEGEEans. In addition, I surely have to include my year as President & FR-Responsible of AEGEE-Groningen (2020-2021). Taking a gap year from my studies and fully focussing all my time on AEGEE (both as a board member and as SUCT member) was a great experience and definitely made the time during the pandemic a lot more enjoyable for me. I learned a lot as a board member, met many new people and had the opportunity to give something back to the association. 

You are candidating to become a member of the mediation commission. Why did you choose this position? What do you think is exciting about it?

Last year, I learned more about the different bodies and AEGEE-Europe and thus also the Mediation Commission. For a while I have been entertaining the idea to candidate for the Mediation Commission because it would be a way to contribute to AEGEE-Europe in an area I am very interested in and also have been working with on a lower scale. As a board member, but also in my current function I have learned the importance of mediation to maintain a safe environment for everyone included, and keep an organisation running smoothly. Furthermore, I believe it is an essential body for an organisation as big as AEGEE-Europe and believe a smooth working MedCom to be necessary for maintaining a healthy association. Additionally, I think it would be a great experience for my personal and professional self-development.

Do you already have experience in the area of mediation?

Throughout my life I have worked mostly in teams for school/study purposes as well as extracurricular activities. From these experiences I naturally gained some experience with mediation and conflict resolution. Learning tactics, ways to approach issues and about possible obstacles in the way of mediation by being an observer or being involved with guiding a process. In recent years, it has become more prevalent during my time as an active member of AEGEE-Groningen and other student associations in my city, but also my time as a board member and in my current job where I learned more about mediation on a higher scale and within a big organisation. Of course, there is still much to learn and I am well aware I am nowhere near a professional mediator or ombudsperson but I think I possess a good basis to work with, and I am keen on further developing my skills and gaining more experience. 

What are some skills of yours that are important to have while being part of the mediation commission?

I believe myself to be a critical thinker, who wants to understand the core of issues. I am not afraid to ask questions, and am keen on listening to both sides and fact-finding before forming my own opinion about something. Furthermore, I believe I can place myself in different positions with relative ease and that I am quite good at estimating possible consequences of actions and choices. Lastly, I do believe I have the sympathy needed but also know how to put personal feelings aside when necessary and to think rationally and (as) objectively (possible) concerning cases that will be brought to the Mediation Commission.

Do you have any plans for AEGEE? Which aspects of our organisation could be improved and which aspects are working quite well at the moment?

From the standpoint of  and with regard to the Mediation Commission, I currently would not propose future plans for AEGEE in general. It’s a body that’s more focused on being reactive to what is happening in the network and what is needed for it to

function smoothly. It could very well be that during the short term I am applying for (which is only until the 30^th of November) I will have encountered specific improvements with regard to the Mediation Commission that I will consequently work on. 

Is there something you want to tell us? Now it’s your time to do so.

I am excited to meet everyone at Agora Novi Sad, and to finally experience a physical Agora! I will be happy to answer all your questions during the plenary, and hope I will convince you of my capability to be a good member of the Mediation Commission. If you want to get to know me a bit more, don’t hesitate to walk up to me during the event or send me a text on Telegram!

See you soon! 

Me with my best friend Karina Makara during LTC, Photographer: Szymon Podubny Photos

Hey, thank you for doing this interview with us! For the beginning, could you introduce yourself to your fellow AEGEEans?

Hello, my name is Wojciech Krywult, I’m an AEGEE-Kraków member since 2019, and a student in the field of Mechanical Engineering. Currently, I’m using my PR knowledge to help Summer University organisers and participants on behalf of SUCT.

What are your best memories with AEGEE?

I think my best memory was a Pub Crawl at the AEGEE-Poznań birthday party. :)

Network Commission is arguably one of the most prestigious positions in the entire organization. However, being Network Commissioner is highly challenging. What motivated you to submit your candidature and why do you think you are suitable for it?

For me, the most important motivation is keeping contact with the international society and improving my abilities. Through my experience, I know that the Network Commission is the most vivid European Body in AEGEE and I have many friends who have been active there. I think I have much to learn before taking this position but I can tell that I still have more knowledge than the average AEGEEan.

The skill of finding AEGEE information will be the most precious to me because our database management is very chaotic as, for example, people from AEGEE-London are mentioning in their “Modifying the List of Levels of Protection of Data” and “Introducing the Content-Format Guidelines” proposals.

What are some current policies or projects in AEGEE-Europe that you disagree with and why? What solutions would you suggest to solve these problems?

There are sooo many policies and projects in AEGEE-Europe, that I disagree with but this topic is so complex that I cannot propose certain solutions. On the other hand, I will strive to highlight these issues in the internal forum and create some possibilities for common online debates or separated offline ones.

