Kicevo

      After having seen and enjoyed the beauty of the Macedonian Ohrid lake, we had the chance of exploring the inner territory of the country which had also a lot to offer. The day on which we went in Kichevo was rainy and it contributed to the magnificence and the freshness of the nature that we experienced.

      The first object that we visited in our Kichevo village    adventure was an authentic church in the middle of the forest where the nun told us the story of the monastery. She treated us with Turkish coffee and sweets and that was the first occasion we could meet the Macedonians’ hospitability. Later she took us to a secluded mountain spring where we could fill up the bottles we were given with holy water.

       As a next step in our program we were taken to a Modern Art House where we had some nice time chilling out, drinking coffee and enjoying the Arts’ surroundings.

       In the end we went to the town of Kichevo, small mountainous town that charms with its calmness and idyllic scenery.

       On the whole, we had a wonderful time visiting the town of Kichevo, everyone seemed to be enjoying it and everyone was pleased that we had the opportunity to spend some time in the beautiful Macedonian countryside.

After this day spent amidst the beautiful Macedonian nature we had the chance to get to know more about two participants’ countries- Ukraine and Serbia. We got acquainted with their customs and traditions and we had a great party night.

07.06.2012

Today we were in a very beautiful old village in Macedonia named Vevcani. We've never been before in such places abroad. So it was a great experience. First of all we were near waterfalls. Nature was awesome and weather was nice as every day. We liked old native beautiful houses and narrow streets. Some of us went to the mountains and got lost on the way coming back. We had lunch at a very cozy local place. Traditional meal there was very tasty. Tired but relaxed and exited we came back to Struga :)  Vevcani is really beautiful.  It was great to explore Macedonian village and to go deep into local culture. We were part of nature of local community. We hope the pictures we’ve made will help us to keep this good and positive feelings in our mind for many years =) Thank you, organizers!

                                                                                                                 The team from Russia

The Third day (Report)

The day started with a wonderful coffee. Then we had a workshop on the topic “How to make a professional photo”. It was very interesting and informative because it was held by a member of the Ukrainian team Ira who is a professional photographer. She told about main rules of making good shots, common mistakes and some other interesting information in order we can make nice pictures in Ohrid.

Ohrid is a great city with a wonderful spirit, nice galleries, magnificent and authentic churches, narrow streets, flowers of different colors. We practiced our skills in taking pictures. We enjoyed visiting  the gallery shop where they make handmade paper.

We started from St. Kliment square where we started to fulfill our tasks. We were going dowm the streets to the Antic Amphitheatre, beautiful Macedonian churches, then we explored the fortress and went down to the Panteleimon church that is standing in a magnificent shore of Ohrid. There we decided to take a boat from Kaneo to Kadmo beach.It was really amazing to see the whole city from the water. All group felt excited about that small trip. 

Second Day in Struga.

                      Sunny morning. Strangers all around. The beginning - let's get to know each other! Starting with the names games. These activities helped to know all participants from eight countries: Lithuania, Russia, Estonia, Romania, Macedonia, Ukraine, Serbia, Bulgaria. After that organizers introduced the main rules of the project. The hardest one was to be on time (in Macedonian time). Other rules were not to sit next to the person form your own country, forget the word "tired", to keep the smile with You and respect others.

                      The day started with "Struga" game. International teams got the list of 10 places in Struga city. Great thing about this game was that it introduced us to the city in Macedonia next to Ohrid lake. We discovered  two sides of Struga. First one was nice city center, lots of coffers, cheap ice cream, fabulous green river, helpful people and beautiful nature. Another side of the city was a bit of trash in smaller streets and lots of homeless dogs.

                      While we were playing this game one group met musician of the city who was speaking perfect in English and offered his help to show all the town, to find the places that we were looking for and told lots of interesting stories not about Struga, famous poets but also about all Macedonia and its incredible Ohrid lake. Others group had tasks that were far away from each other so they were walking along the Ohrid lake searching for the church or beach. Besides the fact that they had a long way to get there, everybody was satisfied with the results of the tasks and the destinations that they reached. At the end of the game we printed nice pictures from our visited places and posted them. It was so interesting to check photos from other groups, in this way we had a possibility to know Struga better.

                      It only remains to add that "Struga" game helped us to work in a team, to make decisions together that we all agreed on and we learnt to cooperate in order to achieve the goal of the game. Also during this game we knew about each other and the countries that we came from.

