Re-generation Terrassa

rege ne ra tion

Report Terrassa 19.06.2017.

09.07.2017.

This report was produced during the training event in Terrassa (Spain) for re-generation, a project started by Associazione Culturale Link and granted by Erasmus+ program – Key Action 2 / Strategic Partnership, in cooperation with the organizations La Vibria (Spain), Intercultura (France) and Fundacja Navis (Poland).

The main aim of the project is to develop new connections between cultural spaces for youth, active in re-generated buildings of the cities, and international youth work.

Coordination of the Training Event in Spain: Carles Cunill Content of the report: ChloĂŠ Jaguin, Agata Niewola, Pierfrancesco Ditaranto, Carles Cunill Design of the ebook: Pierfrancesco Ditaranto For futher information about the project visit: www.regenerationeurope.wordpress.com

REGENERATED SPACES

La Vibria Intercultural La Vibria was founded in 2003 by a group of yongsters who wanted to learn new cultures and to work for tolerance and social intergration throughout the world. Ever since we have been growing, each time adding some new activities and project types, both on local and international level. Our main goal is facilitating youth mobility and, through this, promoting solidarity, tolerance, non formal and intercultural education to our society.

We consult youth and organizations that desire to learn more about international mobility, about the opportunities to travel, work, volunteer in other coutries, and means of financial support existing. We offer our services as a youth information point in Terrassa, where our headquarters is located in the Department of Youth of the City Council, but also, on a weekly basis, in other towns in the province of Barcelona. Apart from that, we organize workshops in the schools and other institutions. We are active in various actions of Erasmus Plus, hosting and sending european volunteers, participating and organizing training courses, youth exchanges and awareness rising campaigns on different topics that affect our youth. www.vibria.org fb: vibria.intercultural tt: @LaVibria ig: vibria.intercultural

soulvespa scooter club ateneu candela can fugarolas damunt un cel de fil el corralito hangar ateneu l'harmonia magneti studio espai jove la fontana tub d'assaig casa baumann

experiences revetlla de sant joan festa major de terrassa participants experiences

promotional events pij a la fresca regeneration street art event regeneration a la fresca

soulvespa scooter club terrassa

SoulVespa Scooter Club is a collective of almost 100 people who have two things in common: the passion for classic scooter and black music. Everything started when they were very young because a friend of them, Diego, started to listen with them black music: soul, rhythm’n’blues and ska.

Diego disappeared after some year and they started to organize a festival dedicate to him, the DiegoEstival, but he didn’t know anything about the festival.

Few years later he appeared and discovered the festival. After that, they have continued to organize and set up parties, dance session or dance hall, in different spaces of the city of Terrassa, trying to spread the power and the unique style of black music.

The other passion is for scooter, especially for old scooter, like Vespa and Lambretta, following 60’ british fashion of classique scooters. They meet every Wednesday in a beautiful space, in an old textile factory: talking, drinking beer, discussing and organizing the next events they’ve scheduled.

ateneu candela terrassa

Ateneu Candela is a social center in Terrassa, a meeting point for all citizens’ activities, producing culture from the citizens and for the citizens. It’s formed by a wide net of different associations and organization, with a strong connection with the city for forming a new type of urban political community. Nowadays in Ateneu Candela lives around 15 projects: PSR (Internet Radio), Guifi.net (open and free wireless communication project), Som Energia (to get energy from sustainable sources), Cooperativa (Collective Buying Power), Plantem-nos (Urban Occupied Orchard), Language lessons (Catalan, Spanish and English) to promote the social empowerment, Plataforma d’afectats per la Hipoteca (Housing rights and stop eviction). Every cultural or social project is autonomous, but it has to be and

related and coherent with the main topics of the whole center. They produce culture but can even host events such as movies projections, poetry sessions, conferences etc.

It’s very interesting how they are organized and how they managed all the realities and the correlated events. They meet every Monday in a training space where they imagine and discuss their collective strategy. They managed the whole space helped by working groups and the center host a very beautiful cafeteria where they can share their time, ideas and much more.

Ateneu Candela is a big open space on two levels.

In the ground floor there’s a little stage for concerts,

theatre, poetry sessions and conference, a bar with tables where you can have a coffee, beer and some food, and other rooms with the kitchen for the bar, activities like the cooperative for sustainable and responsible consumption. At the second floor they host a book shop, Llibreria Synusia, a space who’s trying to explore new form of dialogue in the net of social economy of the city. They advance critical contents through the books they sell, and through the self-training course they organize.

