Although AEGEE-Gdansk is a very small Antenna with very young members, the Polish Local got nominated as Local of the Month of March because they organised their first NWM, also followed by national mass media. Read this interview to the President Wiktoria Rajek and to Yevheniia Pavlenko and find out how you can prepare a perfect LTC in your Antenna.

THE AEGEEan: Congratulations, you were nominated as Local of the Month of March! Introduce yourselves, please, and tell us your AEGEE-Gdansk story. How did it start? Can you tell us a bit more about your local?

Wiktoria Rajek and Yevheniia Pavlenko: Big thanks for the nomination! We still cannot believe it. We are from AEGEE-Gdańsk, a small antenna with around eleven active members now. The majority of our board were new members, we did not know each other, did not know the structure of AEGEE, did not have any experience, and did not even have many more members (besides the board) [they laugh]. But it did not stop us from doing great things! We were motivated to develop ourselves, recruit new people, and to get into all of this!

How did you come to idea to organise a NWM and managed to succeed in it?

It was a hard decision for our local, because at that moment we had only new members and a new board without any experience in organising events. At the same time Agata (one of our members) was organising a Local Training Course, Daria was organising a charity project called “Helpers’ generation” for potential future donors of bone marrow, which lasted one week (we are very proud to announce that we have registered one hundred-eighty potential donors), and Marta was responsible for the recruitment process at that time. So as you see, it was a really busy time for us, but we thought that if we had not tried, we would not have gotten any knowledge and remained as inexperienced as we were before. Thank God, we (Wiktoria and Yevheniia) decided to undertake coordination of the whole process of organising NWM. And we can say for sure that it was one of the best decisions than we have ever made.

What are you working on at the moment?                                                     

At this very moment, we are just after elections. Our candidates for future board members have great plans to thrive our local. They would like to organise a European event (not only one), so stay tuned, follow our fanpage on FB, and maybe in the nearest future you can apply for them!

Did Polish TV follow your NWM? Which has been the feedback about that?

Yes! Thanks to Dorota, who was PR Responsible of the NWM, besides many articles, radio and, of course, usual promotion of the event, we went a step further and she managed to invite a big Polish television. They made a short material not only about the event, but also about AEGEE in general. We think it was great in terms of PR, and it really helped to make AEGEE visible in our city. The feedback was really good! Participants were happy and a little bit shocked [they laugh] at the beginning, and for some of us it was the first time when we were interviewed. It was for sure an unbelievable experience.

Can you tell us the secret to prepare a perfect LTC?

In our opinion the key to the successful LTC is very simple. Firstly, you have to place yourself as a contestant and determine your expectations of the workshops. For example, what do you want to find out, what is the problem for you with entering into a labour market. Then find trainers, and describe them your vision. You can devise some theme for LTC and prepare workshops connected with one subject then. During that step, take care of the promotion of your event – it is very important for two reasons, because you are not only promoting the workshops, but also your antenna. We are still shocked about how our LTCs get around one hundred applications. It only shows the keen demand for self-development of young people in Gdańsk. And last but not least: remember that it is impossible to do it on your own – the strong team is the key!

How did it feel to find out that you were nominated?                                                                           

Ooooh [they laugh]… It happened during the closing ceremony of NWM, Stas Mahula, our Network Commissioner, and Maarten de Groot from CD recorded a short video and officially nominated us with the support of all one hundred participants. Needless to say, it was a very touching moment. There were a lot of other locals which organised NWMs this year, and were active, but AEGEEans decided to nominate Gdańsk as a local of March. For us it means that all our efforts were not in vain, and everything we did had and still has a big impact on the members’ development. After our NWM some of the participants joined even the European working groups, such as PRC. It is our best accomplishment, to know that our event actually motivated somebody to strive for more.

What is your motto? Can you describe your local in one sentence?

“Size doesn’t matter” or “nothing is impossible”, hard to choose. We like both and we think they suit the character of our local. This event and every other which we organised at that exact moment taught us one thing which we would like to share with you – if you really want to do something, you will find a way. If you don’t, you will find an excuse.

