She started locally in 2012 in AEGEE-Poznań, then moving to AEGEE-Warszawa, joining also AEGEE-Enschede last year. She has been part of  Eastern Partnership Project team, Network Commissioner from Autumn Agora Cagliari until Autumn Agora Kyïv, and Network Commission responsible for locals in Poland and in Ukraine. She was in the Chair Team in 2016 and then Chairperson of Spring Agora Enschede last May. She is Marta Wnuk, and she is our Member of the Month of May, with her work before and during her last Agora – at least is what she said – being recognised with this nomination. 

The AEGEEan: Congratulations for having been selected as Member of the Month. How do you feel?

Marta: Positively surprised. I strived to do my best as a Chairperson and I am happy that my work was recognised.  It is a very nice gesture for the end of my active role in AEGEE.

One of the reasons why you were nominated is your work as Chairperson in Enschede. How was the overall experience in driving our General Assembly?

Overall, it was a very good experience.  I like the constructive working atmosphere and in Enschede, it was just so.  Venues were comfortable, we mostly manage to be on time on the agenda and cooperation with local organisers. Also, Juridical Commission was very satisfying. Even though there were several challenging situations to handle, I felt at ease most of the time and I was glad I could perform my tasks without major disruptions.

Your signature word is “However”, how did that joke start? How many times did you say it in Enschede?

Haha. I am not able to tell. Probably everyone has their one particular word that uses frequently without fully realising how often. I myself was not really aware until it appeared as a crossword in the bullshit bingo in Agora Chișinău. I have found it really amusing, I must say.

How different was the experience from the Agora you chaired as Vice?

Well, roles of Vice-Chair and Chair do not differ much; task division is very similar. As the main Chairperson though, I had the final responsibility for the decisions made during the Agora and the conduct of the event.  While being a Vice-Chairperson I learnt a great deal from Tom Simons (Chairperson of the Agora 2014-2016). In Enschede, I could apply all my knowledge and experience to make my own judgment and decide on the course of action. Besides, working with different people has its different dynamics. However, I was very lucky when it comes to my working partners and with both Tom and Erika we managed to create great tandems.

What was the most challenging moment of all the Agora you have chaired?

That was definitely the closing plenary of the Agora Bergamo. It was my first Agora in a role of a Chair and we were faced with a quite challenging situation that unfolded during the plenary and had to be handled at the spot. It required very good knowledge of procedures, ability to adapt to constant changes in the agenda and various demands of people as well as calm judgment despite the stress involved. Yet overall, I was satisfied with the way we managed the crisis and  I learnt a lot from this experience.

How did AEGEE change your life?

Oh, AEGEE has changed my life in numerous ways and this interview is certainly too short to give space to all of the aspects. Most importantly, AEGEE has certainly allowed me to live my passion and to make the meaningful contribution in the areas where I felt inspired to act. However, AEGEE has also taught me how to find the courage and persevere and how to stand up for what I believe is right.  During my journey in AEGEE, I have experienced many truly magical moments and moments of hardship too. It all has shaped me and made me remember those five years as decisive in my life.

Active in your locals, Network Commissioner, in a project team, Vice-Chairperson, Chairperson. What are you going to do now?

Now it is time for a new chapter in my life.  Change of work is certainly on the horizon. However,  I take it easy for now and enjoy new scopes of free time that I have.  I enjoy classical music concerts, yoga in the park and good movies. I have also more time to invest in learning languages. Yet, after recharging my batteries I will surely seek for new opportunities.

Name one good thing and one bad thing of the association.

Oh, it is difficult to pick only one feature for each side.  However, if I were to boil down all that I have observed about the association, I’d say that the best aspect of  AEGEE is the empowerment it gives to its members and the impact has on individuals. AEGEE has empowered me to strive for the best and I have also seen the impact that had on numerous people and how they flourished. When it comes to negative aspect – I think that AEGEE is stuck in perpetual inefficiency, which in my opinion is caused by sort of “political correctness” present on European Level,  when it comes to discourse about the means of reforming our association. Attempts to change or reform things that aren’t working are often impeded by a very narrow understanding of our vision and are being dismissed without any constructive arguments just because the proposed solutions are not considered desirable by certain groups.  Sadly, I have seen many capable members being driven away by such attitude.

