YA!
The IncrediblEurope Young Ambassadors Magazine
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
Welcome Dear IncrediblEs, dear Young Ambassadors, Today we are celebrating not only the gathering of the most influential and visionary individuals of our IncrediblEurope but also the launching of the first issue of the IncrediblEurope Young Ambassadors Magazine. Thanks to this fact, we are having the opportunity to reveal how much potential there is in Europe and how we can inspire bottom-up change by spreading incrediblE actions! I am also very glad that you are part of this project and more than grateful for all the effort and energy you have demonstrated during your performance as an IncrediblEurope Young Ambassador. You are IncrediblE!
Selma Prodanovic CEO Brainswork & Founder IncrediblEurope
Dear YAs, It has been an IncrediblE journey! Since I embarked on this trip I never thought it would be filled with such wonderful things. It is amazing how people with different backgrounds and from different cultures can encounter in a virtual space: our “IE Young Ambassadors” Facebook group- made it possible to interacting so easily and vividly as you did. We thank you, on behalf of the entire IE team, for the huge effort you have set in promoting the IncrediblEurope Summit, expanding the IE Network as well as sharing with us projects, activities and initiatives originated in each of your own countries.
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
I am also very glad to have chosen each of you and I know you will all make me
proud of our choice! Today my joy is greater because the time has come for me to have the opportunity to present to the IncrediblE Network and to the rest of the world the first issue of the IE Young Ambassador Magazine, which emerged product of your work and enthusiasm. Enjoy!
Elizabeth Parra Ganteaume IE Young Ambassador Coordinator & International Relations
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
IncrediblEurope Young Ambassadors The IE Young Ambassadors are the “bridge” between the IE network and young people in their homeland Why does the IE network need an IE Young Ambassador? Young people now age 18-28 will play a major role in the future of Europe. Their concerns and visions must be taken seriously but also their voice must be heard in shaping the future. There are approximately 90 million Europeans aged 18-28 and our target is to reach the 3% innovators and changemakers – the leading force in the future. Therefore we believe that having least one IE Young Ambassador in each major city of Europe will not only strengthen the impact of the IE network enormously but also contribute in a huge way to the promotion of local initiatives. What is the role of the IE Young Ambassadors? •
Promote IncrediblEurope in their homeland
•
Share with us incrediblE news from their country of origin (good or bad): incrediblE people, events, organizations, etc. through Facebook and by email so far.
•
Communicate to their own country network (young or students organizations/unions) about what is going on/what is new in the IE network
•
Post at least once a week on the IncrediblEurope page on Facebook
•
Engage at least 5 new student members for the IE network quarterly
•
Further ideas and initiatives!
Meet our crew!
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
mir Mukac ca Sarajevo, Bosnia and a Herze egovina Alm Volunteer S Scholarshi ociation at Spajalica, ps Asso ember); First sch holarship portal in Bosnia a and (Me Herzegovina "Stipendije.ba" (C Chief Edito or); Academia o Young Experts in n Bosnia a and Herze egovina Asssociation of (Vic ce-preside ent); and employed d at: BIGM MEV - Cen nter for Rellationshipss Develop pment with BiH and dat Kromp pir.ba Org ganic veg getables production. I lo ove to help other people, p that makes me very happy and my life goal is to be of he elp others. I also believe in man equ uality and d believe that all people should hum behave as brothers and sistters. I be elieve tha at only gether we e can mak ke this wo orld better. I also be elieve if tog eve eryone do oes as mu uch as the ey are cap pable of people p wo ould not su uffer and be b unhapp py. My y vision forr Europe´s ´49 isa Eu urope with hout borde ers and wa ar, prosperr Europe, happy Eu urope, uniited in the e truth, developed and with well-educated inh habitants, Earths endly and home of different d p people. frie Co ontact: alm mirmukaca a@gmail.c com We ebsite: ww ww.stipendije.ba; ww ww.spaja-liica.com; ww ww.acade emia.ba; www.bigm w ev.org; ww ww.kromp pir.ba Ana Catarina a Silva Co oimbra, Portugal g at Unive ersity Colle ege Londo on (UK), I am currently studying here I do a MA in Eurropean Stu udies wh I am a passio onate ab bout life, society, music, cinema, c dance, litera ature and arts a in gen neral y vision forr Europe 2049 2 is tha at of a Eu urope of people, p My 'un nited in diiversity', le eading the e way in innovatio on and dyn namism, as a well as in n social jusstice and equality. Wh hat I pursue in my liffe is projec cts that I c can be ide entified witth and in which I can c believ ve in, cha ances to build b a path accord ding to my y principle es and valu ues and, most m of ppy :) all, to be hap ontact: ana a.silva@sc ciences-po o.org Co