Written by Matteo Lai, AEGEE-Cagliari

Some weeks ago AEGEE-Debrecen organised a Network Meeting with a very small number of participants, but very interested in every activity proposed by the Hungarian Antenna. The Network Commissioner Alin Georgescu and the local students’ organisation “Zerophobia” have been fundamental for the success of this event.

THE AEGEEan: Let’s begin by giving us a little information about your Antenna. Who is AEGEE-Debrecen, how many members does it have and how old is it?

AEGEE-Debrecen Board: The foundation of AEGEE-Debrecen started in 1990, and we officially became an antenna in 1992, so we are one of the oldest antennae in Central-Eastern Europe. Our antenna has been continuously operating since then, and we organised many local and international events (Network Meetings, Summer Universities, conferences) in these twenty-five years. In the past few years we had 30-40 members, and fortunately nearly ten active members this year. Our antenna was always maintained primarily by the students of the University of Debrecen, which has been attracting many youngsters from our region, and recently from all over the world as well. The title of our Network Meeting was “NWM Debrecen – The phoenix rises again”, referring to the symbol of our city – the phoenix, and because we want the revival of AEGEE-Debrecen after the relative quiet of the past two years.

Was this the first time you organised a Network Meeting in your local? And if not, when did you organise the first one and what new did you plan to bring new to this NWM?

AEGEE-Debrecen organised several Network Meetings, I know of three at least, with this year’s meeting. But the last one took place in 2010, so it was time to organise one again [he smiles]. The new thing was a successful collaboration with a local students’ organisation consisting of Hungarian and foreign students here in Debrecen. They are called “Zerophobia” and they fight against xenophobia with different activities. They also delivered a session about the importance and power of communication and words themselves. It was a great success, every participant liked it very much.

Could you present us the core team behind this NWM?

Practically all of our active members were involved in the organisation, everybody helped where they could. So I don’t want to highlight anybody, maybe just our president, Evelin Király. Apart from organising, getting venues for sessions, food, etc, she always motivated us to move on with the organisation process, and make sure our participants never get bored or tired during the programmes.

What was the main theme of this NWM? 

The main theme was to learn how to get new members to your antenna, and how to make them active, but there were also discussions about current problems and the future of AEGEE, and the opportunities our organisation can offer. There were a lot of constructive, open discussions about these important questions. Thanks to our NetCommie, Alin Georgescu, for the good content.

Were there also thematic parties? If yes, what kind of thematic parties?

There weren’t thematic parties this time, but I saw our participants were satisfied with the pub crawling and the European Night [he smiles].

How many participants did you accept?

To be honest, there were only ten applications despite the hard promotion, but all of them were good. At the end five participants attended the event officially, but there were also some participants from Hungary, from AEGEE-Budapest, and from our university. It was a small NWM, but the feedback was very positive, and I have also experienced in AEGEE that sometimes smaller events are the better.

Which was the easiest way for participants to reach Debrecen?

Debrecen is easily accessible from Budapest, it takes only two hours by train. Our city also directly available by plane from some European cities. So I can say getting to here is not an issue.

Did you give the participants a city tour or an optional trip?

Yes, we gave them a city tour. Introducing our city to the participants was important for us, so we inserted the city tour to the middle of the official programme. I think it is important in order to build a good event. As an organiser you have to be aware of it, even in a busy NWM.

Tell us something interesting about Debrecen that few people know. 

I would like to tell about the flower carnival which takes place every year in Debrecen, on the 20th of August, on Hungary’s national holiday. On that day, fifteen big cars totally covered and overdecorated with flowers go around the city, once in the morning, and once in the evening. Several music bands, dance groups, and other creatures accompany them in this crazy event, and of course it is finished with a big firework performance. If you want to attend, just call us. You are always welcome here in Debrecen.

Written by Matteo Lai, AEGEE-Cagliari

I never thought I would just sit on my computer and start writing about an AEGEE event, but here I am. Having one of the best events of my AEGEE life, I felt that I need to share my thoughts and feelings about this event to appreciate both organisers and trainers’ efforts with the whole network.

