Imagine you live in an EU country, yet far far away from the heart of the continent – say, on remote Canary islands. How can you foster the sense of belonging to Europe and to Brussels, where decision directly concerning your life are made every day? AEGEE-Las Palmas knows the answer. Natalia Klimenko spoke to Isabel Romay, the vice-President of AEGEE-Las Palmas, to find out more.

Natalia: Isabel, on the 6th of March, you organised an outstanding event – you took participants from AEGEE-Las Palmas for a study trip to Brussels! How would you describe this trip in three words?

Isabel: Purest AEGEE-event!

What has helped you with the organisation? Has the booklet “All Roads lead to Brussels” issued by European Citizenship Working Group provided some useful information?

I wasn’t aware of this booklet during the preparation [she laughs, ed], good title by the way! Actually this goes back to my internship at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, two years ago, in 2016. It was one of the best experience in my life and I met a lot of interesting people. So, last summer, during a Team Building, our lovely president, Silvia Herrera, asked me: “Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could arrange a visit to the Parliament for our members?”. She didn’t have to say it twice, so I contacted Beatriz Becerra, an MEP of ALDE who I had the pleasure to meet not only during my intern, but also here in Gran Canaria during the Day of Europe three years ago during a local event from AEGEE Las Palmas.

How many organisers and participants did you have? Were any non-AEGEEans on board as well?

We were a group of 30 people, 28 members from AEGEE Las Palmas, the president of AEGEE-Pisa and one participant from AEGEE-Chisinau. It was important for us that is event was limited to AEGEEan. The month before the visit, suddenly we started having lots of new members [she laughs, ed], which was awesome because most of them are now active and really motivated.

What were the main challenges you faced before and during the trip? How did you solve them?

It would have been literally impossible for me to coordinate it by myself: I had to defend the final paper of my master and I had my final exam three days before the visit in Madrid. I am very grateful to my dear friend, Daniel Cervera. He coordinated the group from the beginning, the flights, the hostel, and helped me with all the documents we had to sent before the visit. After the visit, you also have to justify all the expenses, which is not easy with a group of 30 people, but our awesome treasurer, Raúl Hernández, did his little magic with the Excel [she laughs, ed].

What institutions did you visit? Did you have a chance to meet any EU decision-makers?

We visited the European Parliament in Brussels with Beatriz Becerra, MEP from ALDE, one of the political group representing the Parliament. I hope next time we can also visit the Parliament in Strasbourg during the plenary session!

What did participants like most about this trip?

Hard to tell, they should answer this themselves [she laughs, ed]. I hope they liked everything! The guided visit, the presentation of the book we were invited to after the visit, the city and of course the Belgian beer [she laughs, ed].

As far as we know, you managed to get your expenses fully covered by the EU – this is a big achievement, congratulations! How long did it take you to prepare the application for the grant and what tips could you give those who will apply for EU funding?

Thank you! We are so glad we did it. Well, the trip was not fully covered, but of course it was a huge help. Actually, the political groups have a specific amount of funds to encourage group visits by covering part of the expenses, allowing citizens to get closer to one of the most important European institutions of our democracy. All you have to do is establish contact with an MEP’s and have a little luck!

What is the purpose of such trips to Brussels, in your opinion? Can they make one feel more European?

AEGEE is always trying to promote active citizenship and democracy, but how can we do that, when especially we here in the Canaries, feel so far away from Europe and our representatives? And then, how should one do that when most of us don’t even really know how the EU-institutions work? How do our representatives make important decisions that concern us and our everyday life? The aim of this trip was to show that it is actually possible and not difficult to feel like a real European citizen, interacting with MEPs about or concerns and their work. This is a must-do event. I hope we can organise it next year again.

European Citizenship Working Group seeks to foster “Europeanness” across the young people from the whole continent, including non-EU citizens. One means to promote awareness of what Europe does is to visit EU institutions and museums in Brussels, EU’s de-facto capital city. In December, ECWG offered the network the amazing booklet “All Roads Lead to Brussels” where your antenna can find useful tips for a study trip to Brussels. We hope there will be more and more trips like the one AEGEE-Las Palmas organized! You can always reach us at ecwg@aegee.org with questions and ideas.