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

Every month The AEGEEan selects a member of the month from the inputs we receive from the Network. In November the choice was Francesca Zorcolo from AEGEE-Cagliari. She has been a member of our association for some years, being in the team of Agora Cagliari 2014 organisers and President of the board of the Italian local 2015-2016. In November she was the Main Organiser of the Network Meeting (NWM) in Cagliari, the first in the history of the local, and was selected as SubCommissioner of NetCom Gabriele Scollo (AEGEE-Firenze) helping Italian and Maltese locals in FR. 

The AEGEEan: Who is Francesca in AEGEE?
Francesca: I have been a member of AEGEE since February 2014, and my passion for it has been growing since the first Agora I have been to, Spring Agora Patra, and even more with Autumn Agora Cagliari. I was part of the executive board for two years and my mandate has just expired. If people ask me who I think I am in AEGEE I always answer that I feel like I am kind of a mom to AEGEE kids. This year I am SubCommie for the Network Commissioner Gabriele until Autumn Agora Catania.

Who is Francesca outside of AEGEE?
I am a desperate economy student, a basketball referee and the former founder of a local LGBT association, as well as the founder of a start up about lateral thinking.

You have been nominated as Member of the Month of November. How do you feel?
I am embarrassed… Ahahha, just kidding, I feel very honored and proud, and I really want to thank everyone for it!

Your term as President of AEGEE-Cagliari just finished. How would you describe this year? What do you think is your biggest achievement with your board?
This past year has been one of the greatest of my entire life. One of the things I am most proud of is the fact that we were able to share more information about the European opportunities for our members and we were lucky enough to create a very well connected group of people!

You were the Main Organiser of NWM Cagliari. How did it go?
It was amazing! We pictured this event so many times before it happened, and when it did, our expectations were exceeded. This was because of the incredible people that participated and worked for it. I especially want to thank former Network Commissioner Lisa Gregis (AEGEE-Bergamo) and Financial Director Zvonimir Canjuga! We had so much fun, but it was also a learning experience for everyone.
What were the biggest challenges in organising the event? What were the biggest rewards?
I always want to keep up with everybody’s expectations. We were really worried about something going the wrong way, or not as we planned. But, as soon as we saw people very happy and proactive, we understood that everything was going in the right direction. I am very happy that we were able to talk about joining forces with other teams and many members have now double memberships. That is how networking works!

Name one good thing in AEGEE and one bad thing.

A downside can be that sometimes we are not able to share our stories with people outside AEGEE, and to let others know what we are, and in my opinion that is one of the reasons why the number of members is dropping.

On the other hand, the thing I love the most is the fact that it lets you feel like home in each part of Europe you are, and that inside AEGEE everyone gets the chance to grow and get experience in what interests them.

Let’s play a game. Describe yourself by using adjectives that start with the letters that compose your name.
Friendly

Reliable

Active

Naive

Curious

Emotional

Skilful

Creative

Altruist
What’s next for you?
I am not sure right now, but after spending these two amazing years working at local level, I think it is time to expand my horizons, and that is why I am very glad to be a SubCommie in Gabriele Scollo’s team, for something else we will see!

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

If you attended Autumn Agora Chișinău, you might have seen this girl with distinctive blonde curly hair and blue eyes giving you badges, running around the plenary hall and always smile to everybody. She is Ana Gancearuc, part of the core team and Incoming Responsible of the Agora. Her efforts, along with the entire team, didn’t stay unnoticed and she was nominated as our Member of the Month of October. We asked her some questions and here is the interview!

The AEGEEan: Congratulations! How does it feel to win this award?
Ana: Wow! I didn’t expect it at all, I’m pleasantly surprised and thankful for those who thought of nominating me! I feel really honoured, thank you AEGEE.

Who is Ana? What is her story in AEGEE? 
Ana has been a member of AEGEE-Chișinău since 2010, after helping organising the Summer University that year, and attended my first Agora in Istanbul, I started to understand what AEGEE is really about.
Then I continued by helping organisng many SU’s (but I had never been to a SU as a participant before), LTC’s, RTC. I was a board member in 2011 and 2015, continuing with MedCom for 2015-2016 and Autumn Agora Chișinău 2016.

What is your life besides AEGEE?
On a daily basis, I work full time for a telecommunication company, Orange Moldova, as a human resources administrator for the International Operations Department. It means that I’m doing HR work for a British telecommunication company and I love it.
Besides work, I’m trying to have a healthy lifestyle. From nutrition to exercising, activities and time outside spent wisely, I’m a runner and a swimmer, I have done a couple of marathons, and maybe one day I will get to do a triathlon – if I get to practice biking more often [She laughs, ed.].