Before the event, organisers did their best and found a place –a place with real beds– to accommodate for more than 60 people, which seems almost impossible considering the city’s population and size. The event was located in Berriz, a small town near Bilbao, in a ‘plaza’ where we could sleep, eat, have workshops and party at the same time! I can say that it was really efficient because we did not have to move anywhere but downstairs.

During the event, it was hard to see the organisers except for coffee breaks, as all of them were working like bees! A group of organisers were preparing the food for us, while the others were getting prepared for the coffee breaks and god knows what else. During meals, we were eating the food that was prepared by local organisers and everything was delicious. Starting with the salad, we had a meal for both meat-eaters and vegetarians, followed by dessert and fruit! I could see that the organisers had a really good fundraising strategy, as they served a lot of things such as cold drinks (coke, Redbull, etc..) for free.

Most importantly, AEGEE-Bilbao managed to integrate the new members with the other members, motivating them to get to know AEGEE and its ‘charms’. All of the new members were totally motivated as both organisers and participants, and I can assure that they will become beloved AEGEEans for the next years.
When it comes to praising trainers, I can easily say they did a great job! As I have mentioned during the evolutions, I was not expecting workshops to be so comprehensive and instructive, as most of the times I was faced with weakly-constructed workshops in AEGEE. However, this event changed my views for good. The trainers encouraged people to join European bodies, analysing our skills and experiences, filling our gaps about AEGEE-Europe and its bodies.

We had a great insight of Civic Education, Conflict Management(#DramaManagement), Role of Netcom, Future of AEGEE, Equal Rights, Migration IG, Youth Mobility WG and other things I cannot recall at the moment. The sessions were really informative for both new and old members. As we worked on proposals, we had many discussions on different topics which we kept discussing in the following days -even though the event was over-, and we actually learnt something to put in practice!

I am writing this article as special thanks to all organisers and trainers, wishing them much more AEGEEan years with a lot of change.

Oh, and one more thing: TİPİ TAPA TİPİ TAPA KOR Rİ KA!

Written by İlknur Demir, AEGEE-Ankara

Spring is right in front of us, and Spring Network Meetings follow closely. The Network is once again presented with ten amazing opportunities to grow stronger together, create fruitful alliances and share best practices. Here you can find the first five: AEGEE-Debrecen, AEGEE-Thessaloniki, AEGEE-Bilbao, AEGEE-Heidelberg and AEGEE-Nijmegen. For the following five, click here.

NWM Debrecen: The phoenix rises again

When it comes to AEGEE, sometimes it is like a double-edged sword. You have the benefit of experiencing and getting into the democratic process, assume responsibilities and make yourself heard at the European level. At the same time, there is a threat of people coming and going all the time, AEGEE represents just a few years of their lives for most of the members. This pilgrimage can sometimes affect the balance of an antenna or even the whole Network; some other times it could also create better leaders and the feeling of being part of this legacy could motivate people even more. AEGEE-Debrecen is no less than this, a few motivated members that will “rise again” and make their voices heard. We will tackle together all these issues and find real solutions for our locals and the Network. How can you get more inspired, if not in a place where inspired people are working and living? Come to discover the capital and the second biggest city in Hungary, its cuisine and its biggest treasure: the great AEGEEans living there!

Facebook event here.

NWM Thessaloniki: Find your thess-aurus
Are you an AEGEEan and you would like to know more about our organisation? Do you wish to gain knowledge and develop your skills in combination with meeting with more than 30 people from all over Europe? Do you want to join a journey to explore AEGEE and yourself? Then the NWM Thessaloniki: Find your thess-aurus is the right event for you! Join us in the beautiful Greek city of Thessaloniki and explore your potential and the AEGEE spirit (except the mattresses and the sleeping bags, we will have real beds!). A team of trainers will help you find your thess-aurus, so do not wait anymore! See you in Thessaloniki!

Facebook event here.