They focus their attention on all the critical movements, like political movements, LGBT, feminist, urban studies, history, philosophy, feminism, cultural studies, bio politic, ecology, postcolonial studies, and of course fiction, non fiction, children books and illustrated books, but also with a great

attention to all the independent publishing house.

They also organize meeting with writers and novelist, debates and discussions, movie projections, activities and workshop for children.

The strenght of this project comes from all the entities located in Ateneu Candela, because all of them form a “collective production”, and with a monthly contribution they “occupy” the space with a lot of activities, and each of them help to get know the other realities who share the same place. They also built a collective space for discussions, debates, trying to shape a new kind of social economy for managing common resources as with people involved as with their “living” projects.

CAN FUGAROLAs mataro'

50 km north of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast, Can Fugarolas is a collective of initiatives installed in a former garage of 4,000 m2.

The collective is recent and presents itself as the “sum of social, cultural and artistic initiatives”. Its aim is to build within this regenerated space an experience of self-management. As a project incubator, the members of the collective wish to integrate their project with the neighbourhood in order to forge links between the inhabitants of Havana, which are rather popular, and the “users” of Can Fugarolas. The project of this place is among the most interesting that I’ve visited during this program Re-regeneration Europe from the environment which hosts a residence for circus, by the ambition of self-management

and the diversity of the disciplines present in this place.

On the ground floor there is a repair workshop open to all (wood, metal, ceramics), 4 or 5 shared electric cars, a rehearsal room for groups of musicians, a huge storage space for equipments, the premises of a responsible purchasing cooperative and a collective kitchen. This one is used every Friday to host a meal to share with the members of the collective and the inhabitants of the district. The floors are occupied by a huge open space dedicated to circus arts, an audio-visual creation studio, a coworking space and creative workshops for artists. They work hand to hand with computer engineers and a shoemaker.

It is about 50 people who work in Can Fugarolas.

Our guide, Joan, was also honest and realistic about the complexity of sharing self-managed spaces, without help, and in community, where everyone has to learn how to find a place. The collective rent the garage from a private owner in change of reparation works. The building can be seized at any time due to the debts of the owner and the collective can be expelled by the bank. This is the main concern of the collective.

Cohabitation with the municipality is sometimes difficult but without major problems. Can Fugarolas has never asked for public subsidies. It is a choice that guarantees them autonomy and freedom in the management of their project. Receiving a public grant, or responding to a call for proposals, in some way complies with a public policy. It is also to enter into totality legally with the law, norms, etc. It’s a risk that loses the essence of the project. In order to be legally entitled, the municipality asks them for an authorization to occupy the space and to receive visits, but it was asserted to them “off” that the municipality did not intend to expel them (which does not exclude Not an expulsion by the bank now owner of the building). It should also be noted that there is no “Intermittent du spectacle” status as in France. Artists often have another job in parallel with their artistic activity, some also live between Spain and France.

The budget of Can Fugarolas is ensured by the

perception of the rents of the spaces of work and by a campaign of crowdfunding. The renovation of the site is estimated at 2 million euros. The collective must find a way to renovate the place, with a more restricted budget, and without the guarantee to remain in the place. Part of the building has already been renovated with recovery materials like windows for the double partition of the coworking space. Joan explains that apart from the risk of expulsion, the most important thing is the community that has been created more than the space itself, so they could reproduce the project in any place with the strenght of the community.

Damunt un cel de fil terrassa

Damunt un cel de fil is a vegetarian restaurant run by a couple. They had a couple of night business but they decided to open a restaurant because they wanted to work during the day. It’s located in an old textile fabric. They renewed the place by themselves and the interiors of this new fabric has now a great atmosphere.

At first there was a sewing workshop and a clothing store but after few months they decided to change place. Thanks to that the restaurant could be enlarged. Despite this, sometimes is difficult to find a place to sit there because the place started to be very popular due to the great quality of dishes and competitive prices.

This was, overall, my favourite restaurant in Catalunya (and not only).

el corralito terrassa

El Corralito is a collective of young artists based in Terrassa. The average age is around 20-22 years old. Most of them have not yet graduated. Many disciplines are present in this dynamic collective such as design, painting, graphics, graffiti, sculpture.