                      Evening caught our attention. The first intercultural night was for hosts Macedonia and crazy Lithuanian team. Conclusion for the evening: nobody was thirsty and hungry, Macedonia creatively presented their "library",  Lithuanians showed creative movie that they made. Everybody went to sleep with huge smiles and good mood!

First Day

First Day

After twelve hours of traveling thought almost all Serbia and Macedonia we arrived to Struga ready to explore new experience and intercultural learning.  Unlike the rainy and urban Belgrade in Struga we found the sun, songs on every corner and easy going lifestyle. All addressed to a different working atmosphere and excellent enjoyment.

For most of us this project was the first experience in Macedonia and we were very motivated to explore it, but also to discover something new about the countries that participate in this youth exchange. We were very excited when  found a groups from Bulgaria, Estonia and Lithuania in hotel. This was our first meeting with people from these countries. Together with them we waited for the other participants.

Our day passed in walking along the Ohrid Lake, visiting the center and taking coffee on the banks of the River Drim. We experienced town as very alive and we found a very hospitable people who are willing to host us. We were surprised with tourist presentation of Struga and gained the impression that the city has a Mediterranean soul. One of the interesting details was a monument of smiley on the bank of river Drim.

After a pleasant welcome and walk through town time past so fast that we didn’t realize that time for official meeting has started.  After official meeting and representing project we continue with name games and relaxing for long night till all participants were not been welcomed. 

Fourth day evaluation

The fourth day of our project in Struga, Macedonia, started with a very nice breakfast that we enjoyed in the hotel restaurant. The food was very good and fresh. We were very happy to keep getting to know all our new friends, especially during the energizers. Everything was peachy and we we’re having fun together doing the energizers, organised by the Russian and Serbian team. We played some of the most interesting energizers of the whole project. One of it was about a Princess, a Hunter and a Dragon, all of them being characters that were to be played by each of the teams. After we filled ourselves with positive energy from the energizers, we had a coffee break during which we had the chance to find out more interesting things about each other. We then had lunch, and a 15 minute break.

               In the afternoon we held a workshop about design and photo editing. It was a very interesting experience because every participant had the opportunity to learn how to edit photos in Adobe Photoshop, on a basic level. The team who prepared was made up of Uliana, Radina, Nina, Vika and Robert.  And they did a very good job, by showing us simple tutorials about how to edit photos. After we saw all the photos, and discussed them in detail, we had a coffee break. We took the occasion to enjoy the beautiful weather, and after this we proceeded in the conference room for the Important Dates Workshop. The team for this workshop was made up of Savina, Robert and Krasen. They talked about the most important dates in Europe, and gave us the task to choose one important period like the Ancient times, or the Renaissance and find more historically significant dates.

               After we finished and presented the tasks, we had dinner, and then one hour of free time, before the Romanian and Russian cultural night. The first to present their country were the Romanians. The four participating girls, Raisa, Elena, Alina and Anamaria, were dressed in traditional Romanian cloths, while the male participant, Robert, was disguised as Dracula. After they showed us some traditional dances, we ate some of their food (e.g. polenta, cozonac etc.) .

The Russian team, presented their wonderful food and their very famous national drink, the vodka. They also showed us a traditional dance, a funny presentation movie about Russia, and they ended the night with a recital from their greatest poet, Puskin.

Evaluation of 6th of June

6^th of June

This day started with a leaders meeting to discuss different topics and the main purpose of youth exchange – creating calendar. To wake all the people up Lithuanian team had made funny, hard and active energizer. Here we could see real teamwork as well as people’s being interested in this action.

 As we had exciting and unforgettable journey to Kichevo the day before, on 6^th of June we were all day long busy with different and very useful workshops. The first one was blogging. Each person was included in some group with special tasks, like describing energizers, making quiz and others. By the end of this we made beautiful, full of information blog, which we can visit any time we want to revise these wonderful memories. It is important to say that every participant was concentrated on the work the team should have made and was trying to contribute as much as could.

Then we started to work on calendar creating – choosing and voting for the best pictures, also for the ones we brought from our countries. Each group received 2 months and showed its creativity in different ways, making months bright and also adding the important dates. Eventually the main aim of this youth exchange was reached, we have created amazing calendar, which symbolizes different topics, like economic development, social inclusion, ecology and other important stuff.