NWM Bilbao: The North is Worth a Meeting

For the second time in six years, AEGEE-Bilbao is proud to invite you all to the NWM: The North is Worth a Meeting. On the second weekend of April, 52 young AEGEEans will gather in Berriz for one of the greatest AEGEE events: a Network Meeting! During three days, invaded by the AEGEE spirit, all the beloved participants will have a great time in a traditional cosy village, being surrounded by lovely nature and learning about the Basque language and the culture. We are going to focus on the needs of the locals: what they want to learn and improve, what they want to share. Also, we can count on some special help to make the wishes of our participants come true.
If you want to discover what is going on in Bilbao, do not miss this opportunity!

Facebook event here.

NWM Heidelberg: Breaking the ice with Friedrich

Breaking the ice with Friedrich is your best opportunity to discover the most romantic city in Germany. Spend the whole weekend with 50 other AEGEEans sharing ideas and opinions and enjoying the best AEGEEan atmosphere. We even have a whole afternoon full of games and opportunities to discover the area! We are not saying that it will be the best NWM of the season but…. well, yes, we can say that! You will not regret joining us! A really participative NWM where you can have a say about the sessions beforehand! Do not let the others tell you about it, be part of NWM Heidelberg!

Facebook event here.

NWM Nijmegen: Bridges across Europe

Nijmegen is the oldest city in the Netherlands, yet it is full of young people, including many AEGEEans. The best part of this Network Meeting will be the variation. The programme contains thematic sessions including a conference about equal rights, as well as organisational sessions provided by at least five different people. You will receive a bike for the whole duration of the event, allowing you to get plenty of fresh air during the day, while you crawl from pub to pub in the night!

Facebook event here.

This is part one of a two-parts article. More NWMs are coming soon.

Written by the Network Commission of AEGEE-Europe

From the 24th till the 27th of November, AEGEE-Aachen is hosting a Network Meeting (NWM). They will have a panel discussion within the context of Brexit, an education in cooperation talk, two days in the Eifel Mountains and a Christmas Party in November. To know more about this fantastic NWM, we interviewed Leonie Riebesam of AEGEE-Aachen

The AEGEEan: What is the focus of your NWM and how does it relate to the title?

Leonie: The topic is cooperation on different levels, e.g. within an AEGEE local or board, but also with the municipality, the university or other partners. A more special part of it is that we are organising a panel discussion about cooperation in Europe for our participants and other students in Aachen on the first day.

Can you tell us more about your schedule?

When the participants arrive on Thursday and come back from the city tour, we start with a nice opening ceremony with some speakers and art performances. Afterwards we will have a panel discussion on the topic “Hurry up Europe! Time for new cooperations”. The next two and a half days will be full of interesting sessions and awesome parties.

What are the objectives of the NWM?

Since cooperation is the theme of our NWM, we want to gather many ideas and experiences on cooperation with different entities, so that our participants can start working on the implementation when they get back. Of course, it’s a NWM, so there will be room to share experiences and knowledge, and get to know the other participants and their locals. And last, but definitely not least: have an awesome weekend full of fun!

What can you tell us about  the place where it will be?

Since it’s hard to find a place to sleep in Aachen, we decided to book a house outside of Aachen. It’s in the Eifel Mountains, directly next to a lake and perfect for team building during the NWM.  Plus, we have real beds there!

How big is the organising team and who is in it?

We started with only four people, but now we are seven. Damien Latacz, whom you might know as President of MedCom, is our Main Organiser. Other than that our President and two other board members are organisers. Also Lucia from Summer University Coordination Team (SUCT) and a new member have started helping the participants as incoming responsibles.

Who would be the ideal participant for your NWM?

A cooperative one [she winks, ed.]

What was one of the biggest challenges that you faced in organising this NWM?

Probably the biggest challenges will arise in the week before the NWM, so we can’t say yet. Until now, the most difficult part was getting interesting speakers for our panel discussion. But we managed it! Now it’s time to coordinate them to be sure that the discussion itself is interesting and that our participants can learn a lot from it. That also brings its load of challenges, but don’t worry, you won’t be disappointed!

