AEGEE Kiev and AEGEE Heidelberg are cooperating to organise a German-Ukrainian Youth exchange on European awareness, participation, identity and vision for the future this autumn. They also presented it on stage during Autumn Agora Catania. 

What does the European Union mean to you?  Asking this question, one will be given fundamentally different answers, depending on age, nationality, profession and mindset of the interviewed person.

Citizens of the EU tend to stress more practical, administrative aspects of the EU, its common currency, freedom of travel or the new Europe-wide abolishment of roaming charges for mobile phones.

But how do people from non-member countries view the EU, this unique and tremendous project of unifying a bunch of diverse countries into one political and economic union?

Particularly interesting is the Ukrainian perspective, for various reasons:

People in the Ukraine started a huge pro-European revolution in 2013, when their former president Janukowytsch refused to sign an association agreement with the EU, facing huge pressure from Russia. This protest resulted in an overthrow of the existing political elite and in intensifying the ties to the EU – at least for one half of the country. The Eastern part of Ukraine has been sinking deeper into a more or less camouflaged civil war ever since, with the Krim-peninsula being occupied by Russian troops, de facto turning it into Russian territory.

Is there something left of the pro-European spirit that emerged in the course of the Euromaidan 2013/14, how do people perceive the EU, its opportunities and challenges nowadays, to what extent do people in the Ukraine seek an association or even membership with the EU?

AEGEE Kiev, together with AEGEE Heidelberg, is organising an international youth exchange on exactly those topics this autumn. It aims at creating a platform for a frank and open-minded exchange of opinions between young students of both countries, continuing well beyond the few days of the actual encounter. What is the vision of young people in Germany and in Ukraine regarding the future path of the EU and its associated countries? What are the values of the EU worth promoting and fighting for? How do the impressions of young people in both Ukraine and Germany compare and maybe contrast to each other? How can young people participate in political decision-making, how can they shape the EU according to their vision of the future?

Ideally, this exchange will create lasting bonds and friendships between its participants and encourage young, motivated people to campaign for the European Union and its values. By exchanging their experience and different background stories, this congress will broaden their minds and also contribute to showing them new ways to get politically involved. Ultimately, the participants will be encouraged to switch perspectives.

Speakers from universities, institutions and governments of both Germany and Ukraine will be invited to talk about their specific involvement in the EU or in its relations with its neighbours in Eastern Europe. As physical outcome, a short movie will be created, documenting the most important issues of discussions that took place, but also highlighting the participants’ enthusiasm for the EU – this way it will be a means to multiply the message of the YOUrope exchange and to motivate more people all over Europe.

The EVZ – Foundation* (Stiftung Erinnerung, Verantwortung, Zukunft), supports the project financially. This is why nobody is hindered to participate due to financial reasons: The costs of the exchange will be fully covered by EVZ.

Written by Theresa Schäfer, AEGEE Heidelberg

* This project was implemented within the “MEET UP! German-Ukrainian Youth Encounters” programme with support from the Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future” (EVZ). The opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the Foundation EVZ. The author is solely responsible for the content.

Sometimes things go way all beyond any expectation. You are chatting with a friend about general random things, and you end up organising a thematic event together with a commission and a committee. Believe it or not, it all started with a joke and it ended up so happily. This is the story of how the Audit Commission of AEGEE-Europe, the EQAC-Events Quality Assurance Committee and AEGEE-Kyiv managed to organise Fun-Ance Form-Action: FAFA #1 Kyiv.

The AEGEEan: How did this whole idea start?

Luca Bisighini (President of Audit Commission of AEGEE-Europe): Believe it or not, it all started one night with a joke me and Iryna (president of AEGEE-Kyiv) discussed one night in January. Actually, to be honest, I had this idea in my mind for a very long time as I was seeing all the Network Commissioners having their own events and me having none. I would never thought it would have ended into something like this. At all. Luckily Iryna accepted my idea, in two-three days we had already a plan made and in seven days the event was on the Intranet after some Skype meetings full of enthusiasm. Fun-Ance Form-Action (or FAFA) was born.

Iryna (President of AEGEE-Kyiv): Actually it was cool idea from my point of view. I couldn’t imagine that after NY event in Krakow we would right away organise an event with the Audit Commission. It was a great example that even during entertaining events it is possible to meet people with whom you can do serious projects!

Why involve Audit and EQAC?

Maria (EQAC and AC Subcom): Audit Commission and Events Quality Assurance Committee are European Buddies who have a lot of experience to share. Both things – events management and audit and financial management – are logical things that need specific skills to be successful. It is not hard to teach about basic steps and cultivate new treasurers and event organisers, but to make them successful we need to provide proper (and interesting) education. Before, there wasn’t any specific training that could lay the ground for such discussion and providing new skill in Audit and event management. So, Audit and EQAC were involved to discuss about this steps and teach participants of FAFA this planning and auditing skills.

How were the Workshops?

Luca: The workshops about the Audit Commission and project/campaign management have been practically developed from scratch, using techniques I developed mostly out from AEGEE in my university studies – united to the cool techniques of facilitation the Academy taught me during last year as Junior Trainer. Somehow, I saw lots of people being involved in the process, activities and realised that actually the Audit Commission and treasury are not things for just an elite group of people.

Daria (EQAC Secretary): Kyiv saw new workshops of EQAC that were done according to the needs we meet in AEGEE. We didn’t have a goal to teach people how to fill assessment/evaluation forms to make their EQAC responsible happy, but tried to teach people to think critically about events.

How many participants and organisers attended the event? How was the event designed (workshops, social programme)?

Iryna: Around 15 people were involved. They were motivated to meet foreigners as the organisers’ team consisted mostly of newbies. It was great to give this opportunity to them and test them at the international level. In AEGEE-Kyiv, we always try to balance our events. That is why FAFA consisted not only of workshops, but we also had a city tour, went clubbing and enjoyed a pub crawl.

What is next for you three?

Luca: The Audit Commission got back to a good visibility and events like this one just show the good intentions we have: bringing back people to discuss about finances. All of this on our own soon 30th anniversary: it is delightful, isn’t it? You can think about joining us, following us or discuss with us at audit@aegee.org. We are here for you!

And maybe, who knows…maybe a second FAFA can be great too!