The collective decided to rent, a year and a half ago, a vacant space on the outskirts of downtown, and they finally found an old gym and boxing school. The building has a narrow ground floor. Access to the upper plateau is through a narrow and steep metal staircase. The state of the building is today very degraded. The owner is not at all willing to carry out the necessary rehabilitation work. Part of the roof has crumbled and the rest threatens to do the same. Electricity is not up to standard. It is difficult for El Corralito to organize exhibitions and receive visitants in these conditions. Nowadays the collective is looking for a new space for their activities.

hangar barcelona

History of Hangar starts in 1993 when there was a need to create a space for artists in Barcelona.

There was many places to display artwork but none of them were giving space and support for the process of creation. Association of Visual Artists of Catalonia was the one who recognized the problem and started to look for spaces to rent. They rented the old textile factory of MarquĂŠs de Santa Isabel in neighbourhood Poblenou. The idea of workspace developed in a resource centre for artistic production.

Artists can rent space from three months or two years, there’s an open call for it. During that time they have a full support from Hangars professionalis. They have free access to workshops and equipment.

Hangar has also residency for artists. They host maximum 4 artists who can stay in organization up to three months.

ateneu l'harmonia barcelona

Ateneu harmonia is a social centre located in a Sant Andreu district in Barcelona in a old textile fabric. The place has been renewed and now is a meeting place for people from the neighbourhood and different kind of associations.

At first the building was occupied by a private company but their activities weren’t related to the neighbourhood and the local community. The organizations from Sant Andreu district got together and convinced the municipality that the building should be common good for organizations and people from Sant Andreu.

L’Harmonia is open for everybody. The associations can use the space and equipment for free. There are many associations engaged in

the project and they have wide range of workshops related to kitchen, feminism, art, culture and ecology.

Last year they made an open call for opening a bar and a anti-fascist association won it.

People from L’Harmonia like to call it a meeting space, everybody can come here and eat their food or buy something in the bar. That brought new life to the centre, because sometimes people come here to drink a coffee and stay during all the cultural and social events because hosted in Ateneu l’Harmonia.

magneti studio terrassa

Magneti Studio is a collective of 5 artists who works on different disciplines: sculpture, visual arts, recording studio, scenography. Magneti Studio was founded in 2016 and it’s placed in a former mechanical workshop with the aim to promote artistic practices, collaboration between artistic disciplines and awareness of young audiences to art.

Magneti Studio was created by experienced artists who now live from their arts. They all have number of costumers, a strong and solid network, and they’re recognized around all Spain and even in Europe.

ESPAI JOVE LA FONTANA BARCELONA

Espai Jove La Fontana is a public youth facility situated in Gracia and it’s managed by the Youth Council of Barcelona. They have a wide range of different kind of activities for young people connected with their concerns and interests. They are proposed and carried out by associations and mostly they’re for free. Young people can participate in concerts, exhibitions, film festivals, workshops, talks.

The building has three floors and a basement. In the underground there is a big concert hall for 250 people. Bands who want to perform have to do it for free but they can use the space only by paying the sound check.

On the ground floor there is a main entrance to La Fontana and youth information point where young people can get information about any con-

cern. There is also a space to read, learn or just to relax.

On the first floor you can find offices of people who work in La Fontana and spaces to rent by associations. Mostly they are rented for free but if association want to take money for events that they created they have to pay for rent. On the third floor there is a conference room which is rented by associations and companies. Next to the second entrance there is a square which is a public space and it’s located between La Fontana and a kindergarten. Lots of young people from the Gracia neighbourhood come there to have a beer or to smoke and hang out with friends. La Fontana tries to catch their attention by organizing events on the square but it’s hard to get them involved.

There is an unwritten rule that people works there for about four years. Working with young people requires fresh look at theirs problems and interests. Not only the staff is changing once in four years but also the director of La Fontana.

Consell de la Joventut de Barcelona - cjb - (Youth Council of Barcelona) is a platform of associations and collectives who represent the youth organizations of the city of Barcelona. They always work as a net to promote life in association, contributing with proposals and building alternatives.

Their aim is mostly: • represent the youth of the city with the aim of bringing together as many entities as possible; • promote youth associations through support to youth organizations and from the demand for the improvement of their conditions;

• work in a network from the conception that this is the most efficient, representative and enriching mechanism possible in our daily lives.

