Youth Vibe+S Issue 2

Monthly eddition | May 2018

Issue â„–2

YOUTH VIBES International Center for Development of Education and Training

EUROPE DAY

ICDET EVALUATION

Widen your knowledge

About ICDET

Ivan Tinev - President International Center for Development of Education and Training is one of the most popular and most active youth organizations from Bulgaria in the field of promoting European values through local and projects and participation in projects abroad.

Our goal is to inspire and help positive social and economic changes, and dedicate our time to ensure the effective implementation of these ideas.

We are consistent in our organizational values: promoting non-formal education and training of young people through intercultural training and activities.

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Youth vibes | May 2018

MY ERASMUS+ EXPERIENCE Interviewer: Seyma AksakallÄą

Bugra Kaan Elitok 21 y.o. Turkey Cinema in New Bulgarian University

ERASMUS+ MOTIVATION I wanted to do something benefitial about my education.

My friend and my family have always supported me for this idea so I came to Bulgaria. I choose this coulntry because I wanted to be close to Turkey.

PROCESS I experienced certain difficulties. The exam process was not as easy as I expected and, moreover, there were obstacles getting visa. Fortunetely, I am receiving a finantial grant for my education. My mentors are very good and helpful. Bulgarian education system is very different from the one in Turkey.... If you ask me which one is better... I choose Bulgarian education system.

I expect to gain new experiences while I am here.

ABOUT BULGARIA I think Bulgarian people are very helpful and kind. There are similarities between Turkish and Bulgarian culture and I think that's a good thing for me because it feels better.

The most interesting moment here in Bulgaria is: We went to a night club and there some people were dancing in a strange way. They were pushing each other. Is this a dance? Actually it's very interesting.

Also I know few words like "Добре, Добър ден and Здрасти".

My advice is "COME AND FEEL SOFIA’S SOUL!

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Youth vibes | May 2018

MY ERASMUS+ EXPERIENCE Interviewer: Ewa Kozuń

Mauro Bellani 29 y.o. Italy, 1 youth exchange, 3 training courses and 1 seminar

Youth Exchanges and Training courses are short term Erasmus+ experiences, that can be topic related or study case related. That kind of E+ project can last from 5 to 28 days, and most of them are for people that are at least 13 years old, but they are still in their twenties. However some projects do not have any age limit. Of course every participant has food, accommodation and travel costs refund provided.

MOTIVATION Before my first Erasmus+ experince, mostly I was a curiosity about specific topic of the project that I chose, and of course place also attracted me a lot. I have never been to Macedonia before, so in my case that was an added value! Later on, my motivation to participate in other Erasmus+ projects did not change, but I was even more aware that location of Youth Exchange or Training Course is not that important. What is crucial in my case is a topic of the project, if I am interested in that and if I want to gain an experience and knowledge on that area.

Youth vibes | May 2018

EXPERIENCE and MEMORIES Every time I have been coming back home richer than I was a few weeks before. Also having everyday relations with people from different countries, with different backgrounds gave me more awareness. As a person who is interested in the culture, I have been observing any kind of cultural shocks and crushes that happened, what gave me even more awareness and comprehension.

A BIT OF ADVICE! I can advise to subscribe the portal SALTO-YOUTH, where you can find every current open call, depending on your personal interests.

Facebook groups are also a great idea. But as another advise I would like to say, that applying for E+ projects is like jumping into deep water. And for some of us it is so frightening, because all you can see is just a water, but you have no idea what is underneath. But everything that you have to do is to close your eyes and just... jump.

But once you will learn how to swim, you will be always back to Erasmus+ projects.Â

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Youth vibes | May 2018

ERASMUS+ IN SPAIN Interviewer: Seyma Aksakallı

Desislava Dimcheva

I am from Bulgaria. I study and live in Sofia now. I am in my ;ast year in the university and basicly, I work as an English teacher and I love dogs!

SPAIN My last Erasmus+ project was this this January in Spain. And the topic of the project was “How to make an Erasmus plus project” and so I went there, because I wanted .. It was nice to study in spanish. The building where we stayed was very interesting and it was built three years ago. It looked like a space ship and it was very interesting.the people are very friendly.

I speak Italian. So it was easy to understand the Spanish language. The food was very good and the people were friendly .

