Multiculturalism – Loving, sharing, receiving and giving!

Multiculturalism is defined as how a society deals with cultural diversity, both at the national and the community level according to many sociologists. It is a heterogeneous society in which people coexist but retain at least some of the unique characteristics of their traditional culture. It is the key to achieving a high degree of cultural diversity. Diversity occurs when people of different races, nationalities, religions, ethnicities, and philosophies come together to form a community. A truly diverse society is one that recognizes and values the cultural differences in its people. I live in a flat with other 4 volunteers from Azerbaijan, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia. I would like to define us as a mixed salad bowl with different cultures and unique characteristics.

what kind of future this humanity will get in the absence of awareness, culture and education

Am I being held in the same vortex of the corrupt educational system I experienced in Tunisia?

Do the children get better future?

Are we really helping them or pushing them into the unknown? 

After four months in Romania and after working with variety of students those questions possessed me. Was the international day of the Arabic child, last month.  As an Arabic girl I remembered the children of Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Iraq and all the marginalized children in the world. My big concern is how to benefit the maximum from this experience to be able later to help the Arabic children with what I learned.

Multumesc pentru tot!

Enumerate all the things that this experience has given me is a difficult process. It’s been almost 11 remarkable months of adventures while living and discovering a different country. I had the chance to travel, to develop new language skills, to have new experiences and to meet amazing people.  

Most of this experience and memories are defined by the people I cross path with…The children and young people that welcomed me from the first day and since then always excepting us with a smile, hug or eager to tell us something. The coordinator, mentor and people involved in the project that supported me in everything during this time and that made the activities and this experience really enjoyable.

no matter how different we are, it is never too late to communicate

I am now on the half way of my volunteering experience. I met a lot of people from different

countries and cultures, some I liked some I didn't. As a person I accept people to be part of my life with the condition to have a lot of things in common r, I don’t know if this is right or wrong.

Me and my roommate we didn’t have a good relationship, we stayed in the same room but we never said even good morning to each other. We barely talked. We have never communicated to solve the problem. We only sent negative waves.

Volunteering for who?

It’s hard to believe that I have been here for four months already. I had lived abroad before and also did so many volunteering projects with disadvantaged children before. However, I have never felt that I could actually ‘touch someone’s life, that dense. Here, in my project building communities through volunteering, I have the feeling that volunteering can change someone’s life.

Since high school, I have been volunteered in different associations and the experiences I have made me the person I am now. Volunteerism is a dialectical relationship and transforms while interacting on both sides. The aspect of life that we never had a chance to learn before, or already forgotten how to learn is taught us by the children. Having expectations is not an obstacle on the way of happiness, in fact making a smile on a child dispels all the expectations. It helps you how to have fewer expectations from life and live in the present.

First days in Baia Mare

The week before I came to Baia Mare, I was so anxious because I didn´t know which experiences were waiting for me. When I arrived to my new home I was tired and there were a lot of people in the kitchen that impressed me. First days I met so many people and I started making new friends like Tânia and Alejandro- Tania is in the same project as me and lives with me. In the house we are 7 people from different countries and cultures.

The first day of school I felt so nervous because I didn´t know how the children were going to react when they meet me. However, when I arrived everyone welcomed me very warmly and they asked me my name and how I was which made me very happy.

EVS - ON Arrival - my subject

EVS on Arrival Training is my subject for today we were fifty two people like always the only Tunisian and for sure a lot of Turkish.

We had a lot of workshop sometimes boring sometimes funny  emotional in others my best was the cultural differences we had to split in teams and I like working in teams we were five volunteering  Tunisian, Armenian, Argentina, Spanish and the last one from Denmark .

TYPS - Horse Assisted Education

In perioada 10-13.10.2019, a avut loc in Tarnobrzeg (Polonia) al doilea training inclus in cadrul proiectului Typs. In cadrul trainingului 12 lucratori de tineret din cadrul celor trei organizatii – Greentin, Ecocompartimos, Esteka (cate 4 din fiecare organizatie partenera) au invatat noi metode pe care sa le aplice in activitatile de tineret. Coordonatorul activitatii, Horse Assisted Education a fost Esteka.

Proiectul Typs a fost finantat prin intermediul programului Erasmus+

 W dniach 10-13.10.2019 r. W Tarnobrzegu (Polska) odbyło się drugie szkolenie w ramach projektu Typs. Podczas tego szkolenia 12 pracowników młodzieżowych (po 4 dla każdej organizacji) uczyło się nowych metod edukacji poza formalnej celem zastosowania ich w pracy z młodzieżą. Koordynatorem działania programu szkoleniowego metoda Horse Assisted Education było stowarzyszenie Esteka.

