Recently we talked with Gabriele Scollo from AEGEE-Torino, who is running for a position as Network Commissioner. He joined AEGEE when he was 25 years old, and has been an active member ever since. He was a member of the Action Agenda Committee for one year and participated in many local and European events otherwise. Now he is taking it to the next level and applying for member of the Network Commission. Read below the interview and get to know him better.

The AEGEEan: Hello, let us begin by telling us a few words about yourself. 

Action Coordination Team (ACT) workshop at EPM Leiden

Gabriele: Hello, I’m Gabriele, I’m from Turin and I’m 27 years old. I’m an economics student and I’m currently writing my Master thesis about sustainable food production. If I have to choose two things I love, I would choose cooking and travelling, that’s why in the future I see myself as an entrepreneur in the sector of gastronomic tourism, so I can share my passion with everyone visiting my country and maybe make some money to travel to new destinations during my free time. I’m also a big fan of science fiction, because it makes me think a lot about how the future should or shouldn’t look like.

What motivates you in AEGEE?

I got to know AEGEE when I was 25, so I was already a bit too old for a new member. Since my first European event (European Planning Meeting in Burgos 2015), I started to realize how many possibilities to develop yourself this organisation gives you. The very thing that motivated me was seeing all these people from everywhere around Europe, much younger than me, with such great skills, self-awareness and determination, so I can say I was greatly inspired by them to make up for all the time I spent ignoring the existence of student organisations.

Gabriele as main coordinator at AEGEE-Firenze’s Summer University “Go wild in Tuscany!” 2016

How would you explain to a five year old child what means to be a Network Commissioner?

A Network Commissioner is the good teacher who didn’t forget how to play, helps you do your homework, cares about your well being and asks you about your dreams and life goals.

Which are the two main points you want to focus on if elected as Network Commissioner? 

Gabriele Scollo at Network Meeting Valetta

I think there’s a problem that all members should take very seriously right now: the fact that our Network is shrinking more and more every year. AEGEE has been a strong and influential organisation for decades and it can’t just die out like this, especially in a moment when Europe itself is going through a serious crisis and needs all of our passion and energy. We should all do our part to invert this trend, and it goes without saying that NetCom should have a role of primary importance in this process.

A second problem on which I want to focus on personally is the development of our Network in qualitative terms: we need more thematic and training events for our members, more locals organising them, better prepared delegates at Agorae and, in general, more involved and active members. This doesn’t mean “no more parties”, but aiming at representing something more than a simple occasion for fun.

Gabriele Scollo as main coordinator at the Network Meeting in Firenze, autumn 2015

According to you, which is the biggest problem in Europe? How would you solve it?

Unemployment is definitely the biggest issue, and the one that has triggered the lack of trust towards politics that we all know of. There are no easy solutions, I’ll leave that to populist politicians that are trying to bring us back to the past. A good starting point though, would be for society to start learning from young people, often way more skilled, open-minded and mentally flexible than previous generations. Our society should believe more in us, let us access positions of power more easily, finance our projects and understand our world view. This means that we have to make our voice heard.

Do you plan to candidate also for a position in the Comité Directeur in the future?

It’s an experience I would really love to have, but I think I will prioritize having a job in my field of study.

Gabriele as main coordinator at AEGEE-Firenze’s SU “Go wild in Tuscany!” 2016

Name three personal strengths and fears.

One of my biggest strengths is that I get along well with 99% of people, even the ones who are really different from me. This takes me to my second strength: the ability to understand all points of view and find good compromises. This is probably linked to another strength I have: an analytical way of thinking.

My fears: to disappoint people I admire, disappoint myself, the inability to face uncertainty.

Do you have any message for the people who are coming to Agora Chișinău?

Let’s try to make this Agora a moment of reflection on our organisation’s future. We have what it takes to achieve all the goals we set for ourselves.

The AEGEEan: Thank you and good luck!

Gabriele: Thanks a lot!

You can read his candidature here.

Written by Gabriela Geană, AEGEE-București

Five Network Commissioners will be elected this Spring Agora and currently only four people are running for this position. Pablo Palazon, founder of AEGEE-Manchester, is one of them and we asked him some questions to get to know more about him and his plans for the network.

The AEGEEan: Tell us something about yourself.

