LINK #163
December 15t h 2020
BOUNDARIES
Content K.A.NE. VOLUNTEERS & COLLABORATORS 4-9 QUOTE OF THE WEEK 10 - 11 GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS GET TO KNOW US 12 - 16 THREE QUESTIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS QUOTE OF THE WEEK JEREMY LLOYD 17 HOW TO SAY? 18 - 19 DARING TO SET BOUNDARIES... MAIN ARTICLE I 20 - 23 BORDERS: AN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CHALLENGE MAIN ARTICLE II 24 - 27 VOLUNTEERING ACROSS BORDERS MAIN ARTICLE III 28 - 29 THE BORDER BETWEEN STATES OF MIND COMPARING 32 - 35 DIFFERENCES: GREECE AND PORTUGAL MY PROJECT 36 - 37 VIKTOR IN THE OFFICE MY SENDING ORGANISATION 38 - 39 BRNO FOR YOU INTERVIEW WITH AN ESC VOLUNTEER 42 - 43 INTERVIEW WITH KATERINA FROM CZECH ART REVIEW 46 - 47 JORGE DREXLER QUOTE OF THE WEEK 48 - 49 EDGAR ALLAN POE INTERVIEW WITH A LOCAL VOLUNTEER 50 - 53 INTERVIEW WITH PATRICK FROM DASH PLACE TO TRAVEL 54 - 55 MONEMVASIA RECIPES 56 - 59 RECIPES FROM UKRAINE
LINK
Editorial
MAGDALENA EDITOR
TANIA
DESIGNER
fb.com/kane.kalamata
instagram.com/kanekalamata
info@ngokane.org www.ngokane.org www.kentroneon.wordpress.com +30 272 108 188 2 Salaminos 8 24100 Kalamata Greece
VOLUNTEERS A LBERT O Hello! My name is Alberto, I’m 22 and I’m from Murcia, a warm and beautiful city in southeastern Spain. I’m in Kalamata for 2 months and during my stay you’ll probably find me working in the dog shelter, walking by random places in the city with my camera, reading under any shaded bench or running, hiking and doing literally anything that involves movement.
ANNALISA Hello! I am Annalisa, I come from the wonderful city of Bologna (Northern Italy). I have an academic background in International Relations (European Affairs) and look forward to become a project developer in international cooperation, tackling social issues through the participation of civil society. I am spending a year in Kalamata, volunteering at the K.A.NE’s office, helping out with the design and management of youth mobility and social projects.
CLAIRE Hello, my name is Claire Madrigal and I am 22 years old. I am studying a Master 1 Social and Environmental in Montpellier, France. I come from the South of France so I have a very pronounced accent. I have already lived in Ireland for a year so my level of English is quite good. I came to Kalamata for the Lysos Garden project but also for other projects such as echitherapy and Dogshelter. I am a very smiling person and always happy !
C L A RA Hey, my name is Clara, I'm 18 and I'm from France, more specifically Lille. I wanted to go abroad to learn English, get out of school before resuming my studies and discovering new cultures. I am now a new volunteer at the Kalamata dog center for a period of 6 months.
DIOGO Hi! My name is Diogo Gonçalves, I’m 23 and I'm from Guimarães, it's a small city in the north of Portugal. I study Philosophy but right now I´m doing a GAP Year. I’m in Kalamata for two months volunteering at Kane Youth Center. I love to travel and get to know other cultures, and this opportunity to be so close to Greek life and its actors is a must. Along with philosophy, music, theater, sea and mountains, I am also passionate about associationism and non-formal education. If you want to find me i will be together with the locals trying to find out more about how the greeks live their lives and of course sharing what i know with them. 4
EMMA Hi, I’m Emma, I come from France and I’m nineteen years old. I’m in Greece for six month as volunteer to discover lot of things, as much as possible, to improve my English and why not to learn Greek. So I work in a horse therapic center.
KAS S A N DRA Hello! I am Kassandra and I come from Germany. I am eighteen years old and I’ve just finished school, so now I have time to experience something new and to travel. This is why I take part in the ESC in Kalamata for one year and I am pretty excited about it. I work in the Dog Rescue Center, because I love dogs and I want to support them.
LA URE I’m Laure and I come from Lille, in France. I'm a nurse and student of psychology. I’m interested in health, psychology and environmental fields. I’m in Kalamata for six months. I will work with people who have disabilities in garden farmer.
MA GDA L EN A Hi, my name is Magda, I come from Poland and will stay here in Kalamata until the end of January. I have a degree in Civil Engineering, but I didn’t like working in my profession, so now I’m switching to graphic design. And that’s what I will do here as a volunteer - help with all the design issues and create a consistent visual identification of K.A.NE. My idea of a time well spent is hiking, road tripping and checking out every cafetería in town.
MARIA Hey! I’m Maria and I come from Lisbon, Portugal. I just finished my bachelor in Communication Design and after doing an erasmus semester in Athens, I knew I had to come back to Greece. So, I ended up here in Kalamata where I’m going to work with video. I also have a big interest in performance art and cinema and in my work I always mix these different backgrounds and interests. I’m only going to stay for two months, but I’m really excited to get to know the Peloponnese and to enjoy this beautiful city by the sea.
