dimanche, juillet 16, 2006

Ostroh - last photos

Picnic - memorial signs

Monastery in Meżyrycz

The same monastery

Again monastery in Meżyrycz

Together with Eva and our host family before departure

Ukrainian and Polish coordinators and volunteers

Our group and all host families

Ostroh - picnic - photos

Feast prepared by our host families

Exercises create a master ;)

Painting Marcins' arm :)

My other work

Academical choir

Next integrational game

Together with my huggy friend - Paweł :)

Ostroh - first photos

Welcome evening

Castle

Books museum

Visit in the Children Centre :)

Picnic with all host families

Picnic - integrational games ;)

Lviv - photos

I have so many nice pictures from this trip, that I'm affraid it'll be more than one post with photos ;) Let's see...

Lviv - Eva and me together with the painter - Nikifor

Lviv - I like this door very much :)

Lviv - adventure is waiting behind the corner...

Lviv - lovely kitten on the lovely balcony

Lviv - the Lyczakowski Cementary

Lviv - the Polish Eaglets' Cementary

Ukraine

After coming back from Strasbourg I was 2 days home and then - thanks to my friend Marcin - I had a first opportunity to travel to one of our East neighbours - Ukraine. It was kind of exchange - kids, youth and adults together ;) First we spent one day in Lviv. I've heard so many stories about this city before visiting it. But my general impression was - grey and not so well developed city under renovation. Of course, there are many beautiful places too :) For me the most impressive place was the Lyczakowski Cementary (incredible, old, amazing, huge) together with the Polish Eaglets’ Cementary (Polish youth figthers about the freedom during the WWII). After touring we have also some free time, which was very nice :)
At the evening we started our trip to the final destination - Ostroh. In this city is a HQ of the NGO which is partner of Marcins' NGO. They are doing such exchange third time - first Ukrainian families came to Poland, then Polish go to Ukraine :)
After coming to Ostroh we have very nice and warm welcoming, introducing to the host families and going with them home :) I was toghther with my second friend - Eva. Our host family was really nice - quite young marriage with 7 years old daughter. They treated us very warm, want to host us as good as it is possible in their situation. We spoke a lot - in strange mixture of Russian-Ukrainian-Polish ;)
Next day was quite intensive. A lot of tourism - Orthodox church, castle, museum of books, Ostroh Academy. We have also a meeting with the President of the City Council and the rector of OA. At the afternoon we visited a Children Centre - partner of the SMGP. And after that we have a lovely picnic near the river organized by our host families. It was a great time - all those funny games, singing songs, painting our bodies ;), eating those delicious things, relaxing, talking etc. And after that we goes for a disco. It was funny - due to the exam period almost nobody (besides us) was there. So our group was leading this evening :)
Last day we visited only the Catholic church in Ostroh and the wonderful monastery in Meżyrycz. Then we were in the pottery, where we bought many nice and cheap things. After that we have a free time to spend it with our host families. We have a nice home lunch, nice conversations and also we were shopping.
And at the late afternoon we have a farewell meeting, last 'family-photos' and going back home.

That was a very interesting trip. I like all those people, which we met. But I also must admit that there is quite big difference of the standards of living between Poland and Ukraine. I didn't expect so strong 'visible' difference. All people which where first time there said the same. But if I'll have next opportunity - I'll go there again. For the people, but also to see more and to learn more about this country. There is something in it...
I liked also our group :) I've met many great people :) I was also a 'guardian' of 3 teenagers - Eva, Wojtek and Kamil. All of them were very nice and funny. But Wojtek was/is amazing - momentaly he found few people with whom he want to be all the time - talk, hug, joke etc. I think he miss love and care in his family. Even now he's sending me messages each 2-3 days etc. That's so sweet :) But there were more nice people - Justyna, Marek, Kamila, Bartek, Agnieszka, Maciej and Paweł. Especial with Paweł I have a very good relation - he's my new huggy friend. Because of young age (19 y.o.) I may say even - mascot :) And of course I may not forget about my flatemate Eva and our great coordinator-organizer Marcin. My favourite 3 people of those days :)
What a long post - uffff...

Photos from TC Charter

Time for few photos from this Training Course in Strasbourg ;) As usual - I'm photomaniac ;)
Promoting Youth Campaign "All different - all equal"

Creative summary of the TC ;)

One of the energizers

Our lovely trainer - Andreas :)

Simulation game :)

Dinner in town...

Study visit in local radiostation - NGO

samedi, juillet 08, 2006

Strasbourg - again :)

So, at the morning on 14th June I start my travel to Strasbourg. Again more complicated because of different reasons. First by bus (National Express) to London. Due to the traffic we have more than 45 minutes of delay! This fact influence on me strongly - much stress that my travel details will changed, finally I didn't had time to go by the underground, so I used taxi. But I manage to catch my EuroStar train from London to Paris. It's is a nice travel, take only 2:50 h, I can't understand why people prefer planes on this way - if you'll think about the timing, ways to/from airports etc. In Paris I needed only to change stations from Nord to East, they are very close, few minutes only. Then I had a train to Strasbourg. Very nice travel. And in Strasbourg by tram to European Youth Centre. Ufff... long description ;)
In Strasbourg I was a participant of the TC Charter - Training course on Developing Youth Participation Projects. It was very interesting training course, with many nice inputs and remarks. I liked work of the team, especially Andreas and Nadine. Didi as an expert was also very interesting.
Our group was very diverse. Many motivated people, but few (mostly from local authorities) came there only for vacation - in my opinion. They didn't want to participate almost in any group work, even if they did - it was just saying few words and that's all. That was a bad example for others and also loosing money of the Council of Europe for such people. There were so many applications for each place, that's pity that they took place of other people. But that's always a risk, you never can't choose only active and motivated participants only by application form.
I've met there also 2 participants which I've met earlier - George from Giorgia and my friend Anna from Hungary :) I like Anna very much, she will come to visit me tomorrow and stay some time in my home :) Besides them I've met there few other nice people - Kaja, Antonella, James, Ranko, Sonya, Chloe etc. With 3 of them (Kaja, Anto and James) we created a very nice little sub-group :) I've spent a lovely time with them - talking, laughing, walking around city, drinking wine on the river bank, watching match - Italy versus Czech Republic, eating tarte flambee etc. Great time :) With Kaja and James I'm in contact via MSN, with Antonella still only via e-mail.
Generally, it was a good time - interesting training course, very nice non-formal time, wonderful - my beloved - city, nice weather :)
I stayed in Strasbourg for 11 days - since 14th until 25th June. Then I was going home... for 2 days ;) Maybe I'll put few photos from Strasbourg, but not now.

Cardiff

Ufff... long, long time of silence. Time to overtake it a bit ;) So... my a bit crazy June ;)
First on my list was Cardiff. I was there only for 1,5 day - for a Preparatory Meeting of the trainers team and organizers of European Module 4 (here is more about European Modules). Due to different reasons (mostly financial) I came to Cardiff by bus. It was long trip, but I survived it in better condition that I thought I'll. Our EM will be held in Novotel Hotel, what means very nice environment for youth event ;) During the first evening we have time to get know each other a bit more. I think I'll work with interesting people. I hope I'll manage my tasks as good as possible. I must admit that I'm a bit affraid - it's first such serious job for me in youth work. Cross your fingers for me :)
Next day was quite busy - we spent most of it on reading all those applications and choosing future participants. Besides that we're talking about the framework and background of all Modules and this particular one, about future communication, about my tasks etc. And at the evening we have dinner in very nice Italian restaurant, where we'll also take our participants during the training :) That was very nice :)
They also have meeting on the next day, but I was already on the way to Strasbourg.