Projekt Typs został sfinansowany przez Program Erasmus +

First steps into emotional intelligence

October is the Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month and to start a journey to develop emotional intelligence, we should first understand the concept and its importance.

In simple terms, emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise and manage emotions, our own and from others, while, intellectual intelligence, measured by the IQ, refers to the ability to learn, understand and process information. There is no strict correlation between them, which means people can have high IQs and low emotional intelligence, vice versa and even high score in both or neither.

Time flies

Time flies! I already have been here for two months! When I first arrived in Baia Mare, I was so nervous. However, when I got yellow house, I realized that there was nothing to be nervous about. The other volunteers welcomed me very nicely and I had the feeling that everything was gonna be alright. The day after I have arrived, we had some activities in library with the children from Foster house. When you put a smile on child's face, you become the happiest person in the world. This is what I felt in the second day. Those smiles and warm hugs took my tiredness away and I had the feeling that I was ready for this volunteering experience for 10 months.

In the second week, we went to rural school which was in Asuaju de Sus. The age of students in the school was between 7 and 13. Because it was still summer holiday, we had some outdoor activities. Taught them how to make a bird from origami, played games and at the end put the smile on their 

faces, with so many hugs of course

After a week, we joint VoluHub. VoluHub was an event that Yellow Shirts Association has organized. 

Saving the world could start with giving better future for one child

This is my second article I have already started meeting the village school students and being a

part of their journey this year. At first I thought it is another experience to learn more about the non-formal education but I crushed with the same educational system that I left and I hated in Tunisia. An educational system that is not commensurate with them surroundings, aspiration and reality. A system that doesn't provide the simplest conditions and doesn’t considering their situation, their needs and ambition. I saw a boy in the school with a lot of wounds  in his hand from working, others with special needs they have a problem of focusing they need more time to understand and they don t have the same capacity of learning like others.

Reflection time!

I have to admit that this time, I had to resort to my calendar and photo gallery to recap everything that happened in these last 2 months. I had the impression that it was too much to be all during this period. But no, also for my surprise, all happen since last time I wrote.

Scheduled in my calendar were Paraglider, School summer activities, a reminder for my cat annual vaccine (and yes, she didn´t love it but it was taken care of), MythBusters events, Electric Castle Festival, Youth Exchange, more days of school summer activities, several cultural events, Volu-HUB workshop and a Road-trip in Romania. And a lot more of daily plans happen that didn’t even get to the calendar. So, I will try to resume all of this. Summer was a time in which we organized and participated in a lot of different activities, events and projects. 

La revedere, Baia Mare!

Yes, I am in Baia Mare for 8 months now and it is the end of my volunteer project. During these 8 months, I did and saw so many things I didn't expect before I came here! But for me, the best part of erasmus+ volunteering is meeting new people from all over Europe and living abroad. This is a great opportunity to discover Europe. When I arrived, I didn't imagine that I would have to speak so much English. I lived most of my EVS in an apartment of 8 people. None of my roommates spoke my mother tongue until the last month. The diversity of nationalities of the volunteers in my apartment and in Baia Mare has helped me a lot to learn English. I came with a very low level of English and I have progressed in this language with foreigners, like myself. It's easier it seems to me and it's also fun to be able to practice with different accents. Before coming here, I knew nothing about Romania and I made many discoveries. I will keep very good memories of my EVS in Romania and if I had to do it again, I would do it.

Efforts to listen, understand and tolerate - essential values in a world where multiculturalism is increasingly present

From 24^th of July to the 31^st of August we took part of a Youth Exchange in Nistru with  groups of young people from different countries. There we participated to the project « EqualityIsFor Everyone » with 24 youngs aged 13 to 21 from  Macedonian, Spanish, Romanian and Finnish.

Gathered around the theme of equality and equity, we spent seven days together. The program was full of interesting and original activities (creative workshops, debates, role plays , cultural evenings, etc.), in a fantastic atmosphere and rich in our cultural diversity. Young Europeans also visited symbolic place such as the Communist Memorial in Sighetu Marmatiei.

Two flights twelve hours in train and here I am

Two flights twelve hours in train and here I am in Baia Mare for ten months of volunteering.