• generate critical discourse with reality to empower us and empower youth.

The CJB is made up of more than 73 youth federations and associations that, in turn, encompass more than 450 base entities. Government bodies are the general assembly, the meeting of entities, the secretariat and the working groups.

The General Assembly is the highest decision body of the CJB and is made up of all the member entities. The Meeting of Entities is the periodic meeting of the maximum responsible of the member entities to discuss the most important subjects of the CJB. The Secretariat is the management and execu-

tion organ of the CJB and is made up of nine representatives from the different member entities.

It’s responsible for the performance - through the technical team - of the functions by the General Assembly.

The areas of work, instead, are three: the Participation, which brings together the programs of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth District, Education, Emancipation, Peace and Globalization, Health and Sustainability; the one of Communication and the one of Administration. The Working Groups are the participation tool of the member entities.

The Resource Centre for Youth Associations of Barcelona - CRAJ - was created in 1994 as a result of the claim of the Barcelona Youth Council (CJB).

As the years go by, the service is adapted to the needs of youth associations. Where it develops a series of very different areas in order to accomplish his objectives. These levels are: information, services, advice and promotion.

Over the years, the CRAJ has been expanding and improving its offer of services and most of them are free, aimed at supporting both associations and groups of young people. However, with the change of location, the CRAJ has become a municipal service within the Espai Jove La Fontana. CRAJ is the reference service for youth organizations and groups in the city, specialized in associations and youth participation in the city of Barcelona. They also inform, advise, train, speak up and facilitate the associative management of projects and groups, and the reality of activities of

the youth associations of the city.

All the actions that are developed in CRAJ of Barcelona focus on the following axes: • Inform about: associations and groups of young people in the city, of their activities and projects; On facilities, services and programs of interest for youth organizations; On resources for young people and about cultural activities, demonstrations, protest events and associative training.

• Advise on: subsidies, legal, fiscal and accounting topics; how to develop an international activity and how to manage the communication of the entity.

• Support the carrying out of activities through the assignment of spaces and necessary materials, • Promote and encourage the participation of young people in the associative fabric of the city, the growth of new associative projects, the realization of open and participatory activities, the exchange of experiences of a collective nature, etc.

In agreement with the District of Gràcia, Gracia Youth Information Point - pij - is a service that provides information and specialized guidance on different topics: training, employment, housing, associations, culture and leisure, the environment, health, sexuality, mobility and international cooperation, tourism, etc. to the young population of the District of Gracia. The most demanded services they offer are: international mobility and searching and advice for sharing a flat. Further, in a confidential manner, they answer to questions about job search, payroll questions, salaries, agreements, trade union rights, contracts and layoffs.

tub d'assaig terrassa

The place: an old laundry of 120 square meter in industrial factory built in the middle of the 20th century in the heart of Terrassa. The space looks like a small town, it feels like walking down a side street.

Tub d'Assaig, “Test tube” in English, is a collective of circus artists. The collective was created for a specific event in 2007. Initially the place was used to store the circus material. To pay the rent and expenses, Tub Assaig organizes a small cabaret, with artistic performances. In parallel with this work, a partnership with the schools of the city began to promote the circus with the children, which allowed to create links with the municipality. The artists also began to create and sell their shows.

Surfing on a growing reputation, Tub d’Assaig re-

gularly works with the municipality which has set up a circus festival. Over the years, Tub d’Assaig’s activities have expanded: performance, show production, intervention in schools, school for children and a school for adult.

The place now became too small and not up to standards to host all the activities of the collective.

After long negotiations with the municipality, Tub d’Assaig found a second place to install the circus school there. The old laundry will be devoted to the creative activities of the artists. An artistic activity like the circus demands space, and this is therefore expensive. Discussions with the municipality are complicated. It does not have a grant

policy for artistic collectives. Tub d’Assaig does not necessarily ask for a grant but a place to set up the circus school. The municipality has such places, or it could be a support when negotiating with private landlords. The circus has threatened to move to another city. This was the only way of arousing the interest of the municipality. According to the coordinator of the collective, there must be a problem so that public policies are interested in activities like these. This is a pity, because this kind of activity is essential for the dynamics of the city. The activities proposed by Tub d’Assaig are appreciated by the population. By encouraging creative collectives to organize themselves, the municipality does not offer the environment to the simple development of such activities.

