Binbin presentation

Hello! My name is Binbin. I came from China. My EVS project started from 4th October, the day I arrived in Wroclaw.

It’s my first time to be abroad. I worried a lot about my English and how to adapt to new customs. But after I came, everything is better than I imagined. I have a responsible hosting organization, nice flat mates and warm-hearted mentor. As we had Polish lessons, I began to learn basic Polish sentences and remember the names of streets. Now I’m not worried about getting lost in Wroclaw any more.

Wroclaw is a pretty big city. There’re a lot of historical buildings and beautiful natural sights. We don’t have rivers and so many trees in my hometown. Everyday on my way to work, I feel like walking in a big park. In these 3 weeks, I began to find out the differences between Poland and China, even between different countries of Europe. I found I was totally wrong to think that European people are mostly the same. There’re volunteers from 7 countries in our group. And I met more people from different countries in the on-arrival training. It’s amazing that we cooked for each other, introduce the customs of our own countries and enjoy different kinds of music.

From Monday to Friday, we prepared for cultural presentations and workshops about human rights. Beside these work, we have other duties of developing the whole EVS project. I believe that every work is a path of learning. It’s good for me to have various tasks.

EVS is a challenge for me. Living abroad and adapting different kinds of cultures is not easy. I’m trying and getting better. But also, EVS is a chance. I want to see the world and meet people. Now I’m learning new knowledge and customs everyday.

Madlena EVS Experience

Hello, my name is Madlena Mitschke and I am from Germany. I am 19 years old and I have passed my A-level-exams this year.

Some years ago I already had the idea to go to another country for one year. It as my aim to learn something about other cultures in Europe, to learn a new language and also to improve my English. EVS was a great opportunity to realize my ideas and wishes.

When I started to search for EVS project I looked for interesting jobs all around Europe. My sending organisation told me, that Semper Avanti from Poland/ Wroclaw searches for a new volunteer. I liked the project and the idea to come to Poland and learn more about my Slavic neighbours. So I employed.

Here I work in a Scouting organization ZHP which organizes many activities for the scouts. Unfortunately I arrived when the main activities for the scouts ended. So they don´t have many tasks for me at the moment. So I get the opportunity to take part in a project about human rights. I enjoy it a lot to go to the seminar every week.

I like Poland and Wroclaw very much. I like the Polish language and the architecture, especially the frontages by the old buildings are very nice. I already visited Poland some times before, but it was the first time that I was in Wroclaw. I want to use my time for traveling to other cities and regions of Poland to see so much as possible from this country.

Huseyn`s EVS experience:

My name is Huseyn Masmaliyev, I am 28 years old and I am from Azerbaijan. I have finished Baku Slavic University (International Relations) and Master Art at Warsaw University (Political Science). My  hobbies are: Policy, Traveling, Russian literature, Football. Being in Azerbaijan I also cooperated with Polish non-governmental organizations, tourism and translation agencies.

I do not like to stay in one place. I want to continue to develop, deepen my knowledge and broaden my horizons. EVS is a great opportunity to learn new cultures, to work in the international team and gain invaluable experience. It is also great occasion to practice foreign languages.

I’ve never been in western Poland. I’ve heard a lot about Wroclaw and its beauty. I found interesting the projects of the organization.  That’s why I chose Wroclaw and the Semper Avanti.

As it is summer time and the students are mostly on vacations, we do not have so many visitors in the library, and our job right now is just limited by helping to the staff (we put the books on the shelves, clean the discs and change signatures). However soon we will also teach foreign languages in “language café” and work directly with the visitors.   

 I like the city of Wroclaw. Its old and compelling architecture, numerous parks. And that a lot of international events take place here. It is not my first time in Poland. I know a lot about this country, I was studying polish language, the history of this country at my University in Azerbaijan, and then I had occasion to come here and to see it personally. 

 

Jan`s EVS experience in Wroclaw

I decided to work for one year as a volunteer to see something new and to get out of my school- and learning rhythm between school and studies. I also see this year as a year of developing new ideas for my future e.g. what to study etc. Furthermore I want to meet new people with different cultural backgrounds and it is also very important for me to be fluent in polish after this year. And last but not least I think that it is a good idea to engage in a social Project, since there is not more the duty of going to army or civil work after High School. I came at the beginning of July to Wroclaw to start my work at Mediateka and I will stay here for twelve months.