Summ mit 2011 | 9. – 10. Jun ne 2011 | www w.incred dibleurope.com m
André Philippe Lauer Luxembourg, Belgium I am a student at the University of Vienna And I am also a volunteer in AIESEC, the world´s largest student-run organization I am passionate about people and how they can life a good and happy life together. My vision for Europe 2049: I would love to see all the great people connect to each other and make Europe and then the world a place where everybody is grateful about his/her life and opportunities. My goal is to live life to the fullest, enjoy every day, be happy, make other people happy and have an impact on their lives. Contact: andre.lauer@gmx.at Aladár Tepelea Vienna, Austria I am Business administration student at the Vienna University of Economics. My vision for Europe in 2049 is a continent with more cooperation leveraging on the multicultural backgrounds and different knowledge bases creating a competitive advantage as innovation leader in an ever increasing trend towardsa truly globalized world. By being active in APAIR*, the Austrian Project for Academic and International Relations I would like to contribute to intercultural exchange and international learning. Contact: aladar.tepelea@apair.at Website: www.apair.at *APAIR has established a partnership with Incredible Europe, sponsoring three young and motivated students with a participation scholarship for the summit. Katrin Bernreiter Wieselburg, Austria I am an International Business student at WU Vienna, a travel junkie and a sports addict. By now, I am in the finishing steps of my bachelor degree, during which I had the chance to go on exchange at the University of Western Australia and be intern at the commercial section of the Austrian General Consulate in Montreal, Canada. What I am passionate about is getting to know inspiring people - and making the best of those wonderful moments when two people meet and when suddenly there's the energy to create something new and amazing. Contact: katrin_bernreiter@gmx.at
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
Elizabeth Parra Ganteaume Caracas, Venezuela I am the Coordinator of the IncrediblE Young Ambassadors and in charge of the IE International Relations of the InclediblEurope Summit 2011. What I am passionate about is social entrepreneurship, innovation in all fields, music, the nature and above all I admire my parents, my beloved husband, and of course every of my daughter´s discoveries and how she step by step learn from everything ;). My vision for Europe´s ´49 is my vision for the world. I wish to see tears of happiness in people faces, same opportunities for everyone, libraries and ateliers in prisons -a second chance in life-, playgrounds far and wide. I pursue happiness for my family and for the unhappy ones, to meet more and beautiful-inside people, to learn and be able to teach the good things of life. And of course! I wish to have the opportunity to see more incrediblE things happening! Contact: ganteaume.beth@gmail.com Ana Buhaljoti Tirana, Albania I am Employee at the Institute for Development Research and Alternatives (IDRA) I am passionate about learning, discovering and relearning. When we think we know something there is every chance that in time whether it be today, tomorrow, next decade it will evolve. Moreover, I am passionate about giving back to those in need. It improves my life and makes me appreciate what I have. My vision for Europe ‘49 is a sustainable and prosperous future where connecting, learning, sharing and inspiring innovation and creativity thrives to find solutions and opportunities within the challenges Europe faces. It is all about people sharing and collaborating while staying true to their values. Contact: ana.buhaljoti@gmail.com Anastasia Gavrylova Mykolajiw, Ukraine I’m coming from the city of Mykolayiv which is in southern part of Ukraine. Currently I am studying Languages and Literature at the Black Sea State University. Simultaneously I’m working in youth NGO Iskra which promotes the ideas of active participation and volunteer engagement among young people.