The first thing I have in my head now is the AEGEE identity dilemma. To simplify, currently, there are two ways in which our organization is going: maintaining a quasi international student travel agency and creating a European political association. In both ways, we are weak (due to pandemic lockdown and insufficient visibility in the eyes of decision-makers), and we are shy to define these paths. 

Other serious issues belong to our popular institutional bureaucracy with illogical working formats of almost every EB. The best example are hermetic Focus Area Working Groups (not mentioning that half of them de facto don’t exist). I’m asking, why does a small group of six to ten people have to be responsible for the realization of one of our strategic aims? Shouldn’t it be based on mutual cooperation between central and local versions of WGs? A similar format is possible in the case of Summer Universities where SUCT only draws the most optimal path for local organizers, NOT taking over their work. It is also possible to create local “WGs”. The best example is my Antennae – AEGEE-Krakow with our “Mental Health Working Group” and “Ecological Working Group”. Imagine how beautiful it would be when central WGs would be the inclusive platform of the knowledge and experience exchange between local Aegeeans!

I think it’s enough for this question but believe me, there are many other topics that I want to discuss during my potential term. You can also be sad after reading this and some of us can have a sort of cognitive dissonance or hopelessness. In my philosophy of life it can also be a constructive experience. During this total crisis that our organization is fighting, we can learn many useful things: How to manage it, how to communicate and work under stress and pressure, and obviously, how to repair a big organization. It sounds to me like a cool adventure. B-)

Do you have a preferred Network Area? What would you do if you were appointed to another?

I think I should rest from my original Wild East Area and choose a different one. Wild East is a very flourishing society and it needs quite an experienced Commissioner to boost it up. 

In my dreams, I would prefer AEGEE-California, but in reality, some of our southern areas would be the best option for me. :)

Is there something you want to tell us? Now it’s your time to do so!

You can find more information about me via this link:
https://linktr.ee/402234 

And I don’t like farewells, get used to it. ;)

Hello, can you introduce yourself to the AEGEE-network? When did you join AEGEE and what were your best experiences with AEGEE so far?

I am Job Velthuis. I have been a member of AEGEE-Enschede since August of 2018, where I joined during our introduction period of our university. In my first year I joined one of the smaller committees and have been active in bigger ones ever since. For the last academic year I was a board member of our local, where I was the Treasurer, European Affairs, and Delegate. I have a decent amount of experience at our European level. In my first year I was a visitor during Spring Agora Bucuresti 2019 and went to the Summer University of AEGEE-Firenze. During Corona times I joined some online activities and was lucky to join a sailing trip organised by some friends from AEGEE-Zagreb. I would say the sailing trip and my first SU have been my best experiences so far. The pure AEGEE experience of getting to know people I have never met and go on holiday with them is something you can only do here.

What are in your opinion the best and worst parts of the position you are candidating for?

For me, the best part is the pure auditing of the bookkeeping. I really like looking through this kind of documentation and I find entries of interest. The systematic and structured way of checking is something I am good at and just enjoy doing. Besides that, I am eager to learn more about auditing bookkeeping with more project-based grants and how they are documented. 

I think the lesser side of the position is that the connection with the network has reduced. But I have been raised not to just complain about something but to also act against it. This is the reason why I have some actions to improve this in my program as I really think communication between locals and audit can help in some financial situations for the local.

Do you have any plans for AEGEE? Which aspects of our organisation could be improved and which aspects are working quite well at the moment?

Well, I do not have any big plans for AEGEE outside of my own program for the Audit Commission. I would like to see more people applying for the other positions, but that is a big problem that I would not solve on my own. If we as the whole network work together here then I think we can improve this. 

On the other hand, I would say that our projects are currently our strong point. Of what I know of projects like Where Does Europe End, Europe on Track, and Summer University is that they currently run well and attract attention from people outside AEGEE. 

Is there something you want to tell us? Now it’s your time to do so.

I want to thank AEGEE-Novi Sad for organising this Agora. Doing this after 2 years of online Agorae makes this a very special event in my opinion. I hope everyone will have an amazing time.

Welcome, can you tell us who you are? What are your experiences with AEGEE and what was the moment you realised AEGEE is for you?

Hello dear The AEGEEan! I am Ershat, I am 21 years old, and I am a member of AEGEE-Antalya. I am originally from Azerbaijan, but I lived in Turkey and North Cyprus. I have been an active member of my local since 2018. So far, I have experienced a lot at my local and on the European level. I was a member of Civic Education WG and I am still a member of the Public Relations Committee.

The moment I realised AEGEE is for me was RTC-Antalya 2018. This event was my very first event and I was an organizer. I have always been a team player and when I noticed the importance of teamwork back in 2018, I said this place is for me!

What are you looking forward to most in the case of your successful candidature?

Well, as I mentioned in my candidature, I want to focus on visibility problems mostly. I am running for member of the Comité Directeur but my portfolio is mostly about PR, design and video editing. That is why I am planning to be the Communications Director. To be honest, after the pandemic AEGEE suffered especially in the form of human resources and to reverse that the best method would be an efficient and sustainable PR campaign. I have worked within PR teams as a volunteer/professional with similar focus and I want to use my experience to solve the visibility problems.

CD position requires teamwork in AEGEE, how do you see yourself fitting in a team? What are some of your skills that would keep the team motivated? 

I have been a member of teams which had different dynamics. I was a professional chess player since age 7 and I was a trainer for almost 3 years for kids in primary/middle/high school. I have played basketball as the point guard in high school as well. So, when it comes to teamwork, I have a lot of experience even before I got into AEGEE.After I joined AEGEE, that teamwork feeling I was used to came back into my life and AEGEE gave me a chance to also develop many beneficial teamwork skills. I have

learned a lot from older AEGEE members and worked within many teams. I can say that I am a good negotiator, I can keep calm in crises, and I can lead teams in a very efficient way. I have had a lot of chances to experience both thematic and logistic based team building and since we are going to do both in CD I am more than ready for this year! 

 Say, there are some policies that you do not like but they go through in consensus. How do you see yourself compromising with the decision?

Working within the Comité Directeur, every team member is supposed to compromise or let go of their personal interests and rather focus on teambuilding and teamwork as to nurture the team dynamics, so I am satisfied with having to reach a consensus and compromising in the meantime if that means that the AEGEE will be able to run in a better environment.

What area of AEGEE would you like to focus on as a member of the CD? What are some of your skills that help fit this role?

As I have mentioned many times before, I want to focus on the visibility of AEGEE and the image of AEGEE could be better with regards to being more open towards those who have never heard of AEGEE, or those who want to learn more about the inner dynamics of AEGEE, basically the “bigger picture”.

A CD member requires mediating skills to work with working groups and local bodies, and there’s bound to be conflict. In these situations, how would you bring two contradicting bodies to a negotiating table?

Crisis and conflict management is a crucial aspect in teamwork related projects. As there will be conflicts, there will also be a negotiator to settle the deal in a win-win situation for all. First, I would want to learn about the perspectives/demands of both sides in the respective topic; after which I would focus on having representatives from both bodies and have them meet and discuss the possible outcomes. If the situation allows, it is always better to have multiple possible points of consensus for an agreement, as to ensure the reaching of a suitable consensus for all. We have multiple commissions/committees within the Network which would help settle the deal; be it the Network Commission (in case the conflict is between two locals) or the Mediation Commission; Safe Person Committee and more who would also assist us in a situation like this. 

Is there something you want to tell us? Now it’s your time to do so.

As you may know, I am not going to make it to Novi-Sad. I am wishing everyone the best for and good luck to other candidates.

Hey, for the beginning could you introduce yourself to your fellow AEGEEans? 

Hey, of course I can! I am Filip, and I am 18 years old (when I turned 18 five years ago, I decided I  wouldn’t age anymore). I joined AEGEE 3 years ago, and I have only been a member of AEGEE-Praha, but if I move to Brussels, I would probably also join the local there ;)

You are applying for the position of Financial Director of AEGEE-Europe. Do you have any background in that field? What are some skills of yours that will help you do a good job?

Yes, as mentioned in my candidature, I had two jobs as actuary (insurance mathematician), and now I ‘ve been working as a financial advisor for almost two years. I also developed a mathematical software to precisely calculate and combine all kinds of products for financial advising, which I am negotiating to sell to the biggest insurance company in my country at the moment.

When it comes to my skills, my biggest asset is my ability to improvise… In my previous job I had to work with all kinds of data. That data never had the same style or marks, and since sorting 300 MB Excel sheets would be impossible, every single time I had to create a new formula full of mathematical and logical functions that proceeded and sorted all of the data. 

What do you think is most important to keep in mind when managing finances?

Since I have experience in financial advising, I would say “Depends…”. In general, every single person or organization has different priorities and goals and means to achieve them. There is no general answer to this question. Simply because everyone sees money in a different way. (On a less serious note, there is a joke that 100€ that your partner knows about has much lower value than 100€ they don’t know about… :D same money, different value) But in general, we as human beings are emotional creatures. Everything (including money) has a different value for everyone, and everyone can treat money differently. Some are good at what others would consider risky, some are more conservative. Some have better opportunities and some do not. 

There are many things we should take into account, and good advice should take into account all variables. But what I would personally advise everyone (companies and organizations mostly) is to keep track of finances as often as possible (preferably daily), work not only with data such as incomes and expenses, but also with predictions for the future development and other economical aspects… And most importantly, always count on some unforeseen expenses.