Youth vibes | May 2018

CULTURE What I did not know is that the stores there have a siesta time. They do not speak english and I've waited so long for all the stores to open, because they stop working for a couple of hours in the afternoon.

There was one culturel shock. They eat meat and fish in the same time, it was very strange.

ERAZMUS+ Spain is a great place for Erasmus because there are great night lights everywhere. When you go on Erasmus plus project, you meet a lot of people, you make connections and maybe in the future, oneday, if you need help and call the preople you met, they can help you ot even you can start business together.

I am more open minded and i feel better when I am abroad I'm used to.ERASMUS+.

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Youth vibes | May 2018

MY ERASMUS+ EXPERIENCE Interviewer: Ewa Kozuń

AHMET USTUN 23 y.o.

Turkish, currently living in Bulgaria Erasmus+ intern in Czech Republi

I decided to go to Czech Republic just after my Erasmus+ experience as an international student. My internship was strictly connected with my field of studies, and I have been a teacher in a Czech school. I had a chance to observe experienced teachers and then to use my knowledge in practice.

Even if language barrier was problematic, that was cool and worth to remember lesson. But that was valuable not only because my professional experience, but also intercultural one.

MOTIVATION I wanted to observe and meet another culture in a country I did not know. Also I wanted to gain some real knowledge. Before my Erasmus+ internship, the only knowledge I had was from books, and I felt that is not enough and that I need much more. I was sure that experience gained in international environment would be more valuable and desired.

Youth vibes | May 2018

EXPERIENCE and MEMORIES While living in Turkey I thought that people that are from more northern countries are cold and aloof. Now, I know how wrong I was! I have been living in such a chilled place, with amazing atmosphere so that changed my opinion about non-Mediterranean societies. I realized that wherever you will go, people are always the same. Even if they look different, the most important issues stay same. Maybe we grew up under different circumstances and have different background, but after all it does not matter. What is also worth to mention, language barrier was my the biggest struggle. I did not have a choice, somehow I had to dealt with that, and living in a small town did not help me. Although that was the challenge, I managed to communicate that made myself proud.

A BIT OF ADVICE! To every young person: Erasmus+ is a great opportunity for all of you! If you want to travel, learn or improve yourself- that is your way.

When I was at the university, I have been advising E+ to everybody.

Unfortunately, people always have excuses. They think that they do not have time for such a things or their English is not advanced enough. So my advice is to not look for excuses. If you would like to go on Erasmus as an intern, I can suggest to search on a webpage erasumintern.org. Another convenient solution is using your private connections with companies or organizations that will agree to host you.

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Youth vibes | May 2018

INTERNSHIP AT ICDET Interviewer: Eva Kozun

Adriana, Sofia and Rosario are doing their internship at ICDET, working in completely different fields. But they have a few common characteristics. They are Italians. Young, charismatic and motivated people. And all of them are here in Sofia thanks to EU-GEN European Generation. So, what is EU-GEN and how it is to be Italian in Bulgaria? Keep reading for more information!

Youth vibes | May 2018

ADRIANA, 22 y.o.

Background and experience: just graduated from the University of Palermo, has a degree in Languages.

Already spent 10 months in France as Erasmus student.

During my internship I… am promoting European culture and spreading European cultural awareness.

I can give to ICDET… my commitment as a part of their international team.

ICDET can give to me… necessary skills that will be useful in my future career.

What I like so far… Work flexibility. It is giving me a chance to gain not only professional experience but also personal one.

What is disturbing me the most… lack of daily meetings in the office. It is disturbing me because without that meetings I am not able to experience the deep intercultural atmosphere that we have in ICDET. Internship vs my future: I believe that this experience will give me the necessary soft skills that will improve my future work.

My temporary home is… full of history.

My team is very kind and warm, which is helping me to feel comfortable here. But so far, the biggest struggle that I have is Bulgarian language. I cannot speak nor read it, and it is making even ordinary tasks more difficult than usual.

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Youth vibes | May 2018

ROSARIO, 29 y.o.

Background and experience: degree in Economics and post-graduate course in European Studies. I have already been working in Brussels on a field of European projects.

During my internship I… am dealing with writing proposals of European projects.

I can give to ICDET… My previous experience on that field and my contribution to improve ICDET’s work together.