Pablo: I am Pablo Palazon! I come from the sunny region of Murcia, in Spain and in my non-AEGEE life (normal life?) I am doing my PhD in Immunology at the University of Manchester, in England.  I moved here after finishing my Master Degree in Murcia. The hardest part of moving? Leaving my friends from AEGEE-Alicante and missing all of the events that happen when you are in a region with a lot of active antennae. When I moved to England, we only had AEGEE-London and two struggling or about to get deleted antennae: AEGEE-Durham and AEGEE-Sheffield.  Imagine that your closest active antennae was hundreds of km away, that’s how it feels. Luckily the last year, UK antennae have been flourishing and soon they will be ready to bring some activity over here. I can’t wait for it!

You have been a member for quite some time. What motivates you to run for the Network Commission now?

Well, three years is some time but not that much! I discovered AEGEE quite late, since I went on my first event just right before starting my Master Degree. During those three years, I have been learning a lot and I have changed my way of looking at activities and at the network in general. I think I have experienced the good things of being part of a big antenna and the good things of being in a tiny antenna!

After moving to England I suddenly was the most experienced AEGEE member of my antenna! That is something that I could have not imagined in Alicante, where you can find really experienced members. So, with a little bit of push from Hanna Alajoe, the current Netcommie for my region, and with the advice of other experienced members such as Melissa (also member of the Network Commission), I decided to run for the position. It was probably the next natural step in my AEGEE life.

Even though you founded AEGEE-Manchester, you haven’t participated in many European events. Do you think that this will have an influence or make a difference between you and the other candidates?

Well, I hope it doesn’t!

It’s true that moving to Manchester meant that I had to take a step back regarding European events. Whenever I have holidays I always have to choose between visiting my parents and going to an event. But I think I am balancing it quite well. Since I arrived in Manchester, I managed to go to an Agora (Bergamo will be the second one for me) with an amazing pre-event in Barcelona, an EPM and also an LTC in Madrid. I wish it was more, but I am quite happy about that. Again, it’s not easy to be “far away” from where all the fun happens. Hopefully, if I get elected as member of the Network Commission and if I get to be responsible for the Nordic locals, I will manage to get more activity to the UK and thus potentiate the AEGEE spirit.

Despite not being able to attend many European events I became more active on the European level. I became part of the working force of the Civic Education Working Group that is involved in the European Citizens’ Initiative. Actually we are looking for ambassadors now, feel free to contact me for more information. I have also been working on a position paper for AEGEE that I am going to present during Agora Bergamo.

And last but not least, you don’t need to travel to have European experience. In AEGEE-Manchester we organised an RTC, the first European event in the UK since NWM London 2012. And my house has always been open for AEGEEans, I have hosted people for the Election Observation Project and the travellers from Europe On Track!

On your program you listed Skype trainings in order to help locals to improve their skills in having new members. Are Skype trainings better than live trainings at the local in need?

Obviously Skype trainings are not better that live trainings, but they are a good complement. I think with Skype trainings and sharing best practices you can do a lot. Live trainings require the local to be able to provide you a place to stay and a room to do the workshops. Locals in need sometimes have few active members, most of them busy and not knowing exactly what their real potential is. So organising all that for you to get there might be too much for them. And they would be able to do it only once! While if you manage to make them meet you for a Skype session training, they don’t really need to prepare anything for you!

On top of that you are way more flexible on Skype, you can split sessions in two, you can combine different locals together, you can meet them during one of their meetings etc. Obviously it’s not better than live trainings, but online trainings are quite valuable too.

You didn’t mention anything about the Strategic Plan in your program. How important do you think it is that locals organise their activities according to it?

Well, I didn’t mention the Strategic Plan, but I do mention my willingness to encourage locals to contribute to the Action Agenda of AEGEE. I think it’s the key for us to promote the development of the Action Agenda and I feel that sometimes antennae feel that it’s too difficult for them. The goal of the Network Commissioner should also be to show locals that the Action Agenda is something really important and not that difficult to implement.

What do you want to improve/change from how the things are done by the curren Network Commissioners?

I think they have been doing a good job this year. But I feel that the twin antennae program needs a little bit of extra pushing as well as the implementation of LTC in small antennae.

Do you think that you can bring something new to network? If yes, what?

I think that the fact that I haven’t been subcommie could be something good and bad at the same time.

Bryn French has been a really good subcommie for UK antennae so far so we never had the need for another one (and coming from the same antenna it just didn’t make any sense to run for it!). It could be bad because it makes me a little bit less aware of the actual work that you have to do, and despite my talks with previous Netcommies, I still haven’t experienced it in person.