Tips and tricks for future organisers?

For a NWM find a good topic that will give you the main direction for your plan. That way you can focus your effort because you know what to achieve for your participants. Start planning early and making a to-do list with an integrated timeline is a good way to keep an overview of your whole project. And don’t forget, that the main ingredient for success is communication!

Is there something that you would like to add?

If you missed the deadline to apply to our NWM, don’t worry, you’ll get plenty of other chances to visit the polar bears!

Written by Violeta Croitoru, AEGEE-Iași

Andrea Adamović, the Secretary of AEGEE-Beograd and Main Organiser of the Network Meeting (NWM) in the same local, can count on the contribution of an amazing Board. As far as can be told, it seems that they will be hosting a successful NWM, the fifth NWMs this autumn. Isidora Braljinac, President of AEGEE-Beograd, and Aleksandra Mojsova, their Network Commissioner, told us more about the NWM in Beograd.

The AEGEEan: How did you choose the name “keep it bright in the white city” for your NWM?

Isidora: The name is a result of our and NetCom’s ideas. “Keep it bright” stands for always staying optimistic just like AEGEEans always do, this time in the “White City” which is a literal translation of Beograd, but we will paint it red together during NWM!

Can you tell us something more about the program of the NWM and about the sessions?

Aleksandra: Our NWM is constructed according to the needs of our locals, therefore is a rich on topics, yet coherent when speaking of content. Our NetCom and we, have decided to include our members opinion in the development of the content, so all you will see there is according to their requirements. Naturally, we couldn’t include all what we were asked for, but we will make sure to at least discuss it in the Open Space hours, or to have it in mind for next events or the next NWM. The sessions will be informational, but of course will touch on social inclusion, self and social development and problem-solving strategy, as well as include role-playing as a proven methodology of skills acquisition.

Who will be the organisers, and how did you assign tasks to each of them?

Isidora: The organisers will be the girls from the Board, our active female members, and some of our male members. We care about gender equality, and it would be very unusual that we might need a gender equality recruitment strategy.We made sure to put it in our SWOT analysis to bring it up for discussion at the NWM and possibly, come out with a twinning antennae output.  In addition to this team, we will, of course, also receive support from our NetCommie, Aleksandra Mojsova, who is here to assist us with the technical issues.

How are you showing “Envisioning Europe-Brexit Impact on Europe; Mediation Skills on Conflict Resolution”? Who will be the speaker or the trainer?

Isidora: The workshop session about envisioning Europe and the Brexit impact on a hopeful Europe was asked from locals as they had their chance to give their input for the content of the NWM. Since it was asked for in terms of exploration on how would Brexit also influence the non-EU countries, in particular those who are yet to become, we will have a representative from the Your Vision for EUrope Project together with our NetCommie to deliver it.

About mediation skills on conflict resolution, this is something that is very often needed, not only in local’s lives, on their path to achieving things, but also in the private lives of young people. Initially, we imagined that the MedCom would be willing to deliver it, but because they may not be able to come, we will make sure to arrange someone from the Academy or a respective trainer that would deliver a similar session with skills acquisition in this sense.

Will there be any social programme, and can you tell us something in advance about that?

Isidora: Belgrade’s night life is very well known for parties you would never forget… or remember, depending on the night out. We will also celebrate our antenna’s birthday and many more birthdays. Therefore, prepare yourself for a lot of information and even a bigger celebration!

Will your antenna present the candidature for the next Autumn Agora 2017?

No, not this time. We aim to focus on our local’s development first for the next period of time, in order to become as strong as we were once. But, what we can assure you of, is that it is on the agenda for the next generations of Boards to come. And we will be there to support them in the process!

You can find more information about this event on Facebook.

Written by Matteo Lai, AEGEE-Cagliari.