CASA BAUMANN terrassa

Our visit week began with Casa Baumann, where you will find the offices of La Vibria Intercultural which welcomes us during our stay.

The missions of this place are multiple. It is the equivalent in France of a youth centre, a place that brings lot of information at young people about work, studies, international mobility, health and so on. The venue is hosting different projects as Bau House, Baumann Lab, Oficina Jove and BUCS. This building is a beautiful example of Modernism, the “Art Nouveau� architecture movement in Spain. It was built in 1916 by Josep M. Coll i Bacardi (21878-1917), an architect of the modernist movement.

Casa Baumann have a bar at the ground floor garden level: Bau House. Associations can organize exhibitions, concerts and theatres. This place of conviviality is key in the opening process of Casa Baumann. The place is open to the park and to the street. There is also an outside terrace that hosts a stage.

Baumann Lab, in a same level, is a place for young people to make creative projects. It is equipped with a photography laboratory, a room with computers with all necessary software to edit videos, cameras and a 3D printer. The public has free access to this equipment. It is only necessary to book the spaces in Oficina JOVE. Casa Baumann is also equipped with 4 or 5 music studios. Young people can spot and even record Music.

Most of the place is dedicated to hosting the Oficina Jove Young people find essential information on citizenship, housing, work, health, international mobility, studies and human rights education. For example, “Vibria Intercultural” assists young people who wants to realize an international mobility for study, work, internship or volunteering. Carles and Ares help young people to define their motivations and to find the information they need and even send and host volunteers of European Voluntary Service. They also organize training courses and exchanges in the Erasmus Plus program.

In France, Casa Baumann is the equivalent of the “Mission Locale”, the “Intercultura Dinan” Association. An association panel that accompanies the youth in various themes with the aim of developing citizenship and intercultural awareness.

TERRASSA CATALUNYA

Welcome to the vibrant city of Terrassa, a dream place for regenerated spaces lovers in Barcelona province.As an old industrial city, mostly in textile, many buildings in Terrassa dedicated to industry have been adapted and transformed to new realities. Starting by La VĂ­bria office, located in a modernist building (Casa Baumann). Before a house of a bourgeoisie family of industrials and now holder of services like the municipal youth information office, studios for young artists, rehearsal spaces for youth musicians, and some other youth initiatives. During our stay in Terrassa we had the opportunuty to partecipate to two of biggest cultural and folklore events: Sant Joan and Festa Major de Terrassa.

During Sant Joan we spent all the night on a beach with bonfire, fireworks, food and drinking; while, during the Festa Major we were immersed in the atmosphere of the party. All the hisotrical centre of the city was full of stages, concerts, performances, artists. We were also lucky to see the castellers, the typical human castle of Catalunya.

re-generation street art event 06.07.2017

The 7th of July Re-generation took the streets of Terrassa with an Streetart itinerant exhibition, as aresult of the cooperation between El Corralito, Magneti Studio and the international participants of the training event,specially ChloĂŠ who was working closely with them during one week.

The itinerant artpiece whas the result of a process of debate and reflection on the need of cultural and artistic spaces for youth in the city.

Bringing the work done to the street, gave us the opportunity to involve the local population, bring the debate to the street and give visibility to the project and to Erasmusplus program and its opportunities.

participants' experiences

Oh no, I have chocolate on my dress -agata niewola

I spend three weeks in Catalunya, first week I was living in Terrasa, second in Barcelona and third again in Terrasa. The first week was very intense because we visited a lot of regenerated places in Terrasa, Barcelona and Mataro. It was a good oportunity to ask questions about the finances, municipal support on their problems in managing these places. We’ve seen different kind of associacions: self-sufficient, supported by municipal grants or those who are informal groups of friends working together. It gave me a complete picture of what the situation of non-governmental organizations looks like. They share the same idea to create an open space for neighboors and associations. Even if they don’t have the financial support from the municipality they managed to offer many interesting activities.

And I saw soo many similarities with my city-Łódź. The post-industrial archicteture made me fell like at home. I hope that some of the abandoned buildings in my city will be used like L’harmonia or Can Fugarolas. Assiosiations who occupie these places turned them from decying and abonded to full of people, ideas, places. This is very inspiring.

We started our visit to Barcelona on Friday and had some free time to explore the city. It was great to just be a part of normal life in the city, get to know the places which are not only for tourists.