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
I believe in volunteering as well as in art of humanity and sincerity, that’s why I’m involved in it; believe in youth work as in source of changes, that’s why I’m doing it; believe in youth collaboration as in way to establish an intercultural dialogue that’s why I’m promoting it. My motto is “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Contact: anastasia.gavrylova@gmail.com Natasha Milanova Kumanovo, Macedonia I graduated on social work and social policy. I am founder and president of the Association for Healthy Life Styles PULSE from Kumanovo, Macedonia. I also work as a project manager at the Association for fighting against cancer Borka from Skopje, Macedonia. What I pursue in my life is to get new knowledge, experience and friendship; I believe that this will help me to get new networking connections regarding to my future projects and ideas. Also I am open to share my ideas, experiences and visions. Contact: natasa.milanova@pulskumanovo.org.mk; info@pulskumanovo.org.mk; Website: www.pulskumanovo.org.mk Andriy Melnyk Lviv, Ukraine I am Environmental Project Manager in the Bank Lviv I can imagine Europe as a big family; that we growth together and work hardly for best results in each sphere of our life; that we make efforts to be tolerant and good human beings and that we pursue peace. Step by step we work for making positive differences in our countries. I see my Europe green in the nearest future. My own credo is "All money can make things clean and green" Be unexpected - be greener than the others”. Contact: andremelnuk@gmail.com Žiga Volk Ljubljana, Slovenia A 26 year old interior designer from Ljubljana- capital city of Slovenia. Son of an architect and an engineer. Through my life I have been interested in many things, electronics, engineering, motorcycles, architecture, music and fashion. In my academic career I finished hairstyling school and successfully completed gymnasium (secondary school) with some problems, as by than I still haven’t known what actually interests me and what I would like to make of my life. After that, I have entered the world of design (entered Academy of design
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
Ljubljana), and have found it extremely intriguing. As the years passed by I have found the true self in furniture and interior design. One of my better products is a flexible modular shelf, which has won numerous prizes. This has led to the fact that I am now known as a perspective young designer and have gotten many accolades for my contribution to Slovenian design- I have been awarded the title of most perspective young talent in industrial design (Slovenia 2011) and also Rozman accolade- the most prestigious design accolade in Slovenia. Contact: ziga.volk@t-2.net Marija Bulatovic Podgorica, Montenegro Student at University of Donja Gorica (UDG), Faculty for International Economics, Finance and Business. I am passionate about travelling all around the globe, meeting other people and cultures! I imagine Europe more united and as a prosper place with abundance of chances for youth and all who want to make a change and shake the world! I strive to career accomplishment, meeting people I can learn from and to be surrounded by people who support me! I pursue happiness and professionalism in everything I do! I want to leave a mark in this world because I believe I have a lot to offer! Contact: maria_mne@hotmail.com Svetozar Kujić Belgrade, Serbia Student at the Faculty for Media and Communication Belgrade,Serbia I’m sure everyone on this planet has interests and passions. I am very passionate person so it’s hard to decide what really motivates me in this life. I am passionate about: traveling, swimming, ice cream, love, music, movies, Dubai, LA, Canada, Toronto Maple Leafs, Red Star Belgrade, airplanes, colors and hugs + many other things. Because I have an exceptional life purpose, I approach the world with enthusiasm. I look for ways to expand my abilities and to share my gift with others. I plan to continue my education in Greece and start my full-time working career in USA, California. What makes me wake up every morning? This thought: I’ll be able to fulfill all of my plans and do great things for me, my family and my world. I can’t wait to walk by the beach, holding a dear person by hand, walk my dog and do all little