You can call her the NetCom of the Two Isles. Lisa Gregis, who cares about what is informally known as “the Rainbow Network” (part of the Italian locals and AEGEE-Valletta), decided to assign the organisation of her Autumn Network Meeting (NWM) to AEGEE-Cagliari, again on an island after AEGEE-Valletta organised the Spring NWM one. From the 3rd to the 6th of November, the Sardinian city will host a NWM that promises to be “rainbowlicious”. Let’s discover more about this event from Lisa and Francesca Zorcolo, President of the Italian local and Main Coordinator of the Network Meeting.

The AEGEEan: Why did you chose Cagliari?

Lisa: The application of Cagliari was simply amazing. When the NetCom received it, I thought they were applying to host an Agora, not a NWM! I thought “this is crazy!”. We should take their application as a model for the future. They are organising an amazing event and I’m really proud of them. The seriousness, passion and devotion they are showing for this event is inspiring for me. I feel I have to work even harder in order to not let them down.

Why did you decide to apply for hosting the NWM?

Francesca: We decided to candidate because the Network Meeting represents the successful completion of a path that we started a few years ago that had the aim of being more active on the European level as a local. We worked really hard and it’s an awesome achievement to finish 2016 hosting the first NWM in the history of AEGEE-Cagliari.

AEGEE-Cagliari Board 2015-2016

How many participants do you have?

Lisa: We will have 40 super lucky participants and we can’t wait to meet them!

What will be presented during sessions?

Lisa: The sessions will be about the new Strategic Plan, Summer Universities, fundraising, how to organise a thematic event, SWOT & sharing best practices, 60 Agorae in 120 Minutes, open space technology, board meetings, European Citizen Initiative, the State of the Network, we will talk about what happened at Agora Chișinău. I’m still building the programme, so something might change, but for sure in a week it will be definite.

Rooms where participants will sleep

What is in store for participants (facilities, meals, social programme)?

Francesca: We would like the participants to feel like guests who are coming here for meeting old friends. That’s why we have organised everything as best as we can offer: they will sleep in the hostel in the city centre, all the meals are provided in restaurants, there will be the famous Abis’ pub crawl, the cost being included in the initial fee, the European night and we will even try to take care of them before and after the event

Who will be a trainer?

Lisa: The trainers will be Zvonimir Canjuga (CD), myself (NetCom), Gunnar Erth (Les Anciens), Carolina Alfano (SUCT), Damiano Deidda (AEGEE-Cagliari), Alessandra Caddeu (AEGEE-Cagliari). Maybe there will be space for someone else, but still I’m happy we can have many trainers with very different experiences, so we can provide the best learning environment for our participants.

The core team of NWM Cagliari

Who is in the core team?

Francesca: The core team is composed by 10 members: Paola, incoming responsible, Thomas, social programme responsible, Antonio, fundraising and logistic responsible, Roberto, logistic responsible, Fabian, meal responsible, Federico and Matteo, IT responsibles, and myself who coordinates.

Did you apply for any funding or did you get any help from the university?

Francesca: In order to offer the “NWM of our dreams” we studied a strong fundraising strategy. That’s why we have applied during this whole year to several call for bids from our university, from our municipality, of our region, and also private ones. Moreover, we have organised different events for self-financing and we have gained some sponsorship for cutting the costs.

One of the rooms where sessions will be held

What is special about AEGEE-Cagliari and the city of Cagliari?

Francesca: AEGEE-Cagliari is first of all a family! We support each other, we study, train, eat all together, the success of one is the success of all of us. I think this is what makes us special and what helps us to always have active members.

Cagliari is an amazing city and we will be lucky to stay in the city centre for the entire event. We are hoping that the weather will be nice, as it usually is.

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

AEGEE-Ploieşti, a small, but brave Romanian local is the first antenna to open the Network Meeting (NWM) season this year. Their event, “NWM Ploieşti 2016-Racking up milestones”, will grab your attention for sure. Even with the event approaching fast, the Main Coordinator, Alin Georgescu, took time to answer a few questions.

The AEGEEan: What does a NWM mean?