During this week we had a lot of discussions on volunteerism topic, and in afternoon we had a great opportunity to show what we have learned. All together we gathered, took bags for garbage, gloves and started cleaning beach of very beautiful lake – Ohrid. We were divided into 3 teams collecting different rubbish. Everyone was focused not only on cleaning beach and taking care of environment, but also on promoting volunteerism. Our group was suggesting local people to join and explaining what we were doing. It was interesting to see the reaction of people, who was passing or sunbathing on the beach. We gathered several bags of rubbish and returned to the hotel. It was great experience for every person, who was volunteering and hopefully that wish will exist when we will come back home.

 In the evening we had the Eurovision.  According to the blog this was the funniest moment during the youth exchange, especially the Ukrainian team with its performance. Every national group received different songs in different languages, for example, Macedonian team was supposed to sing in Lithuanian language and it was unforgettable. This day was one of the most useful, we have made great work, everyone was included with 100% - it shows that this youth exchange created a real team, consisting of open-minded, kind and friendly people. Now we are all ready to spread this idea in our countries and come back to discuss the result.

Top secret

Here you can see different questions we asked people about youth exchange. If you can't find your name - feel free to add your answer :) Thank you for sparing this time.

1. What is the most important thing you have learned here?

Live every day with proposal to learn something new, Velimir 24, Serbia

How to drink in ukranian way, Simona 23, Lithuania

Macedonian song, Natasha 22, Russia

The meaning of team work and share of responsibilities, Robert 23, Romania

Got new knowledge about northern countries, Mirjana 33, Serbia

2. What was the funniest moment?

Energizing games, Velimir 24, Serbia

Eurovision - Song&dance of Ukrainian team, Billy 27, Turkey

Eurovision - Macedonian team's dancers, Bojanka 20, Macedonia

Dancing after intercultural evenings, Mirjana 33, Serbia 

3. Would you like to change anything in project?

More team's decisions, Robert 23, Romania

The age between particepants should be not more than 5 years. Velimir, 24, Serbia

4. Tips for the next generation?

To be open-minded, learn and travel a lot, Elena 22, Romania

If you come to Macedonia, don't forget to take swimsuit and sun cream, Mirjana 33, Serbia 

Follow St.Augustin's quote - "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page", Billy 27, Turkey 

5. Which food was the tastiest during intercultural evenings?

Liutenitsa, Simona, 23, Lithuania

White estonian chocolate, Tony, 24, Bulgaria

Mamaliga, Natasha 22, Russia

Ukranian bread, Radina 17, Bulgaria

Vodka and rakia, Alina 27, Romania

Banichka, Marika 25, Estonia

Palenta, Bojanka 20, Macedonia

6. What are your plans for the future?

To go for the EVS in Turkey, Alina 27, Romania

7. Can you describe the project in three words?

Energetic, integrated, sunny, Billy 27, Turkey 

Relaxing, tolerant, open-minded, Robert 23, Romania

Diversity, beautiful landscapes, new things, Elena 22, Romania

Sun, beautiful lake, holiday, Mirjana 33, Serbia 

8. What have you been doing during your free time here?

9. If you would have an opportunity to go whatever country you want (Estonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Lithuania etc.) wich one would be the first? 

Russia, Marika 25, Estonia

Russia, Robert 23, Romania

Russia, Bojanka 20, Macedonia

Turkey, Alina 27, Romania

10. What will you miss the most?

Amazing view, jokes, laughter, different stories and smiles, Robert 23, Romania

11. Which workshop was the most useful for you?

Photography workshop, especially advises on correct photo,  Mirjana 33, Serbia 

Be Positive!

Be Creative!

Don't forget to Smile :)

Enjoying Architecture of Ohrid

Different tastes for Every Day.

Mmmmm... Never say NO for this!

Fruity girl :)

Rrrrrrr.... Friends??

New friend!

Modern Ohrid!

Too hot on the land --> Refreshing in the water

Lets TRY to be serious :)

... Steps ...

Accomplishing tasks + Healthy lifestyle  = Perfect combination

The project aim is to promote volunteerism through photographs on the theme of volunteering and including messages about promotion of volunteerism. The project participants would be taking and selecting the photographs and the messages for promotion of volunteerism and comply those in a Volunteers calendar for 2012. The project would take place in the city in Struga with 40 participants from Macedonia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia and Italy. 