ICDET can give to me… the chance to improve my professional skills, as well as soft ones.

My daily tasks…writing European projects proposals, especially Erasmus+ ones.

Internship vs my future: this experience will give me the opportunity to improve my professional skills which will be highly appreciated by employers.

I was chosen for that internship, because.. of course my experience made me a perfect candidate, but also the capacity to deal with tasks as efficiently as possible.

My temporary home is… full of different kinds of nature, even in the city.

Youth vibes | May 2018

SOFIA, 21 y.o.

Background and experience: I am currently studying HR at the University of Padova and this is my first international and professional experience.

During my internship I… am a part of the human resources team.

I can give to ICDET… my theoretical knowledge that I have from my university.

ICDET can give to me .... a chance to finally implement my knowledge in practice.

What I like so far… is that I can be an involved part of a group. I enjoy the responsibilities that I have because this in way I can show my skills and improve them.

Internship vs my future: Despite not being sure of what I will be doing in my future, this experience is helping me to believe more in myself, which will be helpful no matter what I will be doing later.

I was chosen for that internship, because… I have a very good theoretical background and I want to improve my skills.

My temporary home is… Green. I enjoy nature even if the weather is not perfect.

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Youth vibes | May 2018

ICDET EVALUATION Three months are passing by, many things we’ve done, many things happens. Places, people, actions, are left behind in less than no time.

I would remember, Ivan come to pick me up to the airport, I have enough luggages it seeem I would move lifetime in Bulgaria. Then I meet my colleage, Ewa and in few days many other people from ICDET. I was a bit confused, tutor, mentor, coordinator, who are they, what we are going to do together? For sure, I would have time to discover it. Now one new thing was leading our schedule, Plovdiv and Stara Zagora, for one week we will start to discover Bulgaria moreover. Taking Bulgarian train, deal with non-common language speaking and have productive communication, discover moreover where youth association can be pushed over‌ just simple memories I brought home from this trip. I have no clear ideas, about ICDET was doing, but for sure I come back to Sofia with a small scenario about Bulgaria in my mind.

Youth vibes | May 2018

I was pawing to the idea to do something, to work, to produce. I can finally see on my schedule activities alike “Conduct a great interview”, “video making”. The chance to make with some associates, with them between informal speeches and first recording, we finally had many materials to work with. Strive with video editing and computes skills, nice to meet again here this field accompany me for many years. I have chance to go to practice the sport of my life, skiing, yes here is Sofia you can reach the slope with public transport, amazing! Nice to discover that my tutor is somehow involved in an European youth association, ESN, it’s boost for my mind I can develop here what II have done in my last years in Bergamo with AEGEE, intercultural environment, events, new things to learn. One month is already passing over.

Youth vibes | May 2018

A new week started, with a new word: V.E.T. yes, Vocational and Educational Training, never heard before but we have chance to meet, speak, film young students from Macedonia, here in Sofia to make practical part of their secondary studies, feel ashamed I would have had the same chance when I was eighteen. We had interesting time together‌ Time to leave again, this time to visit friend association, Alternativi International, in Blagoevgrad and once again to concentrate in our common passion skiing.

Three days in Bansko were amazing. Now our team was getting richer of a new element, we were all looking forward for many weeks. Finally Seyma from Turkey, is with us! New person, new things, new challenge for all of us.

Just in time to dealing with first worries, and first understandings in our team got bigger. Next week me and Ewa went to On Arrival Training, maybe best inspiration and motivating moment of the experience, about topics, activities and connections. I will bring home, yes home I will be back for Easter now, many inspiration, information and contacts surely useful for next future. Another month is passing by...

Youth vibes | May 2018

Coming back to Sofia and nicely knew some news were waiting for us, new people in our team, Interns from Eu-gen and a new group of VET Students. April deadline was getting closer and Volunteers’ personal projects must be done, the schedule must be filled, the number of activities and expectation getting higher. We are more people in the team, but we are also more aware and responsible about the things. The media team is moving to work at full regime, between new things to do, a schedule to follow and upcoming deadlines. The tension is getting higher; I can barely hold the shot.

The experience is at the turning point, our expectation can be change to the beginning, but it’s still on our self-assessment everything we can take with us to the end.

"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."