On July 15th, a part of the Turkish army took to the streets of primarily Istanbul and Ankara in order to perform, what turned out to be, an unsuccessful coup. Considering that there are almost ten locals in Turkey, of which seven Antennae and two Contact Antennae, and that there were both incoming and outgoing participants for Summer Universities into and out of Turkey on and near this date, things got exciting for a lot of members of AEGEE.

A Brief Run-Down

During the night of Friday, 15 July 2016, a fraction of the Turkish army attempted a coup to overthrow the government of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The militants blocked the Istanbul Ataturk Airport, as well as both bridges over the Bosporus in Istanbul. In Ankara, the Turkish Parliament building was struck by at least one bomb. The coup seemed to proceed relatively peaceful, until protesters, spurred on by Erdoğan’s address to the nation, resisted the attempted coup.
The militants clashed with police officers and civilians, until, on Saturday morning, it turned out that the number of protesters was too big to handle for the tanks, fighter jets and armed helicopters. The BBC and The Guardian reported that the total death toll was 265, 161 civilians and 104 attempters of the coup, and another 1440 wounded. AEGEE-Eskișehir recently reported that the number of fatal casualties has risen to 294.

According to The Guardian, directly during the aftermath, the Turkish government arrested 2,839 members of the army and detained another 2,745 judges and prosecutors. Later, CNN reported that this number had risen to a total of 15,846 people, 10,012 of which are military personnel, but that around 4,000 of these detainees have since then been released. AEGEE-Eskișehir confirmed these numbers in their statement on the 22^nd of July, and added that another 50,000 people have lost their job during the aftermath of the coup.

AEGEEans and the Coup

Two Summer Universities were taking place in Turkey during the coup; one of which was in Istanbul, the other was in Eskişehir. The coup happened during the second night of the Summer University that AEGEE-Istanbul organised, while the organisers and twenty-two participants were in the city at a pre-party.

As Brigita Senkane of AEGEE-Riga recalls: “[Dermanşah Yalın, President of AEGEE-Istanbul] organised AEGEE-Istanbul’s SU under extreme conditions: during the coup in Istanbul. He managed to evacuate everyone safely and fast while we were partying in Istanbul without knowing that the tanks were already in Istanbul. The Summer University continued safely and extremely carefully planned, because the organisers were flexible and re-planned everything to make it as much fun as possible and safe for us.”

After the organisers safely got the participants back to the gym, which was used as their sleeping accommodation, they set up WiFi-hotspots to enable all participants to contact their families and friends. The next day, all participants were kept in the gym for safety, and the organisation improvised an alternative programme for them at the location itself.

The coup also coincided with the first day of the Summer University that was organised by AEGEE- Eskişehir. Although most of the violence of the coup occurred in Istanbul and Ankara, some tensions were notable in this city in north-western Anatolia. Evrim Emiroğlu of AEGEE-Eskişehir reports that, of the many difficulties, the frequent police checks stood out most.

The other side of the coin is that local media picked up on the positive message that this Summer University had during the aftermath of the coup and covered them in an article and in a segment.

Travelling to and from Turkish airports, including the Istanbul Ataturk Airport, normalised by the sixteenth of July, and as far as The AEGEEan could uncover, only a couple of members of AEGEE were hindered to travel directly to and from Turkey to visit or return from one of AEGEE’s events. These included two members of A-Beograd, A-Kragujevac and A-Podgorica’s Summer University: Shake it to the Balkan Remix, who were unable to leave Turkey. Additionally, we have received reports that at least one member of AEGEE was hindered in travelling to her Summer University in Azerbaijan, due to the cancellation of her indirect flight via Istanbul.

Written by Willem Laurentzen, AEGEE-Nijmegen

This year, the Leadership Summer School (LSS) was organised by the local committee of European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA) in Yeditepe University, Istanbul, between 16th and 25th of July. More than 30 international youth organisations were represented by more than 60 participants interested to be trained on different leadership skills and competences. Among them were also six enthusiastic AEGEEans, Alessandra Dehò, Balázs Kovács, Bozhidara Evstatieva, Isi Boriga, Lia Tuska and Tsveti Stoycheva, and The AEGEEan got the chance to interview them.

The AEGEEan: Who are you?

Alessandra Dehò: I am Alessandra Dehò, HR responsible of AEGEE-Brescia and Medical student.

Balázs Kovács: My name is Balázs (Bali) Kovács from AEGEE-Debrecen and I am also a member of AEGEE’s Network Commission.

Bozhidara Evstatieva: Bozhidara (Dara) Evstatieva from AEGEE-Sofia.

Isi Boriga: Isi Boriga, former member of AEGEE-Cluj-Napoca, and current board member of AEGEE-Maastricht.

Lia Tuska: I’m Lia, member of AEGEE-Sofia, Network Commissioner, PR of The AEGEEan and Democracy in Practice, Secretary of Human Rights Working Group and Vice-Speaker of information Technology Committee.

Tsveti Stoycheva: Tsveti, AEGEE-Sofia.

The AEGEEan: Why did you decide to apply for LSS?

Alessandra: Since I have joined AEGEE, I feel that I have started a process of self-growth. I saw LSS as an important part of this process. It was necessary for me to be the best version of myself, to grow up as a person, as student and as citizen.

Balázs: Since I joined AEGEE, I have met with several fellow youth activists and volunteers who have somehow been involved in previous editions of this one-of-a-kind event. After hearing many stories from these people, I have become totally inspired and I knew that I had to see it for myself. Heartfelt thankings go to AEGEE-Cluj-Napoca for giving me the initial enthusiasm pushes back in the days!