TA N I A Yuhu! My name is Tania. I come from a town in the northeast of Spain. I studied psychology, although now I don’t have in mind to dedicate myself to it. Honestly, now what I want is to know new places and live new adventures. My life plan is to live in as many different countries as I can. I will stay in Kalamata for a year and I’m volunteer in The Dog Shelter. I love the nature, sea, music, photography and enjoying the life.
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THAI S My name is Thaïs, I am nineteen years old, I come from Montpellier in the south of France and I do my service at the dog shelter. I like everything related to nature, including animals, but apart from that my interest is more in art, in all its forms. I practice more in painting and drawing, photography, music and dance, and so on. I like to use my hands and express my body, and I hope to be able to do all in my lifetime. But I'm mostly here for discoveries and new experiences.
VA L EN T I N Bonjour (hello in English). My name is Valentin and I am a student in France. I'm 21. I decided to go to Greece for several reasons, the first one being that I love this country, I regularly come to Greece during my holidays. I am also here for my studies, having some English gaps I come to perfect my English. Finally I hope to meet many people during my 4 months in Kalamata.
VIKT OR Čau, I am Viktor, a 20 years old dude from Czech Republic. I’ll stay here until August 2021 so I will be here for a one whole year. Actually I have just moved from my parents house and this is for the first time when I am living on my own. Most of my time I watch some TV shows or read good books. Looking forward to writing many amazing articles for you.
V I RA Доброго дня любі друзі! My name is Vira, I am 25 years old. Last year I graduated with a Master's degree of Marketing and International Communication from the University of Economics in Katowice. I always believed that if a person really wants to achieve something, there are no boundaries to get it. I think so, because 3 years ago, before I came to Poland, I had a surgery on the spine that changed my life. Volunteering is close to me because I believe that only by supporting each other, teaching, talking - we can succeed, improve our lives on this planet.
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COLLABORATORS FI L A R E T OS Hello, I am Filaretos Vourkos. For the last 15 years I am working in the field of Non-formal education as a volunteer, youth worker and youth trainer. 10 years ago, I decided to create the Youth Centre of Kalamata, in order to initiate youth work in Kalamata and promote active citizenship as factor for change.
JELEN A Hi, I’m Jelena Scepanovic, an EVS coordinator in K.A.NE. and a volunteer of the Youth center. I came from Montenegro in 2012 as an EVS volunteer. I really liked the idea of the youth center and the work that K.A.NE. does, so I decided to stay and be part of it.
NAN T I A N A Hello everyone! I am Nadiana, ESC & VET coordinator in K.A.NE over the last few years as well as Greek teacher. I am passionate in travelling around, meeting new people and organising festivals.
SPIR O S
ANNA
Hello, my name is Spiros Koutsogiannis and since the beginning of 2020 I am a project manager and responsible for the Research and Development department of KANE. I hold a degree in Civil Engineering and I have been working in the EU funded projects field since 2010, having implemented almost 65 projects.
Hi, I'm Anna Charalampous. I'm here to help with K.A.NE. social media, website and administration. I'm happy to be part of the team promoting youth work, education and volunteerism, both locally and globally.
NANC Y Hello World! I’m Nancy and I have been working in K.A.NE. since 2017 as a Project Manager and EVS/ESC coordinator. I’m passionate about meeting new people and exchanging knowledge, experiences and ideas. I love the fact that many young people visit every year my hometown Kalamata and contribute to our society. 9
Quote
of the week
Author: VALENTIN
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“Your personal boundaries protect the inner core of your identity and your right to choices.� Gerard Manley Hopkins 11
H ave yo u e ve r s to o d o n t h e bo rd e r b e t w e e n tw o c o u n t r i e s ( o ne fo o t in o n e c o u n t r y, o n e i n t h e o t h er ) ?
ALBERTO Yes! I’ve been in 3 by foot I think, but the best one was between Perú and Bolivia, on the shore of Titicaca Lake, one of the most important places in Inca mythology.
CLARA Of course, living 10 minutes from the France/ Belgium border, it is not uncommon for me to have one foot in one and one foot in the other.
ANNALISA I have. Once between Brazil and Argentina (Iguazu waterfalls), once between Perú and Bolivia, once between Bolivia and Chile. To add to the fun, I almost got deported because an officer forgot to put a stamp on my passport and sent me directly across the border.
DIOGO Of course, with my Spanish "hermanos" many, many times. And whenever I have the opportunity in Europe to "deconstruct" a border by staying in the middle of it, I do it with pleasure!
CLAIRE Yes, the border between North Ireland and South Ireland, it was the famous invisible border.. Let’s see what’s going to happen with Brexit!
EMMA Yes, every time when I go to the Netherlands the border between Belgium and Netherlands
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TANIA I didn’t get to put my foot, but once I was in Mardin (Turkey) - 5 km from Syria. THAIS No I've never been exactly at the border between two countries, I've just seen in the car the separation between the two countries and the moment when you cross it. VALENTIN Of course, I live next to Belgium, so it’s not uncommon for me to find myself with one foot in France and the other in Belgium.
KASSANDRA
VIKTOR
Yes, I was at the tri-border region in Aachen, so there were the three countries: Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.
Yes, one time, between Czech Republic and Poland.