Written by Natalia Klimenko, AEGEE-Moskva on behalf of European Citizenship Working Group 2017/18

Ready to gain practical hands-on experience and hone skills that will benefit you throughout your life? An internship in the United States will make you a better student and employee, cultivate your entrepreneurial and innovative spirit and foster skills that are highly prized by employers across the globe. Here are four reasons why you should cross the Atlantic and intern in the States.

Advanced skills in your industry

The United States is an entrepreneurial powerhouse, meaning the trends for many industries are set here. If you want to learn the newest, most cutting-edge techniques and work with professionals at the top of their game, the U.S. is the best place to do that. You will have professional experiences here you won’t have anywhere else.

Intern Milos Ivanovic was able to advance his CV in 2016, noting, “I improved my knowledge on front-end and back-end frameworks such as Backbone.js, Marionette.js, and Node.js, Ruby, Rails, Go, PHP, and Zend. I also learned about the concept of client-side rendering, which will be invaluable with technology going forward.”

“One of the valuable skills which I have gained is building a more efficient and robust financial model,” comments intern Syariza Ghazali. “I have also learnt the analyses methods used in the private equity space.”

American business culture

A unique, innovative business culture is one of the reasons why the U.S. remains a trendsetter in many industries. Interns often comment on the inspirational environment that encourages the sharing of ideas, and they tell us they will continue using these techniques as they progress in their careers.

“I was working very closely with the directors and also the CEO,” explains trainee Denise Hanft, “which not only forced me to fulfill tasks in a very professional manner, but also to develop a sense on how to justify and explain how and why I executed a task the way I did.”

“I learnt a lot about Hollywood and the entertainment industry and how it functions and what defines it. I also feel like I understand a lot more about how technology is used and far ahead of other places in the world,” says intern Kristine Schofmann. “I have a better understanding of the future and how the internet will play such a large part in it.”

English language and intercultural communication

English is the global language of many industries, so working in an English-language environment is a critical aspect of your internship programme. However, practicing the language isn’t enough. Learning widespread American standards and American cultural skills will make you stand out and truly ready to engage in the global sphere.

“The ability to deal with clients, and team member at the same time has been improved exponentially… in a language that is not my primary language,” says intern Mauro Di Buono. “I am now ready to listen to customer needs and have deep and technical conversation with professional from different industries, understand their needs and provide them with an adequate solution.”

“I became more confident about my own work and learned how to present project proposals to convince the team to focus on a certain idea,” says intern Malgorzata Blachnicka.

Personal growth

Some of the most important skills you will learn won’t be the ones you list on your CV. Living abroad and navigating a new culture gives you the tools to make the most of your life, no matter where your career path takes you. InterExchange alumni report that they are more confident, know what they want to do, and are able to take any situation in stride.

An internship in the U.S. “has definitely taught me flexibility and adaptability – not only in daily life, but in understanding and dealing with different businesses and people as well. I have learned how to quickly adjust depending on what the situation/scenario requires,” explains Ma Consuelo Camacho.

“I grew both from both a business and a human standpoint,” says intern Martina Fattorini. “I put in practice most of what I have studied for five years, allowing me to understand what I can be good at and what I would like to do in my future career.”.

InterExchange Career Training USA is a cultural exchange programme that enables current university students and recent graduates from all over the world to pursue professional-level internships in the U.S. for up to 12 months. InterExchange provides J-1 Visa sponsorship, accident and sickness insurance that meets programme regulations, and ongoing support throughout your entire programme. If you have already found a U.S. internship in your field of study, InterExchange can help you take advantage of global opportunities as you gain practical experience in your field and learn American methodologies and technology.

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Learn more.

Written by InterExchange

Around the beginning of the new year, AEGEE-Izmir organised a postcrossing project with their twin antennae AEGEE-Moskva. Even though at the time there was political tension between the two countries, the project turned out to be a huge success, involving members of both locals in a cultural exchange. As a reward, they were chosen as the ACTive Local of the Month. We spoke to Julide Acıkara, Secretary General of the Turkish local, to find out more!

ACT: Congratulations! ​As we would like to get to know this month’s winner, could you tell us a bit more about your local?
Julide: AEGEE-Izmir was founded in 1997. We have established a consistently growing association, about which we couldn’t be more happy! The last term, we had around 100 new members, which is a big growth compared to years before. We organise weekly meetings and we have working groups where topics likes Civic Education are discussed. Besides that, we also have two different conversation clubs (English and German) and a lot of other projects. In the past, we organised an Agora in 2005, a European Boards Meeting (EBM, now EPM) in 2012 and the Summer University Project School (SUPS) in 2014. Our Agora received the best Agora award! We believe that going abroad and being active should be amongst all of the young peoples’ goals.

How would you describe your local to others?
Our local is a local which is full of energy, speaks from the heart and is open to change. We are not perfect, but we do our best anyway. Our events are a mix of both hot and cold; they are complete opposites, but they are actually very similar and inseparable at the same time!

You have organised a postcrossing project between Russia and Turkey. Can you tell us more about your project?
As some of you may already know, AEGEE-Moskva is our twin local. Because of that, we are in contact with them on a regular basis. With the new year upcoming, we thought it would be the perfect time to give our members the chance to get together. The postcards were amazing by the way! Even though there may be political conflicts right now between Turkey and Russia, this does not mean that our hearts are not one.

Why did you decide to organise this project?
Isn’t writing to one another the best and easiest way to really connect? In a time where everything is done online and through text messaging, it is nice to prepare a project where we can go back to the old times and reflect on our traditional ways, by having something we can hold on to.

Do you plan to continue with your project?
The concept of postcrossing on its own is a wonderful project, but the aim of this project is to have members of two different locals come together and get to know one another. The project may seem small and simple at the moment, but wait and see what it will become in the near-future.

Why do you think the Action Agenda is important for the Network, and what would you say to other locals that are thinking about organising something related to the Action Agenda?
The plans and set paths in the Action Agenda allow for the locals and its members to create new and different visions in their minds. This year, we want to focus more on the Action Agenda and improve ourselves along with our members. We believe that locals who do so will benefit greatly, both for itself and its members.

Do you have any other big plans for the upcoming months?
Yes, at the end of April, we will be organising an exchange program with AEGEE-Moskva. We will host their members in Izmir, and our members will travel to Moskva in autumn. Besides that, we are preparing for our Summer University, as we do every year. We have a fantastic crew, so be ready for change!

AEGEE-Izmir has certainly shown to the Network that it can be an example to other locals. What would you say to other locals that want to be as awesome as you?
All locals are unique in their own way; they all have a different atmosphere! One of the most important things is to try our best and take opportunities. The rest will follow.

Written by Action Agenda Coordination Committee

It was planned months ago and finally on the 19th of June eleven members of AEGEE-Budapest arrived in Siena to visit, enjoy and appreciate the Tuscan city for four days together with the members of AEGEE-Siena.

The members from AEGEE-Budapest were hosted by AEGEE-Siena’s members. The activities during the exchange were entirely programmed by the organisers, who managed to take the Hungarian guests to some of the magnificent places of Siena. To describe this, it’s best to describe them in order.

First, Prof. Alessandra Viviani – Siena University’s international relationship responsible – visited the group on the 19th of June, to give the guests from Budapest the best welcome, after which the group visited the historical hall “Sala Patrizi”. The following day, the group visited the first of the three UNESCO’s assets of Siena: the city center.

In particular, special attention was paid to the Town Hall, the cathedral of the city and the Nobile Contrada del Bruco. The same day the group met some exponents of the Jewish community of Siena, who introduced them to the synagogue and the Jewish culture. It was a good way to match different interesting topics, such as the situation and history of Jews in Europe, with particular reference to the differences between Italy and Hungary on this subject and focusing the debate on life of minorities. The 21st of June, the Hungarian guests were taken to the town of Monteriggioni, Castellina in Chianti and the Castle of Brolio. The last day of the exchange, the theatre of the beautiful journey, consisted of a visit to the second of three UNESCO’s assets, the area of Val d’Orcia. The group visited the Abbey of “Monte Oliveto Maggiore” and the historical center of Pienza, just before an enjoyable lunch in a typical Tuscan winery.

Siena – with its traditions, the division in 17 “districts” (“contrade”), the Palio, the marvelous landscape offered by Chianti, Val d’Elsa and Val d’Orcia, the unique wine and the Tuscan food – confirmed the attractiveness to AEGEE-Budapest members. Even though the guests paid a low fee, all meals were paid for them and they could visit several places, otherwise expensive to access. The exchange organisers (who were new to AEGEE) didn’t have that much experience with this kind of challenges, but hosted participants in their own houses. Even moving with the organisers’ cars had its silver lining. Participants didn’t have to get bored while waiting for public transportation and  they had the chance to visit as many places as possible, while having a lot of fun during the travels from one destination to another.

What was the result of the exchange? AEGEE-Siena and AEGEE-Budapest spent four beautiful days staying together and the organisers had great satisfaction in showing what Siena is and what it has to offer. In addition, the exchange was a good contribution to the goal of integration among young people from different European cities, which is one of AEGEE’s purposes. AEGEE-Budapest’s members appreciated the organisation of the exchange as they did the city of Siena. Moreover, they found a group of open-minded AEGEEans who will always be available to welcome them, being glad to spend some good time together.

Written by Andrea Cianti, AEGEE-Siena

Have you ever wondered how many languages are spoken throughout Europe? Do you enjoy listening to other foreign languages despite the fact that you don’t understand a word of them? Have you ever wanted to be involved in a linguistic tandem? If you answered yes to one of these questions, you would have enjoyed one of the events of the European Day of Languages (EDL). EDL is present in AEGEE since 2001, this year events were organised by 17 different AEGEE antennae thoughout our network.

“Learn 6 languages in 90 minutes” was the activity which was organized by AEGEE-Kaiserslautern.

This edition of the EDL had more than 22 languages involved, including 3 non-European languages, and more than 700 participants from 26 nationalities. If all these activities had been held in one place, it would have definitely been impossible to choose only one to attend: basic language presentations were carried out by AEGEE-Beograd, AEGEE-Voronezh and others; movies in original version were projected in AEGEE-Padova and AEGEE-Moskva; the typical APErasmus from AEGEE-Bergamo concluded with a native speaking video; language and cultural stereotype quizzes were held in AEGEE-Roma and AEGEE-Milano; typical food and drinks from each country plus linguistic tandems were organized by AEGEE-Las Palmas and AEGEE-A Coruña; “Learn 6 languages in 90 minutes” was the activity from AEGEE-Kaiserlautern; AEGEE-Torino decided to sing in different languages, and finally AEGEE-Kraków organized a city game with native speakers. So you see, it would have been difficult, to pick just one interesting workshop…

AEGEE-Voronezh organized some cultural and linguistic presentations.

It is great to see that the European Day of Languages has had this huge affluence of participants; above all, these events are a way of making people more aware of the linguistic stereotypes –and consequently the cultural ones– in order to break them and make people more tolerant towards each other. Looking back at all theese events, we can conclude that the 2013 edition of the EDL was a success.

We, the LWG, would like to thank locals who have joined EDL 2013 –you’ve been keeping this activity alive!– and we would like to encourage the whole Network to participate in the new edition in Autumn 2014.

If you are wondering why AEGEE celebrates the EDL in November instead of September – which is when the Council of Europe celebrates it – we’ll tell you: as many students are still having their holidays in September, AEGEE decided to change the dates to make sure that everybody could attend the activities. Even so, every local chooses their own dates and makes their activities last even for a week!

Then, what can you do if having read all this you realize that you are as passionate as we are about languages? You can get to know the Language Working Group! We can bring you in touch with people who are also crazily in love with this topic. So don’t hesitate; cheer up and join us!

Written by Núria Fenoll Domingo, AEGEE-Tarragona & Language Working Group member

Time is ticking out and summer is over but I cannot feel bad, thanks to good memories, I enjoyed the summer while it lasted. Well, actually I’m still tangled up in Alicante.

I don’t know where to start. I can say my travel ritual is to get lost so I didn’t want to break with tradition. I called the organisers from the bus station and in ten minutes my summer university started with two smiling faces and warm hugs.

It was quite hot and we were almost climbing but at the top with the sweet wind and incredible view I kept dreaming about how many heads and how many different cultures passed on that stairs.

The Castillo de Santa Barbara is a castle where you can feel really close to the sky if you still haven’t been in Calpe (city close to Alicante)  or on the top of one of the highest aqua sliders. Now I’m sure we all believe that we can fly! Maybe the relaxation work shop helped and gave us the energy for the parties. And we jumped into coldest water with hungover participants. On the whole, everything is arranged to help people get ready for another activity.

There were many participants who could talk Spanish but I have to admit that I attended the Summer University with a Spanish level near zero. But on the way back home I did not only gain more knowledge about the language, I also felt more Spanish. Maybe that is the best part about non-formal education for example learning a language by doing karaoke and trying to say those tong twisters and use local expressions in daily life… All of these things just make this process the most fun.

We had the chance to learn how to make tapas as the sine qua non of a Spanish culture. After learning some recipes we had the chance to practice with a competition. All groups did a great job- at least we all tried! – but the best part was being a group. There was a photo contest in Elche too, it was a combination of a historical and a cultural adventure, following the instructions and trying to take the most original photo, which results in the funniest ideas.

European Nights (EN) are the best ways to get to know traditional drinks and foods but we also nourished our souls with the songs, the stories and dances. Traditional songs and their stories were so inspirational for me because you don’t need any translation to feel the melody. In my opinion music is the best language that doesn’t have any borders and during the EN I realized it one more time.

There were many parts of this Summer University that amazed me: Partying in Benidorm, exploring in Elche, singing Macarena on the stage of ancient theater in Cartagena, understanding siesta logic in Murcia and meeting with all these great people and create fantastic friendships. This Summer University was such a great experience and I have already started to plan my next summer.

I applaud AEGEE-Alicante not just for this experience also for being themselves and all the participants who made this summer unforgettable. 

Written by Selin Hacıoğlu, AEGEE-Izmir

The Sports Working Group (SWG) is preparing for this autumn by encouraging antennae to take part in interesting events such as the MOVE Week and Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) while also preparing for Autumn Agora Zaragoza and the upcoming elections for the SWG. In this interview the members look back on the last year.

Sabina Begic has been the PR responsible, Ángel Rodríguez has been the speaker, Özgun Kaplama has been focusing on FR, and Patricia Anthony has been the secretary of the SWG since October last year.

How has it been to be part of the SWG Board?

Patricia: It has definitely been a challenge but very rewarding as well. When SWG was created in Agora Enschede it was difficult to start a Working Group from scratch, but with the board of this past year it has developed a lot! Motivation was high in the beginning, and I hope to see the same happening for the next board – developing SWG even more.

Sabina: It was challenging and exciting. We started highly-motivated, had an enthusiastic and friendly team. During the year a few things changed in the board, so that also influenced us and our work.

Özgun: Very good for me. In SWG I learned that sport is not only sport. There are some sports events focusing on civil rights and social problems. This is a really nice opportunity to work on these problems from the perspective of sports.

Ángel: Many things have been done in the last year, it was really active at the beginning, but with time the members of the board became less active. I have learned many things about sports projects in Europe and met people from special organisations that fight for the evolution of social and civil rights in society. During this past year I have become active as volunteer for sporting events in my city and in AEGEE events, so it has opened my eyes and I have learned more how to focus on helping people.

What were the highlights?

Sabina: For me definitely the organisation of AEGEE Games together with AEGEE-León, and our Skype meetings with Daniel García Rodriguez from León.

Özgun: During Statutory Events’ Fairs, I could discuss with some people about the vision of fighting problems through sports. It was a nice experience.

Patricia: Developing different ideas that SWG can do for AEGEE and for the European youth. It has been amazing to see the working group grow.

Ángel: Meeting Adam Wide, a 60-year-old man who has more energy that a lot of AEGEE members… which is very difficult in my opinion.

What has been the most difficult part?

Sabina: The disappointment after finding out that we needed to cancel the AEGEE Games.

Özgun: Sometimes you cannot agree on a certain subject because of different opinions and different lifestyles but it is how you learn the most in volunteer work.

Ángel: Keeping the spirit on the European level is difficult when you do not have your mates by your side to discuss about the Working Group.

Patricia: Working together in a team that does not meat regularly and working across cultural borders is definitely a challenge. It continues to be a fight to activate AEGEE members on the European level and it was sad to see that events with great potential such as the AEGEE Games or International Day Against Homophobia could not be realized. However, the ideas are there and they will not get lost so hopefully it can happen next year!

Would anyone like to continue being in the board?

Özgun: Yes! I want to because I think I have many things to do for SWG.

Sabina: Yes, very much!

Ángel: I would love to continue, but it is time to end my PhD and I cannot focus on it while being in the board of SWG.

Patricia: After 1,5 years in the Sports Working Group I think it is time for some new people in the board other than me. However, I will continue as a member and help out as much as possible to see the projects that we have been working on will become reality.

Why would you encourage others to become part of SWG?

Ángel: To understand that AEGEE is more than fun and traveling, and show to them that Europe needs volunteers to improve the society and make life easier for people with difficulties of all kinds.

Patricia: Because being a part of a Working Group is an experience where one can learn a lot and develop skills such as creativity, teamwork, learning about cultural differences and so on. In the board there is a need for many different skills, and thus there have been difficult times, but I have really enjoyed working together with Ozgun, Angel and Sabina during this past year!

Özgun: It is a new part of your AEGEE experience. It gives you a nice start on the European level and it is great for those who love sports. Sports events are not only about physical activity, they can also help us create a better future.

Sabina: Because sports are the best tool to connect healthy activities, possibility for establishing contacts very quickly, to provide uncomplicated get-togethers, overcome language barriers and cultural reservations.

Written by Patricia Anthony, Secretary of the Sports Working Group

Landing in a city you do not know, exploring the cultural and administrative habits of a foreign country and

Eva – the Belgian girl part of the AEGEE-Maastricht board.

all this time – searching for new friends. It is not a rare case when in such a situation AEGEE has come in extremely handy with helping people integrate faster and better in a new environment once they have started their education abroad. But sometimes those people get even more thirsty for AEGEE emotions and even though they don’t (in some cases) speak the local language, they prove that we could be united in our diversity. Those are the non-native board members that once more show us that in AEGEE dreams don’t have limits and you just have to decide you want something! Examples turned out to be so many so I just caught some of them to find out what an added value this experience is bringing to them.

Beata Owsiana is from Poland and joined AEGEE in 2010 during her Erasmus in Brussels. She liked the opportunity to go to Summer University and grabbed her chance. ‘Once I had decided to move to Brussels in order to continue with my Master studies I decided to become more active’ – she adds. – ‘Since I study HR Management I decided to join the newly created at that time HRC and few months later AEGEE Brussels/Bruxelles was looking for motivated people to join the board, so I presented my candidature as HR Responsible.’ Now Beata is already the President of her antenna and the driving motor of many local activities. In terms of difficulties due to her nationality she confidently responses: ‘Brussels is really a multicultural city and even previous boards showed it. There have already been several presidents from out of Belgium and most of the core team consists of great people with different cultures of grown-ups who came to Brussels to study, work, or do an internship, etc. and built the network of new acquaintances. AEGEE is good for that. Sometimes it seems to be hard to get along together since we have different characters and moreover we are a multinational team with different backgrounds but still goal is the same: AEGEE expansion :). But as always in AEGEE – it is not only us who are giving to the network, because very often – efforts pays back. Beata also confirms it when I ask her what she likes most of being in AEGEE while studying abroad:

Beata: AEGEE is a family on which you can always count and hat is extremely precious, especially where you are abroad.

Beata: AEGEE has given me a loooot! I came here without knowing anyone. I remember when I came to my first AEGEE party in Brussels where I knew only one girl from Facebook who came at the end of that party. I felt super alone there for like half an hour but then it turned to my best evening of my Erasmus ever! I became a part of a big family. Family on which you can always count and that is extremely precious, especially when you are abroad, far away from your family and best friends and some “strangers” offer you a huge amount of help/support/love just because you are part of the same network. AEGEE is an amazing label!

I hear the same inspiring motivation from the Belgian Eva Billen who is currently secretary of AEGEE-Maastricht. ‘The thing I like most about being in AEGEE in general is that it does not matter where you are, if you are studying abroad or still in your own hometown. For sure you will meet new people with new insights and you will go on an amazing adventure together.

The thing I like most about being in the board, is that I have learned how to work closely with a group of people. I have grown more confident, not just as a person, but as part of a team that strives towards a common goal’.