 I’m a Tunisian girl coming from very different culture, traditional and for sure very different weather looking for a new experience. Cascada Cailor descent the river was one of this experience suspense than a lot of fear Adrenaline but amazing experience yes it was only for fez hours but with huge impact on me. Yes I was afraid maybe I cried a little bit but I did it, it wasn’t perfect and there isn’t such thing called perfection. I faced my fear, I finished all the way down it was hard but I did it I had the courage the strength to believe in myself.  I’m so proud of me, more confident and for sure I will do it again. Also the school started now I’m looking forward to work with them and to bring a smile to their life and to help them to have a better future.



Khadija Kamassi, volunteer in the project BCV - Building communities through volunteering
supported by Erasmus+

My life be like

I have already completed my mid-term in Paiova Brasov and this means that more than half of my voluntary service has already elapsed. This training was really designed to take stock of our project, our life and the changes in our way of seeing things. It was also an opportunity to visit Brasov and meet new volunteers. It made me realize how fast time has passed since I arrived in Romania. I was also able to analyse everything I have been able to do so far. The mid-term marked a turning point in our activities within the association, since our return we celebrated the end of the school with the graduation ceremonies in Bicaz and Oarta. We were able to participate in the festivities of the 8th grades and see how our Romanian friends are celebrating this very important event, who means a lot to them.

Summer is (almost) here!

Last weeks in Baia Mare have been similar to a tropical climate, very hot and raining on the same day. And as the weather also our project is in a moment of change. The school year ended and with it also our regular presence in the classroom and as so our work, schedule and type of activities are changing. In the last week of school, we were able to witness the traditions, rituals and celebrations at the end of the school year that for me was totally new and a pleasure to be part of. For now, it is time to re-think and start to plan our Summer’ activities that will give us the flexibility of time and autonomy to develop even more our own activities and to be with the children in a different context.

Typs from business area

In perioada 1-4.05.2019, a avut loc in Toledo (Spania) primul training inclus in cadrul proiectului Typs. In cadrul trainingului 12 lucratori de tineret din cadrul celor trei organizatii – Greentin, Ecocompartimos, Esteka (cate 4 din fiecare organizatie partenera) au invatat noi metode pe care sa le aplice in activitatile de tineret. Coordonatorul activitatii a fost Ecocompartimos, care a pregatit un training bazat pe metode folosite in managementul afacerilor.

Proiectul Typs a fost finantat prin intermediul programului Erasmus+

Del 1 al 4 de mayo de 2019, tuvo lugar la primera formación para trabajadores juveniles del proyecto TYPS en Toledo, España. En esta formación participaron 12 trabajadores juveniles, 4 de cada organización y tuvieron la oportunidad de aprender métodos no formales que podrán aplicar en los jóvenes con los que trabajan. La coordinadora de la actividad fue Ecocompartimos y la formación se enfocó en el área financiera y de negocios de una organización.

El proyecto TYPS está financiado por Erasmus+

5 Reasons why you should vote! by a young European citizen

1 - You may not care now, but you might in a couple of months.

 You may feel that choosing European Parliament members isn't something that affects your life right now.  But while you may not know who or where you will be in next five years, you can be sure that the representants that you can choose now will have a say in the laws that can impact your life in the coming months and years. As in all elections, the vote in these European elections is about choosing your future. When you vote, you choose who makes these decisions and what they represent for the world you want to live in. If you do not vote, you lose your right to complain.

2 – Recognize the influence of the European Parliament. Elected to five years the European Parliament is a major player in the European Union’s decision-making process. And it is the only institution whose powers have grown continuously over the last thirty years. The European Parliament makes big decisions: from how to develop the economy to ensure that the food we eat is safe, from how to reduce youth unemployment to data protection. Your vote gives you the voice to direct EU in the path you agree with.

Reflection on the European Picnic

 As you know, last Friday we were on Campul Tineretului with other volunteers from YMCA and Somaschi sharing European values while promoting the vote for the European Union elections.

Besides having some amazing European food, we also planned and took an EU board game to fight the lack of information about the European Union and raise awareness about the voting process. To show that with voting our voice is heard, we encouraged people to write down their opinion about the European Union and to be part of a “Yes or No” poll with some current topics.

ThisTimeImVoting

The European elections will take place on the next 26th May, and all citizens of the European Union have the right and the duty to vote. It is precisely for this right that we are promoting the vote in Baia Mare with the help of international and national volunteers. These elections are particularly close to our hearts as Erasmus volunteers, it's why we have decided to develop this project. We have carried out several events since the project was launched. 