I have chose Mediateka because I really much like to work with books and I am very interested in literature and I chose Wroclaw because it is a big City and as I lived in Germany in a village I wanted to live for one year in a big City. As it is summer time and the students are mostly on vacations, we do not have so many visitors in Mediteka, and our job right now is just limited by helping to the staff (we put the books on the shelves, clean the discs and change signatures). However soon we will also teach foreign languages in “language café” and work directly with the visitors.  

As I am coming from Germany and Germany and Poland are neighboring countries, I didn’t notice so many differences in cultural aspects between my home country and Poland. In my opinion Poles aren’t as stressed as Germans and they are enjoying life more than Germans, because they are not thinking so much about future, job and stuff like this. For me Germans, me included, always need to plan everything, what they want to do in detail and Poles are more spontaneous and just do something, without thinking so much about risks or whatever. 

I really like Wroclaw and I am enjoying every day in this beautiful City! I really like, that there is so much water, caused by the river Odra, in and around Wroclaw, even that it is so Close to the mountains…the perfect mixture. And I also like the old City of Wroclaw and the architecture of it’s buildings very much. Another nice aspect is the multicultural Background of Wroclaw and the diversity of it’s diversity of inhabitant. Wroclaw is also a very young City, which is caused by the mass of students in Wroclaw. 

I hope that my year as a volunteer will be great. I hope that I can improve my soft skills and learn more Polish language, also gain new experiences for the future. 🙂

Mediateka

Mediateka – Library for Youth – is an cultural institution located in Wroclaw city center, created to service for young citizens by giving them opportunity of free internet connection, rich multimedia resources, organized within of Mediateka divers workshops, exhibitions, cultural events, intellectual and social development.

Mediateka is hosting EVS volunteer since 2004 to participate in long-term projects. For volunteers participate in Mediateka’s project can be chance for their personal development, exchange of experience. It’s a place encouraging multifaceted actions devoted to the local community at the same time a field for development of skills and animator, interpersonal and organizing competences. Mediateka is also a chance for initiation for modern world of multimedia technologies.

At this moment organization of Semper Avanti (which cooperates with Mediateka) is hosting two volunteers from different European countries. One guy is Huseyn Masmaliyev.

He is 28 years old, from Azerbaijan. He finished Baku Slavic University (International Relations) and Master Art at Warsaw University (Political Science). Also in Azerbaijan he cooperated with Polish non-governmental organizations, tourism and translation agencies. He likes policy, traveling, Russian literature and football.  And another guy is Jan Winkelhake.

He is just 19 years old and now the youngest volunteer at Semper. In Germany, where he come from, he finished A-Levels (it is normal / very popular to go abroad e.g. as a volunteer after High School, not after studies, how it is in other countries). He likes travelling, reading, cycling and also learning something about foreign cultures and languages.

So… I had opportunity to contact them and ask questions for which I would like to receive answers from them… )))

1)                 Why did you want to take part in EVS project / to be volunteer? What do you expect (which knowledges) from this?

Huseyn: “I do not like to stay in one place. I want to continue to develop, deepen my knowledge and broaden my horizons. EVS is a great opportunity to learn new cultures, to work in the international team and gain invaluable experience. It is also great occasion to practice foreign languages”.

Jan: “I decided to work for one year as a volunteer to see something new and to get out of my school- and learning rhythm between school and studies. I also see this year as a year of developing new ideas for my future e.g. what to study etc. Furthermore I want to meet new people with different cultural backgrounds and it is also very important for me to be fluent in polish after this year. And last but not least I think that it is a good idea to engage in a social Project, since there is not more the duty of going to army or civil work after High School”.

2)                 When your project start / you came to Wroclaw, Poland? How long have you will be volunteer with organization? Why did you choose Wroclaw and Semper Avanti?

H: “I came to Wroclaw 7-th of July. I will stay here one year. I’ve never been in western Poland. I’ve heard a lot about Wroclaw and its beauty. I found interesting the projects of the organization.  That’s why I chose Wroclaw and the Semper Avanti”.

J: “I came at the beginning of July to Wroclaw to start my work at Mediateka and I will stay here for twelve month. I have chose Mediateka because I really much like to work with books and I am very interested in literature and I chose Wroclaw because it is a big City and as I lived in Germany in a village I wanted to live for one year in a big City”.

3)                 Do you like this city? What the most?

H: “Yes, I like the city. Its old and compelling architecture, numerous parks. And that a lot of international events take place here”.

J: “I really like Wroclaw and I am enjoying every day in this beautiful City! I really like, that there is so much water, caused by the river Odra, in and around Wroclaw, even that it is so Close to the mountains…the perfect mixture. And I also like the old City of Wroclaw and the architecture of it’s buildings very much. Another nice aspect is the multicultural Background of Wroclaw and the diversity of it’s diversity of inhabitant. Wroclaw is also a very young City, which is caused by the mass of students in Wroclaw”.