The Spaniard Jero Galiana shares us a little different experience for his participation inthe board of AEGEE-Munchen. ‘When I started the communication language in the antenna it was mostly German. Back then the majority of the active members were Germans as well as almost all board members. My German back then was not so good, therefore it was needed to communicate in English. Well, next two years many non-German speaking members have joined the antenna so we have created a big international atmosphere.’ The same experience was shared by Ekaterina Malysheva, who after four years in AEGEE-Moskva she joined AEGEE-Valencia. ‘I am learning Spanish – She told us – but the guys and I prefer to talk in English, it’s an international language and the main language of AEGEE’ . Obviously both Ekaterina and Jero managed to find their way to become board members. Jero even became Vice-President in 2011, now holding the position of regular board assistant.

When I ask them what they like about being board members Ekaterina answers immediately: ‘To be a board member gives you a unique opportunity to see the antenna from inside, to take part in important decisions and organize the events, to belong to the close group of friends who share your ideas and interest. And it is double interesting if you have this experience abroad. It gives you a new experience and a lot of fun!’ . For Jero the viewpoint already changed since he is not a student anymore but still he emphasizes:  ‘AEGEE gave me so much and became an addiction to me. It is not something you can just leave.’

It is surely still an addition to us so let’s keep re-creating Europe in the way we would like to see it and keep remembering that everything is possible.

Written by Liliya Buyukliyska, AEGEE-Sofia

A story of how the sun brought AEGEE-Yerevan and AEGEE-Athina closer thogether and keeps shining on their cooperation.

It all started as a joke between Armenak Minasyants from AEGEE-Yerevan and me, Zoi, more than one year ago. We were in contact with each other for some AEGEE project and I was always finishing my emails with the phrase “Greetings from sunny Athens”. He was always responding “Greetings from sunny Yerevan”. And then a competition started to arise: which is the sunniest? Each one of us claimed that his city is the sunniest and we were “fighting” to defend our opinion in every email! Until one day, just like that, we took the whole matter quite seriously and we decided to cooperate and organise a youth exchange for the members of AEGEE-Athina and AEGEE-Yerevan. We wanted to bring Greeks and Armenians closer and build a stronger relationship because we do have lots in common after all. So, we applied for EU funds (Youth in Action programme) and after a lot of preparation and waiting, the event finally happened in October 2012. 15 Greeks arrived to Yerevan to meet another 15 Armenians and experience a week full of great adventures and unforgettable moments!

Our project was dedicated to the promotion of intercultural dialogue and healthy lifestyle. We wanted to encourage mutual understanding and respect of the history and culture of each other and in addition, we wanted to get people understand the great importance of sports and healthy lifestyle so that they become more active and improve their life quality. The day before the official opening of the project some members of AEGEE-Yerevan and also some of the Greek participants who had already arrived to the city, attended the World Cup 2014 Qualifier Game between the Armenian and Italian football teams. This was a unique chance for a first team-building activity and a good motivational start for the sporty week that would follow!

During the whole week we had many different workshops, team-building activities, ice-breakers, excursions, flashmobs, street celebrations for Yerevan’s birthday and many other creative activities. Αll days combined both theoretical sessions as well as sport activities, including volleyball, basketball and football. We visited the Cafesjian Modern Art Museum, Sergey Parajanov Museum and also some places in the countryside: Garni, Geghard, Lake Sevan, Dilijan, Khor Virap, Etchmiadzin. Surely there is no AEGEE-event, even within the frames of Youth in Action programme, which does not include a European (or Intercultural in this case) Night. Therefore we all presented our national dances, songs, food and drinks and shared one of the best intercultural experiences. The very last day of the project was also very full and emotional: we visited the Memorial of the Armenian Genocide and also the Genocide Museum. After the official closing and evaluation of the project we had farewell dinner in a traditional Armenian restaurant and then of course partied until late!

Without any doubt this programme has been a lifetime experience for all the participants. They learned a lot about a new culture, they broke stereotypes, they discussed common problems, they exhanged ideas, they became even more tolerant and respectful towards different cultures. AEGEE-Athina and AEGEE-Yerevan proved to be great partners and are willing to cooperate again in the future. So, was the question answered after all? Who is the sunniest? Well, I can tell you for sure that Yerevan is pretty sunny, in terms of weather and people as well. After all, everybody may be the same or a bit different but in the end, we are all sunny on our own way!

Written by Zoi, AEGEE-Athina