During these week I realized how hard is to live in a such a touristic place.

On Monday we started to work in La Fontana with Pierfrancesco. We could see how the organization works from the inside, meet the people who work there. Thanks to that I feel a part of the organization. We started our project which was a photo project of regenerated places in Gracia District. Gracia is an example of regeneration not in a sense of renewed buildings but the new people who started to rent flats and live there. The neighborhood have a new life now and it’s very popular.

We made photos of Casa la Montanya, Espai Social, La Sedeta, La Bruguera, Cive el Bosque and La Violeta which I liked the most. La Violeta have a beautiful interior and a bar witch a great atmosphere. They all work witch youth and have a diverse offer of activities. When we were talking witch CRAJ staff they told us there are many associacionts in the city who offer activities for free and when we visited these places we could see that they have a very big offer with free events for young people. But the time spend in La Fontana realised me that it’s not so easy to catch attention of young people. They have to work a lot to gain their trust and interest.

When we got back to Terrasa we could take part in Festa Major events. It was the first time I saw human towers and it was great. There were a

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lot of groups from Terrasa and other cities. Some of the towers was nine levels long… and even 10 one of them.

These three weeks in Catalunya where full of different experiences. At first I thought it will be too long to stay here for three weeks. But at the end of the trip I feel I could stay longer. For me it was very important that I had a chance to live in a normal flat, cook, and use the public transport because I could feel lika a temporary inhabitant. I’ve learned so much about regenerated places and management model of different associations.

It was also very important trip from a personal reasons. I had so much fun with Chloe and Pierfrancesco. I’m very happy that I could meet them.

I had some time only for me and it was nice to explore city by myself.

La meva revolucio comenca amb un viatge -chloe jaguin

Ce fut ma première participation à un programme d’échange Erasmus Plus. C’est même ma première expérience de mobilité interculturelle.

J’ai 27 ans et cette expérience fut pour moi une grande aventure. Certains sont habitués à voyager.

Ils ne se souviennent sûrement plus de se que procure comme émotions les premiers voyages.

J’ai intégré ce programme un peu par hasard, en levant la main à une réunion à l’Hôtel Pasteur, à Rennes. Ils cherchaient quelqu’un pour partir à Barcelone. J’étais au chômage en tout et pour tout depuis 12 heures et mon programme de l’été était assez flou. Je prépare depuis un an un voyage au Canada. Je suis comme ça. J’organise les choses bien à l’avance pour pouvoir les réaliser. Mais ce jour là, je ne sais pas pourquoi, je me suis dis que je pouvais le faire, que j’en étais capable. Je pense que dans mon esprit j’étais enfin prête à partir au Canada, alors pourquoi ne pas commencer par la Catalogne ?

J’ai attendu le départ pendant un mois, une éternité. Ma valise était prête 4 jours avant le vol de départ. Et pour ma part je pense que j’aurais pu aller camper à l’aéroport deux jours avant tel-

lement j’étais impatiente que ce programme commence. Ma valise était fermée, ainsi que ma trousse de toilette. J’avais choisis ma tenue depuis des jours.

Qu’est ce que le programme Erasmusplus?

C’est un programme qui mixe Training courses et Youth Exchange. Celui-ci en particulier fait participer 4 pays : l’Italie, la Pologne, l’Espagne et la France. Il a pour but de s’interroger sur les initiatives et les mécanismes de régénération des espaces urbains européens. Nous sommes donc 3 à être accueilli à Terrassa en Catalogne Agata de Pologne, Pierfrancesco d’Italie et moi-même de France.

Mon séjour en Catalogne fut très riche en visites, en rencontres et en enseignements. Je pense aussi que je remarquerais des changements après mon retour en France, selon les différentes choses que j’ai apprise. Je ne dis pas que j’ai radicalement changé, que je suis une « nouvelle personne ». Ce serait trop prétentieux et ce serait faire reposer trop d’espoir sur un voyage tel que celui-ci. Mais je peux déjà dire que maintenant je suis capable de le faire. Je n’aurais pas dis cela il y a encore 6 mois.

Il y aura forcément une différence entre l’avant et l’après ce voyage.

J’ai aussi commencé à renouer avec l’anglais.