Bozhidara: LSS was the next sequential step  after European School 1 (ES1). For the past one year I have been challenging myself, my knowledge and skills. What is more, LSS was the perfect playground for exploration of the limits of one’s comfort zone.

Isi: I knew that LSS is an event not to be missed ever since I heard amazing stories about it from the organizers of the 4th edition (Cluj-Napoca, 2011). Because I am now in a transitional and decisions-making phase (at the end of my studies and preparing for my first real job), I thought this summer was the perfect timing for me. So when a friend notified me that the application period has opened, I went for it.

Lia: I first heard about LSS when AEGEE-Sofia applied as hosting local and I told them I was sure they would make it and that I would be there. I applied as participant and I got rejected, but that is what motivated me to be more active on European Level in AEGEE, so last year I was at LSS as helper. When it was over, I challenged myself to apply again and I got accepted!

Tsveti: I got involved with this event last year when our antenna hosted it. The atmosphere of LSS is very special and unique – one of the main reasons for it is that participants come from various organizations. I have a passion for trainings so I wanted to go through the real experience as participant this year and when the open call was out there was no moment of hesitation whether to apply or not.

The AEGEEan: What is leadership to you?

Alessandra: Leadership means to create a connection between people and let them express themselves in their best way. Leadership has many different aspects, but the one I prefer is to inspire and motivate people and let them to inspire and motivate you.

Balázs: Leadership is a complex concept and it always depends on the given circumstances. This event has ultimately aimed at focusing at the question of “How can one become the most effective, responsible leader of his/her own life?” I would define the term “leadership” as a never-ending series of challenges.

Bozhidara: A leader is one who can motivate others not only by talking and sharing experiences, but by merely standing and smiling for example. For a leader, even the little things in life matter and one should take all the opportunities we are presented with. To know how to become a leader is no easy task and requires loads of skills, experience, the right attitude, and in my personal opinion- optimism.

Isi: Ability to inspire, ethical behavior, commitment, trust, tasks distribution, diplomacy, adaptability to change, communication, feedback-seeking and receiving, awareness, empathy.

Lia: Everyone has their own view of what leadership is. For me, it is to inspire, to help (sometimes without knowing it), to care and to support people around you. Leadership is also being able to lead yourself before you lead others.

Tsveti: It is hard to put this in a sentence or two. For me leadership is knowing yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, and acting upon that. And of course showing the same understanding for others.

The AEGEEan: Why should other AEGEEans attend LSS?

Alessandra: Because it is a challenge. You start taking awareness about who you are and what you want, but above of all WHY? And they show you the way to find your answers, testing yourself in many ways. The most important thing is that during this process you are not alone.

Balázs: Let me just give you all a couple of hints about this year’s event. Imagine an 10-day-long, “non-formal education meets informal learning” kind of youth event with circa 100 youngsters from 30+ countries from all over the Globe representing some dozen of (I)NGYOs where we all participate/deliver and actively engage in many trainings/workshops, discussions and we share and exchange our knowledge and experiences. It is impossible to briefly describe this event but it is definitely meant to be lived!

Bozhidara: LSS is the needed ingredient for everyone who is on the personal development path, looking for answers, inspiration, and motivation. It is also for all the dreamers who wish for change on a bigger scale. The LSS atmosphere is so open, sharing and one can feel the breeze of understanding and acceptance in the air.  It is also a great way to explore and enhance oneself on every possible levels.

Isi: There’s no general answer to this question, because I think that everyone attending LSS is seeking for something different. But no matter what that may be, one thing is certain: you will be sharing this educational and emotional experience with dozens of people who will inspire you, accept you, and who will make you dig a little deeper into yourself. You won’t only get what you came for – you will get much more.

Lia: Having the chance to be at two versions of LSS, I can say that every year was special. You do not only learn some new methods or improve your skills on public speaking, group dynamics, conflict management, etc. but you also meet people from other NGOs that you wouldn’t have met in any other case, you make new friends and even Project ideas are born.

Tsveti: Join LSS and you will make true friends from all over the world and know what it really means to care for others and being cared for. It is a life-changing experience after which you will hopefully be more mindful, develop your social skills and have the courage to put your ideas and dreams in action.

The AEGEEan: What have you learned from the event?

Alessandra: It could be easier to say what I haven’t learnt. The most important thing that I will take with me is that a leader without other people to support him, is nothing. You can be a good leader only if you keep in mind that other people are all important in the same way and that you have to take care of them.

Balázs: Although, the event provided me with quite some learning points but, as I said, neither them nor LSS can be described shortly, they are simply meant to be lived. I would still pick a quote from the Queen of Denmark saying that “Maybe the reason for all the war and conflict in this world is all the conversations that were never held.” This idea has meant a lot to me in the past years and it came very handy now as a mantra.

Bozhidara: I learned a lot about Life, Universe and Everything else. ;) But no, LSS reflection is still in process and so far I do not have a proper answer to this question.

Isi: Many, many things. I have learnt the huge impact that sharing, connecting and opening to others can have, I have been amazed by the beautiful people around me, by their ideas, projects and philosophies, and I have developed skills important not only for a leader, but for any young professional. Most importantly, I was reminded that life should be lived doing things that make you happy, and that are meaningful. Find your own dream, and make it happen! It is as simple as that. :)

Lia: LSS is not just an event, it is a process! People who weren’t there won’t understand, LSS is not just an Summer School on Leadership, it’s a place where you leave some parts of yourself (fears, doupts, etc.) and get new ones (courage, confidence, etc.).

Tsveti: I learned that being open is the best favour you can do yourself.

Written by Svenja van der Tol, AEGEE-Nijmegen, with the help of Lia Tuska, AEGEE-Sofia