Describe your personality by using the initials of your name(s).
Oh that’s a good one! I don’t know, maybe the following:
Ambitious
Nice
Altruist

You worked a lot for Autumn Agora Chișinău. What was the best moment? What was the most difficult thing you experienced?
It was a lot of work, indeed. And I took the Agora very personally, maybe because being a member for six years now,  I had never thought we would have the chance to organise an Agora in my hometown. I had to do my best and give it all for a successful event. It was my sixth Agora and I had seen how other events were organised before, how tired and exhausted the organisers were from previous events, but never stopped smiling or helping when needed. I knew from the very beginning what I was stepping into, when I accepted to be part of the core team and to be the Incoming Responsible of the Agora.

The best moment was seeing people happy about the event, their unconditional love and support meant a lot for me. The hardest moment(s) were the sleepless nights. I didn’t even know which day it was and for me, Agora passed so fast that it seemed like one long day.

Are you happy about the results and proud of them? Would you change anything, looking back?
I am very happy about the results of my team, my dear local antenna and all the organisers from the All Stars Team that did a great job!
If I would change anything… I don’t think we had major incidents, but if I would change anything, I would maybe like to have had less tension if possible, and I would have loved to have more sunny warm days, but we can’t control that unfortunately. Overall I’m happy about everything and I would do it all over again. It’s post Agora nostalgia!

You recently finished your one year term as Mediation Commissioner. How was the experience? What did you learn?
It was a great experience with a great team on board. As a Mediation Commissioner, you see things from a more inside point of view and you have a better opportunity to perceive things. I can not reveal much, but I think I grew a lot by learning about the situations, issues or conflicts that occur in AEGEE. As an advisor and mediator you have to come up with the best solutions and at the same time not interfere with a personal thought or idea (as mediator you have to stay neutral).

Name one good thing and one bad thing about AEGEE.
Good: AEGEEans, it is because of them that I am still a member of this amazing association.
Bad: Time. We need to allocate proportionate time in order for it to work actively, productive. When you are a student, you can divide your time perfectly, in my opinion. Once you are employed full time, unfortunately you have much less free time and other priorities take over. But that should not be an excuse or a bad thing after all, many of us can combine both just fine and we have many good examples of that in AEGEE.

If you could change anything in the association, what would it be?
At the Agora, I saw many AEGEEans, who weren’t informed at all about what an Agora is and what their responsibilities are as a delegate. Many of them were emailing the incoming team, asking them to explain them their duties as a delegate or what Agora is. It would be very good if each board that is elected in every local, enlighten themselves about everything that is happening in our association, what it is, what we do and why, and then inform their members who go to big events to represent their local. Perhaps more trainings about it, regional training coursed with their elected NetCommie or different exchange workshops where more experienced members can share their knowledge with the newbies.
There’s always something to work on, especially when AEGEEans are elected for different AEGEE positions. New brilliant minds make changes and bring something new and fresh to the association, and I respect that a lot.

What are your future plans for AEGEE?
That is a tough one.
Before Agora Chișinău I was 100% sure that after the event, I would resign from AEGEE and let the youngsters take control over the local. For now, I would prefer to stay aside and perhaps participate here and there in some events. I found an interesting training for this winter and I might go if I get selected. Maybe I will attend one more Agora, the one in Enschede. It’s just that I love the Netherlands and it’s a great opportunity to go back there, especially because Dutchies are great organisers. I can confirm that after participating in the EPM in Leiden this year.
I’d like to focus more on my career and personal life for now, but I’m always available if my antenna or AEGEE-Europe needs me.

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

It was never done before! During Spring Agora Bergamo we presented all the past recipient of Local and Member of the month from Autumn Agora Kyïv. Among those there was Suzan Dilara Tokaç, from AEGEE-Eskisehir, who discovered she won the award for the Member of the Month of April live, during the closing plenary. She was nominated for her outstanding work in her local and her contribution as a team member for the first edition of the AEGEE Day. 

The AEGEEan: Please introduce yourself.