L’anglais est la langue utilisée durant le séjour. C’est dans cette langue que sont réalisées nos visites, c’est dans cette langue que nous discutons. J’ai un mauvais niveau en anglais. Les raisons de cette méconnaissance sont nombreuses mais c’est principalement un manque de pratique de ma part. Je comprend aujourd’hui l’importance d’apprendre

l’anglais, ou une autre langue européenne, et de le pratiquer le plus souvent possible.

Je suis timide en général, donc en anglais c’est encore plus prégnant. J’ai tenté dès les premiers jours de dépasser cette crainte. Alors c’est vraiment je parle anglais comme une vache espagnole mais je pense avoir dépasser mes premiers niveaux d’appréhension. Après faut pas se mentir, j’ai pas compris certains traits d’humour, ni les détails des menus au restaurant, ni même des détails d’organisation sur certaines journées. Mais ce n’est rien. Il faut relativiser et savoir que cela mets un peu de temps pour parler facilement en anglais.

Peut être 4-5 semaines. Moi j’ai discuté 3 semaines en anglais, et je constate des progrès.

Passer 3 semaines en Youth Echange, c’est aussi vivre à l’heure espagnole. Ou en tout cas tenter de vivre à l’heure espagnole. Ce n’est pas des vacances, nous avons des visites, des réunions, etc.

Le rythme de la première semaine est très soutenu mais je découvre des lieux et des initiatives qui m’inspire et me donne à voir des modes d’organisations alternatifs.

Et donc nous sommes au même rythme que ces même personnes. Pour comprendre, il faut savoir que la journée espagnole est découpée ainsi : 9h/14h première partie des activités, 14h/16h pause, 16h/20h reprise des activités. Par exemple, les boutiques, les marchés ferment à 20h. Le diner est pris vers 21h environ, les soirées commencent vers 22h. La journée est plus découpée qu’en France et se prolonge plus tard. Cela est du à la chaleur, qui peut être écrasante comme lors de notre première

semaine. Pour moi, le rythme est dur à prendre.

En déjeunant à 8h, impossible de me réveiller plus tard, à 14h je meurs littéralement de faim. A 15h j’ai rarement envie de dormir, je suis impatiente que la vie reprenne. Mais malheureusement à 19h, je suis épuisé par la chaleur. Cette pause, ou sieste est en faite essentielle. Elle évite à ton corps d’être cassé par la chaleur et elle te permet de profiter de la douceur tardive du soir. Il m’aura fallut une bonne semaine pour m’y faire. Mais maintenant j’apprécié ce moment de break, pas forcément pour dormir mais pour lire par exemple.

L’Espagne, ou en tout cas la Catalogne est une société accueillante. Nous avons plusieurs fois remarqué avec Agata comment les catalans sont amicaux, ils aiment être ensemble, entre amis ou en famille, à la terrasse d’un café. Ils utilisent beaucoup l’espace public, il y a du monde tôt et tard dans les rues. Ils mangent souvent hors de leurs domiciles. C’est convivial. Je suis curieuse de voir quel est le rythme en hiver.

Le but des programmes européens d’échange est de favoriser l’interculturalité. Je n’avais jamais vécu l’interculturalité européen. Durant mes études, j’avais côtoyé des étudiantes espagnoles qui habitaient dans la même résidence que moi mais mon expérience de l’Europe s’était cantonnée à cette courte cohabitation et à des cours de droit européen à l’Université, il y a mieux pour avoir le sentiment d’être européenne. L’Union Européenne a été fondé pour maintenir la paix – et aussi pour favoriser les intérêts économiques de la France et de l’Allemagne. Aujourd’hui on lit partout, et on

peut le ressentir aussi, que le sentiment européen est en perte de vitesse, que la bureaucratie et les lobbys écrasent l’UE. C’est vrai, mais l’Union Européenne ce n’est pas que ça – et c’est un autre combat.