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
things that I like. It’s going to be a beautiful sunny day for sure. One thought of my mind: “If you only start working on your dreams tomorrow: it is already too late.” Contact: svetozar.kujic@fmk.edu.rs Sudheer Marisetty Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh, India I’m from India. I’m an undergrad student in Information Systems from BITS-Pilani. I recently got selected for Young India Fellowship for the in-augural class of '12. At BITS, I was elected as President, Students’ Union for the year 2009-10 and represented 4000 students of the campus. I worked in the intern capacity at netCustomer Inc, for almost a year, in which I lead a project to execute a global e-crm project in a rural village by collaborating with a rural BPO in Pilani, Rajasthan. This gave me a chance to know the challenges and opportunities of rural India. I’m passionate about development sector and I truly believe that the grass root innovation starts in the villages. My vision for Europe’s ’49 is to create an ecosystem in which youth are encouraged to contribute to the building of successful governance systems and inclusive growth models with strong emphasis on ethics. Contact: sudheer.marisetty9@gmail.com Profile: http://youngindiafellowship.com/StudentProfile.aspx
IE Young Ambassadors reporting! Incredible projects from all over Europe and the world reported by the IE Young Ambassadors.
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
IE Young Ambasssadors reporting Miloš Karadaglić K ć: Classica al guitar ha as a new hero h Born in n Montene egro, a sm mall and be eautiful co ountry on the t Adriattic coast, in 1983, Miloš Karadaglić K ć has esta ablished himself as one of todays mosst gifted and a the most promising p y young guittar virtuoso os! It all be egan whe en Miloš ass a young g boy disco overed an n ancient and dusty y guitar with broken strin ngs on top p of a cup pboard in his parents’ p be edroom. This sorry wreck w of an insttrument co onvinced him that he h must becom me a guittarist. Nev ver shy to o show what he h can do o, he bec came a so oloist of the children’s c choir in his hom metown Podgo orica. He toured th he whole of the formerr Yugoslav via with the choir an nd won numerrous award ds as a child singerr. While in the secondarry music school, he e won first prizes in literally ev very comp petition w in Yug goslavia att the time.. there was To prov ve his worrth and to follow hiss ambition, he ‘secre etly’ recorrded an audition a tape and a sent itt to the Ro oyal Acad demy of Music M in Lon ndon whe ere scholarrship to comm mence his undergra aduate studies wass offered immedia ately to him. He studied d with one e of Europ pe’s finest guitar tea achers – Prrof. Micha ael Lewin, and as one off the youngest in the e class, gra aduated with w First Class C Hono ours in June 2004. and also completed a Masters M in Performan nce with Distinction n. His final recital was aw warded with w DipRA AM – a sig gn of the highest le evel of arttistic exce ellence. Miloš was w made e a Meake er Junior FellowF an accolade e never before give en to a guitarisst at the in nstitution. Throughou T ut his studies he wass generou usly supporrted by the Jo ohn Hosie er Music Trust, Mu usicians Benevolen B nt Fund a and the Hattori Foundation.
Summ mit 2011 | 9. – 10. Jun ne 2011 | www w.incred dibleurope.com m
IE Young Ambassadors reporting Miloš was awarded the Prince’s Prize – a music prize of HRH Price Charles – and a Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He was the first guitarist ever to win such prestigious awards. Taking an important part in his artistic development are various master classes he took from some of the leading musicians of today: David Russell, John Williams, Olivier Chassain, Chen Zhi, AntigoniGoni, John Mills, Timothy Walker, Carlos Bonell, Nicolas Maw, Howard Skempton, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and many others. Miloš has been the recipient of many other prizes, including the Julian Bream Prize, the Ivor Mariants Guitar Award, and the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He has taken part in several young artists’ programs including at the Wigmore Hall, and at the Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room. He himself now works to support young talent as Patron of the charity Awards for Young Musicians. “Listening to the debut album by guitarist Miloš Karadaglić, you find yourself wondering where on earth the classical guitar has been lately. As he moves from haunting compositions by Tarrega, Albeniz and Granados to the more abstract shapes of Carlo Domeniconi’sKoyunbaba suite, it’s as if Karadaglic is shining a brilliant light on the entire heritage of his instrument”! (The Telegraph) Marija Bulatovic, IE Young Ambassador Montenegro
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
IE Young Ambasssadors reporting Strawb berry revolution We are e the driviing force, the first sp park, a sw witch that will start a an avalan nche of knowle edge and interests. Serbian S leaders in youth entre epreneursh hip We liv ve in a digitally d c connected d world of o compre ehensive and continuous comm munication of mobille phoness and oth her multim media porrtable dev vices is growin ng. All the ese device es require e energy to work, and an e empty ba attery is unplea asant and frequent. Miloš Milisavljevi M ić was jusst 17 years old when the in nspiration hit him. He H was working on a school proje ect on susttainable energy. e “W We wanted d to find th he best o promotiing renew wable enerrgy, and knew k that to do tha at we nee eded to ways of reach people’s emotionss. Everybody has th heir own problems. p To capturre their attentiion we needed n to o make something g from which w they y will perrsonally benefit.” The Strrawberry Tree T is the e public so olar charge er for mobile phon nes inventted by a group of o studentts from the t Universsity of Belgrade. Th he inventiion was fo or the firstt time rep presented to Serbia and to o the wo orld in the t Octob ber of 2010 0 when it was w installed in The City Squ uare in th he centre of Obrenovac, Serb bia. This te echnologic cal giant, that regu ularly cha arges mob bile e phone
batterie es
with
clean
a and
ecolog gical ene ergy prod duced fro om sun,
represents
the e
uniq que
techno ological in nnovation.
Summ mit 2011 | 9. – 10. Jun ne 2011 | www w.incred dibleurope.com m
IE Young Ambassadors reporting It is important to mention that for the short period of time it is already awarded in our country as well as abroad. The team called Strawberry Energy invented, designed, and developed the project, and then constructed and installed the Solar Charger completely on their own. In the early period of the creation and work, the project was supported by the Business Technology Incubator of Technical Faculties Belgrade. The significance of the project was recognized by the Energy Efficiency Agency of Serbia. In their own words: “Our goal is to bring closer the renewable energy to all people. To find ways to put them in the function of general, public goods, so that everyone could have a direct benefit from them. We believe that this is the best way to become more familiar with renewable energy sources and understand their significance.” Strawberry energy is a group of talented young people gathered around a dream: a dream in which the world can do better, and that the right way. Dream in which the energy comes from the sun and wind, where the air is clean and there is unpolluted rivers. Dream in which the new technology and creativity are used help people and preserve the environment. “We want primarily for youth to become interested in the subject, how they chose to deal with it. We believe that this is an outstanding contribution not only to Serbia, but for the whole world and all of humanity, because this area is at the very beginning, full of potential and challenges. Man's survival on earth depends on renewable energy sources. In this regard, we want to give our contribution.”
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
IE Young Ambasssadors reporting 10,000 loadings were ac chieved in n 40 dayss from the date o of opening g Solar Charger. Since the t weath her was co old and th hat few pe eople werre on the streets, an ave erage of 250 2 people e a day sto opped to recharge their cell p phones. Future plans incllude the in nstallation n of more solar s charrgers on th he city squ uares in Belgrade municipalities an nd throughout Serbia. Given the positiv ve reviewss of the ean popu ulation, "Sttrawberry Tree" ma ay go beyond the e borders of the Europe countrry. Some of o the awa ards that they t have received so far: 1. Awa ard winners forr the best techno ological innova ation in the catego ory of stud dents 2008 8. 2. The Energy Associa ation aw ward winnerrs for bestt student project att the conferrence "Ene ergy 2009. 3. Fourrth place in Europe at the Intel Challe enge Com mpetition 2010, helld in Budap pest 2010. Svetozzar
Kujic,
Young
Ambassa ador,
Serbia
Summ mit 2011 | 9. – 10. Jun ne 2011 | www w.incred dibleurope.com m
IE Young Ambasssadors reporting
HarVA “Entrepre eneurs are not conte ent just to give a fish or teach how to o fish. They y will not re est until they have e revolutionized the fishing ind dustry.”Bill
Dray yton
(Ash hoka
Fo ounder).
Giving
absolute sense to o Drayton n’s wordss, Ajay Chaturvedi, Wha arton/ BITSS-Pilani alu umnus, hass founded d HarVa. In n my brief stint at Harva,, I had an a invalu uable exp perience of explorring the challenge es and opporttunities of rural India a. When I was aske ed to write e about th he innovations in the rec cent past in India for f the Inc credibleEurope summit-2011, I definitely y know there’ss no story other o than n HarVa. HarVa’s model is a for--profit selff-sustainab bility-based d model that is working w ds harnesssing value in rural In ndia to pro omote selff-sustainab ble liveliho oods. It toward offers wide ran nge of se ervice like BPO’s, Communit C ty based farming, Waste gement, MFI’s M and rural conssultants. Th he businesss model iis unique since it manag focuse es on ‘valu ue creatio on’ in rura al India. Th his businesss model is addressiing the major problems like poverrty, hunger, education in the rural r India.. HarVa is alleviatting poverrty by gen nerating employme e ent in area as where there t is none or o little vallue. It is eliiminating hunger ass a result there of. In n a way, Harva H is ensurin ng farmerss stay put and incre ease agricultural pro oductivity as a resultt of the increased wage es from alternate so ources of income for f their fa amilies from rural BPOs In this proc cess, it is setting s up self-sufficient cente ers that em mploy women in es. village
Summ mit 2011 | 9. – 10. Jun ne 2011 | www w.incred dibleurope.com m
IE Young Ambasssadors reporting
The rea ason wom men are
em mployed
typically these women w
— who are e otherwise e quite
adept and smarrt — will
no ot be able to step out of
their viillage to work. w As
a result, the ey will nott attrite
and of
stay time
is
be ecause
with h
jobs
m much longe er. Over a period
the
cost
ad dvantage es begin to o show.
olves the main prob blem of attrition a in urban BPO O centers. These This essentially so women also he elp in ac ccumulatin ng agri- and a goba ar-wastag ge for ele ectricity ation. genera The av verage size e of land holdings h in n India is very v small (less than 20,000 m²²), such small holdings h a often over-man are nned, resu ulting in diisguised e employment and low pro oductivity of labourr. Adoption of mode ern agricultural prac ctices and d use of techno ology is ina adequate e, hampere ed by igno orance of such prac ctices, hig gh costs and im mpracticality in the case c of sm mall land holdings. These problems have bee en hampe ering the growth g of the agric cultural sec ctor for so long g in India. HarVa is trying to address a th his with an n innovativ ve solution n which we call ‘Farm to o Firm Mod del”. HarVa a is consollidating sm mall fragm mented farmlands while empoweri e ing the fa armers with h financia al services,, modern technicall knowhow, lo ogistical support an nd most im mportantly y profit distribution techniquess. Land consollidation wiill make th he investm ments on th he heavy machinerry feasible and in turn inc creases th he producttivity. HarVa’s move towards self-susta ainable so ocio-capittalist mod del away y from arity driven n models is definitely going to t revolutiionize the Indian completely cha ector. rural se To kno ow more about a HarV Va, please e visit: www w.harva.co.in Sudhee er Babu Marisetty, M Y Young Ambassador India.
Summ mit 2011 | 9. – 10. Jun ne 2011 | www w.incred dibleurope.com m
IE Young Ambassadors reporting
A train journey across 24 European countries in 4 weeks, offering inspiring cross cultural experiences to its travellers: The Unity Express.
Europe is a diverse place full of colorful people, ethnic groups, national histories, value systems and world views. The team of The Unity Express believes that this diversity is a great strength. We believe that in every point of friction between the cultures of Europe lies the chance to make a step forward and create something better. The people in Europe need to understand that the process of the European Integration is not a threat, but rather a chance to develop full potential as we work closer together. To strengthen the European community and the collaboration between its people. To promote understanding, tolerance and respect among all people living in Europe. That's what the Unity Express invisions. The journey of the Unity Express train – 24 European countries, four weeks, 14 cities and over 1,000 travllers on board – lets people experience the beauty of Europe, unified in its diversity where we are inspired by the different cultures, stories, knowledge, ideas and visions we have. Through the Unity Express we can share and discuss them and use their power in projects that strengthen the relationships between us. This process is done by the people, for the people, from all layers in our society. The Unity Express is meant to inspire people to start and realize new initiatives and to work towards a more unified Europe.
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
IE Young Ambassadors reporting Get involved! As you can see: the magnitude of this project is huge! The Unity Express started out of idealism, wanting to accomplish its goals with the whole community. Therefore, everybody who helps does this voluntarily! Do you want to help us as well? You can decide how much you contribute and to which part. I'm sure there is a part within the project where you want to share your opinions with others, or maybe you have a contact in your network who can help us, or maybe you want to organize a part of the journey entirely. You decide! With the collaboration of Leona Kuyanova, Young Ambassador Czech Republic
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
IE Young Ambasssadors reporting
“It wa as about building b an n entire nation, and a this involve es more th han just bricks” Gawad d Kalinga The firsst time I he eard abou ut Gawad Kalinga, I was very skeptical s tto be hone est. We were sitting in a classro oom and listening to this audacious a s guy fro om the Philipp pines. Wha at he told us – and a he was w smiling throughout the whole presen ntation- was that th he project he´s worrking on has been a around fo or more than 10 years, and a their goal g is by y 2024 to get g 5 million familie es out of poverty p uild house es for them m. and bu I thoug ght he was crazy, and thatt´s probab bly why I started to o like him. What intrigue ed me mo ost aboutt the idea was not that it wa as a huge e project and so many people we ere workin ng on it. More M imporrtantly, the ere were tw wo reason ns why I ome of my time in researchin r ng this project and w why I wou uld love have invested so ntribute du uring the next years. to con Firstly, it was nev ver about building houses. h We W all can build hou uses, but this was someth hing bigge er. It was about a buiilding an entire e nation, and th his involve es more than ju ust bricks. It involvess creating an enviro onment by y changing the mindset of the pe eople who are involv ved. And th he second d thing th hat intrigue ed me wa as the div versity of tthe people who were participatting and the spiritt of those involve ed. No on ne is exc cluded, body can participatte. The aim m is to invo olve especially the social outtcasts – everyb those that t we don´t feel comfortab c ble around d and nev ver take th he time to talk to. Wheth her it be criminals orr people with w special needs, it doesn´tt matter- they t all can be e part of this.
Summ mit 2011 | 9. – 10. Jun ne 2011 | www w.incred dibleurope.com m
IE Young Ambasssadors reporting Building a natio on is more e than putting one brick over o the o other. It in nvolves ndous worrk in changing the whole w spirit of the na ation. And d it can on nly ever tremen be rea alized if all the people who are e involved d work toge ether to fu ulfill this misssion. For me e, this is th he goal we e should also a have if we wan nt to have e an impa act and chang ge Europe until 2049.. André Philippe Lauer, L Young Ambasssador Belgium
Make use e of your te eenmagin nation How man ny times h have you asked yourself where d do ideas come from? Do o people b born crea ative? If not, whe ere is the spark? Why W do some people seem m to have e ideas ers do not? ? and othe There is evidence e that, usually, u ideas follow pe ersonal exxperience,, and tha at is exac ctly what happene ed with Transfo ormers Pro oject (ww ww.projecttotransform mers.org). Three ye ears ago, the In Motion n, a Portug guese bre eak-dance e crew, started an informal o outreach project throug gh which they have been giv ving free dance d worrkshops an nd showcases to disadv vantaged teens in Se etúbal as a way to express e them some of the tea achings of this dance of solving yo our conflicts dancing g, without guns or ph hysical co ontact. The ide ea came to their minds m when n during so ome of their dance e showcase es they realized that dance is far from being something good just j to thosse who da ance, is eraction, and a thereffore, it can n be used to make better b the life of those who an inte watch the danc ce. Early this year, one o of the e members of this crew c joine ed a group of friends and started d the Tran nsformers Project, with w the goal g of sp preading the idea of this break--dance cre ew to othe er fields off art and sport.
Summ mit 2011 | 9. – 10. Jun ne 2011 | www w.incred dibleurope.com m
IE Young Ambassadors reporting Therefore, the Transformers Project has recruited 15 mentors (athletes, artists and others) to teach, from October 2010 to June 2011, 150 teens in schools, pediatric hospitals, centers to young offenders and schools for the visually impaired in Lisbon, the sports, forms of art or capabilities (e.g. First Aid) the teens in these institutions wish to learn more about. And the only payback these teens will have to give is to use what they have learned throughout the year to transform, in their own way and with their own freshness, the communities where they live. And so, using their teenmagination… •
Teens that learned graffiti can give a cultural identity and visual attraction to a common brick wall
•
Teens that learned freestyle football
can
make
a
showcase to raise balls and knickers
to
disadvantaged
youth… •
Teens that learned breakdance can give free dance workshops, to other teens…
And so on…Now it is your turn.
Experience and make use of your teenmagination to make a positive difference. João Brites, with the collaboration of Ana Catarina Silva, Young Ambassador Portugal
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
IE Young Ambassadors reporting
Phoenix Project Making a Difference! Let me tell you a story.
A
good
friend
of
mine
knew
it’s
impossible for one person
to
solve
the problems of orphans. But he wanted to make a difference. So in summer 2008 he created an idea of summer camp and asked people to join. International team of young volunteers in a small Ukrainian village facing challenges every day made an AMAZING event for kids who have never had so much fun and enjoyable time. The project was later awarded by one of US universities as a “good example of youth activism”. But the most valuable award for us was letters from children sharing their emotions and asking to come again. We called our project Phoenix – just to remember that wherever you see ashes you can set on fire again. That's how Phoenix Program started. It consists of a series of educational visits performed by university students to the Antonivka village (Mykolayiv region, Ukraine) school-orphanage. The main goal of the project is to establish positive youth models for school-orphanage students as well as to create additional opportunities for their self-realization. The program has been implemented since August 2008 up until present.
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
IE Young Ambassadors reporting There were numerous educational visits accomplished by volunteers. Each visit was devoted to a certain topic, among them were the following: arts and crafts, active citizenship, healthy life-style, basics of science (physics and experiments), sports. The school students were also taken on excursions outside the village. The greatest accomplishment of the project is the emotional ties that have been built between all volunteers and children at the orphanage. Anastasia Gavrylova, Young Ambassador Ukraine
Camp wide activities
Those who inspire and lead camps in Ukraine
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com
Editor in chief: Elizabeth Parra Ganteaume Special Thanks to: Selma Prodanovik Miriam Kickinger Marija Bulatovic Svetozar Kujic Sudheer Marisetty Leona Kuyanova André Philippe Lauer Ana Catarina Silva João Brites Anastasia Gavrylova
Summit 2011 | 9. – 10. June 2011 | www.incredibleurope.com