Ziua Pamantului - sarbatorita de Scoala Gimnaziala Chelinta

 Cu ocazia ,,Zilei Pamantului” 22 aprilie, un grup de elevi de la Scoala Gimnaziala Chelinta, insotiti de doamna directoare Carmen Moldova, Ancuta Coste (prof. Biologie), Anamaria Codreanu (prof. Geografie-Istorie) si doamna bibliotecara Angela Morar, au participat la impadurirea unei zone din localitatea Chelinta. Puietii de brad au fost asigurati de către Ocolul Silvic Somcuta Mare. Cu aceasta ocazie s-a incheiat si un contract de colaborare in scopul asigurarii cadrului legal de cooperare intre partenerii implicati in aceasta activitate, astfel incat asemenea activitati sa se mai implementeze pe parcursului anului școlar 2019-2020.

In Bicaz and Oarta, we are now an integral part of the daily lives

 I am getting closer to half of my EVS and I have already seen a lot in Romania. Not only geographically but also personally within my project. Now we have a pretty full schedule and we are going to school on the village every Monday and Thursday as well as at the beginning but now we also go to high school on Tuesday and Wednesday. The high school is a way for us to carry out interactive and non-formal activities with students, since most of the time we have freedom to choose our activities. This allows us to share with students topics that are important to us and to try to open their minds to reflection. We are also investing in a project bringing together several local and international volunteers to promote voting in the upcoming European elections. After several weeks of preparation, the project is beginning to come to life through promotional events in academic institutions and soon public events. 

Non-verbal communication can connect more than you would expect

I am starting to believe that the time difference between Portugal and Romania is not only add or subtract 2 hours but changing the length of one hour, one day or the 3 months since I am here. Maybe it wasn’t my best rational conclusion, but it was the one I found to explain how the time is speeding in Baia Mare.  Updating you, the activities in the schools Bicaz and Oarta de Sus are going well, and the children are still very happy to see us. I think that the personalize handshake, inside jokes and the run to the door demonstrates that even in a sometimes-non-verbal communication you can connect more than you would expect.

Typs – Training youth to plan success

In perioada 29-31.03.2019, liderii celor trei organizatii partenere (Greentin, Ecocompartimos, Esteka) in proiectul strategic Typs – Training youth to plan success s-au intalnit in Cluj Napoca Romania pentru a lansa primul proiect strategic implementat in cadrul acestui parteneriat.

Proiectul Typs a fost finantat prin intermediul programului Erasmus+

Del 29 al 31 de marzo de 2019, las líderes de las tres organizaciones socias (Greentin, Ecocompartimos y Esteka) de este proyecto llamado TYPS - Training youth to plan success, se reunieron en Cluj Napoca, Rumanía para preparar el comienzo del primer proyecto estratégio que van a realizar juntas.

Este proyecto está financiado por Erasmus+

Water for all!

World Water Day is on March 22^nd and is the day to bring light on the fact that right now, 2.1 billion people live without safe water at home.

To draw attention to the importance of water, we marked this day through a visit of the Firiza Dam.

We spent the day together with the students of Gimnaziale Oarta de Sus and Gimnaziale Bicaz School students learning about the installations of the Dam.

With the help of Sistemul de Gospodarire a Apelor Maramures we also have the opportunity to observe some organisms and perform analyzes of the water.

 Tânia Alves - volunteer- in the project BCV - Building communities through volunteering - funded by ERASMUS +

Chapter 1 of 8 Months

I’ve been in Baia Mare for one month now. Although in the begining I was still adapting to this new adventure, in here I felt at ease. So far, in general, I feel quite comfortable because I was welcomed with open arms in all the situations whether in the organization or with other volunteers in the city or in the schools, where from the first day we were received with shy smiles and hugs. Last week, the other volunteers and I went to Bucharest for the On-Arrival Training for 5 busy days. It was a unique week full of emotion, knowledge, new interesting people and fun. 

It is now one month....

It is now 1 month since I arrived in Cluj Napoca airport from Toulouse. When I left, I had some fears, reagrding managing on my own in the city, meeting people, fear of the unknown, living without landmarks, no longer having family next door, the language barrier... But in fact, I realized that it was more excitement than anything else, because I was happy to change my life. My adaptation was not made easy by my very basic level of English but I am starting to get by. Finally I don't regret anything. Romania is a superb country full of surprises. I am also starting to make my mark at school with the children, I am happy to be able to share and discuss with them, they are very receptive and it facilitates our work with Tânia.

Theo Moya - volunteer
 in the project BCV - Building communities through volunteering - funded by ERASMUS +