Au-delà d’une histoire commune, vivre un échange européen est riche de discussions et d’enseignements. J’ai discuté Droits des Femmes avec Agata, originaire de Łódź au cœur de la Pologne, avec Ares jeune femme Catalane. Les Droits des Femmes sont loin d’être les mêmes partout. Malgré nos origines différentes, nous partageons les mêmes craintes et les mêmes combats. J’ai beaucoup discuté à propos du mouvement indépendantiste Catalan. Ce sentiment d’appartenance est si fort chez certains, et l’histoire de ce mouvement est très liée à la construction de l’Espagne. En rentrant, je pense que je vais m’offrir un ou deux livres sur ce thème. Avant de partir François, de Intercultura Dinan, m’avait conseillé le livre « La villes des prodiges » d’Eduardo MENDOZA (« La Ciudad de los prodigios », 1988) qui relate l’histoire de Barcelone à travers le parcours de Onofre Bouliva, le personnage principal. Sans cet échange, je n’aurais pas découvert de romancier espagnol si agréable à découvrir. J’ai aussi discuté avec Agata de l’esprit d’entreprendre des jeunes polonais. Ils sont nombreux, comme Agata, qui à force de travail acharné créés leurs entreprises. Mon travail m’a offert l’opportunité de rencontrer beaucoup d’entrepreneur, et je toujours impressionné par ces personnes qui sont des forces de la nature. Moins sérieusement, j’ai aussi mangé du pain frotté à la tomate,

badigeonné d’huile d’olive avec une pointe de sel.

Un régal. Ares nous a appris à faire un Gazpacho.

Cette recette me faisait peur en France, je me demande aujourd’hui pourquoi. C’est super simple et tellement bon. Je veux en manger tous les jours, des litres ! La diversité culturelle de l’Europe est précieuse et c’est en la vivant que l’on sera prêt à en parler et à la valoriser.

Alors en résumé, mon échange fut une expérience extra-ordinaire pour moi. Justement car elle m’a sortie de mon quotidien, de ma zone de confort. J’ai appris à échanger avec des personnes d’une autre culture que la mienne, dans une langue qui n’est pas la mienne. J’ai vécu pendant 3 semaines à un autre rythme. Cela m’a parfois énervé mais cela m’a surtout appris à faire autrement que comme je le fais d’habitude. Et c’est très important de parfois mettre un pied hors de sa zone de confort. Je sais maintenant que je suis capable de partir, au prix certains soirs de petites crises de paniques, mais rien de grave. Je pars en septembre en voyage au Canada. Je sais que cette première expérience Erasmus Plus a été une chance pour moi de mieux me connaître et de partir de l’autre coté de l’Atlantique plus confiante.

A project by: Associazione Culturale Link (IT) granted by Erasmus+ program – Key Action 2 / Strategic Partnership, Partners in the project: Intercultura (FR) Fundacja Navis (PL) La Vibria Intercultural (ES) Participants to the Training Event in Spain: Pierfrancesco Ditaranto Officine Culturali - Gravina in Puglia (IT) Agata Niewola Niebostan - Łódź (PL) Chloé Jaguin esPASces Possibles? - Rennes (FR) Roger Abella Magneti Studio - Terrassa (ES) Oriol Mullor El Corralito - Terrassa (ES) Mireia Pérez Espai Jove La Fontana - Barcelona (ES) Carles Cunill (Coordinator) La Vibria Intercultural - Terrassa (ES)

' GRaCIES! Grazie! merci! dziekuje!

We would like to thank all the people who was involved in the Training Event of Re-generation project in Spain: To all regenerated spaces who shared their passion with us: to Alex form Damunt un Cel de Fil, to David and Ariadna from Ateneu L’Harmonia, to Joan from Can Fugarolas, to Moso and Tonisoul from Soul Vespa Scooter Club, to Mariona from Ateneu Candela, to Eva from Llibreria Synusia, to Núria and Ubi from Associació de Circ Tub d’Assaig, to Helena from la Fontana, to Laura and Sebas from Casa Baumann, to Luciana from Hangar.

To the regenerated spaces who host for some days the participants of Re-generation Spain: Toni, Anna and Ribi from Magneti Studio, to David Corral, Berta Pey, Sunshine Md, El Molino Tattoo, Largo Divad, Ari Martinez, Sergi Ianau, Itois Bru, Edmundo Garcia, Gerard Pla and Carlota from El Corralito, to Erica, Marina, Júlia, Helena, Jordi and Laura from La Fontana.

And very special thanks to Roger (Magneti Studio), Ambi Waki (El Corralito) and Mireia (La Fontana), to put all their energies in making the best out of this experience.

To the Youth Department of the City Council of Terrassa for their support.

To La Víbria team: Ares, Siim-Martin, Natalia and Carol, for your help and the good moments shared together.

To Re-generation team: Mino, Lucia, Birgit, Giuseppe from Link; Fabrice, François from Intercultura; Agnieszka from Navis.

Co-funded by

The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects 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.