LAURE Yes, I lived in the city of Lille in France and the border with Belgium is really close. MAGDALENA Sure, between Poland and Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia (hiking in the mountains!), France and Italy while skiing (a lovely day in Montgenevre) and many, maaany more times. But this is not that interesting. I guess the coolest “standing on the border” was between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea in Spanish Tarifa! MARIA Yes, one time, between Czech Republic and Poland. VIRA I once stood on the border between Poland and Ukraine. And every time I catch myself thinking that in fact, all the boundaries we build in our heads, whether views on situations or people, are not as important as the real physical boundaries. To be honest, I'm very jealous of couples who can live next door, go for coffee, watch a movie... It's actually very cool, because I, for example, share a real border with my loved one, and I can't influence it. 13
KASSANDRA
What’s the most import ant boundary in your life ?
The most important boundary is between who you are right now and what you already reached and who you want to be and what you want to reach because this is the biggest life motivation to shift the boundary through becoming and reaching what you want step by step. LAURE My main limitation may be that I don't have time to do everything I want to do.
ALBERTO The boundary between my conscious and my unconscious part. The things I can’t control of myself versus the things I more or less can.
MAGDALENA My privacy and my personal space. I don’t like when people are touching and moving my things without asking.
ANNALISA It sounds cliché, but recently it’s the line between what I do because of my role and what I do because I want to.
MARIA
CLAIRE
The boundary between someone trying to help me and telling me what to do.
Between parents and their child. Sometimes we can’t cross some borders. You must respect your parents and their decisions. Sometimes you want to go against their will or to contradict them but it is a delicate border that you must not cross.
TANIA The importance of people getting involved in their business, and not the business of others.
CLARA THAIS
The biggest border, I think is when you come of age you finally realize the importance of things.
The one between the person I am and the person I have to be, depending on the people, the moments, the environment, etc.
DIOGO This must be the frontier of respect for others and their freedoms! This my friends should never be exceeded!
VALENTIN My personal boundary stops where other people’s boundaries begin. Everyone has their own activities, I don’t impose myself in those of others.
EMMA The most important boundary in my life is when you realize what you want to do with your life.
VIKTOR My biggest boundary is time because it is limited for everyone. VIRA My border, this is my financial capacity. Through this border I do not have the opportunity to achieve many goals and dreams, but all borders fall in time, like the Berlin state for example. 14
W h a t h a ve you le ar n e d ab o u t b ou n d a r ie s in you r e xp e r ie n c e as a n ES C volu n t e e r ? ALBERTO Each person has their own, and it’s important to respect them. ANNALISA
CLARA
I learnt that boundaries are a matter of testing.
What I learned is that despite the different nationalities, mentalities etc., we can manage to bond with some people and others not.
CLAIRE That it is sometimes difficult to communicate with someone because of the language barrier. Luckily many alternatives such as translation applications are there to help us. Communicating with Greeks is not always easy, especially when the alphabet is different and I can't read it...
DIOGO These are unusual times to talk about borders, after all, every day we hear about borders that open and close. In this ESC experience I learned that we care more about borders when we want to return to our comfort and we hardly think about it when we have it.
EMMA I learned that we are all different and that we have to adapt to the differences of others which could be a very big border. 15
KASSANDRA I learnt that I had imagined too many boundaries in my mind referring to life before I went to Greece. So guys, I am very grateful that everyone showed what is possible in life if you just work for it and that you can really do what you want!
THAIS The most important is the limit in language and communication with others. Then those in a common life other than the family you are used to live with, the ways of doing things are different, and this is not concrete but is specific to each one, different adaptations, especially with the person with whom you share your room. LAURE
VALENTIN
I learnt to live with other people in the same place.
I have learned that some people do not respect other people’s boundaries and that this does not bother them at all. We have to respect other people’s boundaries in order to live together properly. VIKTOR Living with others will set you so many boundaries and some people will put their boundaries even where they do not belong. VIRA
MAGDALENA
I would call this border a lifestyle. We were all born into different families. We all have different habits. We all have different mentalities and experiences. Therefore, this is the main border in communication between volunteers.
I learnt that some people will not respect you and your boundaries no matter what you do. MARIA I guess I learned that sometimes it’s not so easy to understand the boundaries of others, especially with the language gap, and this can result in some misunderstandings. TANIA I have learned to live with the boundaries of language. Not being able to express myself the way I want, having complex conversations... It has been a challenge. Maybe 2020 was my most soundless year. 16
“Laughter crosses boundaries of class and age… Humour is universal.” Jeremy Lloyd
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Author: VALENTIN
HOW TO SAY?
“Darin g to set b ou n d arie s is a b o ou rselves, even whe n w e r i
Os e r f ixe r d e s limites, c ’e s t avo ir le c o urag e de s ’a ime r s o i- mê me , même q u a n d o n ris q u e de d é c evo ir le s a u t res. O dw ag a w w y z n a c za n iu g r a n i c p o l e g a n a t y m, by mi e ć o dw ag ę koch a ć s a my ch s i e b i e , n awe t j e ś l i r y z y k u j e my, ż e z aw i e d z i e my i n ny ch . Το να τολμήσουμε να θέσουμε όρια είναι να έχουμε το θάρρος να αγαπάμε τον εαυτό μας, ακόμα και όταν διακινδυνεύουμε να απογοητεύσουμε άλλους. O dva h a s t a n ov i t h r a n ic e z n a m e n á m í t o dva hu m i l ova t s a m i s e b e , i k dy ž riskujeme, že ostatní z k l a me me .