Suzan: I am Suzan Dilara Tokaç, a 26 years old devoted volunteer, activist, student, teacher, therapist, consultant, art-lover, environmentalist. Volunteering has been covering a great part of my life: since my early years I’ve been a part of different types of projects, international teams and groups. My first international project was about improving health conditions for primary schools supported by the European Union, in which I took part when I was 9. My elementary and high school years continued with various other events and activities. Then, in the very first day of my university I met AEGEE and I have been a member ever since (nine years!). My love for kids, their energy and enthusiasm to share knowledge led me to the department of teaching on the subject I like the most: English. After four years of studying, I wanted to go one step further, not only doing a postgraduate study but also doing it in another field. I’m almost done with my MA’s on Speech and Language Therapy program. I love dancing, it’s like a passion for me. Just like many of us, I like traveling, but sometimes I take it so far that I arrange all my plans according to my travel agenda. I am also a big collector, I keep everything from my travels: from napkins in restaurants to bills, tickets, vintage pins, coins, stones from the cities and sand and water from the seas.

What did it feel like to be awarded with the title of Member of the Month of April?

I have devoted a great part of my life to AEGEE. All my family and friends know that I have strong bonds towards the members and activities. My motivation has always been sharing, caring and leaving a remark on people’s lives and consequently on the Earth we are living on. Although it seems something small, the award makes all the effort and seconds I spent for this family priceless.

You were nominated also for your great contribution to your local, AEGEE-Eskisehir. What is the thing that motivates you the most?

Eskisehir means a lot to me. I was just a child the first time I entered this city and it made me the person I am today. I became a teacher, therapist, friend, lover, helper, trainer, traveler, student, and AEGEE’s role on this process is the biggest one. So, why not honour it?

Another reason to your nomination was the AEGEE Day. Why did you decide to join the team? How would you describe the Day?

Last year I was the Public Relations Responsible of 30 years of AEGEE, Night of Seven Antenna in AEGEE-Eskisehir. That experience was one of the best in my AEGEE life, with the concept, thematic part, shows and the fun. When I saw the “AEGEE DAY” project, I said ‘woooow! One step further!’ A celebration all over Europe, all over AEGEE with a great theme and team. I couldn’t resist to be a part of a project with such a rich and quality content. I am always open to new ideas, projects and innovations, so I am really thankful to be part of it and taking it one step further. 79 bodies joined us on the AEGEE DAY and I hope 2nd edition we will see three digit numbers. Our DAY, well WEEK is a better call, was very productive, educative and for sure borderless.

What are your future plans in AEGEE?

There is always future for you in AEGEE. You can always go one step further and I want to take them till 35 possibly. I want to bring life to one of my thematic project ideas. Also, work for our organization’s sustainability in the necessary positions in the name of projects, initiatives and creative ideas.  

Name one good thing and one bad thing in our association.

What I like the most about our organisation is that there is never a limit in AEGEE. Development, ideas, self-improvement, projects and activities are only limited with our imagination and motivation. On the other hand, as we always say ‘we are such a big family’ that we sometimes forget our neighbours. We are so focused on our own projects and domestic affairs that we underestimate the relations with other NGO’s, groups and associations. Of course we have other partners or collaborators but they are either too local based or mostly in Brussels that not many other AEGEEans are aware of their existence.

Let’s play a game. Describe yourself by using adjectives that start with the letters that compose your name… 

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Upbeat

Zealous

Ageless

Nutritious (for the one’s soul) :D

Dedicated

Ingenious

Loving

Adventurous

Romantic

Artistic

You can learn more about Local and Member of the Month here.

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

When we ask AEGEEans to nominate someone who did something important during a specific month, we often received nominations with the same name from five/six people. We never experienced an overwhelming number of nominations like we did with the Member of the Month of March: 25 in total! All with the name Naira N. Pérez Rodriguez from AEGEE-Tenerife. She was the main organiser of the Spring Break event in her local and her devotion towards participants impressed them, but also us. Here you have her honest and brilliant interview!

The AEGEEan: Tell us something about yourself.

Naira: My name is Naira N. Pérez Rodríguez, I’m 22 years old and I studied Law at the University of La Laguna, a warming (but not warm) and lovely city. Now I’m preparing the public examinations for being a judge. I’m in love with the law and the legal world. I know it can sound freaky, but I enjoy studying and arguing about the regulation of our country. I’m in love with the Canary Islands, which I consider a paradise. I was born in La Palma, the beautiful island, the jewel of the Atlantic. I’m in love with the sea and I love to swim: a way to be connected with nature where I can think without interruptions. But, among all, I’m in love with travelling. My trips’ philosophy is that the world is too big for repeating destinations. That’s why I don’t visit the same place twice; except for Turkey, thanks to AEGEE-Ankara, since I fell in love with that country, so I have to go again. I’m in love with music, as a way to express myself. Despite that I have no time for it now. I played drums and violin, but now I compensate with partying. I love to dance, above all, Latin rhythms. As you can see, in general, I’m in love with everything. And really, I’m in love.

How, when and why did you join AEGEE-Tenerife?

My relationship with AEGEE-Tenerife began with the Summer University campaign. Yes, of course, I was captured thanks to it. It was my first year in university and I saw a poster that said “Do you want to enjoy the best summer of your life?” and who could say NO to that proposal? In 2012, my adventure in Europe began with a Summer University organised by AEGEE-Cluj-Napoca, AEGEE-Gliwice and AEGEE-Pilicsaba. However, despite that I got back with too much willingness to get active, I couldn’t do much until I got back from my second SU, organised by AEGEE-Ankara. Just a few months later, I became president of AEGEE-Tenerife and I’m in my second term now. As I always say, AEGEE has given me more than I can give back.

How does it feel to be elected member of the month?

I don’t know how to define it. I didn’t expect it (and it is not the typical sentence of the Oscar’s winners). One of the participants of our European event “Spring Break in the limit of Europe” told me that she had nominated me, but of course, I didn’t expect that more people had done it. I really appreciate this award, but even If I hadn’t received it, just the nominations make me feel proud. I feel how my work has been recognised and, it has been a stimulus to go ahead. The funniest thing is that I almost did not realize that I had been awarded, because the email went to the spam folder and I don’t look in that one usually. Luckily we are in the Summer University campaign and the intranet registration of new members go to that folder too, so I enter it every day.

One of the reasons of your nomination was the event in Tenerife. What was it about? And when?

“Spring Break in the Limit of Europe” was an European event focused on the sustainability and environmental conservation, taking advantage of the endemic peculiarities of Tenerife, one island with an unquestionable and infinite natural heritage. This event was created because one of the basic features of the islands and AEGEE-Tenerife: only a few of the members from this antenna are from Tenerife or they don’t stay on the island during summer. So if we couldn’t organise a Summer University, we had to show our beautiful island in other times of the year.

It took place from the 18th to 23th of March, enjoying the Easter holidays. During this event, participants and a marvelous, fantastic, awesome group of 11 organisers, went, on the same day, to the highest point of Spain (our volcano Teide) and to a beach, changing gloves for swimsuits. We went across the North part of the island by hitchhiking and finished in a butterfly museum. We enjoyed a water park and had lessons about conservation and empowerment of local and natural heritage. We had a debate about the future of Europe and met La Laguna, an university and World Heritage city, and the capital of the island, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. All of that with their suitable doses of traditional Canarian food and party.

People who nominated you said that you were very committed and you gave all for your participants. How important is for you this aspect when organising an event?

Besides a compact and punctual timetable, to assure that the participants are pleased and enjoying the activities, it is one of the most important aspects of organising every event, because happy participants means motivated organisers with the will to work more. This creates an atmosphere where, if something goes wrong, the event doesn’t get ruined. As all the people that have met me know, you are my “dear Europeans”, so for me the human component comes always first.

Did you passed the exam you had the days after the event?

It is a hard question. Actually no, but it is not something to get worried about. For my public examinations, I have oral exams every Monday and Thursday where I have to recite, every time, one of twelve possible lessons, so actually if I don’t pass it one day, I can repeat it the next day. The final exam will be later on. In that moment I’m supposed to not fail, wish me luck.

What are your future plans in AEGEE?

I would like to get active on the regional and European level, as well as participate in an Election Observation Missions. However, I will have to wait until I finish with my public examinations. In AEGEE-Tenerife, I want to organise non-formal education activities, for facilitating and encouraging the training of members and non-members. In addition, after one year fighting with the University, now we can open our new office.

Name one good thing and one bad thing in our association. 

In my opinion, the best of AEGEE is the opportunity of opening your mind, meeting new cultures and getting out of your comfort zone in every activity, event, etc. It is achieving a completely educated person, not only education wise, but personally too. A negative aspect is that (however, sometimes this is inevitable) is the favouristims and cronyism that can be observed in the assignment of particular positions, without keeping in mind the training and background of people. I think that, as a democratic association, we should decrease the non elective positions.

Let’s play a game. Describe yourself by using adjectives that start with the letters that compose your name.

NIMBLE: my mind is always hatching something.

ACTIVE: I can’t stay at home. I always need to have something in my “to do” list.

IDEALISTIC: Ideas move the world and I want to move it.