Alin : Well I think that a NWM is one of the most important events in AEGEE. First of all, because it’s more or less accessible to everyone, there are almost simultaneously organised in the whole network, in different regions and it gives members the opportunity to get to know what AEGEE really means at local and European level. Secondly, everyone has the chance to share their local and European experience, people can easily learn from each others, it gets European Bodies closer to the members, including the Comité Directeur (CD), and also the cultural exchange part counts very much, all these things mixed can be fantastic sometimes, maybe life-changing for some of us.

What is the focus of your NWM and how does it relate to the title?

Our main idea, besides thematic workshops that usually take place during a NWM (like event management, how to keep members motivated, fund raising, PR, issues that antennae confront, but also improvements and successful approaches), is to look a bit at what AEGEE achieved in the last 31 years, think about the present and what can we do next, starting from the local level.

What are the objectives?

First of all , we want to create a clear understanding in our minds of AEGEE’s achievements and through that to realise what this network can do and how much impact we can have in our society. Secondly, we want to look a bit at and analyse the current context of Europe, focusing on our region and to find out the most important problems that we could work on. As for the third part, we would like to find solutions for these issues ,and try to not just bring ideas, but to implement everything after we go back to our antennae.

What can you tell us about the place where it will be?

We are going to have a wonderful weekend in Bușteni, a small and very nice touristic city situated at the bottom of the Bucegi mountains. It’s a refreshing and gorgeous place to visit, but also the perfect environment for brainstorming, and I hope to convince people to come along and work together.

Any advice or tips-&-tricks for a NWM newbie?

If you want to meet AEGEE, come to NWM Ploieşti, it’s a must do for every newbie in order to find out what this organisation is about and the perfect place to meet new people, create partnerships and to find your place in our AEGEE family. And don’t worry, you don’t need to have much experience, we are here to learn from each other!

What was the impact of your first NWM?

The first NWM, where I was a participant, was in Cluj-Napoca in 2014. It was the moment when I decided to actually get involved in AEGEE, the first time when I met a CD member, the first time when I tasted this wonderful AEGEE experience on a full level. I don’t want to use big words, but to me, personally, it was life-changing. A lot of things and big decisions, that I took in my life, were because of that NWM. It was like a chain of dominoes, once the first one falls you cannot stop it, and I’m grateful to people that offered me that opportunity.

Is there something that you would like to add?

Don’t lose this opportunity, because who knows what you are going to do next?

Written by Violeta Croitoru,AEGEE-Iaşi

AEGEE-Mannheim is organising a Network Meeting (NWM) on the end of the next April. We have spoken with Chantal Schmalkoke, Responsible for Internal Issues, who also tells us something about the future plans of the German Antenna.

The AEGEEan: Why did you apply to host the NWM?

Chantal: We wanted to host a European Event but a SU would have been too big for our small Antenna. We wanted to show who we are and what it means to be an AEGEEan in Mannheim.

When will the NWM Mannheim take place ?

From the 22nd of April to the 25th of April 2016.

Which will be the focus of your NWM?

As usual, we will have many organisational things in the workshops prepared by our NetCommie Mareike. But our focus is to show the cultural variety and diversity of Mannheim.

Can you tell us something about the NWM’s social programme?

We will have a pub crawl on Friday, a special city tour on Saturday and the European Night on Sunday.

Who will be part of the organization team? How many people are going to help with the NWM as organisers?

The main organiser is our Board. But we will do only the rough planning. We will build working groups. Our members will join them and organise a specific part of the NWM. On the weekend we hope to have some help from other Antennas like Heidelberg.

Do you have any local municipality or university support?

Yes. Our university has helped us a lot with the workshop rooms and the gym for accommodation. We also hope that some regional firms will support us.

What kind of fundraising strategy have you used?

For fundraising we’ve also built a working group. We try to concentrate on regional firms.

What is the title of your NWM? Can you explain the reasons behind it?

‘Diversity – Square your Potential in Mannheim’. As I’ve said, we want to show the cultural diversity of Mannheim. And maybe some people already know that Mannheim streets are arranged in squares like it is in NWM.