Maria: Changes are coming soon in EQAC. After Agora we will be happy to announce changes in the assessment and evaluation forms and come out for the dialogue and comments with every person who wants to have some clarification or help. Please, keep in touch with us in our pages here: EQAC page, AEGEE Events page or at quality.events@aegee.org

Iryna: We are going to be active and help dreams and ideas of our members come true. They, of course, need to be according to Strategic Plan and Action Agenda [she smiles, ed.]. On a serious note, with such events I can say on behalf of all our local that we want to give people opportunities to develop, to start their CV with interesting projects, to get new experience and unbelievable stories. Members of our antenna try to make high quality events and projects and we concentrate on those which give us opportunities for non-formal education and personal development.

Written by Luca Bisighini, AEGEE-Brescia, Iryna Sheremeta, AEGEE-Kyiv, and Maria Kochkina, AEGEE-Moskva

Every month, many antennae around the Network organise activities that are related to our Action Agenda and Strategic Plan. Some of these locals become ACTive Locals of the Month, but often there is more than one outstanding activity taking place. One of these activities is the project “If I were in your shoes” by AEGEE-Kyïv and AEGEE-Berlin, which took place last October (Kyïv) and December (Berlin) and was related to the Youth Mobility Focus Area. We spoke to Iryna Sheremeta, President of AEGEE-Kyïv and the main coordinator of the Kyïv part of the project, to find out more!

ACT: Can you tell us a little bit more about your programme and participants?
Irina: The program was connected to the main topic of the project “Participatory Democracy”. The idea was to show young and motivated people how they can participate now and be useful for society. Participants were from different cities in Ukraine and Germany, 18-25 years old, and not only AEGEEans. We mixed activities, because we wanted to balance theory and practice as well as show our participants the city. We met with representatives of different initiatives, organised workshops connected to the topic and walked around the city. The same strategy was used in Berlin. We talked about populism, German local initiatives, for example the bicycle movement. Moreover, we visited some of them and tried the practice of mediation with children, helped in a refugee camp and in a local bicycle association.

How and when did the idea to organise this project come to your mind?
The idea to organise a serious project appeared in the heads of our board members from the very beginning of our term. It was a logical decision after a successful year of the previous board, which organised Autumn Agora Kyïv 2015 and a series of events connected to democracy. The particular idea of this project appeared during our New Years event during a discussion about our focus and how we could link ourselves to the Focus Areas.

 
Which steps did you take to realise your idea?
We did not want to make a project following some grants requirements, but we wanted to find a grant matching our idea for it. We followed the Facebook page of the German embassy in Ukraine and saw an open call there. Then, we contacted AEGEEans from AEGEE-Berlin and developed a common vision. Both locals from Ukraine and Germany were involved, because the project Meet Up is a Ukrainian-German cooperation. Then, the waiting period started and we got an answer from the grant three months later. They asked to specify the topic and to add more group work. Actually, the confirmation from the grant was the first step to realise our idea.

 
How exactly did you apply for the grant?
The application for the grant was quite extensive. It consisted of a general vision of the project, a preliminary programme, a preliminary budget, documents, which proved that we are representatives of NGOs (statutes, documents signed by Presidents, etc). We needed to fill an electronic application form and also send a paper version by mail.

 
What was the outcome of your project?
With this project, we wanted to motivate people to act and to be active in their own country. We wanted to show them that there are many possibilities to do that and many opportunities to develop your own personality. We made a video briefly explaining the main idea of the project and shared it on our pages in social networks. Also, the main task was to create ideas for policies which will be sent to the Kyïv City Council.

 
Did you have any troubles to create and realise your idea? How did you solve them?
I do not know if we can call these things troubles, but one girl from Berlin lost her purse and a boy from Cologne lost his camera. Also one participant  from Berlin had troubles on the border and we needed to send her the invitation on the day of arrival. One more participant missed the flight and did not come at all. But basically everything went well and the atmosphere was amazing and friendly.

Can you tell us a bit more about your local?
AEGEE-Kyïv is 21 years old, very active and motivated. During our history we organised two Agoras, and we regularly organise Summer Universities (SU) and local events. We had several Comité Directeur (CD) representatives in the history of our antenna and we are really proud of that.

 
Describe your local in five words.
Active, motivated, friendly, open-hearted, hospitable.

P.S. More information can be found here.
Written by Action Agenda Coordination Committee and Youth Mobility Working Group

OOPS! We Lviv it again! [Bears edition].

No REST in BuchaREST!

There is another Romanian Antenna that organises something before Agora Chisinau. The pre-event of AEGEE-Bucharest will take place in the Romanian capital from the 7th to the 10th of October. The participants, that will be selected for this pre-event, have to be prepared for mind-blowing activities; they will have a taste of Bucharest’s unique spirit(s), discovering the frantic city and learn the Romanian way of partying. The Romanian Antenna will provide: accommodation in a hostel, two meals per day, sightseeing, a city tour, Bucharest’s nightlife experience, and some surprises. The fee is fifty-five euros, and the optional fee is sixteen euros for travelling to Chișinău.

Written by Matteo Lai, AEGEE-Cagliari.

From the 14th to the 18th of October, one of AEGEE’s most important events, the Autumn Agora, will be held in Kyïv and as any seasoned AEGEE member knows: an Agora seldom comes alone. The main event is always accompanied by several pre-events that are organised  especially by dedicated antennae. This years participants had the opportunity to choose from five creative events in four different countries and a thematic conference that addresses the recent political and economic events in Ukraine.
Follow the AEGEEan on a quick tour through Eastern Europe’s most interesting locations and best autumn events.

Our first stop is “AEGEE-Warszawa: Tear Down this Wall”, where a group of lucky participants will be able to pledge freedom and transparency by tearing down past and present walls. As they find themselves travelling through time, the participants will discover the historic roots of Warszawa, full of charming places, Polish dreams and unique cultures. Back in present time, where modern youth spirit meets old traditions, the organisers are planning to take everybody on a stroll through old Warszawa in search of the most potent shot bars.
With no walls left to stop our journey, the next halt is with AEGEE-Lublin in a city that participants are definitely going to fall in love with. The organising team of “LUBLINove LOVE – Fall in Love in Lublin” is hoping to make everybody feel the magical atmosphere of the city where different people, cultures and religions mix into a unique style of living. A highlight of the event will be the Slavic night with traditional music, dances and a fiery bonfire that will warm up the coldest hearts.