ROMANTIC: I really love to love, despite maybe I’m not the best loving.

AUTO-DIDACTIC: something totally required in AEGEE.

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

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Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

Our Member of the Month of December must be the youngest recipient ever. She is just 18 and she is the Public Relation Responsible of AEGEE-Bakı. We chose her because she was in charge of the “Love has no language” project, in the framework of AEGEE-Bakı’s Language Working Group.

The AEGEEan: Who is Shams?
Shams: I am Shams Mammadli, an 18 years old girl studying my third year of university in the World Economy Department. At the university we have a charity club and I’m involved in its projects. Usually in the mornings I have my classes, then I visit AEGEE-Bakı’s office. But in my leisure time I like walking, singing, meeting friends, reading and writing, making wishes and plans, watching movies and animations and so on.

When and why did joined AEGEE-Baki?
I joined AEGEE-Bakı in April of last year. I was looking for an organisation in order to be more active and a friend of mine, who is the current president of AEGEE-Bakı, suggested to become a member. At first, it was just an interesting place, yet soon I felt the famous AEGEE spirit and quickly it became a part of my life.

You are the Member of the Month of December. How does it feel?
Actually, I was not expecting this. When friends started to tag me in a Facebook post, I just couldn’t understand what was going on. And when I realized it, I jumped for joy. It felt good!

You are in the Language Working Group (LWG) of AEGEE-Baki and coordinated the “Love has no language” project. What is the project about?
When I first became the LWG coordinator, I was thinking about something new and beneficial. So suddenly I had an idea about this project. As I have always believed in peace in love and its power, I came up with this idea. We worked for four months with our WG and visited different institutions for negotiations, luckily, most of them were supportive and we made it. The main point of our project was to demonstrate that we don’t actually need any words to share our love. We didn’t communicate by words with people having down syndrome, children with hearing disabilities or rescued street animals. All we did was just share our love and care and this made all sides happy. This way we all felt that we were doing exactly the right thing since we couldn’t find words to express our feelings after the visits. That’s how the final video was made.

You organised a sign language course. How important is the inclusion?
Before coming up with this idea, I had seen some social videos of this kind and always wanted to learn some sign language in order to understand the hearing and speech impaired people and their silence. We all knew that some people try to ignore or exclude them from society. But actually we didn’t do it for the ignorant, we did it for the hearing and speech impaired ones to show them we care. So we found trainers and they taught us a lot of things. It was not just the alphabet and common words in sign language, but also the feelings, lifestyle and standpoints of people communicating through this language. So, after the trainings, we made a final video and by sign language we told that we hear them.

What are your future projects in AEGEE?
As a member I want to make a project transferring complicated facts into simple and interesting videos with the help of our interested members. So that it will be beneficial for many people. Nonetheless, now I’m the new PR responsible in AEGEE-Bakı and most of my future plans are about this field. Actually it’s quite a different task, yet I’m trying to do my best for my local.

Last but not least, let’s do a small game. Explain you and your personality using the letters that compose your name.
Since we have one letter for ‘sh’ in our language, I’ll take it as one. Shams means Sun, so…

SHining
Ambitious
Merry
Smiling

 
Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

Andrei Dodița is currently the president of AEGEE-Chișinău for the second time in a row, being a member of AEGEE for two years. He has contributed significantly in his local by organising the Local Training Course “Be Efficient” where AEGEE-Chișinău won a grant supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. He also organised a pre-event for Autumn Agora Kyiv this year “Taste the Moldavian Hospitality”, “The Hottest Summer School” Summer University last summer and he was the main co-organiser of “4 Seasons, 3 Reasons, 2 Countries, 1 Story” Travel Summer University which was organised with AEGEE-București also last summer. He also organised two other projects, one of which won a grant as a result of participating in the Grants Competition organised by the National Youth Council and supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Andrei is the Member of the Month for November, so we talked with him to tell us a little about his story behind all of this experience and devotion.

The AEGEEan: Congratulations, Andrei! Tell us something about yourself.  

Andrei: Hi, I am Andrei Dodița from AEGEE-Chișinău. I am 23 years old and I joined AEGEE in February 2014 and, due to the fact that I was very actively involved in the activities of the antenna, in September 2014, few months after, I was elected as the President of the local. Currently, it is my second term as the President of the Antenna.
I have a degree in Agricultural Sciences and Master’s degree in Ecological Agriculture. I have been working in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry for nearly two years.

