bad wolf-welcome

BAD WOLFOfficial Publication of the 28th National Selection Conference of EYP Greece

BAD WOLF 28TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCEEUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT GREECE2

Dear all,

you're holding this Media Team's first attempt at a publication for this session.

In this issue, we asked journalists to merely write an article that they would enjoy reading

as first time participants in an EYP session, as many of you are. Therefore, eleven people

provide insight for the very same experience; each of them making an effort to give you an

idea on what to expect and what to hope for.

The title of this publication makes reference to a 50-year-old story some of you may be fa-

miliar with.

The elk on the cover bears no special significance. It is, however, our firm collective belief

that animals staring are cool.

We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed making it.

Until the next issue,

Vasilis Koutsomarkos

Thanos Saitis

Editorial

BAD WOLF28TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCEEUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT GREECE 3

Brought to you by:

Ellie Adamoudi

Myrto Apostolidou

Eirini Daliani

Dimitris Davris

Rea Dika

Eva Gouda

Dimitra Karakioulaki

Dimitris Krokos

Stefanos Mantzarlis

Eleni Soulioti

Marta Sznajder

Danae Tselou

Vasilis Koutsomarkos

Thanos Saitis


We may have participated in many sessions; we may have been delegates more

than once; we may have tried organising or chairing in sessions; I am sure

that even the President of the session will admit it; never have we ever for-

gotten our very first impression of EYP, that feeling we had when we found

ourselves in a circle, together with a bunch of complete strangers, being con-

stantly challenged and pushed, for the first time, so far out of our comfort

zone. We still all treasure the single moments of our hesitant, baby steps into

the beginning of this completely new path, which seemed so strange yet felt

so familiar.

The sharpest image carved on my mind, which comes with this warm feeling

of shelter, every time I recall my first session, is the way we, my co-delegates

and I, developed, along with the session. We started off as strangers, total

outsiders, evolved into teammates and ended up being friends, part of the

large EYP family, earning from and with each other throughout the whole

process. No one of us has ever managed and will ever manage to explain to a

non-EYPer how one may eventually end up putting their trust on strangers

and how distance can drive instead of divide.

In the end, this is why we keep coming back; it is the effort of expressing our

gratitude and trying to reciprocate to EYP part of what it has generously

and genuinely offered us. We would be shallow, boring, with fewer stories to

tell had we not seized the chance to continue this extraordinary journey. The

real EYP cannot be understood unless experienced. On behalf of the Media

Team, welcome on board and rest assured that, once the end of the session is

reached, you will never be the same person again!

Story timeor the reason why we keep coming back.

by Danae Tselou


The Power of Teambuilding

by Eleni Soulioti

It's Friday morning. The first day of a session that will change your life (you just don't know it yet). You have been

allocated to your committee, you have found out who your chairpersons are and you can almost taste the excitement

in the air. Oh, how much would you like to share that feeling of wonder with your friends! Too bad that there isn't

a single one here... Or is there?

Teambuilding is one of the most important parts of an EYP session and it is here to help you bond with the rest of

your committee. But how exactly can activities that include moving like a ninja, lifting a teenager using one finger

and walking blindfolded help you create new friendships and trust people that you first met just a couple of hours

ago?

The power of teambuilding lies in the great variety of skills that are required in order to achieve a common goal.

The committee works together, combining forces in order to overcome the obstacles and succeed.

In this way, individual delegates are quickly transformed into a team, specially bonded during the session and for a

long time to come. So don't forget to hop on that Big Fat Pony and enjoy this session!


by Dimitris Krokos

“All you need is love”, the Beatles

said, but sometimes finding that

so much needed love, is not as

easy as it should be. Not in EYP

though.

To begin with, think about all

the work that is being put into

EYP sessions all around Europe.

Hold that thought and, after you

thank the next organiser you

see, think that all this is done

voluntarily out of love for EYP,

Europe and, actually, all of you.

If you take advantage of that at-

mosphere of love, you’ll find that

in EYP you can be best friends

with a person you completely

disagree with on the committee

topic, have fun with your chairs

and -who knows- maybe even

EYP Lovefind your other half (Seriously,

the president at my last session

met his girlfriend through EYP

and now they’re married!). But

let us not perceive love only in

that way, love is also respecting

everyone’s opinion during CW,

raising points during GA in or-

der to help another committee

improve their resolution instead

of just attacking it and the list

goes on.

In the end, what is special about

EYP is that you’re able –given

that you have the motivation- to

shape it exactly as you want it

and make the most out of each

session. So, in that spirit get out

there, have a blast and let that

EYP love spread!


by Eva Gouda

Welcome, welcome!