Our workshops

Participants from every country present their traditions, national food and drinks, and of cource songs and dances.

And we have a lot of fun :)

Sunny. Funny. Smily. @ Ohrid

ENERGIZERS

1.       Angel and Devil

Participants are standing in the circle. Each participant has to choose in his mind one person from the group who will be his/her angel and one who will be the devil. Then the participant without speaking has to stay as close as possible to his/her angel and far as possible to his/ her devil.

2.       Guess an object

Each participant has to pick an object in the mind, for example a box, a ring, etc. and show to the others, who have to guess what the person shows. The one who guesses correctly starts to show his/her own imaginary object.

3.       Pass the card

The participant has to pass the card to another participant using only the mouth. The one who drops the card has to squat(go down on the knees).

4.       Zombie

The facilitator chooses the nation who will be zombie(for ex. Lithuanians are zombies now).

The team who has been chosen has to touch the other participants. The one who has been touched becomes zombie and has to do the same. When everybody is “infected” the facilitator starts the game over by choosing another nation.

5.       Chairs

The participants are divided in the groups of 4. Then 2 groups compete against each other. The participants from each team have to sit on 4 chairs in such a way that their head lies on the belly of the next person, and their hips are fixed on the chair. Then the facilitators take the chairs (one by one)out and the team has not to fall on the ground. The team who falls first loses. The team who stays up wins.)))

6.       Dragon, princess and hunter

The participants are divided in two groups. The facilitator stays between groups and explains those rolls about game. Participants have to choose one of this: princes, hunter and dragon and have to be carefully to not bee seen by other group. Then all stay in one line and show it to other group. Hunter is killing dragon, a prince is disarming hunter and dragon can take the princes.

7.       The cat goes around

8.       Use the tape

9.       Find a place(Chairs)

10.   Huga Chaga

11.   Horse ride

12.   Carpet(name game)

13.   Name and action

14.   Passing through

15.   The clap

16.   Kiss the rabbit

17.   Make a pizza

18.   Make a line (name game)

19.   Between my legs

20.   Passing through

21.   Spiders net

22.   Speed dating

Team

1.Macedonia

-Bozhanka Karachankova

-Boshko Melkovski

-Zlatko Shurdoski

-Dragan Kitanovski

-Luca Palescandolo

-Bilser Islam

-Pale Georgieva

2.Bulgaria

-Savina Alexieva

-Krasen Nikolov

-Radina Sekulovska

-Anton Krastev

-Ines Delgado

3. Serbia

- Mirjana Vasich

-Milena Miloshvich

-Dragan Markelich

-Velimir Tashich
-Nenad Lakicevich

4.Romania

-Robert Chokr

-Raisa Soare

-Anamaria Vladu

-Elena Dimitriu

-Alina Iguot

5. Russia

-Maria Studentsova

-Ksenia Vakhanelova

-Igor Gubin

-Natasha Bogdanova

-Tatiana Minina

6. Ukraine

- Nina Kondratenko

-Uliana Zakoretska

-Ishchuk Paltsevarla

-Olegsii Loginov

-Victoria Panyokova

7. Lithuania

-Karolina Jokubaityle

-Agne Pacekaile

-Kotryna Mackeviciute

-Simona Simaityte

-Ausra Pekarskaite

8.Estonia

- Viktoria Matrasilina

-Jekaterina Kaparina

-Anneli Stepanova

-Marika Lazareva
-Jekaterina Pupina

Volunteering has different definitions for every person That's why we asked twelve people two questions:

1.What is volunteering for you?

2.What volunteering  express for me?

Let's see this questionaire!

1. Volunteering for me means - help for other people without salary.

I think it is important thing for people who are interested about other people hard situation. Volunteer for me is people with higher IQ, this is the way to get some joy.

2. Volunteering is either a charitable activity or helpful activity, where you don't get  payment or rewards.

I think it's a good way to express yourself, get some valuable experience, help people and gain yourself a reputation.

3. Volunteering is what you do willingly without expecting any payback.

I think it's great.

4. Its nonprofit, altruistic activity.

I think that it is very generous and useful for our society action.

5. Volunteering - who give help, time, energy for passion.

It's an act of generosity and mutual understanding. Words: Love, ability to give and share, sacrifice.

6.  For me it means that you like make something for others, you take from you personal time for others. 

It's also to not give up whatever the difficulty met. Words are coming up to my mind are: time, help and passion (desire to do something for).