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o u t ha vi n g t he courage to love isk di s a p p o i n t ing ot he rs .”
We r e s wagt, Gr enz en zu s e tz en, muss den Mut ha be n , sich selbst zu lie be n auch wenn er G e f a hr lä uft, ander e z u e nttäuschen. O sare s ta bilir e dei lim iti s i g n i fic a av e re il cor aggio d i ama re s e stessi, anche qua ndo si r ischia di de luder e gli altr i.
Atrev e rs e a establecer l í mi t e s e s te ner el cor aje d e a ma rnos a nosotros m i smos , incluso cuando c orre mos el r iesgo de decepc iona r a los dem ás. Ou sa r e s t a be lecer lim ites é t e r a c orag em de nos am armos a nós própr ios, mesmo qua nd o cor r em os o ri sc o de de sapontar os outros.
Author: VALENTIN
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BORDERS
AN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL
CHALLENGE 20
Borders reflect the spirit of the times.
years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Would we have thus moved from one world to another, from the opening of borders to their closing? Things are, in fact, a little more complex.
They evolve according to societies, barometers of their conflicts, fears, con-
quests and ambitions. Do they serve to protect or to exclude? Do they pro-
In the past, many European states prohibited their subjects from leaving their territory because the population was an agricultural, fiscal and military resource, and migration was seen as a rupture of allegiance. Then they controlled the right of entry, because they believed that migration defied the sovereignty of states while at the same time meeting the need for manpower, and was in line with the principles
mote peace or war? The security of people or their cohesion?
“People want to see borders,” said Donald Trump, who visited Scotland in the aftermath of the British referendum on leaving the European Union in 2016. According to Manuel Valls, the election of the billionaire would have revealed the “need for borders” that is emerging in the contemporary world. He contradicted the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, who, a few months earlier, said that these same borders were “the worst invention politicians have ever made”.
recognized by international conventions, such as the one on refugees and asylum. This contradiction between sovereignty and human rights, control, economic and sometimes also demographic needs, weighs on the ambiguity of the border, open today to Europeans within the space of free circulation that they have defined, but closed from the outside to non-Europeans, forming a new border.
Trump's victory was proclaimed on a very symbolic day: November 9, exactly twenty-seven
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This is the spirit of the Schengen system in which the United Kingdom and Ireland do not participate: free internal movement, strengthening Europe's external borders, decided at a time when it was thought that the era of mass migration was over for Europe, that migrants would return home and that Europeans would be more mobile to work in Europe and would replace non-Community foreigners in the tasks they assumed. A triple scenario that never materialized, and on which, however, the essential part of the European external border control system is based.
While mobility is valued for Europeans (as it is for students in the framework of the Erasmus exchange program), borders are closed to the greatest number and the mobility of the poor is often prohibited.
But borders are evolving, moving as new states enter the East. It is carried out at a distance, upstream and downstream (it is the externalization of borders with boarding controls in the countries of departure, the consular barrier, border guards at the gates of Europe, waiting zones and detention centers), it is the subject of a dynamic of bilateral and multilateral agreements with non-European countries in Europe's neighbourhood, criminalizing offenders who sometimes die at the borders or are kept in camps; finally, it is not closed to everyone because the elites of knowledge, creation, sport and the most fortunate can often cross it without difficulty.
Author: CLAIRE
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East Side Gallery, BERLIN WALL
“ While mobility is valued for Europeans, borders are closed to the greatest number and
�
the mobility of the poor is often prohibited.
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VOLUNTEERING ACROSS BORDERS 24
When we think about the concept of volunteering abroad and its scope, what comes naturally is the idea of people challenging themselves to take a leap and experience something new, crossing a border in a literal yes, of course - but above all a broader sense.
volunteering, I’ve seen incredibly strict people become flexible and resilient, and very easy going people become harsh, blunt, edgy. I believe international volunteering makes a very interesting case to explore boundaries in a variety of ways, from discovering historical and cultural traits, social norms and natural landscapes to having to see, name and deal with our own limits, the lines we consciously or unconsciously hold as tenets of our world. Through geographical distance, travelling forces us to put our entire reality in a mirror, see our own lives from a different angle, and of course that has its upsides and its downsides.
One thing that might not be so clear to someone who has never had this kind of experience is that volunteering abroad is never - never what one expects, even when one does the research, contacts the right people to get thorough information and makes sure to prepare the perfect suitcase, covering every eventuality (and we all know that doesn’t happen very often, young people really like the idea of going on adventures and improvising). After all, life is unpredictable when you are working a 9 to 5 job office in your home country, why wouldn’t it be in a completely new environment?
Here are some big and small boundaries (after all, everything is a matter of perspective) I crashed into and had to reconsider:
• Most of the world’s population has a diet based on rice. Not pasta, not salads, not potatoes with sausage, fish, fruits, not the things we
It’s a blessing and a curse, but the fact is that people and places surprise us, and we will never be able to predict exactly what kind of impact a new environment can have on our habits, our way of thinking, even our deepest sensitivities and beliefs. In my experience, through long term (6 + months) international
see in cooking shows. Rice.
•
Most of the world’s population does not
throw paper into a toilet.
• As a young, white, female, European, Italian person, you cannot just expect people to see
Author: ANNALISA
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you as you, a unique individual. There is such
simple sentence” can also put you in hilarious
a thing as a legacy that we carry just because
situations, but the advantages of expressing
we look a certain way or we were raised in a
yourself just can’t be compared.
certain place, it’s not something we can choo-
•
se and it is something that we have to manage.
than 3 years, there’s no way you will “make a
Belonging to the “white people” group raises
positive impact” on the place where you are
expectations: the same goes for “female”, for
volunteering. Not a real one, anyways. What
“Italians” and so on and so forth. Being open
you can do is become a better person - wiser,
to diversity implies acknowledging it, not pre-
kinder, more knowledgeable, open and resi-
tending we are blind and unbiased.
•
As a volunteer in a foreign country for less
lient - and hopefully put all those qualities to a
A lot of people don’t organise their lives
good use for the rest of the world in the rest of
around hours of 60 minutes each. If you want
your life.
to spend time with them, you’ll have to give it up, too.
All in all, I think volunteering abroad is about crossing and resetting boundaries, learning what your true priorities are and what you can adjust to, what you can end up enjoying even if you couldn’t even conceive of it before leaving your comfort zone.
• Feeling at home in a foreign country has nothing to do with spending time there or looking at its landscapes and everything to do with taking it in, allowing it to mix up with other things we associate with “home”, sometimes replacing them.
• Most people are more flexible than they (or others) think. Especially when left to their own devices.
• If there is such a thing as a universal concept, it’s genuine kindness. And if there’s a topic that will get any conversation going is food.
• A lot of people need a lot of words to express one concept. A lot of people will never make certain topics explicit, but it’s possible to go around them for hours and eventually get a handle of what they know and think about them (case in point: gender roles and sex).
• Knowing a language can get you a whole lot further than simply being able to receive and transmit information. It has to do with giving positive first impressions, and facilitating trust and creating bonds which will last. Being “the foreigner that doesn’t seem able to pick up a 26
The curious thing is that you don’t realize all these things before the experience is over, you have settled in in a new reality, and you can look at the whole issue from a distance, have a good laugh and a good cry about it and move forward knowing that boundaries are just a matter of testing. 27
THE BORDER BETWEEN STATES OF MIND
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States of mind are beliefs about you and your basic qualities and abilities. There are many states of mind in the world, each individual has their own state of mind, some people are alike because they have the same state of mind while others do not. The state of mind is what a person possesses, our thoughts and habits rule our life. We can clearly say that between some states of mind there is a big border. Today we can distinguish 2 states of mind, the fixed mindset and the development mindset. These two mindsets are different from each other, this difference creates a border between them.
• People who have a fixed state of mind consider that their capacities cannot change very much. They have qualities and faults which can only be changed at the margin. They see their abilities as a reflection of who they are. They tend to avoid difficulties and trials. • People characterized by a developmental mindset believe that talent and intelligence can grow with effort, training, and lessons learned from chess and others. These people are excited to learn. Our state of mind can change overnight, sometimes because of the loss of a loved one, illness etc... This can directly cause change in our mindset without even realizing it, luckily we can straighten up the slope. Author: CLARA
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DIFFERENCES: GREECE AND PORTUGAL
After living in Athens for six months and now two more in Kalamata I think I have created in my head more or less an idea about Greek people and the way they differ from the Portuguese. I guess I could speak about lots of things, but I prefer to present the ones that are more personal to me and that I have experienced.
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Author: MARIA
Greek people don't dance! This is a
Another thing is the lack of environmen-
fact. And all the Greeks that I’ve dis-
tal concerns in Greek minds. While in
cussed this subject with will agree. I
Portugal, it’s not normal, anymore, to
love dancing and in Portugal we dance
send the butts of cigars to the grou-
everywhere. In clubs everyone dances
nd, in Athens, especially, there’s trash
with everyone and no one is really afraid
everywhere! The recycling system do-
of touching people they don’t know.
esn't really seem to work and everyone
Here in Greece, I find myself dancing almost alone in clubs, cause even clubbing is not such a big tradition here. Also these (let’s call it) “fear” of physically interacting with random people is visible in the fact that everyone just handshakes you, instead of kissing, like we do in Portugal. Plus I feel that it’s a bit hard to really get to know Greeks, to really be friends with them. 33
uses plastic for everything! The coffee
so many. In Portugal it is more common
in plastic for me is just crazy. I think in
to ask “What do you want for lunch to-
this sense at least Portugal is trying a
day? Chinese, Mexican, Indian, Japa-
bit more and applying more and more
nese…?”.
measures, like this year started a non-
“
-waste government campaign, with new
I love dancing and in
solutions for supermarkets and restaurants to reduce their food waste.
Portugal we dance everywhere. In clubs
And I guess the last thing is how Gre-
everyone dances with
eks only eat greek food, like here in
everyone and no one is
Kalamata aside from pizza you don't
really afraid of touching
find anything beyond Greek cuisine
people they don’t know.
(and Kalamata is not that small). Also in
”
Athens, there are other options, but not
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MY PROJECT
So firstly I will start with my name. I am Viktor MotalĂk, I am from Czech Republic and currently I work in K.A.NE. office as a volunteer. My project is pretty simple. I help Nantiana with everything administrative related, from preparing annexes to Activity Agreements for future volunteers to departure documents for the current ones. In the office we do design, videos and also administrative work and that is a really big part of my project.
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Author: VIKTOR
What are my tasks? Every day begins with mails and with respon-
overview of everyone who is coming here as a
ses to them. Because we constantly have some
new volunteer and love preparing documents
volunteers who are leaving or arriving I have to
for them because one complete folder is my
prepare documents for them. I have to prepa-
product of work.
re them, then send them to Nantiana for check
What I am learning from it:
and if they are alright - print them. All signed
I think this volunteering is really good for my
documents I have to put into the right folders.
writing in English, because back in Czech Re-
Before people arrive I have to send them mail
public I was not using it very often. Also working
for pre-arrival preparation and also send them
with other people means doing compromises.
an offer about their projects on the ESC pla-
This volunteering is a really good middlestep
tform. When people arrive I have to collect their
between school and work.
travel tickets, for example flight tickets, boarding passes... and the same I have to do when people leave plus preparation of Youthpasses.
name of the project Le Sol - Learning Through Solidarity
These are some of the things that I do as a volunteer in Kalamata.
place of the project K.A.NE. office
People I work with:
address Salaminos 8, Kalamata
I work together in K.A.NE. office with 4 other volunteers from different countries, but also with employees of K.A.NE.
website www.ngokane.org
What I love about my work:
email info@ngokane.org
I especially love at my work one thing and that is constant English around me, written or
instagram & facebook facebook.com/kane.kalamata instagram.com/kanekalamata
spoken. Also meeting new people‌ online, but still meeting them. I really enjoy having a good 37
MY SENDING ORGANISATION
BRNO FOR YOU
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Author: VIKTOR
Brno for you is a non-governmental non-profit
everywhere. One day I became a member of
organization that leads young people to acti-
facebook group with Youth projects abroad and
ve citizenship, personal development and an
found there my future sending organisation sha-
inclusive society. Their activities are mainly fo-
ring this opportunity in Greece. So I contacted
cused on the transfer of knowledge and com-
them and after a short time we had a meeting
petencies to young people through non-for-
about my future project in Greece.
mal methods of education. They believe that youngsters should be educated outside the school system. Lifelong learning has an impact not only on individuals but also on society as
name of the organisation Brno for you
a whole. The association was founded in 2014 and since then they have been active in the
address Rybkova 23, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
field of non-formal education of young people (13 - 30 years). They strive for the concept of
website https://brnoforyou.cz/
non-formal education to be used to transfer knowledge in the areas of active citizenship,
email info@brnoforyou.cz
personal development, inclusion, environmental awareness and media literacy.
facebook facebook.com/brnoforyou
My experience:
instagram instagram.com/brnoforyou/
I wanted to fill my gap year between high school and university. So I was looking for that 39
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INTERVIEW In this LINK, we interview Katerina, a former volunteer in K.A.NE. office, as a graphic designer.
1
Katerina, in this edition we are speaking about borders. What does it mean for you? Katerina: For me national borders are not important. Because if you were born a few kilometers away, it doesn’t mean you are a different person. It’s more about mentality, cultural differences and rules. For example, in Poland the government is very connected with religion. Now it is forbidden 42
for a woman to have abortion. Another example is, LGBT people are not welcome in certain restaurants and areas (signs prohibiting access of these people). This country is however close to the Czech Republic, but it is very different.
borders is about alcohol. For example, in Spain and Italy it’s not so usual to drink alcohol without eating. In Czech Republic alcohol is a part of every event, and it's natural to drink often and not be drunk. But it's of course about personal boundaries. For me boundaries start where you can hurt another person.
2
In your opinion, are there differences between Greece and Czech Republic? Katerina: Of course, there are a lot. I like Greece
ESC
for traveling, going to the beach and spending my free time. There is more connection with nature in Greece in my opinion. But in Czech Republic, I have my family, my friends and it’s easier to find good work in the artistic field. But in Czech Republic it is more cold and strict.
3
When you think about Greece and Czech Republic, which images, which colors and emotions come to your mind? Katerina: When I think about Greece, I see the blue and yellow colours, I see diamond water as in Elafonisos and I feel pure happiness. When I am thinking about Czech Republic, I see the green and shadow colour, I see forest, and I feel more certainty.
name and surname Katerina Hlahulkova nationality Czech
4 Which differences have you
hosting organisation K.A.NE.
noticed about other cultures?
place Kalamata | GREECE
Katerina: Very important for me in personal meetings with people from different cultures is a sense of humor. I noticed for example that the people from North America that I’ve met, have a very different humor than Czech. They have more strict borders about things which are correct and which are “too much”. It’s sometimes unsettling. Another difference in personal
volunteering project Medianeras
Interviewer: LAURE
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ART REVIEW
Movimiento - Jorge Drexler
Jorge Drexler is an Uruguayan musician and songwriter who has been making music since 1991.
His style goes mainly from folk to other genres like pop and rock. But in my opinion, what makes Jorge Drexler special are his lyrics. He moved to Spain when he was starting in music so he has had different musical and cultural influences throughout his life.
46
In 2017, he released the album Salvavidas de
But, of course, this is just my opinion. Probably
hielo and the song Movimiento (movement, in
while listening to this song you’ll reach different
english) belongs to it. On it, Jorge talks about
ideas and thoughts than me, and I think that’s
people being nomadic species in transit. He
nice, how different the interaction with the same
says it’s inherent for us to move, to emigrate
thing can be for two people. So, in case you
and that this is how we’ve reached the histo-
want to give it a try, I recommend you the live
rical point where we are now. We don’t have
version of this song which Drexler sings in the
belongings, we have baggage and the world
NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert that you can find
is how it is because of migrations, interactions
on YouTube. This version has english subtitles,
between cultures, relationships between ani-
which I think it’s quite important taking into ac-
mals of the same species as we are.
count that Movimiento is in spanish.
I like songs with a background, with a message
“
beyond simple words. Songs that, apart from the rhythms, melodies and chords, give you
I like songs with a background, with a message beyond simple words. Songs that, apart from the rhythms, melodies and chords, give you ideas and points of view.
ideas and points of view. Songs that give us a new starting point to build new thoughts. And every time I listen to this song I think about how unfair it is to have borders, to limit the territory, to put a physical impediment that does not allow people to go from one place to another. I think about how grouping ourselves by natio-
”
nality is completely irrelevant, it simply places us in useless and stereotypical boxes, it makes us prejudge and be prejudged.
Author: ALBERTO
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“The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?� 48 Edgar Allan Poe
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Author: VALENTIN
INTERVIEW I work in the dog shelter DASH in Messini and during the work with dogs, we often confront boundaries. This is why I interviewed Patrick, a volunteer from the dog shelter, about resocialising dogs.
Interviewer: KASSANDRA
50
1
5
Who are you and where are you from?
You are responsible for rescuing stray or abused dogs. Is it difficult for rescued dogs in the beginning to live in the dog shelter?
Patrick: I am Patrick and I am a professional trainer for the behavior of dogs. Moreover, I live close to Kalamata.
Patrick: Yes, I am responsible for rescuing the
2
What is your motivation to work as a volunteer in DASH?
dogs. There are of course some dogs that have difficulties to live in the dog shelter but there are also others without problems, this always depends on the dog and its history. In the end, we always try to make the lives of the dogs as good as possible until they get adopted.
Patrick: First, I worked in the dog shelter of Kalamata and after it had closed, I went to the dog shelter in Messini.
3
LOCAL VOLUNTEER
What do you think about volunteering in general? Patrick: Volunteering is very important and life could be better if we would have on the one hand more volunteers in general and if on the other hand volunteering would be more supported. With volunteering, people connect and help together in one project to create a stronger support for it through working together.
4
Why do you have such a close connection to dogs? name Patrick
Patrick: I am so close to dogs because they make me a better human in every life situation. I really like them and because of knowing how to analyse their behavior, it is easy for me to be together with the dogs and to train them. In addition, I try to fight against animal abuse because every single creature has the right to a peaceful life and if it doesn‘t have it, I will protect it, doesn‘t matter if it is a dog, a rabbit, a cat, a pig or something else.
nationality Greek organisation DASH (Dream of A Safe Haven) place Messini | GREECE 51
6 Dogs which you rescue have
not socialized with people or other animals because they were abused in such a bad way by humans we can‘ really imagine, so they can‘t trust anybody. Then, there are very rare dogs which are pathological crazy as well.
often bad experiences or are even traumatized. Are there any boundaries to resocialize them?
8 How do you resocialize a dog
Patrick: Most of the dogs I rescued were abused
and what is the most difficult thing about it?
or injured by an accident. There are boundaries in resocialising them like their history, their personality and their age. Sometimes it is easy to earn their trust again but there are also cases where it is not possible anymore.
Patrick: There are a lot of things, so I just put it in a nutshell. You need energy, time to be with the dog, trust between you and it and most important love.
7
Did you ever experience a dog you couldn‘t resocialize? Patrick: Of course, I also had dogs we could
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PLACE TO TRAVEL MONEMVASIA - Μονεμβασία
Monemvasia is a town and a municipality in Laconia, a historical and administrative region of Greece located on the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. A 2 hours drive from Kalamata, the Rock as they call it, is an authentic pearl in the Gulf of Epidaurus. The arrival is not warm and the first impact leaves us a little disappointed, but as soon as we start to turn the slope to the land we are surprised by the first glimpse of what is the village of Monemvasia. 54
Author: DIOGO
The moment we enter the fort, everything changes and we lose the blue horizon that is replaced by narrow stone streets and houses from the 1930s. The place is picturesque and teleports us to another era, cars do not circulate in the streets because they are extremely narrow. From all over the town it is possible to see the top of the rock that serves as a cradle for the village. In the lower part of Monemvasia, between windows for lancers it is possible to leave the fort and go to the water for a swim. The horizon is breathtaking and the water is crystal clear. It is perfect for a dip in the middle of the day in summer, late spring and early autumn, because then in the village the temperature rises a lot. Monemvasia is also good for a relaxed stroll. Through its alleys it is possible to find beautiful terraces in the sun to drink a cold beer or coffee. I advise "Malvasia CafĂŠ" for a break while we get lost in the blue of the sea and the white top of the churches and chapels.