What are your hobbies?

I have a few weaknesses in a good way of this word: I really like driving and watching football matches in the stadium. Of course AEGEE has also become a hobby for me, as I spend more time in AEGEE than with my family and I am OK with it because I love the things that I do in AEGEE and people I work with. But my biggest hobby is spending time with my niece, she’s like my chill zone.

  What is your best story in AEGEE so far?

I think my best story in AEGEE is even before I became a part of AEGEE. [he smiles] Why? Because my application at first was rejected by HR responsible on the grounds that it exceeded the number of applications. After two days I received another email and I was informed that there were some new free places and if I was still interested I could come.
What followed after? I think you’ve already realised. [he smiles]

What motivates you to keep involving in AEGEE?

I have been involved in youth association sector for over four years. I’ve been in two organisations in AEGEE. Here I came across new challenges, challenges that are beyond my limits, and I love them, I love challenges that seem hard to achieve. People here are incredible, in AEGEE young people think and feel different, act and live. Also, they are super motivated and very smart. I always have something to learn from them.

How do you manage your time between work and AEGEE, especially now with the Agora preparations?

I have a full time job now but AEGEE is the top priority for me and my boss knows about this [he smiles]… So when I need to dedicate more time for AEGEE, he understands me because he is well aware how important it is for me to invest myself in this and that my personal development is more important than boring office work. I have a very good relationship with him, he is a real boss. And so far, since I could manage my work, master and AEGEE, further, it won’t be a problem to manage my work and Agora.

What are your future plans in AEGEE?

My future plans in AEGEE are very simple and easy to define. First of all, I need to increase the number of members and recruit in all universities in Chisinau, because I wish every student to know and have the opportunity to participate in European projects managed by AEGEE. More members mean more Human Resources which means more projects and activities by AEGEE-Chisinau. Second is to train, prepare and empower these young people as a resource for National Youth Council from Moldova to have there as large as possible share. And third, to empower these young people to involve and be active at the European level and why not to apply for some positions. [he smiles]

 How would you convince a person to apply for AEGEE?

I always believed that young people shouldn’t be convinced to involve in something or be a part, because if he really doesn’t want this or this is not his purpose, after a while he will leave. And because of this, I all the time tried to put a lot of enthusiasm on tray for them with all the opportunities that they can achieve in AEGEE. And then they already decide what to do next.

Written by Gabriela Geană, AEGEE-București

Alya Vykhodtseva and Viktoria Leonenko are just two of the most active members during Agora Kyïv. Alya was in the PR team and Viktoria was external communication and University team leader. They both learned a lot from this experience and enjoyed it while doing so. Naturally, because they did an amazing job, they were also nominated for Member of the Month, the Agora edition. So, we thought of asking them a few questions to get to know them better. 

The AEGEEan: Hello, let us begin by introducing yourselves.

Viktoria: Hi! I am Viktoria Leonenko, Secretary of AEGEE-Kyïv 2014/2015 and Board Advisor 2015/2016

Alya: I always thought one could easily meet a person like me in the transports or in the street. No, seriously, I’m just an average student from Kyïv. I study psychology, try to do something else aside from lessons – including performances at the university and recently AEGEE, – and I am quite a regular and simple girl, absolutely the same as dozens of people in our city. I think that’s rather good than bad.

How long have you been members of AEGEE?

Viktoria: I joined AEGEE in April 2013, so, it’s almost two and a half years since I am a member of this amazing organisation.

 Alya: Right during the Agora I kind of celebrated my own small anniversary – six  months in AEGEE. I joined the local in the middle of April this year, so I’m perfectly  sure the following years will give me way more AEGEE-experience then I have now.  [she smiles]

 What was your biggest accomplishment in AEGEE so far?

 Viktoria: Organising Autumn Agora Kyiv 2015 and the ReBuilding Democracy project.

 Alya: Then again, I think in future (the nearest future, I believe) I will achieve way  more, but for now I already took part in some events, which definitely were a good piece of experience. After the LTC right after my “initiation”, I was a helper at the Ukrainian SU and it certainly exceeded all my expectations. I never thought it would be such a cool thing, and I’m happy it ended up as such. Later I gave a hand with the organisation of a couple of parties and, of course, almost all the time spent in AEGEE I worked for preparation of the Agora and I suppose it is my biggest achievement so far.

What were your tasks during the Agora?

Viktoria: I was External communication and University team leader. So, I was in charge of communication with the government and I negotiated for Agora location (Kyïv National University Taras Shevchenko).

