Creativity in youth work

How you describe creativity? Lifestyle, a way of thinking, or just everything? Well, in the 2nd of June, a couple of youth workers gathered in the natural habitant of Bansko to discover, share and deepen in creativity. How we achieved this? With effective discussions, unstoppable brainstorming and exciting workshops.

 It was really good experience as all of us saw our selfes from another perspective which we didn’t knew that was existed before. Beside the programmes’ activities, we had unforgetable moments as each one has different personality and different role in the project. So, most of us  had the opportunity to indroduce our selfs to the other as we want to be seen.

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” So, we felt that from the first time. We weren’t alone. We had each other. And until now, that we are seperated, we still know, that somewhere in the world there is just one person , who thinks , act and believe like us.

HERE ARE A FEW PHOTOS OF THOSE DAYS :

BMEU 2019

How is European institutes working ? Is it difficult to take a decision? Is it fancy to be a president? All of these and more questions I had before attending for first time in a Model of European Union in the center of Europe, in Brussels . I have to be honest that it was quite stressful and full of adrenaline experience. Okay, we did not climbed to the Niagara waterfalls for bungee jumping, but everyone of 100 youngsters we had a different role and representing different country which in one perspective is kind the same.

For the ones that do not know what is MEU, as it said it is the original simulation of the European Union's legislative process. Each participant had to choose between different roles in four different institutes. European parliament, European court, Council of Europe and European Bank. Although, I had the privilege I think to be a journalist. Why privilege? Because I was a bit of everything and be as objective I could without take a specific place.

How was our schedule? More interesting that is sounds. Waking up at 7 o’clock, having breakfast and then running to take the bus to be on time. At 9 asap we were starting the session. Debating, discussing, creating memes, hide laughing and lot of visualization. And after the session…party party party!

But BMEU 2019 wasn’t just that. Actually, was more than that. 100 people from all around the world, we created a wonderful team and shared great ideas on how we are dreaming the European Union. But beside the European stuff, we sang together, we ate together and we had lot of fun together. These were the days I will remember and who knows, maybe they will convinced me that being a journalist of the European Union will be funky at all!

The BMEU2019 was organized by an amazing team who put their best in order to make pleasant everyone. Special thanks to Wassim Essebane, Sahajanya Balaganesh, Arkan Diptyo. And of course, thanks to every DREAMAKER who make by stay in Brussels an unforgettable experience!

TAKE A GLIMPSE OF BMEU 2019:

"PROJOUR" in Serbia

Do you want to know how you can benefit yourself and educate it in one week? The answer is easy. The "PROJOUR" is a project which took place in Belgrade, Serbia to promote gender equality through media. Participating in this training course, i had the chance to understood deeper how media can create a public opinion . I realized that in 2019 , when discrimination can lead to creating prejudices and stereotypes, there are a lot of journalists, reporters who suffer from this. Well, the good news is that i found out ways how i can change this phenomenon. And fortunately, in this voyage, i wasn't alone.

I had by my side, 30 intelligent, open-minded, extremely kind people from Serbia, Cyprus, FYROM, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Romania who shared their dreams and vision with me. Sometimes, is not the topic of the program that make it important and interesting , but the people who are involved in this. So, i guess that week, we did not change the mindset of the world, but at least we tried to make it look better and more fair.

Through project activities, we were encouraged to speak up about the discrimination we are facing in our daily routine but also, we had discussions while analyzing the topic. Also, we were given different tools, on how to promote gender equality and be gender sensitive towards their target group by using different media, with special aspect on online media.

As you can understand when you are in one training room with eight different cultures, the multinationality is became a routine since you wake up, you eating and talking with the representatives of each country. And, i have to admit that i enjoy it! I don't know what i will remember from this project after one year, but for the ones that i am sure, are the moments, the talks, the faces and the smiles.

Thank you beautiful people, and thank you SEAL CY for giving me this opportunity!

HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS:

Holloko-A state of mind

 It was started just like another Erasmus, but it was finished with a feeling of intense excitement and happiness-EUPHORIA. Unfortunately it took me time to understand what effective and affective communication is. I thought talking and have discussion with somebody is the easiest thing. And I was wrong. An effective and affective discussion is the most difficult and precious thing you can create. Not all people communicate, they just talking.

My dear friends, with you I felt real connection and communication. We may don’t say too much with our mouth but we say everything with our bodies. Yes, body language. One of the things I have learnt from this programme is that body language says a lot of things that words don’t. Actually, words are not necessary I some situations. Just an eye contact can say everything. So, our eyes and our bodies where active members in these 9 days. They played a huge role in the whole process and help us to understand what people need more. COMMUNICATION with there inner self. The one who forgot all the time that exist and we ignore the fact that is very important for our personal piece.

It was the right place for the right project. In Holloko of Hungary. A heritage traditional village protected from UNESCO. In this extremely peaceful place where we achieved our biggest goal. To came closer to the nature and found our Gaia Spot which helped us to figure out who we are, why we exist and what we want from ourselves.

So it not an assumption but fact that nature brings people together and there can live in serenity for a eternity.

HERE SOME F MY PHOTOS:

IN ALQUEVA 4 EQUALITY

Ellen Degeneres once said : “Here are the values that I stand for: honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated and helping those in need. To me, those are traditional values.” This is what we tried to do in Alqueva, Portugal. No colours, no genders, no social status. Just us in front of a theatre playing, discussing, puzzling and trying our best to make this world more equal and quality for all the human beings.

As we are young we are continue fighting for our rights. We stand out of the others not because we have flaws but because we are different and we love that. We love our differences and nothing can stop us doing what we want to do. 9 days in this programme we create a new family from Italy, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta. However, is not about the days we shared the same food, the same rooms but it was about the feelings. Love, laughter, acceptance, compassion, tenderness. In our activities were included yoga sessions, improvising in a theatre, lots of videos and discussion.

As you can imagine we cannot change the worlds' opinion in 9 days, although we can sensitize it and make it better adding our ambitions, our dreams and what we have learnt in Portugal.

P.S. NEVER FORGET THAT : The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it. Chief Joseph.

HERE IS SOME OF MY PHOTOS FROM PORTUGAL:

Days in Malta

9 days, 54 youngsters, 9 countries in one place. All against HUMAN TRAFFICKING. Before this youth exchange I had no idea what is Human Trafficking. But now I consider my self activist against this. Workshops, storytelling and non-formal education methods were used to introduce the young people of Europe in this topic. Because human trafficking can be found everywhere, the point is that we have to speak out and don’t afraid to do something about it. I could say that these 54 people from all over the Europe didn’t hesitate to act against it.

We have gathered in Malta for one goal and I think we achieved it! However, this trip was not organized to educate only. But, to bring young people from Bulgaria , Romania, Croatia, Greece, Lithuania, Italy, Malta and Skopje together. I don’t know how much talent can this planet afford. Dancing, music , theatre were the sections which this programme was surrounded. We didn’t use language to speak to each other but only with the sound of music, we could communicate with an amazing way! We expressed our feelings with spontaneously dance. No steps, no stress. The only thing we have done was to close our eyes and feel the music transfered to our cells. I would not forget those nights in the yard when we gathered together and started party. For no reason, with no props. Just one guitar and a lot of talent!

This atmosphere we have made by our own was something unbelievable and difficult to exist. Because we have different culture, from different countries and absolutely different personalities. But the one thing we have in common is the passion for that we are doing. We didn’t put any political controversies to disturb our connection.

 One day, all of us will get separated from each other. We will miss our conversations of everything and nothing and the dreams we had. Days, months and years will pass until this contact becomes rare. One day, our children will see our pictures and ask : “Who are these people?” And we will smile with invisible tears because a heart is touched with a strong word and you will say: “It was them that I had the best days of my life with!”

 Now a couple of days later, the first thing I think as soon as I wake up is “Today I will create a loving world” Thanks for the Inspiration guys! See you!