But at the same time it will make me figure out my own way of organising the work as Netcom. I will start by asking previous subcommies how they find their work and how they think we can do a better job. Starting from scratch sometimes is really good and I hope that the Network will find it really useful too. I am happy to take that opportunity if the Agora thinks that I should be a member of the Network Commission for next year and I will start with lots of energy and a real passion for it!

You can read his full program here.

Written by Raluca Radu, AEGEE-Cluj-Napoca

He has been active in his local for almost two years. After his first Summer University in 2015, he was elected as Public Relations Responsible in the local board, organising the Local Training Course and Summer University of 2016 as both main organiser and treasurer. But that’s not all, he also coordinated local volunteering events such as Let’s Do It Ioannina 2016 and the Student Associations 2016 for his antenna. Spyridon Papadatos from AEGEE-Ioannina may not have the European level experience, but he is very motivated and wants to devote himself entirely to the position as Network Commissioner of AEGEE. We talked with him a little about himself and more about his plans for this position. 

The AEGEEan: To begin with, tell us three words that best describe you and why. 

What do you think is the biggest and most concerning problem in the Network at the moment and how do you plan to solve it?

In your application you said you want to build a strong team of SubCommies with vision. What is your vision as a possible Network Commissioner?

Questions from our readers:

Giving the fact that there are no fixed regions, which locals do you want to work with?

I would like to work with the Greek antennae of course, because I am aware of their strengths and weaknesses and I have met a lot of their board members. Also, I would love to work with the Turkish antennae, just like Network Commissioner Danae Matakou, because she has set a solid base of work with them and I would like to continue it. Also, Turkey has a lot in common with Greece and I am interested in reinforcing the connections between their locals. Alternatively, I would like to work with some Italian ones at some point, because Italy is one of my biggest loves (I’m fond of the Italian culture and country, I simply can’t get enough!).

What do you think is the thing you, as a Network Commissioner should work more on with the locals in order to improve their lives?

Apart from supporting them with their responsibilities and the criteria, some trainings to reinforce their HR and PR are always a must. But for me, the most important thing would be helping the locals and their members take initiatives. They are the ones that know their needs best, their pros and cons, as well as the environment, the society they exist in. So, I would like to help them develop and realise their ideas, start making their potential projects come true. That way, they can achieve the best of what AEGEE offers, while at the same time they can personally grow in a groundbreaking way.

You didn’t mention LTC, despite the fact that it recently became a criterion. How would you ensure that locals will organise one?

Considering that it officially became a criterion, I thought that I didn’t necessarily have to specify it. But you are right, because that shows that there are AEGEE members, who haven’t gotten used to this change yet. The LTC is a great chance for the local members to explore a more serious aspect of the Network and to be activated on an international level. But that doesn’t mean it has to be less interesting for some of them, because of its seriousness. Just like at the Agorae, we have the fun activities (the parties, the city tours), and the LTC can be lighter too. With the help of the local board’s HR responsible, activities can be organised to help new members enjoy the LTC, while learning deeper things about AEGEE. For example, in my antenna we were thinking of a yoga event in the city castle after the LTC (combined of course with the beloved AEGEEan energizers!). Don’t you think that would make a LTC seem less of a ‘criterion’ and more of fun?

What do you think about the Network Meeting Reform? Do you think a standardised NWM will bring more pros or cons?

I believe that the Network Meeting Reform is a positive change the NetCom came up with. It helps the NWMs to have a common concept and structure, while at the same time it allows the NetComs to approach it in their own way and implement their antenna’s character and needs in it. For example, a NWM in Aachen and a NWM in Napoli can share common sessions, but won’t be the same at all. They can both have sessions adjusted to their own individualities, because at the end of the day the locals are the ones that give to the Network Meeting its unique identity, and the NWM reform works to facilitate this, while at the same time trying to improve the quality of the content. It also helps making the whole procedure more transparent and more organised. Furthermore, it helps amplifying the team character of the Network Commission and the whole Network to be more unified. Let’s not forget though, that the AEGEE locals and their needs are still in the center, so it is really not a standardised version, but more of a common structure on which you can build a unique NWM, that will respond to the exact needs of the locals.

 

You have never taken part in a NWM. How will you be able to organise one?

First of all, being a part of a team is all about covering each other. The Network Commission is a team consisting of ten more NetComs, so I am optimistic that the more experienced ones will help the new ones. That is why there are two terms and a transition period. So the new NetComs won’t have to face problems like this. Also, I am sure that NetCom Danae Matakou will be more than happy to support me and help me prepare for it during the transition period. And last but not least, my antenna, AEGEE-Ioannina hosted a NWM in 2014 and a lot of my fellow members were organising it back then. So, I am sure they will help a lot if I need it, just like they have supported me all this time (for which I would like to thank them and express my gratitude for it!).

23 years old Lavinia Țole is an AEGEE enthusiastic girl from AEGEE-București who aims to take one of the six free spots in the Network Commission. She joined AEGEE in 2013, and after six months as Tekla Hajdu’s Subcommissioner, she is ready to take up the job. We asked some questions to get to know more about her and her program.

The AEGEEan: Please, introduce yourself to the Network.

Lavinia: Hello AEGEEans from all over the Network, I’m Lavinia Țole and I have been a member of AEGEE-București for almost three years now. Like most of the AEGEE members, I love to travel, meet new people, listening to their stories and I’m always up for new challenges.

Sometimes, I like to live the moment and do crazy adventurous things, like couchsurfing after buying tickets for a last-minute trip, but when I commit to a project I believe in, I give my best and I don’t hesitate to put all my time and energy into it.

Why did you decide to run for the position of Network Commissioner?

As I’ve already stated in my application, running for the Network Commission seemed like the next natural step in my AEGEE life. Being a Subcommie also contributed a lot to my decision, because after my term I had a clearer idea about how the Network Commission works, about the struggles, but also about the rewarding experience of this position.

Moreover, this is the last year I can dedicate so much of my time to AEGEE and I want to make the most of it, by sharing my knowledge with the locals and by offering my support in every aspect concerning the development of the antennas and the cooperation within the Network.

How do you think that your term as Subcommie prepared you to be Netcom?

Since I already got to know and interacted with members of the local boards in our area as a Subcommie, I know how antennas deal with the Antenna Criteria and what problems they sometimes encounter. Having a clear image about how things work and where we stand, makes me feel more confident in applying for the Network Commission.

In your candidature you stated that you want to continue the work of Brigitta and Tekla. What do you think are the issues of that area? and what are the strengths?

Well, I think the situation of the locals in our area is very diverse: there are some very strong locals, but also newer and weaker antennas with different needs and the Network Commissioner has to develop a program that supports all of them, which is not always easy. The strengths also lay in this diversity: we can learn a lot from each other’s best practices (like Czechoslovakian weekend, the collaboration between the Romanian and the Moldovan locals, etc.). But I believe the antennas shouldn’t stick only to each other; locals should be able to learn from the whole Network and that’s why I’d like to facilitate the cooperation and knowledge transfer among them.

In your program you didn’t mention ACT or Strategic Plan. How much do you think it is important for locals to know it and to develop activities accordingly?

Without any doubt, every local should be aware of the Strategic Plan and Action Agenda. Not only because organising events that contribute to the Strategic Plan is one of the Antenna Criteria, but also because each local should know in which direction AEGEE is heading. Moreover, the objectives to focus on, stated in the Action Agenda, can come in handy when locals have difficulties in implementing the Strategic Plan into their projects.

That’s why, during my term, I’d like to put more emphasis on educating locals about the Strategic Plan and Action Agenda.

You stated “I support the direction the Comité Directeur is planning to go”. Which direction exactly? In which field? And how will you explain it to the Network?

This summer, I read the Activity Plan for 2015-2016 developed by Comité Directeur and I want to spread the message about their initiatives and to bring my contribution to the growth of AEGEE. For example, I liked that they brought the organisational culture of AEGEE and the need to improve the education of members on fundraising possibilities in discussion. I believe Network Meetings are a great opportunity to work on these aspects. Also, ensuring a good quality and impact of Network Meetings and developing a good strategy to strengthen the connection between locals was another subject that caught my attention, and as a Netcom I could definitely help to achieve this goal.

Why do you think people should vote for you?

I consider I have that “AEGEEness”, the ability to stay optimistic and to have fun while working hard on goals I believe in. And I do believe in a stronger connection and collaboration between antennas. Furthermore, I have the energy and the enthusiasm to be the bridge between the Comité Directeur and the locals and to bring my contribution to the stability of the Network.

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

You can read her full candidature here.

During Spring AgorAsturias, five new members of the Network Commission (NetCom) were elected, namely: Danae Matakou (AEGEE-Athina), Hanna Alajõe (AEGEE-Tartu), Jovana Trajković (AEGEE-Beograd), Orkhan Babayev (AEGEE-Bakı) and Tereza Tokmaiyan (AEGEE-Yerevan). The AEGEEan spoke to them to find out more about these new members and their plans for the upcoming months.

The AEGEEan: Why did you apply to be a NetCom?
Danae: When I first joined AEGEE in my local, I saw how people from were working hard to organise amazing events and that amazing energy motivated me to become active and participate in the organisation of events and Summer University (SU). So when I started becoming more active and realising the possibilities that AEGEE has, I also could see the problems that locals face and all the areas they would thrive in if they had the support they needed. Therefore, when Arsenis decided to run for NetCom and asked me to join his team as a SubCom, I realised that this was a great way to help and support the locals so they could do even greater things. And after 1,5 year of being a SubCom and working with two different and hard working Network Commissioners, I saw all the effort they were doing and how hard they were working to help and I decided I wanted to do this too. My motivation to apply to be a NetCom was all about helping the locals, supporting them, giving advice when needed and encouraging them and motivating them to be even more awesome.
Hanna: I applied to be part of the NetCom because I wanted to be more involved with AEGEE and I got really interested in the work of NetCom while being a SubCommie last year. I wanted mostly to help the locals, communicate a lot and get new experiences while being helpful for AEGEE.
Jovana (Joka): I considered it as my next step in AEGEE. After being active some years in AEGEE, I wanted to do something more. It took me a while I figured out what I would like to do. My first Network Meeting, as a SubCommisioner of Ana Potočnik, assured me that Network Commissioner is what I was looking for. But before all that, what inspired me the most to apply are the locals. I knew that in this way I can do something for them and hopefully, improve their work.
Orkhan: I applied for NetCom since I wanted to make our region more interactive. Moreover, NetCom is quite a responsible position and I like to take tasks that require responsibilities.
Tereza: I am a member of AEGEE-Yerevan already for 4 years, and every time while checking some AEGEE news, statistics I was always amazed by the work of NetComs and their willingness to become every year stronger and stronger.

What was your first reaction when you heard you got elected as NetCom?
Danae: My first reaction was to be a bit numb for the first minute or so. My friends were congratulating me, but my mind was blank because the news hadn’t sunk in yet… but then the happiness and excitement set in.
Hanna: I was super-super happy because people actually voted for me, meaning they trust me! It is a great feeling that is somewhat unbelievable still.
Joka: The results are always the exciting part of the Agora. I remember that I was sitting with my friends waiting for them. Firstly, I wasn’t sure that I heard my name, but my friends who were already hugging me assured me that – yes, I heard my name. I didn’t have time to react properly, because I was waiting for other important results to hear. After the Agora was officially finished and I was on my way back home, I had time to think about it. I was happy and excited, but at the same time preparing myself for the hard work which comes with this position.
Orkhan: My first reaction was surprise, since I didn’t expect that I would be selected, however when the first meeting was held together with new and previous NetComs I braved myself and realised that I was elected and now it’s time to serve for AEGEE especially for my region.
Tereza: “OH MY GOD… Bazinga!”. And I was not able to move… I can’t even remember that part very well, but AEGEEans sitting near me were congratulating and hugging me. I can just say that it was amazing, and surprising because it was my first Agora and most of the people there didn’t know me.

What are your plans for the locals in your area?
Danae: My main goal is to try my hardest to support the locals so they can achieve the goals they set. Many locals have activities they want to do, events they would like to organise, etc. but a lot of times they can’t because they face a lot of difficulties. So what I would like to do is to support them and help them, so they can work on those ideas and bring them to life.

Also, since it’s the first time Greek and Turkish locals are in the same area, and I think it is something many people wanted to happen for some time, they are excited about it. I would like to use this opportunity to improve collaborations between the locals because I believe they can do  great things if they work together.

And of course there are more things included in my working plan, but I think this is a summary of the general goals I set.
Hanna: In short: to keep them healthy and growing. I don’t think a NetCommie can have great plans for the locals – I am more there to help them and to support them. The locals themselves should have plans, and I will help them fulfill these. I don’t think it is wise to promise things like “I want to have more contacts and no downgrades” – you can’t promise that, because it is so dependent on the people. Of course I hope to have lots of trainings, lots of events and activities happening in my locals, but I can’t do anything without my locals, so it’s more like “their wish is my command”.
Joka: At the moment I’m getting to know my locals and their needs better. My plan is to bring locals even closer and to improve cooperation between them. The best way for it is organising NWM, Regionat Training Courses (RTC) and one new event called Štafeta (the first one was organised last year). On the other hand, I would like to improve their work and to make them stronger. Together with my SubCom team I will give feedback on monthly reports to locals, which can help them in the future work. In the near future we are planing to organise online trainings on topics based on locals needs. Also, I’m trying to bring the locals closer to European bodies. I’m happy to announce that after the NWM, some members of my area have already become active in European Bodies.
Orkhan: My plans are to make more interaction among locals, to think about some cooperative projects and so on.
Tereza: First of all, I would like to highlight one thing which we are trying to spread all over our network  through the Network Commission: that there are no more areas in AEGEE and the distribution of our network is the assignment of each local to a particular Network Commissioner. The Network Commissioner is the person connecting each assigned local to the European Bodies and the whole network. There are no limits in cooperation between locals because there is only one network consisting of 188 locals, and each of us 11 Network Commissioners are elected to serve and protect all of it.

So the plans concerning locals assigned to me is to make them all united, to make them feel comfortable in the network, support them and help us much as possible.

Do you have a team of SubCommies? If so, who are them and what they do?
Danae: Yes! My awesome SubCom team consists of Dimitris Bouloumpasis (AEGEE-Athina), Mustafa Akmese (AEGEE-Eskişehir), Aysan Yakut (AEGEE-Istanbul) and Anna Malamidou (AEGEE-Thessaloniki). We are a newly formed team and we only recently begun to work together but so far everyone is enthusiastic and motivated to work, so I am sure we will do some great work together.

As for what they do, each of them is responsible for 3-4 locals of the area and work as a support system for both me and the locals. They help with the communication between me and the locals and together we work to assist the locals with anything they might need. I am very lucky to have them.
Hanna: Yes, I do! My SubCommies are amazing and really motivated to help me! There’s Bryn French (AEGEE-Manchester) and he is working on the promotion of training courses of different types. Then there’s Hanna Juntunen (AEGEE-Helsinki) who is promoting European events. My third SubCommie is Kristin Moppel (AEGEE-Tartu), my fourth SubCommie is Sergej Halter (AEGEE-Hamburg), who is not responsible for any locals, but is doing specific tasks that I need help with. I couldn’t do it without them.
Joka: At the moment I have six SubCommissioners: Aleksandra Mojsova (AEGEE-Skopje), Ana Potočnik (AEGEE-Ljubljana), Ivana Mijanac (AEGEE-Beograd), Ivana Račić (AEGEE-Novi Sad), Silvija Perić (AEGEE-Zagreb) and Tsveti Stojcheva (AEGEE-Sofia). All of them, except Tsveti, are taking care of different locals, because she is our training responsible.
Orkhan: Yes, I have one SubCommie but in the nearest future I am going to add some more since I need to distribute responsibilities among them. My current SubCommie is Ekin Yalin (AEGEE-Adana).
Tereza: Unfortunately I am still alone, without SubCommies, but after this three months I understand that for sure I will need a SubCom team not only for help, but also because I want AEGEEans from the locals assigned to me to feel close to the work that the Network Commission is doing.

What are your plans for the NetCom team?
Danae: My plans are very simple. I  want us to work as a team in the best way we can. My goal is to have a team that works flawlessly together, that we respect and trust each other, and all together we can achieve our common goal which is to always to help and support our locals. If we achieve this, then I think all the rest will come on its own.
Hanna: My plan is mostly to be a good team player. I am trying to be as active as possible, give my opinion about different matters and to help with carrying out the work plan. The work plan basically is the whole NetCom team’s plan for the next term, so I consider it also my plan.
Joka: So far, I’m working on our Work Plan with other NetCommies. At the moment the only plan I have is to help in getting it done and ready before Agora.
Orkhan: For now my plans for NetCom team is to get experience from the NetComs that were elected in autumn, since after their term is finished, I will have to be one of the NetComs that should be hand over experience.
Tereza: Well, here we all are different, and I can see clearly individuals, people with amazing ideas, motivation and willingness to share, to work and to communicate… and now I am trying to integrate in the team as much as possible, to understand the NetCom role from inside.