Alya: Since June I worked in the brilliant PR team, which obviously was an amazing experience. Actually I think every team did a lot for the event, and we are not an exception. Moreover, I’m proud that our team was responsible for creating the image of the Agora, and I think we did well. [she smiles] I was also responsible for the page of ReBuilding Democracy project and later, directly before the Agora, I worked in PR at the Agora Fair team, which also turned out to be a group of amazingly warm, friendly and goal-oriented people. So I hope my small contribution to the overall work was one of the bricks which actually built the Agora.

What was your overall impression of the Agora Kyiv? 

Viktoria: We had been working hard during the year and I hope that participants enjoyed what we have done as for us it’s the most important thing. For me Agora happened too fast, so I even didn’t notice how it was and I didn’t enjoy it as before. By the way, Agora is my favorite AEGEE event. To be honest after Agora I had mixed feelings: on the one hand, I felt finally released from Agora’s headache [she laughs] and on the other hand, I felt empty and I realized that I need to change values and start another page in my life.

Alya: I had waited for it since the first time I heard about it. And I must admit it was even better than I imagined. Just the fact of hundreds foreigners coming to Kyïv and Ukrainian students coordinating everything seemed almost impossible to me. I’m proud it turned out to be not only possible, but also well-organised and of great quality.

Do you have any future plans in AEGEE? 

 Viktoria: Now I am Board Advisor. I will help and advise our lovely new board. For sure, I will support the new Secretary, but she is doing a really great job even without me. [she laughs]

 Alya: Not that I had some certain plans, but I already imagine what would I like to do and for now it seems to be something inbetween PR and organising events. As exams are coming I’d probably spend some time studying in the following months, but after that I’m going to pay way more attention to AEGEE things and maybe offer a couple of ideas for spending time together, for example. As for some long-term plans…well, I never plan those ahead, because nobody knows what can happen and change them all, right? So I have a rough idea, but won’t plan everything in detail. [she smiles]

What are your future plans in life?

Viktoria: I prefer to keep in secret my future plans and to only show results. [she laughs]

Alya: Difficult to say for sure as well, but I have some general aims and directions. To start with, I’m thinking about getting a master’s degree abroad – most likely  in the Netherlands, so for now I consider possible variants and study languages. Besides, I’d really love to get some experience in working with human resources, so as soon as education allows me (in Ukraine it’s around the third year at university), I’m planning to put it in practice at a job. But aside from that, I’ve also always loved writing and have some experience in writing articles, so I think trying journalism can be a good idea as well – really, why not? What I’d love to be a part of my future is travelling. I already know that as soon as I can afford it all by myself, I’ll visit Iceland – always dreamed to see the land of ice and fire with my own eyes. I have an amazing example in my family – a person, who inspires me a lot and who visited almost all European countries, a couple of Asian countries and the USA, so I sincerely hope to overcome this amount of countries. [she smiles]

What hobbies do you have?  

Viktoria: I love riding the bicycle, reading dystopian novels, hitchhiking and, of course, travelling!

Alya: When I’m asked this question, I understand everything I do as a hobby is very amateur, but still, I love it. Probably my biggest love is music – I can hardly imagine a day without singing, playing or at least listening to my favourite tracks. Maybe if in my early childhood I had decided to dedicate my whole life to it, I would be a music student now, but I happen to play just for my own pleasure and I’m not complaining about it. Anyway, I always loved the feeling of getting myself lost in music and I think it will always take a special place in my heart. Another thing I love is writing and I’m used to write poems and stories since I wrote a fairytale when I was 5 and my mom said I will be a great writer. But then again, it is still a hobby and writing helps rather to splash out some emotions. I also have a couple of hobbies people sometimes consider to be unusual for a girl. For example, as almost all men in my family work with computers and electronics, I watched it since childhood and, of course, I was extremely interested in it. So, now I’m able to fix some small problems with my computer by myself, but somehow it surprises or even scares people – I honestly have no idea, why! Also, I have always loved cars and recently I took the course of traffic rules and engine building, and while others are listening to music or talking while sitting in the car, I watch the road from the front seat, rate the passing cars and discuss the new Hyundai and the last generation of Ford Fusion. On top of that, I love watching football and can name all the players of FC Bayern München. I have absolutely no idea why people say these are not things for girls – I think they just don’t know too many girls. [she smiles]

Written by Gabriela Geană, AEGEE-București