challenging and puts the slack to the test. It is worth wandering through the wreckage and understanding what the place was like in the 10th century. In the best preserved area, it is possible to visit the prison cells. Facing the sea there is a viewpoint that lets us understand the dimension of Monemvasia from above. The view is really stunning. On the north side of the upper city there is the "Agia Sophia Church's Monument" which holds impressive precipices over the sea behind it. On the way back down I would not miss the opportunity to have a meal at "Marianthi", a very typical place with very nice ladies behind and in front of the counter. The food consistently made with homemade products is excellent! The city is beautiful, and perfect for using up the entire camera roll. Its small streets, countless churches and chapels, the blue of the sea are impressive postcards of a Greece facing the sun. I was lucky enough to visit Monemvasia and I don't want anyone who has the opportunity to miss it. So, go there and
In the upper part of the island, reaching a maximum of 100 meters above the sea, there are vestiges of a huge medieval town. The way to find them is
dive in its waters!
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RECIPES FROM UKRAINE BORSHCH
Author: VIRA
Hard 1h 6 servings
INGREDIENTS:
Borshch is a classic dish of Slavic cuisine. It is a thick vegetable soup, the main ingredient of which is beets. How to cook a delicious borsch - it's up to you. Every family has its own recipe - someone adds mushrooms, someone beans. In Kiev Rus, borshch was prepared from edible leaves of borshch (hence the name). Later they began to cook with beets (hence the color). Potatoes have been added since the 19th century. INGREDIENTS: For broth:
For roasting:
For borshch:
• water - 1,5-2 liters • pork or beef on the bone - 400 g
• beets - 2 pieces. (small) • carrots - 1 piece • onion - 3 pieces. (medium) • tomato paste - 2 tablespoon • sunflower oil - 4-5 tablespoons • citric acid - a pinch
• fresh white cabbage 300 g • potatoes - 4 pieces (medium) • salt, bay leaf, herbs - to taste
To serve: • sour cream - 1 tablespoon • fresh herbs
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PREPARATION: Take a 3-liter pot. Pour 1,5-2 liters of water into it, then put the meat. Keep it on medium heat. Watch the broth, remove the foam before boiling. The broth will be tastier if you use the meat on the bone. When it boils, cover the pot with a lid and simmer for an hour and a half. While the broth is cooking, fry the vegetables. Wash and peel the beets, carrots and onions. Grate the beets on a large grater and the carrots on a medium one. Cut the onion into cubes. Pour oil into the pan, turn on medium heat. First, fry the onions and carrots (5 minutes), then add the beets. Sprinkle the beets with citric acid or with fresh lemon juice. This will make the borscht truly red. Fry the vegetables for another 5 minutes. Then add the tomato paste, stir and leave on the gas for another 5-7 minutes. When the broth is cooked, remove the meat from it. While the meat cools, toss the shredded cabbage in the broth. After 5-10 minutes, add the sliced potatoes. ​​ While the potatoes are cooking, separate the meat from the bones and cut into cubes. Return the meat to the soup. Add salt to taste. Stir. Add bay leaf and herbs. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for another 5-7 minutes. Then the borshch is ready! Borshch can be eaten immediately after cooking. But, as a rule, the next day it is even tastier. Pour the borshch on deep plates. Add sour cream, fresh herbs, ground black pepper (if you like it more spicy) and a slice of lemon (if you want more sour). Eat borshch with rye bread or butter buns and grated garlic.
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RECIPES FROM UKRAINE APPLES BAKED IN DOUGH
Author: VIRA
Easy 20 min 1 servings
Baked apples are one of the most popular Ukrainian desserts, a classic of national cuisine. Natural and very healthy products such as apples, honey and walnuts are used as ingredients. Thanks to the combination of honey and nuts, the dessert has an unrivaled aroma. Some housewives add raisins and dried apricots to the filling for apples, others jam, toffee and caramel, so the apple becomes even sweeter. It all depends on imagination and preferences. In order for the dish to turn out to be successful, you should choose unsweetened apples with firm pulp. Apples can be baked without dough, but then they will lose their flavor, while the dough is a vacuum that does not allow it to evaporate. Baked apples are considered a winter dish, so they are a great addition to the Christmas table. As a rule, apples in dough are served with tea, but still, traditionally, such a dessert is best washed down with milk. 58
INGREDIENTS: • Apple - 1 piece • Puff pastry - 150 g • Walnuts - 30 g • Egg - 1
• Honey - 20 g • Mint to taste • Powdered sugar to taste
PREPARATION: 1. Wash and peel the apple. 2. Carefully cut the core of the apple. 3. Put the apple on the puff pastry. 4. Put walnuts inside the apple. 5. Pour honey over the nuts. 6. Close the apple with the dough and pinch the edges tightly so that they do not creep when baking. 7. Beat the egg in a bowl until smooth. 8. Cover the baking sheet with parchment and put the apple on it. 9. Brush the apple with a beaten egg. 10. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees. Bake the apple until golden brown.
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The volunteers responsible for this publication are hosted in Greece in the framework of the European Solidarity Corps programme of the European Commission. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.