What are the things you are looking forward to the most once you get elected? Are there also some things that you are concerned about?

Honestly, I am really looking forward to fulfilling my plans. Mostly the one about advocacy for fundraising on the European level for both local and European projects, because we really need it. But also the normal administrative work as every CD did in the past…

My concerns are about the applications for the CD because there are very few… So my biggest concern is that we will simply have too much work to do for very few people. I hope some more people will still apply at least as CD assistants, but if not, the Network has to understand that we probably won’t be able to do all of our tasks, and we will have to be selective. Meaning we would be forced to do more maintenance of AEGEE rather than also focusing on development of AEGEE and its projects. Now we have four members and they are doing well. But what if we lose 1/4 of the overall time the CD has? Even now the CD works more than they should and if a CD of just 3 people would have to have the same results, it wouldn’t last long. For that reason I would like to ask everyone to consider applying!

Is there something you want to tell us? Now it’s your time to do so.

Just enjoy your AEGEE life <3 It’s probably the best time of your life <3

Hey! Could you introduce yourself to your fellow AEGEEans? 

Hey everyone! I’m Carlos, I’m 21 and I live in Gijón, a small coastal city in the North of Spain. When lockdown ended, I realised I wanted to do something different, and also start meeting new people. Having heard about AEGEE on several occasions, I thought it was a good opportunity to do both things, so I decided to join AEGEE-Oviedo in June 2021, and I’ve been a member since then. 

Regarding the memories, what I cherish most is getting to work with people from all across Europe, and also building a friendship with them ㅡit is something that is invaluable for me (I have also had a wonderful time and met amazing people at local events with whom I keep in touch and that makes me really happy.) I can’t believe during Agora I will finally get to meet, offline, Mara and Lena (two of my teammates)!

For how long have you been a member of the mental health working group and why did you join? What makes mental health an important issue for you?

I became a member of the MHWG in September 2021 and a few months later I assumed the position of Interim Coordinator. I wanted to become active on the European level, and for me, mental health is a topic that still needs to be worked on a lot, and that I find really interesting, so that’s where my motivation came from mainly. 

For many years, mental health was not even included in the definition of health, and it has been often disregarded as something trivial. Throughout the years, people have started opening their eyes to see how important it is to take care of their mental well-being, but there’s still a long way until it is fully recognised. For me, that is precisely why it is important to raise awareness about mental health within our society: because it is still not given, in many cases, the importance it deserves. 

Why does AEGEE need to emphasise the issue of mental health more, and how can the working group contribute to that?

As AEGEE is formed by young people, having a Focus Area dedicated to mental health is a great opportunity to bring the topic closer to its members. By doing relatively simple tasks, such as sharing information, we are contributing to the destruction of the stigma that still surrounds mental health. In recent years, lots of members have manifested their struggle with mental health issues, and that is proof to why our work is important: because it is something that affects all of us. 

Also, some statutory events such as Agora can be truly stressful, and we aim to identify the most common problems that arise during them in order to find helpful solutions. I like to think about the Working Group as a platform where everyone who is interested in learning or needs information can be educated on mental health so that they can improve their quality of life, and also assist those who surround them.

In your opinion, what could be improved in the working group? How do you think you can make such changes happen?

I believe our main flaw is communication with locals and other European Bodies in general. I’ve discussed this with the other Coordinators, and they seem to be having the same problem. I don’t think that it’s a matter of lack of interest in the activities we perform, but a matter of finding a way that allows us to reach more AEGEEans, and getting them involved in what we do ーwhich is the main purpose of our Working Group. Otherwise, the effort would be kind of worthless.

What is already working very well in the working group that you are planning to continue implementing in the future?

From my point of view, two things that are working really well, because they get members engaged, are:

• workshops on important topics related to mental health
• activities that include open discussions where people get to share their own opinions/experiences. 

It has been really enriching to “force” people to stop for a moment and think about how present mental health is within their everyday lives. We plan on organising more activities of that nature, since, as I mentioned before, the main goal is to get AEGEEans involved in mental health.

Is there something you want to tell us? Now it’s your time to do so!

Yes! To conclude this interview, I would like to encourage everyone who’s reading this to take care of themselves. We are living truly difficult times with everything that’s going on in the world, and sometimes it is necessary to stop and ask yourself: “How am I doing?”. Having mental well-being is crucial to live a healthy life, so check on yourself from time to time, and if you need professional help, seek it without hesitation. As for the Working Group, you can always mail us at mental.health@aegee.eu if you need anything from us! We will be glad to help you if it’s within our reach. 

Remember, although it won’t be easy, try to stay (mentally) healthy, or as they say in Serbian, biti zdrava!