You can find Network Commission Working Plan for the current term (AgorAsturias-Agora Kyiv) here.

Written by Lia Tuska, AEGEE-Sofia/Thessaloniki

From the landlocked plateaus high in the Caucasian mountains, on the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East and Russia and the borders of Christendom and the Muslim World comes a girl with an unmatched enthusiasm for AEGEE. Now AEGEE-Yerevan’s very own Tereza Tokmajyan is more than ready to become your next Member of the Network Commission. Hailing from one of Europe’s most exotic locations, eternally optimistic and multitalented; what you’ll definitely remember her by, however, is her unbridled spirit.

The AEGEEan: The greatest failure is to not imagine the other as complexly. Tereza, what would you like the other members of AEGEE to know about you?

Tereza: I am a 22-year-old Armenian living currently in a small city called Olhao (if you have some challenges to pronounce it, I can teach you ), in Portugal doing my EVS. I have a bachelor degree in Occupational Therapy (Ergotherapy), but after graduating university I started working as a Social Media Marketologist. Yes, it sounds totally different and crazy but that’s all me.

I like experimenting in different spheres of work, because come on, we are only living once. It can be stupid to have a boring life with no changes in it, and that’s why I became an AEGEEan, an addicted AEGEEan, a crazy AEGEEan. Before, after and during my AEGEE life I was also a member of several organisations in Armenia like APY and Youth Breath which are the observer members of YEU and I was also a volunteer in Red Cross in the department of First Aid, so no worries, I can save your life  [she laughs, ed.]

And yes, if you hear people calling me China don’t be surprised, it’s my nickname and it has a long story behind it, but I like it as much as Harry Potter loves Hogwards [she smiles, ed.]

”A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Could you briefly outline your involvement, experiences and history with AEGEE?

It was four years ago, a sunny Armenian morning, when I was invited for the Local Training Course of some organisation called AEGEE which I couldn’t pronounce properly. AEGEE totally changed me, it became a Red Bull 24/7 hours a day in my life. I was like a child looking for the cookie jar. It started with the Local Training Course (LTC), then I was involved in the local Human Resources Committee (HRC) and the next term I became head of HRC and I was re-elected for a second term as well. Since 2011 I am involved in the Human Resources Committee (HRC) of AEGEE-Europe, having organised a lot of trainings, knowledge sharing courses in my local and of course Summer Universities. But so far, this is going to be my first Agora (if  watching the Agora online  is not counted), and I am sure it will be epic because Gijon was the place I felt my AEGEE spirit getting stronger and lifted when AEGEE-Oviedo and EAP organised a YIA event there. After this I was spamming my friends in Facebook with “Come on people, join AEGEE-Yerevan, we have cool projects, we have summer universities, and it’s the motherland of party animals”.

Why of all positions did you consider to apply for a position in the Network Commission? What do you think, makes you the ideal candidate to be the next Member of the Network Commission?

Isn’t it amazing how we meet people during our AEGEE journey, become friends, family, but in 100-200 years nobody will remember our names anymore and nobody will know we ever existed? But it doesn’t mean that we need to stop, keep our ideas and share it only with locals. We need to move on, go even higher and try to spread our spirit, knowledge and experience with the others. Network Commission is the perfect place for implementing this kind of ideas and it has taken my attention since I was a dummy AEGEEan.

I know that I have a lot of energy to go for this step, to be the one to connect the locals and be the change. For me Network Commission is a big example of the “team” and how the “teamwork” looks like. And I wish to create a network of locals standing one by one, supporting each other and creating a history.

“Life is like a box of chocolates.” What do you expect are the greatest challenges of being a Member of the Network Commission that you’ll get?

Oh, if life is a box and being a member of the Network Commission is grabbing and eating the chocolates inside of it then the challenge is accepted. But to be serious, the main challenge of my entire life is time management, because I want to be everywhere and do everything, and if I will be elected for this position I guess AEGEE will consume lots of my time. But thank God, we have smart phones and e-agents which actually help us organising [she smiles, ed].

But let’s see, I am sure that for the next term Network Commission will have a great team supporting each other, solving all the problems and breaking all the barriers together and of course I want to be a part of it. “Thanks to the people that show me what AEGEE is. See you all at AgorAsturias. Be ready, another type of winter is coming!”

Written by Willem Laurentzen, AEGEE-Nijmegen