4)                 What were your fears before you arrive, and now during the project?

H: “I had no fears, because I have already lived in Poland, I know polish language and I knew what to expect”.

J: “To be honest, there have not been fears, before I arrived, I just have been very curious for what is going to happen and what I will experience in Wroclaw. Maybe I have been a bit afraid about the question, how the living conditions will be, but from the first moment I was feeling very comfortable in the flat”.

5)                 What do you think about the new mentality? Do you feel the difference? Which?

H: “As I already wrote this mentality is not new for me. I know a lot about this country, I was studying polish language, the history of this country at my University in Azerbaijan, and then I had occasion to come here and to see it personally. Of course there are a lot of differences between our two countries that come for example from the difference in religion”.

J: “As I am coming from Germany and Germany and Poland are neighboring countries, I didn’t notice so many differences in cultural aspects between my home country and Poland. In my opinion Poles aren’t as stressed as Germans and they are enjoying life more than Germans, because they are not thinking so much about future, job and stuff like this. For me Germans, me included, always need to plan everything, what they want to do in detail and Poles are more spontaneous and just do something, without thinking so much about risks or whatever”.

6)                 Which main tasks do you have in Mediateka?

H: “As it is summer time and the students are mostly on vacations, we do not have so many visitors in the library, and our job right now is just limited by helping to the staff (we put the books on the shelves, clean the discs and change signatures). However soon we will also teach foreign languages in “language café” and work directly with the visitors”.

7)                 Do you feel you complete all assignments? If not, why?

H: “Almost, I still do not fully acquainted with the work directly with visitors. But I am trying to learn”.

J: “Yes, I think that I complete all assignment, even that I am not as old and experienced as other volunteers. I think most important is to do your Job and all the other work around EVS with fun and a smile in your face and you will do a good work and be able to fulfill the expectations. Also there should be taken into account, that we are ‘just’ volunteers and no qualified workers; and the work e.g. in Mediateka is only a part of EVS and other elements like languages classes, experiences for yourself or just to learn to know the new mentality and stuff like this is also very important”.

8)                 Do you take the initiative to perform other duties?

H: “Yes, I want to organize the Azeri culture evening in Mediateka, where visitors will have occasion to know more about my country, or to try our national dishes. I want also to organize the exhibition of our famous painter in Mediateka. All this activities will also help to promote Mediateka”.

J: “I would like, and I am already planning this, to give languages lessons to other people in German or maybe even in English and I would also like to take over some duties in the office work at Semper Avanti, like caring and guiding new volunteers and similar works”.

9)                 What are your impressions of the organization and their programs? Are you not disappointed?

H: “Of course I am not. And as I said I like the organization’s activities and projects carried out by them”.

J: “I am very convinced of Semper Avanti and the work they are doing. I am very glad about the language lessons, they are offering, which are Held by a private teacher two times a week for 1,5 hours. Also very good is, that they try to find some tasks for you which are similar to your interests and skills which you can fulfill, if you want to”.

Ceyda and Tifi

Hey everybody.!!! 🙂

This article is about other volunteers. Who are the others?
One of them Ceyda, is from Turkey, The other one is Tifi, from Germany.They work together also as you can see the picture they are get along with themself. 🙂

What about the their job ? 

They work in office to be  assistant of coordinator, what do they do exactly ? They organize some easy info, documents( which is a office work ) with their coordinator, Yet, the main topic is scouts for them. Tifi and Ceyda have responsibility booking hotels for participants. Their coordinator gives information about trainings and they do it. They always have a training twice a month.
What’s happening the trainings ? It’s happening about; such a  explaining the EVS process, their job condition etc.. which is so useful to communication each other. Sometime some local volunteers come in Wrolaw, A big portion of the volunteers from Poland . In the same way, they organize everything for them.

As you can read the previous paragraph sounds like a easy but you should see them sometimes they do not have a time to take rest. 🙂 For sure they have learned a lot of things on professional field.

Alright, I think I have written what I saw and heard. Of course there would be a lot of additional things I’d like to write but I guess  that’s all for now.

Sincerly

Time to Leave :(

Hello, It’s again me, Domenico 🙂

You may remember me from my introduction article, written about 10 months ago.

So Once again , here I am… this time , unfortunatelly, I’m not bringing Happy news 😦

No worries, everything’s fine.maybe even too much, . just In a couple of weeks my EVS will be over.