Tea sceptics within AEGEE will definitely acquire a taste for the diverse drink after participating in AEGEE-Moskva’s pre-event “Moscow Tea Time: A Hidden Part of the Russian Soul”. In a traditional Russian tea ceremony with legends to spice things up, participants might awaken their hidden Russian soul within their bodies. AEGEE-Moscow will then introduce the attendants to traditional Russian culture, crazy spirits and other strong drinks in a city that never sleeps. The organisers are particularly proud to offer a workshop on lifehacks for surviving in a Russian train. A course that no AEGEE member should miss.
The event by AEGEE-Chișinău “Taste the Moldavian Hospitality” is going to be a definite treat for neglected taste buds. According to the organisers the participants will experience the tastiest pre-event of Autumn Agora Kyïv that will lead them on a discovery trail through Moldavian culinary culture by tasting delicious wine and traditional food such as Placinte. On a visit to the Orheiul Vechi monastery AEGEE members might trace back ancient civilisations.
Before arriving in the heart of Ukraine, Kyïv, let us make a last stop in the soul of Ukraine with “Oops! We Lviv it again!” organised by AEGEE-Lviv. As the cultural capital of Ukraine, Lviv has a lot to offer its visitors. From the local musicians to its unique streets and cozy coffee houses, with this event the participants have a chance to experience the true spirit of the city and to get to know the Ukrainian culture through its language, cuisine and traditions.
For members who just cannot get enough, AEGEE-Kyïv has planned a special thematic conference on October the 13th, just a day before the start of Agora Kyïv 2015. “The #YoungUA Conference: Defending, Acting, Investing” marks the successful conclusion of the project “reBuilding Democracy” that was launched by AEGEE-Kyïv six months ago and encourages participants to dicuss the political, economic and social future of Ukraine within Europe. The event is divided into three panels with high-profile speakers discussing European values, economic investments and youth participation within transformation movements in Ukraine.
The conference aims to boost cooperation on youth policy matters between the Ukrainian and youth organisations by creating a memorandum at the end of the conference that will be sent to important stakeholders in Ukraine as well as abroad. According to main organisers Alla Resheten and Armenak Minasyants, the conference is a perfect opportunity for AEGEE members to get engaged in an explicit thematic context that has been missing during Agoras.

Which pre-event will you be visiting?
Written by Alev Özdemir, AEGEE-Frankfurt

At Autumn Agora Cagliari 2014 the Ukrainian local AEGEE-Kyïv was announced as the organiser of the Autumn Agora 2015. The dates have already been announced, the team is organisers is full of enthusiasm and soon AEGEEans will be able to apply, so it’s time to find out a bit more about this local and the upcoming Agora! We spoke to main organiser Anna Pykhtina, also known as Smailikova, to learn everything you want to know.

Main organiser Anna Pykhtina (Smailikova)

The AEGEEan: First of all, can you tell us a bit more about your local?

Anna: AEGEE- Kyïv was founded twenty years ago and celebrated its anniversary in February. We already organised an Autumn Agora in 2009 and at the moment we have 120 members. In my opinion, our super active and friendly members that always keep a positive attitude make us unique. AEGEE-Kyïv is for many a place where they can find something special. Not to forget the friendship of many generations of our members! People who were active 7-8 years ago not only stay friends while living in different parts of the world, but also advise the new generation on everything we ask for. I believe that human relations is one of the most important things in our life and that’s why AEGEE-Kyïv is special.

And can you tell us a bit more about yourself? Who are you, when did you join AEGEE and what is your role in the core team?

I’m AEGEE-Kyïv’s president and I joined AEGEE three years ago to go on a Summer University in Salerno (an awesome one). I became active in 2013 when I was chosen as the main organiser of Travel Summer University by AEGEE-Kyïv, and I think I’ve tried quite a lot of things in AEGEE, from organising events to writing articles. I’ve been board member, SUCT member, Academy trainer, SUPS organiser and the most difficult so far: Autumn Agora Kyïv’s main organiser.  My role is coordinating, supporting the teams and making sure that this event will happen.

Anna’s speech after the Agora host announcement at Autumn Agora Cagliari 2014

Why did AEGEE-Kyïv decide to organise an Agora?

It was and still is a challenging time for our country. Ukraine is young. We became independent only 23 years ago and the democratic and active civil society is still building. Everything that happened in Kyïv from November 2013 up to now is shaping a new generation of Ukrainians.

We felt that it is the right time to invite AEGEEans from all over the network and what’s more to unite with other locals situated in Ukraine, Russia and other neighbors countries. Moreover, it’s been a while since Agora took place in this part of Europe so there was no doubt that it’s the right idea.

What was your first reaction when you heard Kyïv was chosen to organise it?

Oh, I remember it perfectly. I read the e-mail, closed the laptop, opened it again, read the e-mail, closed the laptop and thought something like “You must be kidding me/Oh My God/No way/Is it a joke?” Better was to see the reaction of the Network when it was announced on stage in Autumn Agora Cagliari – that was a moment to remember!

How are the preparations for the Agora going so far?

It goes according to the plan. Until April, most of the work was done by the core team and in May the teams were formed. Now each team has work to do, strict deadlines and meetings. The busy time will start in August when everyone will come back from our TSU Across the UAniverse and the ones they attend as participants.

Apart from the Agora itself, AEGEE-Kyïv is organising a conference together with the Eastern Partnership project. It will take place one day before the Agora, on 13^th of October and will engage every attendee in a dynamic process, which will include a keynote address by specially invited speakers and three panel discussions to be followed afterwards. Democracy and Security, Economy and Business and Civil Society and Youth Organization are three dimensions that will be discussed. We are inviting not only AEGEEans but also Ukraine’s youth to take part. The team of the conference will update the Network with more information closer to the August when the application period will start, so save one day before the Agora!

How many organisers and helpers do you have right now?

Few of the organisers of Autumn Agora Kyïv 2015

The team is huge now! Thanks to our amazing HR-Responsible, Hanna Poli, we had more than 150 applicants who she personally talked to and together we divided them into teams according to their experience and preferences. Now we have around 100 people, all of them organizers, not helpers. Of course the number will change. The strongest and the most responsible will stay until the time of Agora, which is quite typical for any event, especially with volunteering work.

You have a very diverse team with people from different locals and even countries. Do you have a lot of support from other locals around the Network?

Yes, our team is super international and I love it! Moreover, some organizers are my good friends and I worked with them so it’s a lot easier. 40% of all organisers are not from AEGEE-Kyïv, but from AEGEE-Kharkiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Odessa, Moskva, Voronezh, Minsk, Sankt-Petersburg, Dresden, Bergamo, Catania, Groningen, Zaragoza and Valencia. In my view, it makes this Agora very special as not only participants will learn more about the country, traditions, culture, and Ukrainians, but organisers too.

The location of the Agora

Can you tell us a bit more about the locations we will be using during the Agora?

After a successful cooperation with Taras Shevchenko Kyïv National University during the Night of 7 Antennae event in April it was decided that Agora will take place in the buildings of the university. The place for conference will be in the city center, 15 minutes walking from the Independence Square, and the Agora itself in Kyïv Institute of International Relations. The participants will sleep in the university gym and taken by bus every day to the plenaries.

What about your city? What makes Kyïv special?

Everything is special in Kyïv. It’s a big city with a population of more than 4.5 million people. It is a place you will easily fall in love with and that will break a lots of existing stereotypes! Especially if you have not been to this part of Europe before, it will be an absolutely new experience. It has two UNESCO heritage sites (St.Sofia Cathedral and Kyïv Pechersk Lavra Monastery). The architecture is eclectic and shows all the historical periods the country went through, there are a lot of unique places and of course, typical Ukrainian and Kyïv dishes – you just can’t miss the chance to visit it! I love the city I was born in and each time when participants are coming here it makes me feel proud! I advise everyone to not only come to the conference but also stay for more days for the post-event and visit all the famous Kyïv places!

The location of the conference taking place before the Agora

Why should AEGEEans join you in Kyïv for the Autumn Agora?

Autumn Agora Kyïv 2015 is not only a statutory event. It provides the chance to hundreds of AEGEEans to see and to show that things in Kyïv are fine, that Ukraine is not a war field. Together with the conference that takes place on the 13th of October, it will be a good starting point to making our Agorae something more meaningful than just a simple general assembly.

Some of the current organisers were helpers during Spring AgorAsturias. How did you experience this, and what lessons did you learn for your own Agora?

Yes, me, Viktoria (External Communication team) and Hanna Poli (HR-responsible) were helping in Asturias and it was a great experience, we have tried different types of work and saw Agora from another side. A good thing when you organise the next one! I guess the main lesson for me is that people will find something to complain about, not only during the Agora but at any kind of events, so the most important is to fulfill the basic needs.

You are doing a lot of challenges on your Facebook page. What challenges and other surprises do you have upcoming for AEGEEans following?

Yes, the PR-team is working really good together and promoting the event very good so far. I am proud of the way they are taking care of their tasks and the result we have. I cannot tell a lot since they prepare much more than challenges, so follow the page to get to know more!

One of the various succesful PR actions: the Kyïv t-shirt that spread all over Europe

Would you encourage other locals to apply for hosting the next Agora? Why? What should they first take care of?

Apart from the fact that the local will be hosting the biggest and for sure, the best event in AEGEE, which is a huge honor for all your members, it is a huge experience for the whole team that will change their life. It’s a challenge that is really difficult to accomplish but it’s worth it! And how else can you make all your friends to come to your city and country? (laughs)

Written by Svenja van der Tol, AEGEE-Nijmegen

The year 2015 marks the year that AEGEE-Europe turns 30 years old, although we surely don’t look that old yet! To prepare the birthday, the Anniversary Team has been created, which organises several events throughout the year to pay tribute to the history and future of our organisation. One of these events is the Night of the Seven Antennae, which commemorates the Night of the Seven Cities of 1986 and will be taking place on the 18th of April.

Before we can take a look at the future plans for this event, it’s time to delve a bit into our past and take a look at the very first edition. During the night of March 7^th, AEGEE (at that moment still called EGEE) and the newspaper Le Monde cooperated to broadcast political debates about the future of Europe between students and high level politicians from seven different cities. In 1986, these locals were located in München, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Strasbourg, Brussels and Nice. The history is repeating itself, because once more there will be debates about the future of Europe in seven different cities. Except the cities have changed, because the locals elected to host the event are: AEGEE-Aachen, AEGEE-Bergamo, AEGEE-Catania, AEGEE-Eskisehir, AEGEE-Kyiv, AEGEE-Leiden and AEGEE-Sofia.

AEGEE-Aachen

Why did you apply to be part of the Night of the Seven Antennae?
We organised a political debate last year for the Karlpreis, and now we have a discussion group about politics in Europe in AEGEE-Aachen. We wanted to take it to the next level!

What will be the topic of your part of the event? Why did you pick this topic?
We’ll talk about the place of young people in Europe, and because there are a lot of students in Aachen, we’ll try to answer this question: is Europe a place where youth can flourish, regarding jobs, mobility, family, retirement?

What other things do you have planned for your participants?
We’ll write our wishes for how Europe should be and put them in a time capsule, protected for the next 10 years. We’ll also have a nice birthday ceremony to celebrate properly, and of course a party! Some other things too, but if you want to know, you have to come!

How many participants will you receive, and are you open to participants from other antennae too?

There will be 25 places for participants from other antennae, but all workshops and debates will be open to every student in Aachen. We hope we can reach a broader audience and share points of view with people who don’t have AEGEE experience.

AEGEE-Bergamo

What will be the topic of your part of the event? Why did you pick this topic?

The topics we have chosen are: Europe needs youth, mobility programs shaping European identity and old/new Europe. Bergamo is going through a period of strong internationalization programs, our antenna has recently launched an Erasmus Buddy Program, so we feel this topics best describe us and are interesting to examine in depth. With the topic of old/new Europe we want to give an insight in the major transformations that have happened during the last century.

What other things do you have planned for your participants?

We will have a city tour and are also working on the organisation of a live concert for the opening ceremony in the evening. The second day there will be three conferences each on the different topics and thematic discussions.

How many participants will you receive, and are you open to participants from other antennae too?

We will host 50 participants. Members from other antennae will be warmly welcome, but also applicants that aren’t a member of AEGEE will be accepted in order to make this event fully open and memorable.

When does your own local have its next anniversary, and what plans do you have for it?

We have had our 25^th anniversary this year. We celebrated it with members of others antennae, during a regional dinner event we organized for Christmas. However for most of all it was a surprise, because our President discovered only recently that AEGEE-Bergamo was earlier founded than we all believed and she kept it a secret. It was a really beautiful revelation and moment of celebration.

AEGEE-Catania

What was your first reaction when you heard your local was chosen?

Surprise and satisfaction! We knew that other Italian antennae had applied, so we were aware of how difficult it was to get the event, but I’m sure that the anniversary team understood our great motivation to host this important event, and they probably liked the “mission impossible” video! 

What will be the topic of your part of the event? Why did you pick this topic?

We have chosen “Europe in me – Me in Europe”, since we are working hard on the involvement of our members in Europe, pushing them to be active and interested also beyond our borders. At the same time we also believe that being European gives us a lot of great opportunities.

What other things do you have planned for your participants?

The event will be thematically full and very interesting, but aside from the theme, we won’t forget our origins and will fill up the event with our known AEGEE-Catania spirit! Funny activities, great team-building, and an unforgettable party will distinguish our weekend.

How many participants will you receive, and are you open to participants from other antennae too?  

We are able to host up to 50 participants, and of course we want this event to be open both to our members, but also to all our European new and old friends. This is an event of everyone!

AEGEE-Kyiv

Why did you apply to be part of the Night of the Seven Antennae?

First of all, we would like to take actively part in celebrating a really important date of our organisation. AEGEE is 30 years old this year and together we achieved a lot, so there is something to celebrate! Moreover, we would like to show our members and Ukrainian students that AEGEE-Kyiv is a serious NGO. We are well known for our Summer Universities and Local Training Courses, but our aim for this year is to change that image. Another reason is that we would like to check how the team will work for this event to be prepared for the upcoming Agora. Finally, we are really interested in the topic and would like to share our interest with others and create an event with space for communication and discussion.

What will be the topic of your part of the event? Why did you pick this topic?

We chose the topics that are interesting to our audience: “Europe Needs YouTH” and “The state of Ukrainian democracy”. Young people are the ones ready to change the present, to dedicate their efforts and contribute to Ukraine’s and our future. The lack of knowledge and experience is the problem, so we would like to dedicate the event to exchange experience with other countries, not forgetting about Ukrainian realities. Of course, the role of AEGEE and Frank Biancheri will be highlighted as, striving for a European future, we have been supporting the main values and aims of AEGEE for twenty years.

How many participants will you receive, and are you open to participants from other antennae too?

We are planning to host around 70-100 participants. 30 places are open for participants from other antennae, the other places are for AEGEE-Kyiv members and students from Kyiv universities.

When does your own local have its next anniversary, and what plans do you have for it?

AEGEE-Kyiv turns 20 on February 17th! The Ukrainian way of celebrating is always surprising for Europeans. We invite everyone to our house, prepare lots of food and drinks and go out until the morning and all the guests feel like it’s their birthday. We prepared something huge for our friends: an event from the 13th to 15^th, with a huge party, city tours, games, interesting content and of course Ukrainian AEGEE spirit!

AEGEE-Leiden

Why did you apply to be part of the Night of the Seven Antennae?

AEGEE-Leiden has always been active on the European level and in the last few years the interest of our new members regarding AEGEE-Europe has grown significantly. By organising this event, we hope to show all of our members and the rest of AEGEE how awesome this European Network of ours is and what we all can achieve if we work together, thus creating even more awareness of AEGEE-Europe among our members. Also AEGEE-Leiden is one of the founding locals of our beautiful association, so who can give a better history lesson about AEGEE than us? We think it’s a nice way to show the Network how much we like AEGEE and that we are here to stay for another thirty years.

What will be the topic of your part of the event? Why did you pick this topic?

We’d like to use the topic ‘Old Europe, New Europe’, because we, as an antenna, have a lot of history inside AEGEE, so we have a lot of topics to put into perspective. Of course it’s not all about AEGEE, but also about Europe itself. We have good connections with a few European Parliament members and with the head of the Dutch Information Desk of the European Union. We are going to contact them soon, so hopefully we can present the participants some experts on the ‘New Europe’.

How many participants will you receive, and are you open to participants from other antennae too?

At the moment, we want to host a maximum of 40 participants from all over Europe, but we cannot confirm this number yet.

When does your own local have its next anniversary, and what plans do you have for it?

AEGEE-Leiden was one of the founding locals, so our own 30th anniversary also takes place this year. Our birthday is on the 31th of October and because of that we are going to organise a whole lot of awesome activities till November. Organising this event is one of our bigger activities and it fits really well into our own anniversary year.

AEGEE-Sofia

Why did you apply to be part of the Night of the Seven Antennae?

We strongly believe that Europe’s future mostly depends on the actions and ideas of the youth, so we would be honored to host an event on the topic “Europe needs youth!” Almost thirty years ago, the Night of the Seven Antennae wasn’t just a big historical event, but the moment when Europe understood, in practice, that young people have the power to change the present and build the future. The foundations were laid, so we should not only discuss, but show that “Europe needs youth!”

What other things do you have planned for your participants?

First of all, we think that Europe needs healthy, open-minded and active youngsters, so we are planning some sport activities in order to promote the great importance of health and an active lifestyle. We have also planned other outdoor activities like a flash mob in the center of Sofia, to promote the importance of youth in Europe and the Night of the Seven Antennae as an event. Our participants will have the opportunity to show the power of young people to bring change by helping other people. Separated in groups they will make people exercise on the street, talk with them about human rights or help people with disabilities. One more of our intentions is to gather the participants in the non-formal atmosphere of a concert of a Bulgarian youth band during one of the evenings.

How many participants will you receive, and are you open to participants from other antennae too?

We are expecting to have around 50 participants. This includes members of our partner youth organisations, students from universities in Sofia and, of course, participants from our own network who will bring the AEGEE spirit from all over Europe.

When does your own local have its next anniversary, and what plans do you have for it?

Next year AEGEE-Sofia turns 25. At the last couple of awesome Balkan events our members visited (Shtafeta Novi Sad and Network Meeting Skopje), we learned that most of the antennae in the Balkan network were founded in the same year and we are one of them. So, this sounds like a nice opportunity to celebrate our 25th anniversary together!

AEGEE-Eskişehir 

Why did you apply to be part of the Night of the Seven Antennae?

Firstly, we want to take part in one of the most important night for AEGEE. Secondly, in 30 years period this is just the second time of  live streaming, that means that our hearts will palpitate at the same time with seven different antennae. And finally, with the topics chosen, we would like to make our participants more informed about both, an angle from Europe and different perspective from East by inviting important people from politic and academic life.

What will be the topic of your part of the event? Why did you pick this topic?

Our Main topics are ‘The State of Turkish Democracy’ and ‘Europe Needs Youth’. We believe that we should show our differences as a big organization, AEGEE. First of all, in Turkey, İt is really difficult to organize and manage kinds of discussions. Secondly, this is hard to deny the fact that democracy is not working properly in our geography. But there are so many examples for this situation all over the world. Thanks to panels and discussions we are planning to show process of democracy for young active individuals with blending experiences of politicians and academicians. Besides, as AEGEEans , to be respectful for all and to understand their ideas and feelings, with the target of representing one of the biggest aim of AEGEE, Europtimism, our event will be opened for all sections.

What other things do you have planned for your participants?

In the light of Democracy and Europe we have panels, discussions etc. but this is just beginning because we are organizing the event as a youth fest. Kind of games and entertainment and of course party!!! With the spirit of AEGEE in Eskisehir you will see a perfect birthday ceremony in company with a huge fest.

Written by Svenja van der Tol, AEGEE-Nijmegen

From the 29th of December to the 8th of January, AEGEE-Kyïv and AEGEE-Moskva organized the best New Year Event (NYE) in 2014, at least for the participant. For the first time in AEGEE’s history, these two locals collaborated to prepare an awesome and hipster event for 16 participants. Among them, there were people from Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Slovakia and Romania.

After mentally preparing for a lot of difficulties to get the Russian visa – which actually turned out to be quite easy, fast and cheap (free) – the participants got on their planes and arrived in the freezing cold, but beautiful capital of Russia on the 29th of December. The welcome ceremony was followed by warm up games, where the participants started to get to know each other and the first night began. Very typical Russian food and beverages were provided by the lovely organisers, and from there the evening just got better and better. On our way to Papa’s Place (very recommended) we passed through the Red Square. Amazing first night!

So was the next morning. After the organizers woke the participants up, a great home-made breakfast was served – like every day during the event. The organisers explained the program and the participants began their real Russian adventure with an approximate 10 km long city tour on a windy -20ºC weather. Viewing the Moscow Kremlin in first person was a great experience, but also a very short one, since everybody’s hands were freezing. It was the coldest day of the event, but also one of the best thanks to Artem’s city tour.

The next day was already New Years’ Eve day! First we went to the huge Tretyakov art gallery. This wasn’t just a visit to a museum – no. We were divided in teams and we had to find different images in more than 60 rooms, based on the hints that we had, such as “Best SU 2014” written on a post-it, or a chocolate bar called “Alenka”. They were the best two and a half hours spent in a museum ever. Afterwards, it was time to celebrate the New Year. At what time did you celebrate it? In Moscow we started at 14:00! Because Russia has ten different time zones, we started celebrating when it was the 1st of January of 2015 in the far east of the country. Every 60 minutes after that, we had another time zone to celebrate for. Of course, the organizers had also prepared some beverages for each celebration. An hour after our time zone’s year was started by listening to Putin’s words, it was time to celebrate the new year in Kyïv. Afterwards, our long lasting fancy private party started! The rest of 2015 spent in Moscow was filled with ice skating in the biggest ice skating rink in Europe and a metro tour, and then on the 2nd of January it was already time to say bye to Russia and to go to the west to explore Ukraine.

The train ride was quite an adventure. European participants had basically no idea what to do after entering the train. It was the cheapest way to get to Kyiv and it is called “platzcart“- there were beds, which were too high and had to be repositioned, there was no place for the luggage (until Ukrainian and Russian organisers came to save the troop, showing us where we could store them). Adding all the people passing around with almost no space, this was quite a new experience for everyone.

Drinking “coffee” in Starbucks cups and “Coca-Cola” as a prize for winning the Museum quest, and finishing with beers at the restaurant wagon, we spent a hell of a night. We also had to go through 2 сustoms and we were a bit worried and nervous because of the situation between the countries, but it seems that it’s all rumors – both times we were checked fast by smiling officers, who actually loved looking at Spanish passports.

We were in Kyïv! It was 9:00 and some girls from the local antenna came to welcome the whole group, dressed with traditional costumes, bread and salt, which is a traditional way of welcoming people in Ukraine.

After seeing our hostel, and the opening ceremony of Kyïv’s part of the event, we went on an amazing city tour guided by Anna Smailikova. We had the chance to see many places of Kyïv, but something outstanding was for sure Maidan, touching moment for many participants. The day finished with a great typical dinner and a visit to the Christmas market.

After a “very easy” waking up, we went to The National Museum of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, which touched the group deeply. We realized how much war hurts, no matter where or when it happens, and how much Ukraine has suffered in the last years. We changed the mood ending the day with a Hipster and Ukrainian workshop, singing Pidmanula, Pidvela and learning some very useful phrases. The next day consisted of a city quest, where participants had to do very crazy tasks, taking selfies of everything as proof #HipsterEvent and a pub crawl, to discover more of the nightlife of Kyïv.

Two days before ending this dream event, we visited the Chernobyl museum and we saw how it affected the whole country. Then we went to our private house for one night. Amazing wooden house in the middle of nowhere, -15ºC outside and quite warm inside. Why? Because we had a sauna for ourselves! Master Ksenia Lupanova (AEGEE-Moskva) was there to show us “how to sauna” and give us a special massage with a bunch of oak leaves. But the sauna didn’t get all the attention of the day, since we had a great and huge traditional Ukrainian dinner, prepared by chef Olha Denesiuk and AEGEE-Kyïv. They explained how to eat everything, how to do it and what to say before eating. It was a very special moment. The last day finished with a great European Night, certificates and presents.

The organizers did such a great job, that the participants gave them a little surprise during the closing ceremony. Two flower crowns, decorated with the colours of the countries, Russia and Ukraine were signed on the ribbons by all the participants, and given to both antennae. Best organizers Anna and Ksenia came on stage to take the presents for their antennae. This was, in my opinion, the most memorable and the best AEGEE moment of the whole event. The second I gave the Ukrainian colors crown to Anna, and the Russian one to Ksenia, they exchanged them without hesitating, and put them on. This small detail explains the whole AEGEE spirit and the spirit of the event #NoPoliticsJustFriendship and how well bonded AEGEE-Kyïv and AEGEE-Moskva are.

I believe that this event was very important for AEGEE to show the network and our friends, that these two countries are not dangerous, that stereotypes are just generalized prejudices, that Russians and Ukrainians work together quite well and that friendship has no barriers, even when politicians and the media get in the middle of it. These days were very special for me, because I got to meet amazing people, learned some of their traditions and shared unique moments with them. Seeing them organise activities together so well as they did was quite inspiring, and I really hope that I will see these two and other Ukrainian and Russian antennae cooperating together soon.

Written by Jorge Sánchez Hernández, AEGEE-Dresden

The closing plenary of Autumn Agora Cagliari 2014 will definitely remain one of the most special AEGEE moments for Anna Pykhtina (AEGEE-Kyiv), when she gave her first speech as Main Organiser of the upcoming Autumn Agora Kyiv 2015. “Smailikova”, as everyone calls her, is the current president of AEGEE-Kyiv and Training Manager of the upcoming Summer University Project School that will take place in Cluj-Napoca. With an endless energy and passion for AEGEE, she has been elected as our new Member of the Month!

The AEGEEan: First of all, congratulations! How did you feel when you found out about your nomination?

Anna Pykhtina: It’s sooo nice from you! But, honestly, I do not feel I really deserve it. There are so many great people that did much more than me…

Tell us, when and how did you join AEGEE?

I joined AEGEE in Spring 2012. Me and my best friend, Mariia Ponomarova (AEGEE-Kyiv), were in Bulgaria together in summer, after she came back from her first Summer University in Italy, and instead of having fun with me and other friends she was telling us about how amazing it was. Imagine: we are finally away from home, dancing, partying, swimming, we are happy and then she starts: “You know, in AEGEE, there were parties with 35 foreigners and we lived all together for two weeks, traveled around the county, ate Italian food and now I have so many friends who are willing to come to Kyiv and ready to host me!”. Instead of killing her, I realised that I had to apply as well! And then, after I attended my first and only Summer University as participant in Salerno, I came back knowing for sure that now I would like to give something back to the organisation.

And then my favourite part starts – both me and Mariia applied to organise the Travel Summer University in Kyiv in 2013 without telling each other and we were both elected as Main Coordinator and Incoming Responsible. 35 participants, five cities, a great team and an amazing experience! So, basically I became really active in the spring of 2013.

You have been very active in AEGEE. What has been your best memory?

That’s one of the most difficult questions I have been asked! But this year’s moment will be for sure the closing plenary of Autumn Agora Cagliari, when the results of who would be going to host the next Autumn Agora in 2015 were announced. I remember that I was sitting not far away from the stage, nervous and my friends were thinking  that I was preparing for the SUCT speech. And then the Comité Directeur said “Kyiv!”, and I could hear my local screaming and running to the stage, whereas AEGEEans from different locals, my friends, were standing and applauding as everyone could understand how important this choice was! It was unforgettable!

During the last Agora, you were the host of Agora Inspire. How was the experience?

Amazing! Although I will always have the feeling I could have done a better presentation or make more jokes, I really enjoyed it. From my first Agora in Mannheim where Agora Inspire was held for the first time, I wanted to perform on stage, sharing my experience or trying to inspire others. But the thing is that I could never choose what exactly I wanted to speak about. So, applying to become host with Réka Salamon (AEGEE-Debrecen) was the perfect solution!

Is there an AEGEE member in particular who has inspired you in your work? Why?

I am always inspired by other people and the amount and quality of work they do and talking about my friends in AEGEE, I can say that the majority of them are super cool. You can take the amazing Ksenia Lupanova (AEGEE-Moskva), whose creativity and dedication to AEGEE is tremendous; Jorge Sánchez Hernández (AEGEE-Dresden) with his non-stop desire to develop not only AEGEE-Dresden but to participate in other local and European activities too; Erika Bettin (AEGEE-Venezia) with all her efforts and achievements… And my personal list consists of more incredible AEGEEans, who are the best examples for me.

But, at the moment I am mostly inspired by my board members. We were working together before and during the Summer Universities. Some of them are board members from the previous term, some are only members for a year but I am really proud of the job they do. Elected in October, we are functioning like not only a team, but also friends. I feel I am super lucky to have all of them: Viktoria Leonenko, Olga Marrero, Yevgenia Gagarkina, Anastasiia Dzhulai, Daria Bielinska,Hanna Polishuk and Dmytro Piatkivsky, without any exceptions in the team and I hope that in one year we will still be friends with a lot of experience and memories.

You are now president of AEGEE-Kyiv. How do you motivate members to become active?

(I hope I motivate them!) I am the kind of person who does not like to talk about plans but rather to discuss the results and as I just started my term one month ago it is too early to say anything. The previous year was really difficult for AEGEE-Kyiv and most of the Ukrainian locals: more than four months of enormous efforts to continue the daily work, life and at the same time taking part in EuroMaidan actively, dealing with problems caused by the media and as result a decrease of motivation and activity of the members.

If in the past we were more focused on promoting AEGEE by Summer Universities and other European events, now we have changed the focus. My aim and the aim of the board is to make AEGEE famous among Kyiv students and youth by the high quality events, as a place to develop skills and platform to learn something new, not what they hear in universities. And with the current situation, since the government is more focused on the support of youth and NGOs, it can really happen.

Motivation is something that cannot be learnt, it comes from the heart and you will always feel if it is fake. From my experience, you get inspired when you see real devotion to the work you do and happiness when you see the results. And AEGEE is exactly this place for me now. I have no idea what will happen next in my life, for sure it is not the way it always happens, go to school, study in university and work, but that’s the beauty of life! I feel I am really lucky that I joined and became part of such an amazing Network where I get much more experience, memories and knowledge that is really useful in the nowadays world and I hope that I can share this happiness in a right way.

What about the Agora – have you started with the preparations?

Indeed! The preparations are going on from early Autumn, when I had lunch with the main coordinator of Autumn Agora Kyiv 2009, Kateryna Vronska. This knowledge transfer was really helpful to calm down as she answered my questions and gave really helpful advice. Agora was also one of the topics in our two-day knowledge transfer that we did  last weekend with the old and new board. And apart from weekly meetings with the team and oldies who are willing to help us, all of the board is focused on their own responsibilities. At the moment we are working on getting more support from the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Ukraine as well as from different foundations.

In three words, what is AEGEE for you?

Development. Inspiration. Home.

Training manager at SUPS, main organiser of the next Autumn Agora 2015, president of AEGEE-Kyiv. Do you have any future plans in AEGEE, other than that?

Not to get fired. Apart from AEGEE I also work in an event agency in Kyiv every day from 9 to 6.

At the moment I am totally focused on my local and the Agora preparation. I had to stop myself from thinking about going to the European level because the quality of the work I do now would suffer for sure. I wish there was more time in a day and I wouldn’t need to sleep as much as I do – there are so many things I literally do not have time to do in AEGEE. And I have a rule that if something has to be done, it should be done very good, otherwise I won’t even start until I have all needed sources – time, effort, people to help and a good mood. I do not make any plans about what will happen in one year – neither what I will do in AEGEE nor which country I will move to.

And how is Anna Pykhtina – how would you describe yourself?

Perfectionist, sarcastic but at the same time super optimistic whatever happens!

Which other hobbies do you have, other than AEGEEing?

Snowboarding, collecting postcards and cycling.

Favourite book? Song? Movie? Colour?

Colour – purple, and for the others it is difficult to choose one. Let’s say this November my favourite book is  “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand. My song this week is “Left Hand Free” by Alt-J, and the movie is “Fargo”, which I started to watch a few days ago.

Written by Anna Gumbau, AEGEE-Barcelona

There are many things that make the upcoming “Capital Cities” event special. For the first time in a great while (or, at least, as far as we can remember!), a New Year’s Event will take place in two countries by two AEGEE locals.

The lucky participants that will be selected will also have the chance to experience two different celebrations. But probably the most remarkable thing – this is an event organised by a Ukrainian local (AEGEE-Kyïv) and a Russian one (AEGEE-Moskva), proving that young people from both countries are willing to cooperate and are close friends. And all of it, in a very hipster-ish visual identity!

The AEGEEan spoke to Ksenia Lupanova and Mitya Blockhin, members of AEGEE-Moskva, and Anna Pykhtina, from AEGEE-Kyiv.

The AEGEEan: How did you come up with the idea of organising this event?

Ksenia Lupanova (AEGEE-Moskva): I think it started a long time ago, discussing events with our friends… but it actually happened this summer, I don’t even remember who started this topic. We realized that it would be a cool idea, two countries, two celebrations, two antennae… no matter what, just organize it together, as we have a lot of friends in AEGEE-Kyiv!

Anna Pykhtina (AEGEE-Kyiv): Ksenia and I have been friends for a long time, we met in 2013 at Network Meeting Lviv, later she was an organiser of our Travel Summer University “The Big Kyiv Theory”, and then we were together in all Statutory events – Agorae, the European Boards’ Meeting… and afterwards,  we met with other AEGEE-Moskva members, we realized that an event together would be such an amazing, unbelievable and brave idea! And without any hesitations, we started to brainstorm and discuss!

Two capital cities, two celebrations… which two special celebrations will participants experience?

Mitya Blockhin (AEGEE-Moskva): The first one is the New Year’s Eve celebration which is considered to be the most important holiday in Russia and Ukraine. I don’t want to show all our cards yet, I will just point out that the fireworks above the Red Square covered with snow are something magical!

Anna: The second one is the traditional celebration of the Orthodox Christmas. Svjata Vecherya, or “Holy Supper”, is the central tradition of the Christmas Eve celebrations in Ukrainian homes. The dinner table sometimes has a few hay wisps on the embroidered table cloth, as a reminder of the manger in Bethlehem.

The coolest thing in Kyiv will be the traditional Ukrainian Christmas which is celebrated in the evening of 6th of January. There are many traditions – we will have to cook 12 different dishes, fortune telling and also.. go to banya (sauna)! And my grandma agreed to share secrets of divination, so I can’t wait!

Which ones will be the main highlights of the program, according to you?

Ksenia: According to me, I would say the celebrations of New Year’s Eve and the Orthodox Christmas, but more remarkable to me is the night when we will cross the border in a night train. First of all, because I am a fan of the Transsiberian Dream, trains, and that atmosphere. It is incredible to have this possibility at the half of the event, to get everybody inside the wagon! It is a perfect change between programs, two busy and huge metropolis, the time to play all our favourites get-to-know games, talks and something participants will never forget!

Anna: I agree with Ksenia, seeing AEGEEans in our trains is lots of fun and always an unforgettable experience! One of the coolest highligths in the program is showing two countries in one event – there are so many things said about Russia and Ukraine, our relations, why not come and see everything by yourself?

And how would you briefly describe the best things of both cities?

Mitya: Moscow is a unique city, the whole history of Russia (sometimes glorious, sometimes terrible but always dramatic and complicated) is reflected in its architecture. Every district has its own atmosphere and walking through the city is like travelling in time where the domes of the old churches, the tops of the Seven Sisters and the Kremlin stars are the beacons leading you through the ages. Moscow can be busy and calm, huge and cozy, rude and friendly, so different and so similar. So, basically, as Russia itself.

Anna: Kyiv was the historic cultural centre of the East Slavic civilisation and a major cradle for the Christianisation of Kievan Rus’. The modern Kyiv is a mix of the old and the new, seen in everything from the architecture to the stores and to the people themselves. Khreshchatyk and Maidan Nezalezhnosti – the place where the real fight for democracy took place,  Andriyivskyy Descent (Ukrainian Monmartyr) with its romantic mood,  St. Sophia’s Cathedral and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves), which are recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage sites – and that is not all! Kyiv is different but kind and friendly city with many places for young people. And although Kyiv is smaller than Moskva, we won’t have time to see all of its beauty and you will have to come back again!

What is the story behind the “hipster”-ish visuals of the event?

AEGEE-Moskva & AEGEE-Kyiv: Well, when the name “Capital Cities” (as a famous band) appeared, it was already clear to try this direction. At first it was just a joke, we were making fun of all that hipster theme but at a certain moment we realized that, by opposing ourselves to this new mainstream trend, we didn’t differ that much from the people we were kidding about. So we accepted our hipster nature and c’était parti. What is more, when we saw for the first time a hipster thematic costume party, we were impressed how much opportunities and creativity people can use.  Moreover,  Moskva and Kyiv are cities with a very dense concentration of hipsters per square metre!

And how are AEGEE-Kyiv and AEGEE-Moskva preparing together the event?

Ksenia: As we agreed on concept, the visual design, the budget and the program division, now we are in process of selecting participants. As you could mention we create awesome an awesome PR program for Agora Cagliari – and a promo video, which was recorded in both cities!

We will polish our programmes separately, but regarding common points, like games, welcome packs and celebration of both holidays – we are discussing every single detail! Also, as I managed to pass through Kyiv on my way to Brussels, I will have α meeting with AEGEE-Kyiv organisers, and we will discuss details about them coming to the part in Moscow and of course more ideas! By the way, we are actually cooperating with answering your questions in one single on-line document right now.

Some people might fear high prices and visa issues, what would you tell them?

Anna: It is the first New Year’s Event that will take place in two countries, the fee includes the train ticket, staying in hostels, private housing, sauna, activities and so much more! And with AEGEE-Moskva you can get visa for free! And at the moment the currency exchange is so freakingly high that you will feel yourself like a king!

And, in just a couple of sentences: what would you tell someone who is doubting to apply?   

Mitya: Have you ever felt sad about celebrating NYE only once a year? Have you ever travelled by train for more than six hours? Are you interested in knowing if you are going to be rich and what the name of your future spouse is? No? Well, you have got a chance (and there will be no second one!) to celebrate NYE eleven times in one day, to spend some 12 hours on a night train and to know everything you ever wanted to know about your future at Christmas night. Do not hesitate, apply! #hatersgonnahate, #aegeeansgonnaorginize!

Written by Anna Gumbau, AEGEE-Barcelona