What is special about the city of Mannheim?

We have many different people from different cultures and that is why it is very international. Most people think that Mannheim is just an ugly city. But you can do a lot of things. There are great offers and possibilities.

Why should people come to Mannheim?

People should come to Mannheim to see what it really means to live here and that it is not just ugly. They should experience the special spirit of Mannheim.

Is it easy to arrive in Mannheim?

Yes, I think it is. There are many airports in the region, for example Frankfurt am Main, Karlruhe Baden or Saarbrücken. And from the airports it is easy to travel to Mannheim by train.

What are the next plans of AEGEE-Mannheim?

Our biggest project is definitely the NWM and we are using all our power to make it as great and unforgettable as possible. After that, we will see what comes next.

Written by Matteo Lai, AEGEE-Cagliari.

When will the NWM take place?

We have tried to choose the best convenient dates for our NWM, and we are waiting for all of you from the 21st till the 24th of April 2016.

Which will be the focus of your NWM?

The topic of our NWM is Leadership in NGOs. As we all know, there are a lot of people from students’ organisations, such as AEGEE, who built their careers and businesses also on the basis of what they learnt in these organisations. We are very honoured to invite these people to tell us more about how they became who they are at present, and how their participation in the above mentioned organisations changed their way of thinking and their whole lives. During our NWM, participants will have a chance to learn essential leadership skills and by practicing them, they will prepare for the future challenges.

Can you tell us something regarding the social programme of the NWM?

The social programme of our NWM is closely connected with its name. We will link the programme with activities related to the Danube, like Navy party on the boat and other surprises. There will also be a city-tour made as a treasure hunt and much more to be excited about.

Who will be part of the organisation team? How many people are going to help with the NWM as organisers?

Even though AEGEE-Bratislava is a very small antenna, we have enough motivated people who are full of ideas and determination. Overall, you will meet about ten people from the core team, and each of them will be there for you, if you need anything or have any questions. I have to say that we are more than a team, we are a family of friends, and this is our secret of success. Of course, you will meet the bigger team but they will only join for some parts of the event. Be sure to have a chance to talk to our speakers who are our respected old members, the creators of our organisation who made AEGEE-Bratislava as we see it now.

Do you have any local municipality or university support?

Although it is a small old town to be a capital city, it has a lot of highlights to see. Statues are located all around the old town, and everyone takes pictures of them. One of the most beloved activities by locals and guests is to saunter in the center at night. The whole city is splendidly lit up and at some point, sometimes surprisingly, you feel like the whole city is asleep. Slovak cuisine might be a little heavy, but it is also very tasty. All the atmosphere is framed with good restaurants, cafes, music, architecture, beautiful views and it is such a good feeling to walk around. If you have never visited this charming city before, it is the perfect occasion to do so.

Why should people come to Bratislava?

There are many cities in Europe, but only some of them have a unique atmosphere that you will never forget. Bratislava, I strongly believe, is one of them. Slovakia is also known for having some of the most beautiful girls in the world (girls, don’t worry, we have handsome guys as well!), being relatively cheap, and having great places for the day and night life!

Is it easy to access your city?

I would say it is easier than easy. We have our airport in Bratislava and one hour away there is the airport of Vienna. We are really in the center of a lot of big cities with good connections to our city. You can easily reach us by buses, trains, blablacar or even hitchhiking (my friends say it works well in Slovakia). The transportation prices are really cheap. For example, you can travel from Vienna to Bratislava for only one euro by bus every day.

What are the future plans of AEGEE-Bratislava?

AEGEE-Bratislava is always preparing some good stuff for you so when you pass by, just stop to hang out with us. We will be also organising an amazing pre-event of Agora Bergamo with AEGEE-Wien and in the summer, we will have the Summer University organised together with three other antennae: AEGEE-Budapest, AEGEE-Praha, and AEGEE-Wien. Don’t forget to apply! We are waiting for you! 

You can find the Facebook event here and apply here and here.

Written by Matteo Lai, AEGEE-Cagliari.