It is Friday -and I am sure that -we are all in love! So, here we are!

I have to welcome all of you to this awesome session and wish you to have the time of your lives as well as to fall

in love with the crazy world of EYP.

During this weekend (today included) you’ll live life to its fullest. You will get to know people from all over Europe,

make new friends, discuss current European issues, participate in debates and on top of that, you will get to know

better how the EU works and how you can be an active member of it ! So get ready, leave the real world behind

and join our EYP spirit!

The question that most of you might come up with is: “What EYP is all about?”

Well, EYP is not just about some committees trying to find out solutions about European issues in order to “save

the world” .EYP is a passion! Once you’ve experienced it you cannot have enough. It is about a family. It is about

friends that come together in order to organise and to contribute their part to amazing sessions like this. It is about

having the will to communicate with others by spreading your team spirit and your smile. It is, it is, it is…

I think that IT IS enough for now! You have to open your mind and heart and enjoy this session. On Sunday you

will tell me what EYP IS for you!

Welcome, again, to this magic world!

Lovely delegates, welcome to EYP! However strange, weird or crazy EYP may seem to you at the moment, believe

me that you will remember it as the experience of your lifetime. There are a few reasons for it, like the fact that it

is now your chance and opportunity to spend three marvellous days in an atmosphere of debating and discussing

serious stuff with even more marvellous people around you.

There is no doubt the best people you are ever going to meet are those who participate in EYP. It is also stated that

during this event you will be surrounded by many wonderful personalities who may have a huge influence on you

if you only wish to. What I’m trying to say is obviously to stay open-minded to novelties and try to make as many

friends as possible-or even more than friends; who can say?

by Marta Sznajder


by Dimitra Karakioulaki

I will never forget my first national Session! Full of anxiety and shaking from cold,

I was surprised to see all the Officials being extremely happy and energetic, welcom-

ing us to the “amazing world of EYP”. But what is truly this “amazing” world?

The EYP is a non-governmental organisation, which involves more than 20,000

young people at more than 100 national and international events annually. During

these events, either in the position of a delegate, an organiser, a journalist, a chair,

an editor, a vice-president or a president, young people have the chance to learn to

cooperate in a team, to discuss and develop their international understanding and

to engage in fruitful discussions, expressing their opinion and developing their per-

sonal skills.

Here are some useful tips for your better integration to this magical world:

• Gettoknowasmanypeopleaspossible!

• Themoreyouputinit,themoreyougetoutof it!

• Atleastonceadaytrytogetintoaconversationwithsomeone

you don’t know!

• Bedaringwithyourideas!

• Don’tbeshy!

• Goodcanturnintogreat,if youknowalotaboutyourtopicand

are well prepared for Committee work!

• Beawareof personaldifferencesandtakethemasastartingpoint

for debate!

Also, never forget the 5 Golden Rules:

• Neverinterruptapersonwhoisspeaking!

• Respecttheopinionsof others!

• Thereisno“right”or“wrong”way!

• Beopen-minded!

• Workasateam!

Relax, study and have the time of your lives!


by Rea Dika

Note from Editors:

Rea, quite unconventionally, sent us her article already

formatted as you can see above. We thought we shouldn't

let all that effort go to waste.


The first and foremost reason I love EYP is its peo-

ple. It is the very reason why I was attracted to it

from the first moment. Even at my first session, I

met some of the most inspiring, well-educated,

searching-the-beauty-in-struggle, wanting-to-live-

beyond-the-norms people among EYPers.

When it gets down to what I love about EYP in re-

spect of an organisation that “promotes the europe-

an dimension in education”, it is totally the fact that

it promotes active citizenship. EYP strongly urges

session participants to be active throughout the ses-

sion, opting for cultivating a sense of citizenship to

follow the participant to his/her everyday life.

But what really delights me in EYP, in comparison to

many other youth + politics organisations, is its ded-

ication in delivering on young people’ s needs. EYP

does not enhance young people’s sense of responsi-

bility by just forcing them into formal political de-

bate (see GA). EYP sessions also iclude informal (in

terms of structure) political debate (see committte

work), but also songs and games (see teambuilding).

What I have always admired in EYP is its people de-

votion. About 200 EYP events take place every year.

Each and every event requires a tremendous amount

of work and time from all of the participants. And

all this is done voluntarily.

Last but but most important, comes opportunity

for personal development. EYP involvement refines

many skills, language, communication, organising,

leadership, to mention a few. Of course, more than

anything else, EYP experiences become a lifelong

treasure alone.

Why I love EYP

& you could love it

too

by Myrto Apostolidou


Loads of papers, tables placed somewhere in the

front, unknown people waiting outside, some of them

walking around, some others shouting instructions,

staring at you with a smile on their face, others hold-

ing a camera or a laptop. You are waiting in a long

line so that you register, maybe holding a laptop or

some notes that are linked to your committee topic,

some of you nervous, some others keeping cool. This

is typically the atmosphere when an EYP session be-

gins. In less than three days you will have gotten to

know some of these strange people that run from

one place to the other, trying to fix things and keep

the session running smoothly, most of the unknown

people who have been waiting with you in this line,

with some of whom you will have played a number

of games, shared and discussed interesting ideas on

important European topics and exchanged means

of keeping in touch after the event. During the next

three days, you will laugh, cry, get angry, stay tuned

or remain indifferent, express yourselves or remain

silent, respect your fellows or ignore them, listen

to other people's views or think of your Christmas

holidays... What the people behind the scenes and all

those between us that have been preparing this event

for you, we, say is: enjoy the games, burst out laugh-

ing, stay tuned, have your say, listen to your fellows,

be productive, have discretion, be smart, wonder,

have courage, be relentless, have fun. An EYP jour-

ney starts today for each of you, whether you realise

it or not. It's your choice whether you will keep it

real and decide to live in this crazy but wonderful

world of EYP or live your normal life!

Ready,set,go.

by Ellie Adamoudi


Howdie stranger,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 28th Na-

tional Selection Conference of EYP Greece in Thes-

saloniki. In the next few days, you are going to expe-

rience some of the most amazing moments you have

ever lived. Therefore, I feel I am obliged to present a

list of things that you should NOT do during the ses-

sion.

• Ignoranceof yourtopic

If you have not read about your topic and your prepa-

ration kit, I have some bad news for you.

• Disrespectyourfellowdelegates

You all belong in a team, you have set a common goal

and through cooperation you try to achieve it. Being

rude is not going to help you.

• FallasleepduringtheGeneralAssembly

Some of you have witnessed it, some of you haven’t.

The GA is one of the most rewarding but tiring things

in EYP. In any case, no matter how tired you are, stay

awake.

• Voteagainstyourresolution

After everything you will do during these days, you’re

aiming for a good resolution, a resolution worth voting

for. Under no circumstances should you vote against

your committee’s resolution.

• Beboring

Come on. EYP is not an everyday experience. The ses-

sion has just started. Get excited. Be enthusiastic. Go!

Survivalby Dimitris Davris


Dear reader, you are now holding the best tool a new EYPer could

use. This survival guide aims to protect each and every one of you

from making fatal mistakes that could drive other delegates crazy,

give you savoir-vivre tips and boost your confidence.

First and most important: listen to your committee members. This

is the principle your work is going to be based upon for the next

three days. There is nothing more irritating than a delegate who

thinks that they’re always correct. Which brings us to the next

tip: be flexible, but not a pushover. As we mentioned, every opinion

must be expressed but if you feel that what you say is really impor-

tant then stand up for it! On a relevant issue, many delegates often

feel uncertain about their language skills. That is nothing(sic) to

be ashamed of. Apart from the fact that likely nobody will notice,

you will find out it’s all about what you say and not about perfect

grammar or pronunciation. Last but not least.... enjoy yourself !!

You have spent a lot of time researching your topic and, believe it

or not, this is the time where you turn theory into practice! So grab

your gear, put on your best smile and let the session begin!!

In Salonica we trust,

Stefanos

by Stefanos Mantzarlis

Guide


Dear delegates,

I am sure that when you first heard that you are going to participate in the 28th national selection conference of

EYP Greece you had definitely no idea what EYP is. You still have no idea what EYP is about. Same happened to

me when I first participated as a delegate. I thought that they would torture me or I would be crucified and then

fed to the dogs. Don’t worry, I am still alive. I guarantee that as soon as the conference ends, you will ask for more.

What I can share with you is that this experience changed my life. I was very shy. In the beginning, I was standing

in a crowd of strangers playing different games. I could never imagine that these strangers would be my friends

now. You never know what to expect but these sessions always have their way to offer you memorable moments

of joy, cooperation, hard work and a wide smile. So, don’t be shy, seize the chance, enjoy the games, express your

opinions, be extrovert and make new friends. Generally, make the most out of it, because this session is made for

YOU! You are in the beginning of a magic journey. You are the ones who will decide what the destination is going

to be for you.

Fully yours,

Eirini

Letter from Eirini

by Eirini Daliani


Feeling worried?

Now you have nothing to worry about.

Με την ευγενική χορηγία

Με την ευγενική φιλοξενία

Με την υποστήριξη

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