7.  Additional activity when I can help other people.

 It means doing something good for others that makes yourself feel better. Good, help, mercy, actions.

8. Possibility for everyone, independently of gender, race, political views, religion to be involved in helping for those, who are weak in order to try social life of country.

To take care of starving childs  elders, persons who can’t look after for themselves.

9. Feeling, which motivates you to help for persons, animals who are in need.

Honesty and hearty desire to solve main problems of society. This feeling stimulates to share yours energy, time, knowledge, personal experience with less benefited part of society

10. Its suavity to help and to share what you know the best or have a lot. It cannot be fashion. Volunteering is not  temporary act, real volunteering is when you do not count your  time, words, you just want to be humanitarian.

Every act which contributes to seek better conditions of life. At the same time you are getting much more than money, volunteer gets good emotions, when she or he feels, that were helpful and force many faces to smile.

 

11.Even small things are volunteering, when you try to help for others welfare, for example cleaning of kitchen is not very interesting activity, but doing it we contributes to family’s welfare.

Opportunity to change life not only of others but also yours, because volunteer gets new ideas, meets new people, gets lots of grateful words.

12. Volunteering makes me feel special. By helping others, I feel that I am doing something meaningful and significant. It ignites an enormous joy to my world, while it makes the days of other people’s lives more beautiful. Isn’t that wonderful?

 

 

13. Speaking on the subject, we must first know and understand the word "volunteering". Volunteering - the altruistic activities of our time, knowledge and personal experience in commissioning work and community work without any monetary reward for it.

In my opinion, all voluntary organizations is a way for active people to discover their selves and possibly decide what activities are most kind to them in life. All organizations are different, so if a person does not like to communicate with people and can not volunteer, perhaps he may feel great when caring of animals and with great enthusiasm will help in that way of volunteering. A wish to actively participate in public life, the search for new friends, the desire to develop communication and work experience, personal skills, the belief that volunteering can change life - it's just a very small part of the reason why I decide to volunteer. But the main thing is understanding that the spiritual reward of volunteering is the most important here.

14. Volunteering for me is kindly activity (sometimes not easy) without feed. Its life way, which makes me better human. In this material world volunteering is humanity, communication,  cooperation with smile and good feeling inside.

The greatest feature of volunteering is your personal wish to go, to do, to help with not expectation something on that. I think honest  voluntary always will try to help. In public transport will help for old man, always will answer for calling of help.

15. I am interest in volunteering, because it gives lots of opportunities. Especially for such people like me, that are active, seeking to communicate, helping for others at least to smile. I feeling good when I can help for other.

My baggage of volunteering is not big, but I already felt benefit of it. I mean not material benefit, because voluntary is not fed work, but benefit, which extend my attitude, view. I met lots of new people, had opportunity to know different cultures and finally get feeling that I was useful for someone.

16.Volunteering, in my opinion, is unpaid, voluntary help. Mostly this help is provided to physically or psychologically injured persons. People also can help to animals or nature.  Volunteering also in addition can be used in order to improve education situation by building new schools in poor regions of the world.

For me it is help to other on the hole.

17. It is hard work. Usually it is command work. While you are working, you don't have thoughts that you will get something. And if you decided to do this.. you will get more.. For instance, meet new, interesting people, expand your attitude.

For me, volunteering is knowing more about myself.

18. Volunteering - it is work that can give you self -  satisfaction.

Volunteering for me means experience that you can't get working payable job.

19. Volunteering - unpaid job.

For me it is something that everybody are doing for common purpose.

20. Volunteering is everything that makes world better.

I really do believe in this unpaid activity. Volunteering includes not only help for poor, homeless people, orphans or cleaning polluted places. I think that volunteer it is a person who is not dull, apathetic to problems that are around us.

We asked you about your opinion on volunteering! So, comment and be active!

:)

Bozhanka can jump!

Youth in Action is a Programme for all

Youth in Action is the Programme the European Union has set up for young people. It aims to inspire a sense of active European citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union's future.

• -  mobility within and beyond the EU's borders
• -  non-formal learning
• -  intercultural dialogue
• -   encourages the inclusion of all young people (aged between 13 and 30 years), regardless of their educational, social and cultural background:.

Every year, thousands of projects are submitted by promoters in order to get financial support from the Programme; a selection process aims at granting the best projects.