First of all I would like to thank all those people who took part in this beautiful project, starting from Semper Avanti Staff and Volunteers.

These 10 months have just been AMAZING.

For sure I finish this project with a lot of skills that I achieved during my Evs, with a better curriculum and specially with a lot of good memories that I will bring with me forever 🙂

But let’s slow down just for a bit and let’s see together what has been my path, here in Wroclaw.

I still remember the day I got here, It was like a dream coming true, taking part of an international team, living in Poland…in WROCLAW!

From beginning, I felt at Home. I found friends, very nice people and a beautiful envoirment where to live 🙂

We started  Workshops in Schools and even if I have never done it  before, I managed, learned and have become a real Trainer!
Country Presentation, Human Rights, TeamWork, Leadership, EVS, these are the workshops I made during my project.

I discovered my ability to speak to big group of students without any inibition or fear.

I felt like it was something I have been doing before, even though it was my first time experiencing all these kind of things.

I would like also remind you about my Language classroom.
I started to teach Italian in Sektor3 (which is Senior Center) I had to improvise myself as a Teacher, and discover methods and way to teach my Language for the first time 🙂

Of course, I learned a lot of things on professional field , but also on human side.

I think I have become more responsable person, able to manage money, relations with persons and accept different cultures 🙂

I have a good news though!!!!!!!!!!

I have decided to stay here in WROCLAW 🙂

I can’t get back to Italy, I fell in love with this Country and I do really love the town.

I would like to work as a Lector, I found amazing my teaching experience and would like to do more 🙂

Alright, I think I have wrote what I felt inside 🙂 of course there would be lot of additional things  I’d like to write but I guess that’s all for now 🙂

Once again thanks everybody  for this beautiful opportunity and adventure 🙂
I’ll be reminding all the time all I did here, all those person that I have met and all those good and bad things has been.. and probably a tear will come out 🙂

Sincerly yours,

Domenico Corniola 🙂

My EVS experience in Wroclaw

My name is Alina. I’m 21 years old and I’m from Minsk, Belarus.

First of all, I would like to say that Wroclaw is actually one of the most beautiful cities in Poland and you won’t be bored here in your free time.

About people)

I have been welcomed very well. When I arrived, I met my mentor in the airport and I was accompanied by her to my flat. First I met only my roommate. In general, I am living together with three other people: with Kristiina from Estonia and 2 guys from Spain (Alvaro and Daniel). When I arrived, guys were in Amsterdam. Despite the fact that Kristiina needs some time to convergence (as it turned out later), I didn’t actually feel it. She was very welcoming and friendly. On the first day, we went together to the pizzeria and had a lot of fun.

When guys came back from their trip, we went together to Kasia’s (new employee of Semper Avanty; she is very nice and cool as well) flat. And it was cool too)

In addition to Kasia, in our organization, there are working some other very pleasant people. Under their guidance, you do not feel yourself like a dependent. Everyone is equal. In this way, you always have the desire to do more than is required from you (at least for me )) ).

Luckily during the first two weeks you aren’t heavily loaded. You mostly learn how to adapt in a new environment. In my case, it lasted a bit longer)), as there were some changes in the organization – for example, the coordinator was replaced. I certainly didn’t have time to get to know the previous one, but I can safely assure that Agata (our new coordinator) is awesome. Despite everything, she’s still smiling. She is always open-minded and friendly and also very proactive and understanding.

Here can be about the project))).

The primary duties of the project include cultural evenings, workshops of human rights, classes with children (with just some games or English conversation) and teaching of ur native language.

But in addition to this, you can submit your own ideas and they will be promptly considered. Many of the ideas have been approved. Therefore, an EVS project – this is the place where you can unfold, try some experimenting, gain experiences and test yourself)).

Also, the project includes Polish language courses to make it easier to adapt and to steep the culture of this country. In my case, I didn`t have a huge culture shock, as I began to study the language before the project and mentality of Poland is similar to Belarus.

In my opinion, the coolest in the project are the trainings. My project is one year long, so I have 2 of them. I already had my on-arrival training. It was held in the capital of Poland – in Warsaw. 2 stunning trainers organized this training for us. There were 25 people from different cities in Poland and from various projects, which were interesting to learn about as well. We had some intriguing activities, for example, we talked about our expectations before the project, about stereotypes, because all of us came from different countries, also played some games, etc.

During our training we had 2 amazing surprises. The first surprise was an excursion around Warsaw with a lecture about communism and elegant dinner in the restaurant.

The second was a  Polish evening with some music and dancing.

We even joined with the artists for some traditional dances.

