E-magazine Moja Slovenija February 2020 by Moja slovenija

February 2020

Slovenian stories from home and abroad

Repatriation - a pioneering project has succeeded 25 years of The Office: Preserving Slovenian culture and identity is still the main mission 1

Bernarda Inzko Fink: Souls touching is the most important, everything else is just gravy

Zvone Ĺ˝igon: First trip to Argentina has shaped my life

// FROM THIS ISSUE

Repatriation - a pioneering project - has succeeded 25 years of The Office: Ohranjanje slovenstva še vedno glavno poslanstvo Bernarda Inzko Fink: Souls touching is the most important, everything else is just gravy dr. Zvone Žigon: First trip to Argentina has shaped my life Moja Slovenija www.slovenci.si PUBLISHER

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Blanka Markovič Kocen

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Mezzo-soprano Bernarda Inzko Fink in concert

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Office entering the new year on a busy note

 Emil Karajić

The Government Office for Slovenians Abroad had an exceptionally eventful 2019 and is embarking on activities and events in the new year 2020 with new momentum and energy. The beginning of December was marked by two important anniversaries. The Government Office for Slovenians Abroad celebrated its 25th anniversary, an event that marked a quarter of a century of good cooperation with Slovenians in the neighbouring countries and abroad. On the following day, Office representatives attended a ceremony on the 50th anniversary of the Chamber of Trade Crafts and Small Business of Slovenia (OZS). It was on 7 December 1969 when twelve associations of craftspersons from Celje, Cerknica, Jesenice, Koper, Kranj, Ljubljana, Ljutomer, Murska Sobota, Novo Mesto, Radovljica and Tržič, the Association of Posavje Craftspersons from Krško and the Association of Hauliers from Maribor established the Union of Associations of Independent Craftspersons of Slovenia, the precursor of today's OZS. This was followed by a busy Merry December, which featured

numerous holiday meetings and receptions. Minister for Slovenians Abroad Peter J. Česnik and State Secretary Olga Belec attended a New Year's reception at the Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia in Klagenfurt, with the participants analysing the past year and expressing the wish to continue with the positive and constructive cooperation in 2020. Over the weekend, the road took us to Vienna, where Minister Česnik met the newly-elected member of the Austrian National Council Olga Voglauer, representative of the Centre for Austrian Nationalities Marjan Pipp and Slovenian Ambassador to Austria Ksenija Škrilec. He also visited The Knafelj Institution, a private scholarship institute, and the Vienna Christmas fair. The visit concluded with a traditional Christmas concert at Hotel Korotan, performed by a Slovenian choir from Vienna and a chamber choir from Slovenia's Nova Gorica.

State Secretary Belec was also busy, attending a holiday reception at the Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia in Szentgotthard, Hungary. Independence and Unity Day was celebrated on the occasion and Belec delivered the keynote address. The Office marked the end of the working year and start of New Year's holidays by taking a boat trip on the Ljubljanica River to see how the capital was decorated for the holidays. A toast was proposed for all achievements of the Office and the excellent work of our staff in the past year, with a wish for an even more successful 2020. In the following week, Minister Česnik attended the celebratory session of the National Assembly and the main national ceremony for Independence and Unity Day in Cankarjev Dom. The holiday lull lasted until the first working week in January, as many of us went

▲ Anton Novak, Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia in Klagenfurt, Jürgen Mandl, representative of the Chamber of Commerce of Carinthia, State Secretary Olga Belec, Minister Peter J. Česnik, Benjamin Wakounig, the president of the Slovenian Business Association (SGZ), and Felix Wieser, vice-president of the SGZ. PHOTO: The Office

away for holidays to have a rest after successfully concluding the year. January was somewhat calmer event-wise, with the year still »waking up« after the exhausting celebrations in December. The first event that we attended in the new decade took place in Cividale del Friuli, Italy, where Minister Česnik was among the keynote speakers at the 57th Day of Emigrants. This is the main social and political event for Slovenians in the Province of Udine, at which the situation in the Val Canale, Valli del Natisone and Alta Val Torre valleys and in Resia has been analysed and the principal needs of the Slovenian community in the Province of Udine have

been discussed since 1964. In the same week, Minister Česnik attended the ceremony declaring the person of the year in the Primorska region. This year the award went to Larisa Štoka, the president of the Koper-based humanitarian association Palčica Pomagalčica in Dobrodelni Škratki. At the weekend, Minister Česnik joined other senior officials in marking the 78th anniversary of the WWII battle between Slovenian Partisans and Germans in Dražgoše. On the following day, the minister appeared in Športel, the national television sport show dedicated

to Slovenian athletes in Italy. He talked about the problems with participation of Slovenian athletes from neighbouring countries in the Slovenian national rhythmic gymnastics championship. The minister concluded the week by attending two more events - the New Year's meeting of Slovenians of the Province of Udine and of the Soča Valley, and a ceremony marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In the following week, Minister Česnik attended a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the walkout of the Slovenian delegation from the 14th Congress of the League of Communists of

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▲ State Secretary Olga Belec attended a New Year’s reception at the Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia in Klagenfurt. PHOTO: The Office

Yugoslavia. The keynote speakers were Ciril Ribičič, the head of the Slovenian delegation and the president of the Central Committee of the League of Communists of Slovenia at the time, and Franci Pivec, a member of the Slovenian delegation. The ceremony was also addressed by President Borut Pahor. The minister concluded the working week by attending the traditional meeting of the Slovenian Union, a political party, in Trieste. The first month in the new decade concluded with a New Year's reception at the Slovak Embassy in Ljubljana. Throughout this time the Office was in charge of coordinating activities to repatriate Slovenians from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

You can read more about this in a separate article.

end of the month in Murska Sobota.

February is expected to be even more eventful. On the first day of the month, Minister Česnik attended the 28th cross-country skiing race of business executives, diplomats and politicians, this time only as a spectator. Coming up are the 3rd forum of the Slovenian Business Club (SBC), under the motto Young Are the Future of Entrepreneurial Slovenia, the Alpe-Adria 2020 tourism fair, and a cross-border business conference on circular economy in Sankt Kanzian am Klopeiner, Austria. Cultural events will follow, including the Slovenian Culture Holiday in Szentgotthard, Hungary, and the premiere of the film Slovenians in Canada at the

▲ Minister Česnik was among the keynote speakers at the 57th Day of Emigrants in Cividale del Friuli, Italy. PHOTO: STA

▲ Minister Česnik attended the ceremony marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. PHOTO: The Office

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Repatriation - a pioneering project - has succeeded

A group of Slovenians from Venezuela who had applied to be repatriated arrived in Slovenia on 20 January, Olga Belec, the state secretary at the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad, announced at a press conference. The repatriation is still ongoing and the Office is still accepting new applications. For the time being, repatriation has been granted to 29 persons, 21 of whom are already in Slovenia. ÂťIt is a pioneering project for Slovenia,ÂŤ Belec said. There was previously no such repatriation action plan in Slovenia and there have been quite a few challenges now that it is being implemented, from arranging the arrival to looking for accommodation and employment in Slovenia.

Applications for repatriation have so far been submitted by 50 persons, and the Office issued 16 decisions for a total of 29 persons. Six of them came to Slovenia in December 2019, and another 15 this January. Considering the number of decisions issued, another eight persons are expected to arrive,

with some of them waiting for the school year to end, and others arranging personal matters. A total of 15 additional persons are expected to come from Venezuela, as some of them have been asked to file additional paperwork. The Office has emphasised that the

criteria for repatriation are very strict, with applicants being required to prove that they are of Slovenian descent, and submit a certificate proving that they have no prior convictions. They also need to have active connections with Slovenia, i.e. be active in Slovenian associations. Dejan Valentinčič, the secretary at the Office, explained that the procedures had taken so long not because of the state administration, but because safety had been the first priority. »Our compatriots came to Slovenia before the worst would happen,« he said, noting that they had lived in difficult conditions in Venezuela. Two-thirds of the repatriated persons live with their relatives, and the state has helped the remaining third find accommodation. They are distributed all around the country, and in principle they live where

it is the most likely they will find a job. According to Belec, all of them want to find a job as soon as possible, and some of them have already had job interviews. Some of them are highly educated there are a doctor of chemistry and a special needs educator among them. The age structure is very diverse, from age five onwards, but it was mostly young families who have asked to be repatriated. While many of them do not speak Slovenian, they started learning the language or improving their knowledge of Slovenia already upon arrival. Belec noted that learning the language remained a problem, as the Interior Ministry only provided courses for foreigners, not for persons of Slovenian descent. But the Office is convinced that the problem will be solved soon, and notes that all compatriots who have already arrived in Slovenia feel good

and relieved to be able to live in peace and freedom. According to the Office's estimates, up to a thousand persons of Slovenian descent live in Venezuela, but not all of them meet the criteria for repatriation. Valentinčič noted that, interestingly, knowledge of Slovenian is not a criterion, as language as an element of national identity is among the first that gets lost. »You can be a good Slovenian without speaking Slovenian,« he added. Numerous Slovenians are preserving their identity by cherishing customs, such as baking potica cake for the holidays, he said.

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25 years of the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad: preserving Slovenian culture and identity is still the main mission 10

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The Government Office for Slovenians Abroad marked 25 years of its work on 4 December 2019 in Cankarjev Dom, in what is a major milestone in cooperation between Slovenia and its diaspora. »A quarter of a century has passed and preserving Slovenian culture and identity in the diaspora remains the Office's main mission,« Minister Peter Česnik said at the ceremony. According to him, it is not easy to find new approaches, and preserving Slovenian culture and identity is a challenge, which is being tackled not only by Slovenian emigrants themselves but also by representatives of umbrella organisations, various ministries and employees of the Office. »The situation in the neighbouring countries is serious ...« added the minister. »The previous generations of emigrants are disappearing faster than new emigrants are coming in.« Minister Česnik, who returned from his first official trip to Australia right before the anniversary, said that the visit was successful, but also difficult. According to him, almost 6,000 Slovenians are said to live in

Melbourne, but only 678 persons are members of the four Slovenian associations there. The Slovenian community is looking for new ways to prosper, and such a situation is also observed in other parts of the world. The minister does not expect that younger individual emigrants will join the existing Slovenian emigrant structures, but he and State Secretary Olga Belec are optimistic, confident that new measures for preserving Slovenian culture and identity will be more effective. »By establishing Slovenian business clubs, Facebook groups and similar we may slow down this negative trend, or even reverse it.« The minister expects that the Office will become a central information point for Slovenians all over the world.

»They say that there are around half a million Slovenian souls around the world ... Each of them is important to us,« he said, and thanked on the occasion of the silver jubilee all previous heads and employees of the Office, external partners and institutions who have helped the Office pursue its mission. Rudi Merljak, who has been with the Office since it was established, and who was the one who has submitted a written initiative in March 1993 for the Office to be formed, assessed the quarter of a century of the Office's work as very successful. In his address, he spoke about his beginnings, when he started working on 1 March 1993 as a government advisor in the Sector for

that have been established so far. They are usually highly educated, speak several languages, and do not leave home as refugees or for political reasons, or in search for work. They are confident and mostly economically independent. A Slovenian club is not a surrogate for the homeland, while occasional letters and expensive telephone calls have long been replaced by free apps such as Skype, Viber and WhatsApp. The Office is trying to adjust to all these new circumstances as best as it can.«

Slovenians Abroad at the Foreign Ministry. He said that he had seen in that job an opportunity to realise one of his life goals. This is why he immediately proposed to his superior, State Secretary Peter Vencelj, that the organisational structure be changed, and handed on 5 March 1993 an official proposal for the establishment of the Office, which Vencelj accepted. Merljak saw the formation of the Office as a great achievement for Slovenia and Slovenians outside the nation's borders, as well as a great personal success, which would not happen had the proposal not been supported by State Secretary Vencelj and Foreign Minister Lojze Peterle. »There is no bright future without respecting and observing remembrance,« Olga Belec, the state secretary at the Office, said as she addressed the ceremony. She focused on the future and said that after 25 years, the Office would not let its work become a routine. According

to her, the Office is paying particular attention to young people. »A modern emigrant has nothing in common with the models of emigration

Belec emphasised that the Office was preparing for legislative and regulatory changes in its field, and was breaking new ground in introducing the complex process of repatriation. It would also like to establish a development and information centre for Slovenians abroad and an emigration museum.  STA / Blanka Markovič Kocen  STA

// IN FOCUS At concert with Invasion group, Buenos Aires 2016. PHOTO: Marko Vombergar ▶

Bernarda Inzko Fink: Souls touching is the most important, everything else is just gravy  Blanka Markovič Kocen  STA, Marko Vombergar

Since February in Slovenia is dominated by culture, with Culture Day celebrated on 8 February, culture is the main topic of this month’s Moja Slovenija. On the occasion, we interviewed the world-renowned mezzo-soprano Bernarda Fink, and we also present the Postojna mixed choir, an ambassador of Slovenian culture.

// IN FOCUS Mezzo-soprano Bernarda Fink is one of the most celebrated and famous members of the Slovenian ethnic community in the Austrian state of Carinthia. Born in Buenos Aires into a family of Slovenian emigrants, Fink was raised and educated in Argentina (Instituto Superio de Arte del Teatro Colon), before she was discovered by the international music community; in recent decades she has performed in many opera houses around the world and collaborated with orchestras and conductors of world renown. »As a student, I was particularly interested in oratorios and lieds, which is why Europe was more interesting to me,« Fink explained her decision to leave Argentina. »The culture of concert repertoires, sacral music and lieds is more developed. My first stop was Geneva. This was a result of me meeting top Swiss artists who came to Argentina to perform in Teatro Colón. What is more, my friend Lia, who is also a Slovenian from Argentina, lived near Geneva. She took me in for a few months and was very supportive. This is something I will be grateful for for the rest of my life!«. What was your impression of Slovenia when you first visited as a child of Slovenian parents? I visited Slovenia for the first time in December 1985. My grandmother, two uncles and a cousin lived in Ljubljana at the time. Meeting them was very emotional, especially for me. I was already an adult when I saw my relatives in Slovenia for the first time ... Slovenia did not seem white to me, as they had described it, but grey. I was also surprised by the smell of coal smoke. Both things have fortunately improved since. As a concert singer, you regularly perform in large musical centres around the world - which one is particularly important to you,

▲ The chair of the Prešern Fund managing board, academic Jože Trontelj, 2013 Prešer Križaj, Minister Žiga Turk, mezzo-soprano Bernarda Fink and bass bariton Marcos Fink

which one is your favourite? I am constantly surprised by concert halls I did not previously know about. The Royal Concertgebouw hall in Amsterdam, Salzburg's Mozarteum, Musikverein in Vienna and, of course, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, have been my favourites for quite a while. I recently performed for the first time in Sala Säo Paulo in Brazil, which was built on the remains of a large railway station. It impressed me with its architecture, and it is also a fantastic hall acoustically. Do you remember your first performance? There are some concerts I remember to this day: when I first stood on the stage of Teatro Colón, when I was still a student; my first performance of Bach cantatas in an Evangelical Methodist church in Buenos Aires. I felt that I touched the audience by singing Bach. I also fondly remember my first recitals in the Slovenian Culture Centre in Buenos Aires.

You have received numerous awards, from the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art in 2006 to the Prešeren Fund Prize in 2013, and the honorific title of Kammersänger (chamber singer). What do these awards really mean to you? Everybody deals with something, creates something, searches for something and is persistent in their work. To me the most important thing is that you touch people's souls, and everything else is fortuitous recognition, which of course makes you happy, but it also carries with it the responsibility to spread positive energy. Your brother Marko Fink, who is also a singer of world renown, has recently moved to Slovenia. Have you ever though about or wished to live in Slovenia yourself? My husband is closely connected to Carinthia and the village we live in. My roots are the strongest in Slovenia and me and Slovenia feel as one.

have walks in fresh air. Are your children musically talented, too? My son is interested in and has a good knowledge of all types of music, and he keeps surprising me, while my daughter has chosen music as profession. She is a singer in musicals and currently performs one of the main roles in a operetta-musical in Hanover.

ren Prize laureates baritone JoĹže Vidic, primabalerina of the Ljubljana ballet Regina k. PHOTO: STA

I am lucky that for me, Carinthia is a small but different Slovenia, and the Karavanke mountains are not so high that I would not be able to visit my two brothers, who have settled in the homeland of our parents.

Italian, which is not really an achievement for a Spanish-speaking person. I think that what was decisive in my case is that I grew up speaking Spanish and Slovenian, which are very different languages.

You say that you and your husband, Carinthian Slovenian and diplomat Valentin Inzko, live a ÂťGypsy lifeÂŤ. What do you mean? I am actually a dual nomad, therefore the allusion to nomadic life: I travelled the world as I performed, and at the same time we moved a lot because of my husband's work. I am happy that we finally have a home, where we can settle down with our family.

What operas do you like the most? Mozart's operas, French and Russian repertoires... And, of course, Monteverdi, Handel and other Baroque operas.

You speak seven languages. Is it true that it is easier for people with musical talent to learn foreign languages? This is what they say, but my Argentinian colleague who has had an excellent career as a tenor, for instance, could not learn more than basic

Do you have a special routine before a performance? I need a lot of peace and concentration. And before I hit the stage, I say the Lord's Prayer ... A voice that is recognised all around the world surely needs a lot of maintenance ... I am lucky to be very healthy and I do not have to spend too much time taking care of myself. But a healthy voice needs a healthy body, so I have to make sure that I eat healthily, have plenty of rest, exercise regularly and

What is the thing you are the most grateful for when it comes to your family, your parents? That they gave me the feeling that I am safe at home, that the mother and father stuck together and that they loved us. Their love was also about being an example of how to be faithful and true to your personal and national narrative. We always talked about what happened in the war, and this part of the past was never a taboo in our home, like it was in Slovenia. I am happy that this is something that is increasingly talked and read about. This is healthy and very important! Do you get extra emotional when you perform in Slovenia? Although I am in not in Slovenia as much as I would like to be, I feel at home here. When I stand on the stage, I always have the feeling that the audience is like a family who I love, regardless of the place where I perform. What is the state of Slovenian culture in your opinion? Since I do not live in Slovenia, I am not able to speak about the state of culture in general. I am surprised by the high number of choirs and their good quality, for which Slovenia gets recognised in the world.

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Postojna mixed choir: Going into the world with Slovenian song  Blanka Markovič Kocen

Slovenian artists who perform outside Slovenia’s borders are true ambassadors of Slovenia, and one such group is the Postojna mixed choir, which last year marked its 35th anniversary. Its president Pia De Paulis Debevec spoke for Moja Slovenija about how the choir has grown and developed, and many other things.

▲ On the home stage: a photograph from a concert in the Postojna Music School Hall. Photo: Ladislao Torresan

The choir was established in 1983 by Ivo Jelerčič. So that the group could perform at a higher level and be able to interpret demanding works, he gathered twenty young singers, a majority of whom had previous experience in choral singing. With a clear vision and dedicated professional work, he elevated the young group to the top of the choral scene in Primorska. »In the first thirteen years, the choir exceeded the framework of a chamber music group, and in its heyday it numbered as many as 45 singers. There were years when we faced problems with the structure of an individual section or with balancing the choir in terms of voice types. We were lucky to be able to solve them every time,« said De Paulis Debevec. »The choir currently

has 26 singers, and we are looking to expand it and make it younger. The singer structure is very diverse, but the great joy of singing and mutual friendship, connectedness and understanding is what brings us together.« Each conductor leaves their own stamp Conductors have been the strongest influence on the choir's work. »In a short time, Ivo Jelerčič managed to catapult it among the best choirs in Primorska and keep it there in the years to follow. In that period, the choir issued its first cassette and record. The Matej Penko period, between 1997 and 2009, was marked by appearances at competitions, with the first one, at the national competition

“The choir currently has 26 singers, and we are looking to expand it and make it younger. The singer structure is very diverse, but the great joy of singing and mutual friendship, connectedness and understanding is what brings us together.”

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▲ Rijeka 2019: a visit in Rijeka to the Slovenian Culture and Education Association Bazovica (9 February 2019). Photo: Ladislao Torresan

called Our Song 1999, being more than successful. At the time, the choir cooperated a lot with Slovenian and foreign choirs, and with various instrumentalists, and organised seminars for amateur choir conductors. It saved its work from oblivion by issuing two records. In the following seven years, led by Mirko Ferlan, the choir continued with all its activities, and achieved some nice results at competitions, while also establishing close ties with Slovenians in the neighbouring countries and Slovenian emigrants. Some major projects come from this period: making a song with the rock group AlienS, recording a flash mob video, starting a series of concerts called U3NEK ... It issued its fourth independent record on the 30th anniversary.« Since the autumn of 2016, the choir has been led by the acclaimed conductor Matjaž Šček. »Cooperation

with Slovenian and foreign conductors brings added value to our work. I should single out a new piece by Bojan Glavina, which we first performed last December. It is a complex musical work which, in addition to a choir, is performed by instrumentalists, a soprano and a recitalist. This is beautiful and enriching experience for singers, which expands our singing and musical horizon,« she added. Each conductor leaves a special mark on the choir with their approach and personality. And with each conductor, the choir slightly changes its character, sound and repertoire. Each of them invest a lot of effort and knowledge in their work with singers, further developing the choir. Its members develop too, as singers and as persons, said De Paulis Debevec. Choral music trends Like every activity, choral singing has

made significant progress in recent decades. Vocal technique is developing, singing and musical education of singers is important, repertoires are changing, new genres are emerging. »Sometimes it seems to us that in modern choral singing, many things are actually more important than singing itself - stage set-up, choreography, special effects... Well, our choir still relies more on a 'classical repertoire',« she said. According to her, the choir's current repertoire is diverse, and includes sacral and secular works by foreign and Slovenians composers from all periods. Ever since the choir's very beginnings, a special place has been kept for Slovenian folk songs and works by Slovenian composers. »We do not conduct musical experiments. While selecting the programme, the conductor always focuses on the message the works convey. We are

beginnings, which of course also has something to do with the proximity of Italy and Croatia, and personal connections and acquaintances. »Visits, joint concerts and singer exchanges are part of our usual activity. When we travel in Europe, we always establish contact with Slovenian associations and their choirs. We organised joint concerts and independent concert many times. So far we have met Slovenians in Greece, Belgium, Austria, Italy and in Zagreb, Varaždin, Belgrade, Zaječar, Negotin, Bor, Pula, Poreč, Prijedor and Rijeka. We were also guests of Slovenian ambassadors in the Czech Republic, Greece and Hungary. Slovenians love to sing, regardless of where they live - we realised this at every meeting we attended. A large number of choirs are active, as Slovenians abroad are aware that preserving Slovenian song is closely connected with preserving the mother tongue and national identity.« happy and proud that acclaimed composers such as Alojz Srebotnjak, Ambrož Čopi and Nana Forte have written pieces for our choir, and also Roberto Brisotto, Aldo Kumar, Andrej Misson and Bojan Glavina in the last

And what was the most interesting reception hosted for the Postojna singers? »It's hard for me to tell which the most interesting one was, as every reception was special. We were welcomed everywhere with open

remembered from their youth, or songs they have learned from their parents or grandparents. I remember a very emotional meeting with Slovenians at the embassy in Athens, when we were hosted by the ambassador. While reviving memories, we could feel their pain and nostalgia. In Belgium, we were surprised, for example, by the good knowledge of Slovenian of the third generation of Slovenians there,« De Paulis Debevec remembers. She added that the choir was always pleasantly surprised by the strong links between emigrant associations and the enthusiasm with which they preserve their cultural and national identity. The choir has been participating in numerous competitions since 1999 and it has achieved enviable results. »Since then we have attended seven regional and seven national competitions and 22 international competitions. When it comes to achievements, the 2006/2007 season could be singled out, when the choir, conducted by Matej Penko, won the first awards at a regional competition and at the Our Songs national competition, and won the Robert Schumann international competition in Germany. From

“Sometimes it seems to us that in modern choral singing, many things are actually more important than singing itself - stage set-up, choreography, special effects... Well, our choir still relies more on a ‘classical repertoire’”

three years.« Cooperation with choirs from the neighbouring countries The choir has been cooperating with choirs from the neighbouring countries practically since its very

arms, and the meetings were pleasant, warm-hearted, even emotional. Often when we sang Slovenian folk songs we noticed tears in the eyes of people who had left their native Slovenian land long ago, or who sang along as we performed songs they

the Mirko Ferlan era, I would single out the Praga Cantat competition in 2011, at which we received the first award in the folk category and the first place ex aequo in Matera, Italy in 2017,« she listed the greatest achievements and, asked whether there

// IN FOCUS were singers in the choir who had been in for the whole 36 years, said that »some of the singers have been singing in the choir for the first rehearsal and I hope that they will stick around for at least a few years...« Youths are more excited about instant gratification Interest in choral singing differs among young people, said De Paulis Debevec, who thinks that this strongly depends on the tradition in an individual environment, in particular on whether children and youths can be motivated. »Serious singing in a choir, regardless of age, requires a lot of work, persistence, discipline, sacrifice and responsibility. Even if interest is high, the readiness of young people to attend rehearsals regularly or even perform at concerts is usually much smaller. They usually set other priorities for themselves, where goals are easier and quicker to achieve. After being active in education for al-

“A large number of choirs are active, as Slovenians abroad are aware that preserving Slovenian song is closely connected with preserving the mother tongue and national identity.” most 30 years, I sadly have to admit that parents are not very supportive of choral singing. It is easier when the love of choir singing is systemically developed from childhood, through youth bands in schools to the later inclusion in adult choirs. This is something that is unfortunately not (yet) the case in Slovenia.«

Classical choirs in decline They say that choral singing is a source of Slovenian pride, and singing in choirs is the most widespread leisure activity in the country. »When it comes to the number of singers and choirs, this is certainly true,« said De Paulis Debevec. »We have noticed that the number of small bands and vocal groups has been increasing in recent years, but numerous (large) choirs are struggling to fill their ranks - at least in our region. What is more, there are ever more project bands, which are occasionally active and do not have a permanent line-up, while the number of classical choirs such as ours is declining by the day. This is probably because of several purely practical reasons - simpler coordination of dates and interests, easier organisation of activities, lower costs. This is also supposedly connected with today's tempo of life, shortage of time and with interests changing too quickly and, in my opinion, with increasing individualism.« De Paulis Debevec notices that the choir has a steady audience at its concerts, who have been following and supporting it, and giving its existence a purpose. »True admirers of choral music come to our serious concerts - and most of our concerts are serious. At special events or concerts with a more relaxed concept and programme (such as, for example, our Midsummer Night's concert), we attract a broader circle of listeners. It is then that we realise that a lot of people follow our work, that they like our singing and that they are proud of us, although they rarely visit our concerts. This is probably also true when it comes to other, similar choirs.« Slovenia does not have a choral music association, and De Paulis Debevec believes that the need for such an association depends on what would

be its goals, vision and programme. »Considering the large number of choirs and their diversity, it would not be simple to establish a concept and manage such an association. We would almost certainly also face a financing problem. Certain activities related to connecting and associating choirs are currently performed by the Public Fund for Cultural Activities, and there is even an association in Primorska - the Union of Choirs of Primorska, whose main task is organising the annual event Primorska Sings.«

▲ Venice 2019: a photograph from the Claudio Montevedi competition (October 2019). Photo: choir’s archive

Visiting Slovenians from neighbouring countries already in the first months of 2020 »Between 8 February and 1 March we will perform our new project three times - in Branik, and in Italy's Gorizia and Trieste. At the latter two concerts, which are intended mostly for Slovenians in Italy, we will perform with the Jacobus Gallus mixed choir from Trieste,« De Paulis Debevec said about this year's plans. »In the autumn, in October, we will be on a two-day visit to Banja Luka, where we have been invited by the local association of Slovenians, Triglav. We will attend

a meeting of Slovenian choirs from Bosnia-Herzegovina, where one choir from Slovenia is invited every year. We are already looking forward to meeting our expatriates and the country's choirs.« Future of choir singing in Slovenia is promising A number of good singers in top-level choirs and excellent conductors are certainly a guarantee for further growth of the quality of choir singing in Slovenia, and they also contribute to the development of choir singing in a broader sense, said De Paulis

Debevec. »This is something all of us can be proud of. I hope that, locally and regionally, we will be able to attract a larger number of young people to regular and serious choral singing and overcome the trend of choirs losing the ambition to look for their own musical expression or be creative at a somewhat higher level. Quantity is not a guarantee for growth of quality. And this is where, unfortunately, numerous prospective voices get lost. It is nice that an increasing number of people are singing, but we must strive for good singing!«

// WHO IS WHO

Zvone Žigon: First trip to Argentina has shaped my life  Blanka Markovič Kocen  STA, Personal archive of Z.Ž.

A journalism graduate who realised having visited Argentina in his student years after deciding to “take a break”, and meeting Slovenians living there that he wants to deal with emigration, the former consul general of the Republic of Slovenia in Cleveland, US, and the former chargé d’affaires at the Slovenian Embassy in Canberra, Australia, and today the head of the Sector for Slovenians Abroad at the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad, a passionate traveller and even more passionate singer and photographer ... All this and much more is what defines Zvone Žigon, whom I met as a journalist years ago. It seemed to me that I knew much about him, but talking with him recently I discovered many details previously unknown to me. When I ask questions, he looks into the distance and talks, talks and almost takes no breath. He is focused, and speaks almost chorally. He is an inspiring person to interview.

As a journalism graduate, you wrote in the 1990s for the newspapers Primorske Novice, Delo and Slovenec. How do you perceive Slovenian journalism and media from that perspective? I think that things have changed a lot overall, as those times were much more romantic, and journalism was different than it is today. When you wrote an article on the typewriter, you could not later correct it very much - what was submitted, was submitted, and things were done more slowly, but also more prudently. I remember my days with Slovenec, the newspaper which had very modest technical equipment. We used to cut out photos from foreign papers, for example Newsweek, and publish them, while citing the source, of course. This was truly a rite of passage in journalism, when you had to make a newspaper practically out of nothing. Nevertheless, I think that we put up a decent fight with the older brothers around us who had much better work conditions, professional journalists and correspondents all over the place, while we had to be inventive ... But I have very fond memories of those times. I had already learned the basics of journalism as a student, when I started working for the crime news section of the newspaper Delo. Journalists at the department were

very collegial, but not too lenient, as they knew how to clip my wings in a polite way when I thought, as a second-year journalism student, that I knew everything, only to realise later that I actually know very little, if anything. This is when I started respecting this profession even more, which has helped me in my later, rather successful (although relatively short) career as a journalist. Where does your interest for Slovenians in the neighbouring countries and the diaspora come from - is the PhD in political sciences a cause of a consequence of this? It is. My diploma paper also dealt with this topic, and I visited Argentina in 1990 as a student. It was then that I decided I will have a gap year. I spent half a year in South America, as I wanted to learn about it, especially Argentina, where two relatives of mine lived. But I was not aware of the »Slovenian scene« there. It was only when I got there that I learned about the post-war generation, which I had known practically nothing about. I had some more knowledge about the pre-war generation from Primorska, because that is where my family descends from. And then came this conversation which I always mention and which caused a »click« in my head. It was a conversation with

▲ In the company of Miss Slovene National Benefit Society (SNPJ) 2007 in Enon Valley, Pennsylvania

young Slovenians, members of the second generation of the post-war emigrants, who asked me if I knew any dirty words in Slovenian. First I asked myself what dirty words Slovenians have at all, because almost all of them are borrowed from other languages, be it the languages of former Yugoslavia, or German, Italian and English. I also wondered why they were asking me this. They told me that they spend their whole days in Argentinian schools, where they are considered Slovenians, and they speak Slovenian at home. »They teach us how to pray in Slovenian, they teach us Slovenian

// WHO IS WHO

▲ Meeting Juan Benigar, son of the renowned anthropologist Janez Benigar, who worked with Patagonian natives in the first half of the 20th century (in the company of Argentinian Slovenian Mari Keržič).

grammar, literature, poems etc., but no one teaches us how to swear in Slovenian!« said Argentinian Slovenians. »If we play ball and things become rough, we swear in Spanish.« These people are considered Slovenians in Argentina, but when they come to Slovenia they realise that they are actually Argentinian. This is where their dual identity surfaces. So, dual identity was the topic that interested me during my entire studies, in particular in the diploma paper and the master's thesis, while in my doctoral dissertation I focused more on the phenomenon of Slovenian post-war political emigration. The phenomenon of how they have managed to preserve Slovenian language and culture through many decades, and what where the causes. What about your arrival at the Office? What were the first years like? It was in 2000, and it was a natural transition, as I had previously cooperated with the Office a lot as a journalist and later as a researcher. The Office at the time was ranked a bit lower, as it was not headed by a minister. The cooperation was

collegial, and the transition was smooth, although the Office was then a part of the Foreign Ministry, where different rules and standards appply when it comes to etiquette, dress code, protocol, procedures and internal procedures. I was previously in science and journalism, where things are very different, more relaxed. This was the greatest challenge, but it was not a problem. I gladly accepted it. Between 2005 and 2009 you were the consul general in Cleveland. They say that it is the most Slovenian city in the world. Would you agree? I would, but with caveats. It is true that the city is home to the largest number of Slovenians or persons of Slovenian descent outside Slovenia, with some estimates putting the figure at up to 80,000. The number is, of course, impossible to verify, because our compatriots emigrated there over a relatively long period of time. They were coming there as citizens of Austria, Italy or Yugoslavia, which is why it is hard to speak in precise numbers. The fact is that a huge number of

associations and other Slovenian institutions used to exist in Cleveland - and many of them are still active. I would dare say that we could also call Toronto and Buenos Aires, and some other cities, a »Slovenian city«. Today, Slovenians are most active in forming associations in Buenos Aires, especially the post-war political emigrants, and they are also active in Toronto, but it is hard to compare the two. What is certainly good is that we have a consulate general in Cleveland, where the Slovenian community is still strong. I do not know if any mayor is more informed about Slovenia and Slovenians than the mayor of Cleveland (Frank G. Jackson), who has even visited Slovenia. By the way, his term started only a year after I arrived there, and he is still mayor. Your Australian stint is what followed. What was your job at the embassy in Canberra? I was chargé d'affaires in Canberra, and the original plan was that I stay there for three or four months. My job was to get the embassy going at a new location. It turned out to be a lot of work, as both the residence of the future ambassador and the embassy offices had to be technically equipped and furnished. Much also had to be done in consular and financial operations, all while I represented Slovenia in my capacity as chargé d'affaires and performed other embassy-related tasks - I was the cultural attaché, economic advisor and consulate employee at the same time... There was only one other full-time employee. Those were very difficult times, and a lot of work had to be done. I was there alone, without my spouse. Nevertheless, this was a very precious experience and I think that I did a good job. I am satisfied with that period in my life, which took

eleven instead of three months. The new ambassador had not been appointed by the target date and I had proposed that I stay so that the chargé d'affaires does not get replaced every few months. How do you perceive the term »Slovenian emigrant« today as the head of the Sector for Slovenians Abroad? Such a difficult question requires a multi-faceted answer, and I could talk about this for hours. Large Slovenian associations, folk parties, polka, Carniolan sausage and potica really used to be a synonym for this term, but what has survived are polka, potica and Carniolan sausage, while social life is disappearing or turning into something else. Old-school associations used to act as surrogates for the homeland for emigrants, who were able to enter an actual physical space and identify as Slovenians in it, and feel at home there. These institutions were like a small Slovenia for them, where they could talk with equals, with people »from the same story«, and perhaps even with people from Slovenia. Something similar was still possible in the second generation, which was growing along with this tradition, but gradually, at the latest with the third generation, things changed. Things are especially different today, with the dual effect of globalisation and »internetisation« of the world becoming increasingly pronounced. Everything is happening online, which has both positive and negative aspects. What is positive is that these people can now communicate with the home country practically every day, unlimited, free of charge, including over video. Platforms such as Facebook are also very practical for finding relatives, connecting people with the same family name, from the same

country ... In this sense, these phenomena are very positive, because they bring our diaspora closer to the home country. On the other hand, people do not feel the need to be present in Slovenian associations in person. They can get many of the things that they need on Facebook. In the period after 2008 or 2009, emigration from Slovenia intensified, with the profile of persons leaving the country changing significantly. These are not persons who are fleeing from political pressure or death

but we have observed that the largest number of »neo-emigrants« live in Germany, Austria, the US and Australia. Visits on the ground tell us that most of them live in Germany and Austria. In the US and Australia, they populate both the usual »Slovenian« areas and other areas. I would like to emphasise that these people are leaving the country for a different reason, and that they are much better educated than the emigrants from the past generations - if I exclude the postwar political emigrants in Argentina, who were very well educated.

▲ Zvone is the one with the white mask... a trip with Inuit primary school students during a visit to Slovenian missionary Dorica Sever in the northern Canadian territory of Nunavut

threats, these are not people who virtually run away from hunger, or people who are escaping Fascism. They are people who are not actually running away, they want to gain new experience or try their luck somewhere else. Perhaps some of them are disappointed in Slovenia, but in a different sense than it was the case in the past. Where do these people emigrate to? The Office does not have direct data, because this is not recorded,

Today's emigrants, almost without exception, have at least secondary or higher education, and some of them are post-graduate or PhD students, professors of researchers. This is a rather large and strong category, and many others operate in a similar way. This group mostly communicates via the internet, on social networks, and they are used to living on their own, alone, and are not raised in a »collectivist« manner, with the internet enabling them to live such way. New groups are very different from this aspect

// WHO IS WHO

▲ Visiting Amy Klobuchar just before her first election to the US Congress

- there are fewer stressful, demanding meetings on a weekly basis, volunteer work in institutions, and construction works related to such institutions etc. There are more occasional, less formal meetings, which take place at lectures or concerts, for example. I am happy to notice that cooperation is getting stronger in education, science and research, including with the home country, and the Office supports such cooperation. Cooperation in business is also getting stronger, slowly but persistently. You are characterised by exceptional diligence, commitment and enthusiasm, resulting in numerous successful projects. Which of them are you most proud of? Thank you! What I am proud of the most is my work in Cleveland, and in Canberra, too, but it is in Cleveland where I perhaps did more content-wise, because I had more time (four years) and opportunity. I was not burdened by typical diplomatic

tasks, but I was literally in the middle of the Slovenian community. When it comes to my work at the Office, let me emphasise that during my short stint in the Sector for Economic Diplomacy at the Foreign Ministry, I started promoting connections between Slovenian emigrant entrepreneurs and business executives, and with the home country. We are overloaded by other tasks, and we cannot know where all these entrepreneurs are because we do not have information about them unless they contact us themselves, but I gave a feeling that we could do more. I organised ten business conferences, which in recent years have been bringing together business executives from the neighbouring country and diaspora and small and medium-sized companies from Slovenia. Many of them are not aware at all of this aspect of economic cooperation, and they are happy to find out there are economic institutions outside Slovenia's borders which can help them make business contacts abroad, let alone individuals, whose number is very high.

What parts of the world attract you the most and what trips have left the biggest impression on you? I am attracted to practically all parts of the world, but perhaps I treat Asia, which does not revive many memories, a little bit unfairly. I have very fond memories of South America. This is the place of my first, »lifetime« journey, which took five months. Unfortunately, I never returned there as a traveller, only as a student and on business. North America is very beautiful, especially its national parks, and Alaska and Hawaii are really something else. Australia is a chapter of its own, and Africa is also special - I have very fond memories of it. I am particularly proud of my first trip, when I left home for five months as a 23-year-old with a backpack. This is something I would not dare to do today. It was a life investment of sorts, with that trip leaving a mark and providing me with a sense of direction. Me and my wife recently conquered Kilimanjaro, the highest

How many languages do you speak? I speak quite well what used to be called the Serbo-Croat language, which is common for my generation, who served in the Yugoslav People's Army, watched Croatian television and read Alan Ford and other comics. I learned Spanish in Argentina, while my first and most important foreign language is, of course, English. I can also get by in Italian, and I have some basic knowledge of German and can speak a bit of French. Travelling is one of your passions - you have held many travel lectures that locals in Postojna and other people like to attend.

▲ In the company of a native “model” in the north of the Philippines

mountain in Africa. This was a personal feat, not so because of the difficulty of the climb, but because it was something I had wanted to do since I was 15, 20. What is the place where you least expected to bump into a Slovenian? There are many such places. I was riding a bus in Buenos Aires one day, and someone asked me if I was Slovenian. There was nothing on me that could be connected to Slovenia, but that person had some instinct ... That person was also of Slovenian descent. I heard a couple speak Slovenian as I visited the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. I also bumped into a Slovenian at the bus station under Iguazu Falls, on the border between Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, but one of the craziest encounters of this kind was at the base of Uluru in Australia. I asked the only person in the parking lot to take a photo of me and my wife, who was visiting me at the time, with the sacred rock in the background. That man spoke with his friend in Slovenian and it turned out that it was the journalist Marjan Šrimf, with whom I was unsuccessful trying to arrange an interview a few weeks earlier. Well, we eventually met each other at the foot of Uluru completely unexpectedly... How do you pick your destinations and how do you and your wife, who is also a passionate traveller, prepare for trips? We have a bucket list, which keeps getting longer and which has one flaw - new wishes always pop up and the list never ends. I would not call this an addiction, but a great desire, passion perhaps. Both of us have our own priorities and wishes and we are basically taking

turns. My wife, who also used to be a very active mountaineer, went to Kilimanjaro with me because this was my wish. We took a trip to Iceland because we both wanted to go, while Alaska was her idea. One always gladly accepts the other's wish. You had to quit running because of an injury - what is your favourite sport sport today? It is true that I had to give up long distance running after my first and only marathon. Some two years later I injured my meniscus while playing tennis, and then I also injured my hip, which means that I can no longer run long distances, but it still feels good to run a few kilometres, so I think that I will manage to run a ten-kilometre race at some point in the future. I also ride the bicycle a little, and I especially like climbs. Every year I go skiing and sailing for a few days, and also take short trips to the mountains. What does Zvone Žigon do in his free time, not on holidays but in free afternoons, at weekends? I basically have no free time in the afternoons because I always find something to do ... I cannot remember the last time I asked myself »What should I do now?«, because I always have something planned or desired. I have to say that photography is always an option, and I have a bunch of video clips from my visits to America to edit. I enjoy holding occasional travel lectures in various parts of Slovenia, and singing also takes up a large part of my life. I have been involved in choral singing since I was 16, and I sang in and managed the Ave chamber choir for 17 seasons... I (co)organised tours for this choir in 21 countries around the world, including the US and Canada, South America, and even Africa. In recent years

I have participated in the Obala and Glasbena Matica choirs and, of course, in the Postojna mixed choir from my home town. How do you see your work at the Office and in ten years? It will depend on the attitude of politics towards the Office, and how much funding and staff it will get. I think that we have a major staff shortage, at least when it comes to my sector. Of course, this does not depend much on the current leadership, but on the distribution of funds and staff in a broader context. I hope that my long-time wish will come true - that the long-awaited development and information centre for Slovenians abroad will be established. It would feature an office for repatriation in all senses of the word, including economic cooperation, and a genealogy office which would look for ancestors and relatives both in Slovenia and around the world, an office which would integrate and search for archival data, and a library specialised in books on Slovenian emigration and Slovenians in neighbouring countries. What would be particularly important is a permanent exhibition on Slovenians outside Slovenia and occasional thematic exhibitions. Postojna is still the most likely location? Nothing has been confirmed yet, and no decision which would actually trigger the creation of such a centre has been adopted at the highest level, but this is the only acceptable location at the moment. If a more suitable location is found, in particular in Ljubljana, I will be as happy - the most important thing is that the project is realised, because I and many other people have been pushing for this for no less than 20 years.

// SLOVENIANS OUTSIDE SLOVENIA

Kristi Hodak, VTIS association: There is still enough room for circulation of knowledge

ď &#x20AC; Blanka MarkoviÄ? Kocen

// SLOVENIANS OUTSIDE SLOVENIA The Association of Slovenians Educated Abroad (VTIS) was established in 2013 with the purpose of representing Slovenians who were educated abroad. »There was much talk about brain drain at the time, but we saw an opportunity for circulation of new knowledge and experience between Slovenia and foreign countries,« Kristi Hodak, the association's president and a senior design consultant at the global management consulting firm McKinsey&Co in London, told Moja Slovenija. Today, VTIS makes Slovenia a part of an international network of pioneers and experts, while connecting its members with opportunities at home. »Our mission is to shorten the distance between Slovenia and foreign countries. This is done by connecting VTIS members, by cooperating with companies, organisations and related associations, and by raising awareness among senior decision-makers about the issues and regulatory obstacles for circulation of knowledge.« VTIS currently associates 1,570 members who are connected with as many as 51 countries around the world. They cooperate with many partner companies which, together with the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad, support the association's activities. According to Hodak, local VTIS communities are connected through local committees in a total of 14 countries - most of them located in European countries, the US, Canada, Asia and Australia. »Our members are students at the most prestigious universities - from Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, Harvard to Aalto and TUM - as well as scientists and researchers, executives, entrepreneurs and other experts.« You connect Slovenian experts who work abroad, but on the other hand you are also a bridge to those who are looking for highly-skilled staff in various industries. How do businesses and academia respond to your efforts? Have you noticed any progress? The feedback is significant, as we certainly represent a pool of talent for companies. Our members have specific knowledge and skills which are not so well known in Slovenia, and at the same time they have a certain openness to new ideas and approaches as well as international experience, which is well appreciated by our partners. Interest in our partnership programme has been increasing in recent years, with various companies, from international consultancies such as BCG and A.T. Kearney, to more specialised companies, such as 3Fs and BiaSeparations, getting in touch. We also cooperate with chambers of commerce, including the British-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce, which frequently brings company representatives from Slovenia

to London, where we create opportunities for networking with our members. In academia, we are supported by the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU) and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. We organise an annual symposium of Slovenian researchers from abroad at the ministry. Last year we expanded the cooperation with the ministry, we forged connections with several partner associations, such as the Young Academy and the American Slovenian Eduction Foundation (ASEF), and e participated in the public consultation on a science and research bill and on the proposed Dr Aleš Debeljak reintegration scheme for scientists. We are very active, and it is true that making improvements is always a welcome challenge for us. We are also connecting with Slovenian secondary schools and faculties through a project in which we host lectures and workshops for students to present them opportunities for studying abroad and provide assistance to those who are leaving abroad to study. Progress is noticeable, as we are mostly contacted by companies and organisations which appreciate knowledge and experience gained abroad. I hope that we will further enhance our cooperation with Slovenian institutions in the coming years. What are the main reasons that an increasing number of young people do not return to Slovenia? Young people do return to Slovenia. A third of our members have already returned to Slovenia, and half of those who are still abroad are thinking about returning in the next five years (according to a survey carried out with the newspaper Finance). The survey shows that the reasons why VTIS members do not want to return to Slovenia are as follows: 1. The majority, 86.5%, say that they can be more successful abroad than in Slovenia. 2. 72.2% claim that there are not enough career advancement opportunities. 3. 62.9% believe that there are no suitable jobs. Only half the respondents think that the reason why they do not return to Slovenia is low wages. When the main obstacles for return to Slovenia are discussed, red tape and low wages are often mentioned. While both are obvious problems which need to be emphasised, not much is said about a third, very important obstacle: the lack of information and the negative

assumption that it is not possible to succeed in Slovenia. This has huge consequences, as Slovenians educated abroad do not even try to get in touch with Slovenian employers, because they anticipate bad experience in advance. Our members frequently tell us that they do not have good insight into opportunities for work or research in Slovenia, which is why they have many prejudices about returning. On the other hand, there are many VTIS members who have returned to Slovenia and are successful. An excellent example of a success story are our members Andraž Logar (3F) and Luka Mustafa (Fabrikor), who have returned, founded their own company, and now work successfully, including for foreign markets. VTIS addresses the lack of information with the digital platform Slack, on which job vacancies in Slovenia are published. The state is still not able to tackle the issue of how to bring home young educated Slovenians from abroad, how to create a stimulative environment for them. What would VTIS propose to solve this problem? VTIS is constantly looking for new ideas on how to enhance circulation of knowledge. Last year we cooperated with the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport in the drafting of the science and research bill, which is expected to improve the conditions for return and cooperation for Slovenians educated abroad. In addition to being very active when it comes to proposals for improving education legislation, we also see that it is possible to make improvements by making small steps, which could be made by any Slovenian employer or organisation as soon as tomorrow. Sharing success stories We need more stories of success from Slovenians educated abroad, stories about successful returns and more transparency about employment opportunities in Slovenia. We need more stories in the media about new innovative companies that have succeeded at the global scale. We need to hear stories which tell us that this is possible in Slovenia, because this »can-do mindset« is only one of the many things VTIS members get »infected« with abroad, which is why they need as encouraging environment in Slovenia. The first step was made two years ago with a project in which a success story of a VTIS member is published every Tuesday, in order to raise awareness in the Slovenian public about new professions, career paths and study and research fields which are perhaps less known in Slovenia. You can follow the project on Instagram, Facebook or

LinkedIn. On the digital platform Slack we publish daily job and research opportunities in Slovenia, and we also organise monthly Slack Q&A events, inviting VTIS members who have returned to Slovenia to share their experience in job hunting, promotions or other projects in Slovenia. This is a way to break stereotypes, and instead share true stories and experience - both positive and negative. At this point I would like to call on government organisations, associations, companies and the media in particular to speak more about the positive stories and contribute to promoting the idea that it is possible to succeed in Slovenia. Partnership programme Slovenian companies, educational institutions and other organisations interested in connecting with VTIS members, participating in job promotion events, and sending news about job vacancies to Slovenian talent abroad may get in touch through the partnership programme, or write to info@drustvovtis.si. Talent is more important than paperwork With the survey, VTIS members have sent the message that what they miss in Slovenia is an international atmosphere, positive environment and complex challenges. Abroad, talent is precious and employers invest all of their energy into looking for young talent. They are aware that young people have energy and new ideas and that they are good with digital tools. Slovenian employers must show that they are ready to take a step further when it comes to talent, be it VTIS members or staff educated in Slovenia. If an employer (from the public, private or government sector) wants to hire a certain person, they must also show they are willing to eliminate all administrative and other barriers so that a talented individual opts for that specific employer. This means that they are ready to negotiate for a higher post, offer greater responsibility or more flexibility (for example telecommuting) to a young talent applying for a job. It is also recommended that companies/institutions invest in research and development, participate in international projects, and employ young talent. These are global trends that are not necessarily specific for Slovenians educated abroad, but which have proven effective for employers who want

// SLOVENIANS OUTSIDE SLOVENIA

▲ Traditional meeting hosted by president Borut Pahor. PHOTO: STA.

to attract quality staff. Flexible collaborations It is important to realise that returning to Slovenia and getting a job is not the only option for circulation of knowledge. VTIS members can bring a lot of knowledge and inspiration by participating in projects, conferences and lectures. A lot of organisations invite us to hold lectures, but do not provide for the possibility that the event is held via Skype, Zoom or another videoconference application. It would also be easier for us to participate in projects if the rules were more flexible for those who live abroad and who can participate only remotely. Digital tools and flexible forms of participation could facilitate circulation of knowledge as early as tomorrow. The association features mostly young people - are older professors and researchers interested in your work, too? Acclaimed professors and experts who have years of experience and who strive for circulation of knowledge are also a part of our community. These achievements and efforts are rewarded every year with the VTIS of the Year award. Two years ago, the award went to professor Igor Gregorič, one of the most successful cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons in the world, who has helped many Slovenian students and doctors train in the US. We do not have data about the age of our members, but we realise that we attract younger generations, aged between 18 and 40. This is so because studying abroad

has become commonplace for young people in Slovenia. When I did my master's studies at Royal College of Art and Imperial College Business School, I was one of the few students from my region. Today I see that whole groups of young people are leaving right after secondary school. What is the field most of Slovenians educated abroad are active in? The largest number of our members studied economics and business sciences, law and biology. These are followed by fields such as computer science and informatics and arts (from music and directing to design and architecture). How do you cooperate with the American Slovenian Eduction Foundation (ASEF), which also pursues academic excellence and which has helped many Slovenian students achieve it? We and ASEF pursue similar goals, which is why we help each other. We advertise each other's events on social networks, and propose speakers at events, while ASEF is also presented every year at the symposium of Slovenian researchers abroad. At the moment, we cooperate with them on a targetted research project. What events are you planning for this year and what are your key projects? During my term, I will continue with the excellent initiatives started by the first two presidents of the association - Igor Cesarec (the initiator and founder of VTIS) and Andreja Kržič Bogataj. They have built a strong

community and set the foundations on which we can build further. This year we will focus on three main initiatives: improving and promoting existing projects - as part of this initiative we will present our new brand and website, expanding to new continents - in particular Canada, Asia, Australia and South America; and we will also start some new projects, which are planned but are still in their infancy. I will be able to say more about them soon. In general, VTIS operates under three main mottos - integration, cooperation and support. In countries where we have local committees, we will continue to strengthen our local communities by holding a number of local events and informal meetings. We will also strengthen our community and communication between countries through the digital platform Slack, which was launched last year. We want to attract even more partners and, consequently, employ more VTIS members in Slovenia. We want to strengthen our cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad, the Young Academy, various chambers of commerce, the Slovenian Business Club, ASEF and other related organisations. Like every year, we will host a symposium of Slovenian researchers abroad (it was attended by 120 people last year) and a job promotion day for our partners. We will also continue writing proposals and comments on the new bill on higher education and the implementing regulations. As for university and secondary school students who are leaving to study abroad, we will upgrade our counselling service through a project presenting studies at foreign schools, events for those who are only starting their studies abroad this year and need advice or assistance, and a project for assistance and support in integration in the new environment and assistance in finding calls for applications and writing applications, etc. University and secondary school students may always contact us at info@drustvovtis.si, our Facebook page or write to us directly on any online platform. How do you see the future of Slovenians educated abroad? We already have a solid community of very ambitious and motivated members and other colleagues who promote Slovenia abroad and present new knowledge in Slovenia, and this community grows every year. We need to use this motivation and knowledge in the

coming years to make a strategic gain, so that VTIS members feel that they can strongly contribute to the progress of Slovenian society, and that this could be done without any administrative or regulatory barriers. We believe that the gap between Slovenia and foreign countries will be further narrowed in the future, especially in people's heads. It will be possible to remotely cooperate more easily using new digital tools. What needs to be established is a comprehensive online platform where Slovenians educated abroad will find all information (job and cooperation opportunities in Slovenia), all services and advice in one place. VTIS is currently working on a prototype, but it would make sense to bring all services under one roof at the national level. If circulation of knowledge does not improve, there is a risk that Slovenia will lack key new knowledge and, consequently, have less innovation and fewer new companies and jobs, which would result in slower economic growth and more emigration. I remain positive, because I see that we have incredibly motivated people in our community who are taking ownership of the initiative for change, despite the state being somewhat slow to react.

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Salwa Hegazi A descendant of an Alexandrian from Cairo, is proud to be Slovenian  Kristijan Radikovič / Blanka Markovič Kocen  Personal archive of S.H.

Much is being written lately about Aleksandrinkas (Alexandrians), women from the Slovenian region of Primorska who served as wet nurses in Egypt. We talked with Salwa Hegazi, the granddaughter of an Aleksandrinka, who came to Alexandria in the first half of the 20th century on a boat from Trieste. Hegazi is a professor of computer science at an international British school in Cairo, and the founder of the Slovenian association Snežinka from Egypt. The family story told by a member of the third generation of Slovenians in Egypt is a story about emigration. She summarised it for the readers of Moja Slovenija as she talked with us in English, because she no longer speaks Slovenian well.

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»In 1932, my grandmother came to Egypt with her sister and a five-year-old daughter to join her aunt, who lived in Alexandria at the time. I was told that her mother joined them later, when her twin brothers and father were called in. The name of one of the brothers is engraved in the monument in Bilje dedicated to the fallen Partisan fighters, which I visited during one of my visits to Slovenia. My great-grandmother later returned to her homeland to take care of her ill husband, who was tortured during the war. The grandmother stayed in Egypt with her sister, who moved to Canada in the 1960s.« Young generation preserving Slovenian language Slovenian has been lost in the family through generations, but Hegazi's daughter is now reviving it. »My daughter started learning Slovenian at a young age. She liked our visits to Slovenia very much and she was excited when she learned that she could enrol in a summer school there. She attended several summer camps in Planica and Radenci organised by the Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, and she also attended a youth summer school at the University

of Ljubljana. She said that it was an unforgettable experience, as she made many friends with whom she is still in touch. When she returned to Cairo, she learned Slovenian by means of online courses organised by the ministry. But not even this was enough, so she attended the only Slovenian course available in Cairo. She currently studies economics at the Ljubljana Faculty of Economics,« said Hegazi. According to her, Slovenian was spoken in the family up to and including her mother's generation. »She spoke Slovenian with my grandmother, her sister, other family members and friends. But the number of people who she could talk to in Slovenia was constantly shrinking. I heard them speak Slovenian myself, but they never spoke Slovenian with the third generation, to which I belong. Slovenian is thus known to me, but it is hard for me to speak it.« She added that Slovenian language courses were soon introduced in Cairo for those who wanted to learn the language of their ancestors - in particular the younger generations. »I was the first one to join the course. It was my first contact with grammar and the first opportunity to use the words

and sentences that I had only heard in the past. Certain nursery rhymes I remember from my childhood finally made sense. It was wonderful.« Slovenia exciting for Hegazi's children She used to talk a lot about Slovenian heritage with her four children, but it was only when they visited Slovenia for the first time that they realised how beautiful the homeland of their ancestors is. »They visited several countries in Europe, even the United States, but they say that Slovenia has a very special place in their hearts,« said Hegazi, who is especially proud that one of her sons climbed Triglav, and that another one attended a Slovenian language course in Ljubljana. »All four also help our association whenever we need any assistance.« Two different cultures as an advantage Hegazi's father, a sophisticated and highly educated Egyptian, and the grandmother, a European, have had a strong influence on her, she said. »I understand it as an advantage that I hail from two different cultures. I have learned so many things from my mother and

grandmother. They raised me to cherish European values, which are very close to me. My father was a highly educated man, who visited and lived in many European countries, and he spoke several languages. I was lucky to have him around, because his free spirit helped me expand my own horizons. My passion for classical music, for instance, is a result of his influence.« Hegazi graduated from in computer science, having finished secondary school in the US. »When you are young, you often make strange decisions,« she said when asked why she had left the US in the first place, why she returned to Egypt and why she wanted to become Slovenian. »Even if I stayed in the US I would want to learn about my roots and become Slovenian. This is something I am very proud of, because it connects me with my mother and grandmother.« How are immigrants accepted in Egyptian society? »It is a fact that Egyptians have always been hospitable to immigrants from all over the world. Major cities, such as Alexandria and Cairo, have always been cosmopolitan, full of various ethnicities who have lived in harmony.

// SLOVENIANS OUTSIDE SLOVENIA But Egyptians are somewhat unfamiliar with the concept of personal space, especially when it comes to beautiful women immigrating from Europe.« But Hegazi says that she has learned how to adapt. »Wherever you are, you can find things you like and things you do not like. I am bothered, for example, by the chaotic traffic, pollution of certain areas and certain attitudes which trigger an uncomfortable feeling in me. On the other hand, the weather is beautiful in Egypt for most of the year, and it has exotic beaches and beautiful historic landmarks. Today's Slovenia in Hegazi's eyes »When Slovenia declared independence in 1991, my mother was still alive. We were all excited and proud. We were among the first in Egypt to know about Slovenia - the others knew only about Yugoslavia.« Hegazi stressed that preserving culture and Slovenian identity is an achievement by itself, which materialised with the country gaining independence. Although she does not live in Slovenia, she is trying to follow what is going on in the homeland of her ancestors. She thinks that Slovenia is developing in the right direction. »The country advocates freedom and is constantly striving to improve its economy. Investments in science, education and development, such as in the Port of Koper, seem extremely important to me. The bankruptcy of air carrier Adria Airways, on the other hand, made me sad,« she commented, showing her knowledge of topical events in Slovenia. »I would like to see Slovenia prosper in every aspect and facilitate its development. I hope it will remain a green pearl of Europe, because this is precisely what makes it unique.« She visits Slovenia every year - usually in the summer. »Now that my daughter is there, I hope that I will be visiting more frequently.« Hegazi is very active in connecting Slovenians in Egypt. And who are modern-day Slovenian immigrants there? »Slovenians in Egypt are mostly descendants of the families started by Aleksandrinke, or of more recent mixed marriages. Our association is happy to accept all students and business executives who are interested in Slovenia, immigrants and all others who are connected with Slovenia in any way. This makes our meetings an interesting mixture of people.« Snežinka (Snowflake) in Egypt It was at Hegazi's initiative that the Slovenian Association Snežinka (Snowflake) was established in Egypt four years ago. She said that preparations had been very demanding, as they required a lot of paperwork. The association had to obtain permits, because its members

also include persons who are not Egyptian Slovenians. But eventually they managed to formally establish the association, and »ever since we have been trying to organise a meeting at least twice a year and participate in all activities related to Slovenia. In December 2016, we were honoured to attend a reception hosted for Slovenian President Borut Pahor as part of his visit to Egypt, and in March 2019 we attended a reception for Slovenian Foreign Minister Miro Cerar. We also organise our own activities. For example, we started a Slovenian language course in 2016. In 2017, we hosted in Cairo a folk dance group from Novo Mesto - with 30 dancers hitting the stage of the Cairo Opera House. The performance, which started with the screening of a video about Slovenia, was well accepted by the audience, which included many high-profile guests. A statement was recorded for national television, during which video clips from the event were also shown. A year later, three of our members learned to make Idrija bobbin lace, attending an intensive course in the local lace-making school. It is an art in the true sense of the word, worthy of the invested effort. The following year we hosted representatives of the school, who put some of their products on display and showed how it is

made. At the two-day exhibition, which attracted a lot of attention, leaflets were also handed out and video clips about Slovenia, Idrija and local bobbin lace were screened. Once again we attracted media attention we made it into news and were interviewed for national television. The same year we published an English translation of the book Les Goriciennes by Slovenian author Darinka Kozinc. Bearing the title The Alexandrians in English, it describes the troubles of nine Slovenian women who were forced to leave their homeland and earn a living in Egypt. This work is very important for us, as it brings together stories from both countries. It is also important because it portrays Aleksandrinke just as they were - courageous and strong. At the beginning of 2019, we visited a humanitarian school in the countryside near Cairo, which is run by a woman of Slovenian descent, and donated funds to the school.« As Hegazi put it, the association is very proud of its activism. »We are thankful to the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad, which stands by our side in all our efforts.« She hopes that she will be able to translate Les Goriciennes into Arabic and publish it.

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Sport as a means of strengthening Slovenian national identity The Union of Slovenian Sport Associations in Italy (ZSŠDI) brings together 57 Slovenian sport associations, contributing significantly to preserving and strengthening Slovenian national identity in Italy. Almost 9,000 people are active in the union either competitively or recreationally. The ZSŠDI is a member of the Slovenian and Italian Olympic committees, and its member associations and individual athletes are achieving top results on the global scale. Jože Peterlin, who has been presiding the union since 2013, spoke for Moja Slovenija about the importance of sport and the Union for Slovenians in Italy on the occasion of the Office's 25th anniversary. You realise how quickly years pass in this head-spinning tempo of life only when someone reminds you that a special anniversary is nearing and that it would be nice to properly mark it, while at the same time you think about whether the expectations accompanying the formation of a certain forum have been realised or not! Similar thoughts came to my mind when I realised that 2019 is bidding farewell at a fast pace, and inviting 2020. The organisation I preside, the Union of Slovenian Sport Associations in Italy, will turn fifty in the new year. As an avid representative of the Slovenian sport scene in Italy, I have been actively following the development and unstoppable growth of our umbrella organisation from a young age, first as an active athlete, and later as a trainer and coach and as a physical education teacher in Slovenian schools in the Province of Trieste, as well as a community organiser. Since it was established in 1970, the union has been developing in leaps and bounds, gaining in importance and reputation year after year, and becoming the largest platform associating Slovenian youth in Italy. Today, our organisation is going strong and is deeply rooted in the consciousness of our people, who recognise its important role in the education of our youth, as sports is the most massive activity pursued by the young and not so young Slovenians in the neighbouring countries. Sport is the most popular activity among our youth. And rightfully so! Our sport may be somewhat different than what sport is perhaps considered

to be in the home country. It is intertwined with additional values not necessarily related to the ambition to achieve top athletic results in gyms and stadiums. It is also a tool we use to keep young people in a Slovenian environment, to expand the space were the Slovenian language is used. It is a tool with which we defy the assimilation pressure and strengthen Slovenian national identity among young people. Looking back, I can say that we can be really satisfied with the results. Our umbrella organisation brings under the same roof all communities active in sports, and we know no ideological differences. There are no divisions to left- and right-leaning people in our place. Politics gets left at the door: our sport world does not want divisions - we have different priorities and all goals and plans come second to them. But something has to be completely clear: our organisation would not be what it is if it had not enjoyed constant support and understanding in the home country, from the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad. The Office supports the Union of Slovenian Sport Associations in Italy as an irreplaceable pillar. At the Office, you can get expert assistance and advice, and even comfort during difficult and critical moments.  Jože Peterlin, president of the ZŠSDI