For 2 days we were working on the project, which we were interested in (topics were distributed to groups). Some people were gathering materials about the legends in Warsaw, some about the sights. In my case it was the culture of graffiti and wall art. I was in the group with 3 guys (French, Austrian and Turkish).

It was an unforgettable time. We made a lot of photos, shot some video interviews, walked through the city and just laughed a lot.

Sooo.., everything can’t be described with words and can’t be conveyed, especially when it comes to the feelings. You need to experience it yourself.

P.S. If you decide to take part of an EVS project, don’t go for 2-3 months (in this time, you will only understand, where you are), go for a year!

Hello everybody! :)I’m Barış I came from İzmir,

Hello everybody! 🙂

I’m Barış I came from İzmir, TURKEY

First of all, a few years ago I was interested Poland. Now I’m so happy to be here. When I graduate the highschool, suddenly I went to universty and than I broke up the my chapter finally I came here.
As you know, our EVS project name is ‘MULTICULTURAL LANGUAGE CAFE’. I and the other member of MLC work with children. We make presantation of country , human rights.
When it comes to Poland I say a lot of things. Why I’m interested in Poland? Because,  there are so many heritages in here. Also I study Tourism Guidance, because of this I selected this country. I’m able to find a lot of story about First and Second War.

About our workshop, I’ve been here two months but I get used to here.Generally speaking,  sometimes we go to out of the Wroclaw. Although students are very shy sometimes, those students, are very interested in our counrty. Also we have activity in kindergarten. When we are in the kindergarten we play some games, helping their homework, speaking about Poland and the other country etc..

Shortly, I like this country also Polish people. I will stay ten months, I know, I will have good time here. 🙂

(If you want to find a lot of information about Wroclaw,Poland you can click this link)http://www.wroclaw-life.com/

Kristiina`s EVS experience so far:

I have been a volunteer in Wroclaw for 7 months now and quite soon it will be 8 months. Since the beginning I have taken part in many different activities, which have been really exciting.

My first activities in September started with making presentations in schools about Estonia. We went together with Domenico to different schools around Lower Silesia area to introduce our countries to students. I also started to have English language classes in Sektor 3 with seniors and activities in kindergarden as well. I am still going to kindergarden every Friday to talk with children about healthy lifestyle and make some activities with them, like drawing and some games. Also we participated in Lokietka 5 activities, by going to children`s playground to play with them. We even took part in a Green Festival, thanks to Lokietka 5. In October I started my English conversation classes in Mediateka.

In one weekend of December we had in Wroclaw an EVS festival, which we also took part of. For example me and Anja had to make workshops about EVS as a way to develop and about teamwork. Workshops were mainly meant for students and they seemed to have a great time. Everything went really nicely and we still have our diplomas to remember this festival.

 

 

As for February, for me personally it was the for sure the busiest month of my EVS. First of all I had my mid-term training in Torun, after that we had on Valentine`s day a special training about innovation and creativity in HP for volunteers. And after that I had my Estonian cultural evening. On the previous day we prepared a lot of Estonian food for the event in Dokerska flat, for example potato salad, sandwich cake, kama cake and a dessert with cookies and candies. In the next day, we decorated the place for the event with other MLC volunteers and some other quests around Poland. The amount of quests was really suprising for me as a lot of people came and they were really interested in Estonia. According to the guests the food was delicious as were drinks. So I was very happy with the results of this evening, as it was a total success.

 

After the cultural evening I went together with my mentor Agata to Nowy Gieraltow to participate in a training for seniors called „Age management in action for 60+“. It was 5 days long training and we made a lot of workshops about presentation skills, volunteering, teamwork and leadership. They also thanked us a lot in the end of these workshops and said that they really enjoyed this time we spent together. We also enjoyed this a lot. Staying in the mountains was absolutely wonderful and all the people were so friendly. In the end of the training we had a barbecue outside and a dancing evening. So a lot of fun!

 

In April we had 4-day project in Wielun together with Alvaro, Daniel, Domenico, Fidel and Clemens. We made our countries presentations and language classes for the students there. Also we had lots of fun, when we went bowling and had cooking classes together. Thank you Kasia, for including us in this project. The hospitality in the school was just awesome!

 

And also we had in April a conference in Dlugoleka, because all the MLC volunteers made presentations about their countries 6 times during the months from December until April. These presentations were taking part in small villages in Dlugoleka region and as the presentations are finished it was time to share the conclusions of this project. During the conference we were listening some presentations and also were asked some questions. All in all it was very nice conference.

So these were my activities so far, I hope I will have many more during these 4 months which I have left as a volunteer in MLC! (: