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Newsletter No.14 - September 2012

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Urban Presker Urška Hartman Tina TrdinMaja Dolinar

Blanka RihterAnika DziewiorAnastasija Popovska Žiga Pavlin Peter Guštin

Maruša Vukelič

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Editor: Anika DziewiorDesign: Anastasija Popovska

club.of.volunteers@gmail.com www.club.of.volunteers.blogspot.com

www.zavod-voluntariat.si

Zavod Voluntariat - SCI SloveniaCigaletova 9, 1000 Ljubljana

When all postcards reach their addressees and all photos get uploaded on blogs, it usually means that holidays are over. With this Newsletter, we want to prolong this time of adventures and continue on being on the move. Take a ride to India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, through stories of our volunteers. Look at Lisboa, Soline and Izola from perspective of people, who went there to help the locals. Are you planning to join Voluntariat’s projects and go abroad for a longer period of time? If this is so, you will find the article “How to cope with culture shock” pretty useful.As usual, we share with you projects we made and those that we are just planning to organize. Go through future events, find interesting actions or workshops and JOIN us. You are always welcomed!

With warm memories of summer,Club of Volunteers

Editorial

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday dinners will start in September!

What is the 5 Ws & H principle? Learn more on our workshops.

Workshop in the Garden of Povšetova Prison

Weekly Creative workshops in ZAVOD VOLUNTARIAT

˝Knitting bonds with Africa˝ Festival 27.09.2012

Index:

PAST EVENTS

We made it!- Migrant Film Festival

Knitting bonds with Africa - workshops

Vegetable Garden at Povšetova Prison

Study, work and travel as “Voluntourist”

CONTENT

How to Cope With Culture Shock

Volunteering in Vietnam

Anjos in Lisboa

India

Smiles of Sri Lanka

Salt….The white gold created out of water, fire, air and soil.

A story about my divine summer experience

Our working camp in Ireland

Our road trip along the east coast of the USA 31.7-23.8.

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We made it! Knitting bonds with Africa

Also this year the Festival of Migrant Movies took place in Ljubljana. Zavod Voluntariat in cooperation with Slovenian Philatrophy organized this special event for the third time in a row.

30 movie screenings, 3 round tables and 6 side events - took place during one week of the festival in June. All around topics related to migrations, asylum and refugees to promote understanding and acceptance of diversity in a tolerant and inclusive society. Check out interviews with directors made by our EVS volunteer – Anika Dziewior and listen to the daily coverage on the website: http://www.fmf-slovenija.si/

As a part of the project ˝Tkemo vezi z Afriko˝ workshops on African jewellery were organized in ČMC Mladi Zmaj – Šiška.

The aim of these workshops was to introduce children in making jewellery with African motifs.

Tools and their usage were introdused, materials, starting and ending knots, combining beads, colours, and ropes.

Two workshops were organized and were attended by around 15 children. The results were astonishing. Kids are surprisingly inspired and creative in making jewellery for their mothers, cousins, themselves etc… They made necklaces, bracelets, anklets, earings….

Workshop leader: Anastasija Popovska (EVS Volunteer in Zavod Voluntariat – Slovenia)

PAST EVENTS

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Vegetable Garden at Povšetova Prison

Many of you may already know that Zavod Vountariat is running a project called “Vrt na Povšetovi” in cooperation with association Ekologi brez meja and with the financial support of Swiss contribution. The project aims to establish a vegetable garden in the courtyard of Zavod za prestajanje kazni zapora Ljubljana, also called Prison at Povšetova. Volunteers and residents of prison are working together in the garden under an experienced eye of permaculture expert Mirjam Kopše, who we could also call an “encyclopaedia” of gardening in a sustainable way.

We meet every Wednesday morning in order to take care for the garden, to plant, replant, and water the plants, to clean and to remove the unused bushes, make new plots and to do the sweetest work - to reap what we have sown. So far we have many different crops

on our garden and there is no nicer feeling than watching what is coming out of the seeds that we put into the soil a while ago - various types of salads, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, pumpkins, eggplants, rocket, okra, beans and peas... as well as all kinds of aromatic herbs and colourful flowers.

For gardening we use only natural materials that we find in the garden and from which we also made a compost heap, therefore we do not use any artificial fertilizers. All the vegetables that grow in our garden are ecologically produced, which we can also taste after our work is done when having a little brunch together, enriched with fresh vegetables and herbs from the garden.

Most of the grown vegetables are used in the prison’s kitchen and residents can really tell the difference between home-grown food and things that are brought from the shops. Prisoners, working in the garden are proud of their work and of the crops that have grown with their help. One of the main aims of the recent project is to offer a place where prisoners can work outside together with volunteers, where they can socialize as well as gain some working habits and knowledge about gardening, whereas one of the biggest ideas for the future is to offer a space where prisoners could assess and validate their knowledge and skills obtained through non-formal learning in the garden and get a National Vocational Qualifications award. This would enable few prisoners to become professional gardeners which would improve their life situation and employability after getting out of the prison and also lower the chance to re-face the repressive institutions.

We continue to organize volunteering gardening actions every Wednesday and will be happy to welcome every new volunteer that would like to join us and is willing to help and learn together with all of us. Come and have a look at our garden, we’re sure you’ll be surprised and amazed how a plain meadow can be transformed into a big fruitful vegetable garden full of colours, tastes and pleasant smells!

VRT na Povšetovi

Our garden’s objectives are going on the smooth way to reality in last five months.

Astonishing things have been happening in and around our garden in recent weeks.

This silent influence is much more important for me than any other things.

PAST EVENTSAuthor: Maruša Vukelič

Photos:Tomaž Zajelšnik

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Study, work and travel as “Voluntourist”

On 26th July, Zavod Voluntariat, as a volunteer sending/hosting NGO, prepared a workshop for participants of Summer School organized by the Faculty of Tourism Studies from Portorož, entitled “Study, work and travel as a “Voluntourist””.

The workshop included many different activities like presentation of Zavod Voluntariat, creative re-using of old jars and educational games covering topics from social exclusion and discrimination to collaboration and fighting with stereotypes.

Workshop was joined by around 40 students from 6 countries: Croatia, Norway, Portugal, Austria, Romania and Poland.

PAST EVENTS

The garden has the own imperative demands for all of us insiders and volunteers:

• the young plants have to be replanted in time therefore all of us are forced to work,

• the weeds are sometimes very welcome because they protect the soil against the sun burning. People also notice their small flowers as beautiful ones,

• we all notice small wonderful miracles happening on the garden and we like it - ladybugs are coming in great number, bumblebees also, starlings, that are so rare in Ljubljana, are here, the scent of herbs is spreading good summer mood of joy and our hidden private problems become small on this huge garden.

Mirjam Kopše, on the early morning 9 august 2012

For any additional questions you can write to programi@zavod-voluntariat.si.

If you would like to participate at any Wednesday action please send your name and surname to programi@zavod-voluntariat.si at least one day before the action takes place. Thank you!

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How to Cope With Culture Shock

There is no doubt that volunteering abroad can be an exciting and worthwhile experience. However, it is not uncommon that traveling to another country might bring about feelings of fear, anxiety or homesickness. These feelings are usually due to “culture shock,” which can happen when you are immersed in a culture that is different from what is familiar. Different customs, social cues, and a foreign language can all add to the stress of being in a new place. For this reason, volunteers traveling abroad should be sure to do a little research beforehand, to be as prepared as possible. Here are some steps one can take to mitigate culture shock as much as possible, to ensure a productive and enriching experience.

Learn the Language

Few things are scarier than the thought of needing help but not being able to ask for it. For this reason, it is a good idea to learn a few important words in the language of your host country. For example, if you are traveling to Germany, you’ll want to www.pimsleurapproach.com/learn-german phrases that are critical to navigating the area. You’ll also want to memorize important words like “hospital” and “emergency,” in your host country’s native tongue. While you’d be hard pressed to become fluent in foreign language leading up to your trip, the more comfortable you are with your ability to communicate, the safer and more at ease you will feel during your stay.

Get to Know Your Team

In most volunteer abroad situations, you’ll be traveling with a team or group. The best part about traveling in groups: you’ll all be sharing the experience. Get to know your travel companions early on, and if you feel comfortable, express whatever hesitations or anxieties you may be feeling. Most likely, you’ll find that some of your team mates feel the same way. You also might be traveling with seasoned volunteers who have experience with the feelings of culture shock, and they may have friendly advice on how to lessen the impact, or may be willing to offer a friendly ear when needed. </p>

Author: Susan Taylor Photos: jshansen, VaMedia, Uggboy, db

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Stay in Touch with Home

In the technological age, home can feel closer than ever. Thanks to video chat software, you can have the opportunity to talk to your family and friends face-to-face, wherever there is an internet connection available. You can also start a blog for free on any number of blogging platforms, and write about your experiences.

Sharing all of your thoughts, photos and videos with the people you care about back home can feel very cathartic, and their comments and responses can act as reminders of the support system you have. While technology can be a way to stay in touch with family, be careful not to rely on it too much – part of getting over culture shock is actually becoming familiar with the culture you are in, not staying a part of the culture you left.

Recognize the Signs

Recognizing the signs of culture shock is an important first step in being able to prevent or lessen the symptoms. Being aware of your emotional state and understanding that your thoughts and feelings are normal in your situation can help to diminish the sense of being alone in the experience. According to www.longwood.edu/internationalaffairs/24854.htm Longwood University,common symptoms of culture shock include:

• Sadness or loneliness

• Insomnia or excessive sleepiness

• Irritability

• Homesickness

• Feeling a loss of identity

If you feel yourself experiencing these symptoms for an extended period of time, be sure to take note of when the feelings are the worst, and do not push yourself to just “let it run its course.” Seek out your personal support systems, or, if the feelings are overwhelming, consider speaking with a doctor. To have the most fulfilling experience possible while volunteering abroad, you will need to overcome your feelings of culture shock, and you may not be able to do it alone. That’s okay!

Photos: jshansen, VaMedia, Uggboy, db

Find Commonalities in Your Host Community

When you first arrive at your host destination, you might feel completely lost or overwhelmed by how different everything feels. But, it is important to recognize the commonalities that all human beings share: laugher, smiling, and joy from creating relationships with others. It may be scary, but push yourself to connect with as many people as you can – especially those who are native to your host country. The more you meet new people, the more you will be able to recognize the common threads that tie us all together. After all, if you are volunteering abroad, isn’t that what you came to do? To meet new people? To forge connection and break down the walls of misconception and misunderstanding?

While volunteering abroad may be a shock to the system and a challenge to the mind, the reward often outweighs the fear of the unknown. You’ve taken the leap and learned how to fly; for many volunteers, their experiences abroad become pivotal moments in their journey of self-discovery. Everyone traveling abroad feels culture shock www.lavernelewis.net/Courses/Research%20Project.pdf” in one form or another– remember in those moments that you aren’t alone. Be grateful for the opportunity – you are now a citizen of the world.

Susan Taylor is a freelance writer who loves traveling, eating good food, and curling up with a good book.

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I›m now in my fourth month of volunteering here at the East coast of Vietnam. In all this time I›ve been through quite many interesting things.

At the beginning everything was interesting to me - the culture here is different from the Western one, the same goes with mentality. Streets are crowded with motorbikes, road rules are lessened – many times it gets me confused when suddenly there is a motorbike going my way on my right lane. They transport EVERYTHING on their motorbikes – animals, big buckets of vegetable and fruits, pots, furniture, various heavy metal long objects and as well other means of transport (bicycles). Often I see a whole 4-membered family on one motorbike. Motorbikes here exist also as taxis.

Food looks like Chinese, but it›s different. Spices like chili, fish and soy sauce are essential ingredients. There is a lot of mint, lemon, crushed peanuts and pineapple, which are contained in food to give it the right Vietnamese flavor. Food here is tasty and various. You can eat dog›s meat, pig›s brain, hen›s claw, chicken›s head, jellyfish, and octopus. There is a lot of fruit that doesn›t have a name in English, so not even in Slovenian language. The best thing here is coffee. ‹Number One› as the locals say.

Being a high school professor is an interesting experience. Since Vietnam is a socialistic country we raise the flag every Monday morning at 7 am. After that Mr. Principle has a speech. All the female professors and students must wear Vietnamese traditional dress called “ao daj”. Since I›m part of the school now, they gave me one as well. Apart from wearing “ao daj” on Mondays, I also teach English 5 days per week for about 4 hours per day, make it above 6 hours including preparations. The first 3 months here were 2 more volunteers with me, now I›m left with only one. During the summer we teach about topics such as traditional games, festivals, friendship, traveling etc. School bell doesn›t operate now, students don›t wear school uniforms and the atmosphere in a class is relaxed. At the end of this month I›m organizing a painting workshop and this is how I›ll be able to socialize with students in a less formal way.

Life in Vietnam is something completely different from European style of living. Locals are hospitable and always willing to help. There are only a few white people in this town and that makes us interesting and sometimes locals greet us by saying Hello! English language is trendy for all generations here, as to many Vietnamese speaking English language represents a better life either here or abroad.

Volunteering in Vietnam

Author: Maja Debelak Photos: Maja Debelak

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I’m now 4 and half months here in Hanoi and I can say that’s a big experience for me.

I’m working in NGO called SJ Vietnam in project Youth center. They are working with and supporting disadvantage children from “Fisher village”. Children are poor, some without parents and are living on the boats on Red river in Hanoi. First month I was buying food in the market and cooking for the children with support of local volunteers and in the afternoon I thought English and cleaned up the house. Then we started to work on the new project called Youth center. So, we had to move all the furniture and other things to the new bigger house. The new Youth center has in the first floor a Café, second floor is a second-hand shop with donated clothes and also a place for playing with the chil-dren, the third floor is a class room and on the top there is a kitchen. The project is new and there is no constant work so every day there is something new. The aim is to provide lunch for the children on a daily basis, when they have school break and play with them until they go back to school. Some of them stay longer and study English. I prepared some creative and cooking activities for children; I give support to the coordinator of the project and also to workcamps, which are taking place in YC. Once, UNIS school (UN international school) invited our children for a 3-day trip to one small village in Tuyen Quan province. I had the opportunity to go with them. We stayed at an organic farm. This was really great time with many funny adventures.

After we moved into the new house, children had summer holidays so they came to YC in the mor-ning and stayed there the whole day. I also had few meetings with local volunteers about working with disadvantage children. In this time some other international volunteers joined the project for a couple of weeks, so the work was very dynamic.

This is one part of my EVS and another part is my life in Hanoi. I live with a big host family in the sub-urbs of Hanoi. So I’m involved in Vietnamese culture and their way of living. I have to face cultural differences also in the buses, on the streets when I ride a bicycle or motorbike or when I hang out with my Vietnamese friends. Hmm and about the language, I have a feeling that I’m living in other world, like an alien

In the beginning I had to deal with a big cultural shook, because it’s totally different if you live in Asian country or if you travel. And slowly I get used to it and start to enjoy it. Always there are some good things and things you miss. I learn every day on many different levels.

So, 2 months are still in front of me and let’s see what’s going to happen

Photos: Manja BrinovsekAuthor: Manja Brinovsek

EVS in Hanoi

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Multicultural is the middle name of Lisboa! Or maybe not...?! Multiculturalism, I’m not sure even if it exists...

I had great fortune to live in freguesia Anjos (parish of angels). Indeed, that was neighborhood of many angels. Every single day I was encountering with people from different corners of our beautiful planet Earth! They were all wearing most beautiful smiles on their colorful faces! As well they were the most shiny and positive side of Lisboa for me! Each time I went to Indian, Nepalese, African, Lebanese, Turkish or any other shop&restaurant&place, I felt like entering my own home, where I was welcome, feeling extremely comfortable. This was the greatest present of all for me, during my time in Lisboa. Aside of this multicultural face of Lisboa, I liked as well small frutarias (shops selling fruits and vegetables) where you could find still some old Portuguese people working in there. Nowadays most of them are run by Chines, who are as well very polite, yet they were not wearing those honest smiles on their faces neither were Portuguese. With old Portuguese people was quite a challenge for me in the beginning, cause we didn’t have mutual language we could use, that was greatly needed! Main purpose - they could get to know where I’m coming from and what I’m doing here and so on and on... Old people are very curious in Lisboa, at least this was my experience! This was one of the positive motivators for me to start dealing with Portuguese language from the very beginning! Multicultural face of Lisboa was also shown to me on the very first night I’ve moved to “one of my new rooms”! I’ve realized then, in diameter of 500m around my new home, there were 6 places where I could satisfy my hunger for

most diverse artistic expression of many talented souls, willing to share their enriching forms. Hey but I was then just a fresh(wo)men, who was hungry, and in a mood to explore whole city! So you could imagine what kind of hard work was ahead of me! Day and night, multicultural signs and vibes all over the city waiting to embrace each and every researcher... lots of warm multicultural hugs I’ve gained!I’m thinking now of multicultural expression... I have to admit; yes Lisboa is 100% multicultural (people wise) yet as well 100% mono-cultural (treatment/mentally wise – the way how Portuguese people are towards people with diverse cultural background). I guess this is the situation with most big cities, they accept people with different cultural backgrounds, yet they should not cross borders of their ghetto and everybody is content. That is their reality of course! This was bringing strong waves of sadness inside of me, since I was witnessing it every day and night! Was one of the hardest facts with which I was encountering each day over and over. While I was finding ways, what to do and how to change this, to make its impact less strong (I believe each effort is worth even if it’s drop in the ocean!), through enriching talks with local angels (people who are bringing beautiful multicultural colour, taste, smell and smile to Lisboa). I’ve learned one very practical and powerful wisdom of life: you adjust to what life brings in front of you and you make the best of it. Then it was clear to me why they were the only ones who were able to wear honest and warm smiles on their faces, from dawn till dusk! Yes Portuguese people are famous for their saudade, which has really special touch in the music and arts in

Author: Medea Meden

Anjos in Lisboa

Photos:Medea Meden

It’s a nice text from place called LX factory, an alternative place where there are lots of things/events going on: flea market, many different exhibitions, concerts, poetry nights. In that area in the abandoned building there are offices of artists. And my favourite library and book store in Lisboa, it’s on the list of 10 best ones in the world.

Flea market in the area of LX factory.

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general, yet in everyday life this makes them closed as a box. Closing oneself for many enriching moments while encountering with people who are giving one of most special spices to Lisboa, by which she is so famous, if you ask me! When you become aware of this fact, you start wearing honest smile as a gratitude to life, for being able to live and share same space of that huge concrete jungle with so many angels! At least I was and I still am. Miradouro (belvedere) do monte agudo; place where people come to

chill out during day or in the evening/night. There are many of them in Lisboa and each is different for numerous reasons. This one was the closest to my place, just 5 minutes’ walk to the sunset or sunrise belvedere.

A friend of mine Joao playing guitar while the sun is setting down. Some special moments which we were happily repeating evening after evening, it was just one of the best way how to say good bye to the beautiful sun :)

It’s the sign from one of the urban garden in Lisboa, where I was carrying out some activities. I like the sign, because it’s very powerful and truthful thought for life in general.

I had great fortune to spend just a few (most short hours!!) in Lisboa in the end of July and first thing I did was visiting some of those small shops, which are always filled with angels with most beautiful smiles. I felt like most welcome soul in Lisboa, because they said to me: “hey neighbour where have you been so long!?” even though they know I’ve moved out of Lisboa!

Yes, now I know how it feels saudade on your own skin and flash. Makes you to feel past is still living, but in some nice and warm corner of my heart, where it belongs :) cause many new memories are awaiting to be created, but without old ones my backpack would be half empty!Just for the end, I have to put down my most strong thought/argument, which I’m carrying with me since ever, I believe, or at least it feels like that: I don’t really believe multiculturalism exists. It’s tricky I know, trust me! It’s a constant dialog inside of me, too many voices talking in the same time and I think this is why I still don’t know if it’s true or it is :) It’s too long writing to do, the whole length of my thought about it, so I will just conclude with: I believe we are all the same underneath all the masks, clothes, cultures, smiles, tears... We are all just bunch of warm and good hearts, when we want to be - of course! And in Lisboa you can find many of them no doubts :)

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Author: Urban Presker Photos: Urban Presker

India

“I should like to know which is worse: to be ravished a hundred times by pirates, and have a buttock cut off, and run the gauntlet of the Bulgarians, and be flogged and hanged in an auto-da-fe, and be dissected, and have to row in a galley -- in short, to undergo all the miseries we have each of us suffered - or simply to sit here and do nothing?”

Voltaire, Candide

As Voltaire noticed in his satire Candide, human beings tend to avoid action, if they can’t predict the outcome. We feel assured in our little worlds and avoid (new) things and experiences, which take us out of our comfort zone. Voltaire’s Candide didn’t stop at this notion, he was, after all, a man of action and in the end asked himself which is worse; to have unspeakable things happen to us while living, or not live at all... As I tick off my first month in a volunteer project in India and with two months to go, I also ask myself the same question...

First of all, just to clarify, none of the mishaps mentioned above happened to me. I was not ravished by a single pirate, thank you, although when I read the crime sections of Indian newspapers, I do feel that this is my unavoidable future in New Delhi, apparently the crime capital of the world. After reading the morning newspapers I sometimes don’t know if I will survive the drive to the office, as there is apparently rape, murder and mayhem around every corner of this city. But for now, things have been fairly safe. However, if something will kill me, it could be the heat, humidity and work! In India working days last from Monday to Saturday, so I have only one day off per week. Transportation in Delhi is also a murderous affair. I sometimes have to go to work at 7:30 to arrive by 9am with work lasting until 18h, so you can imagine that after coming home around 19h, one simply eats his dinner and falls into bed. I wanted to travel around a bit or take up a cooking class, but at the tempo it’s going so far, this is not going to be possible. So much about volunteers taking it easy...

So what exactly do I do? Together with my German volunteer tandem partner Annika we came to Delhi based NGO called ETASHA to film a series of short videos about the work of the organization. ETASHA is a non-profit organisation providing career guidance, employability skills and vocational training programs and placement to young people from disadvantaged communities in India. And their work is really fruitful as 70% of the trainees

who enter the program actually get work with one of the ETASHA’s corporate partners. The classes they run are based on non-formal education methodologies and are quite similar to the workshops and trainings we have in European NGO’s. As far as our filming work is concerned, it is proceeding slower than expected, as schedule can change at the last moment and we have big problems with translations, as most of the trainees don’t speak English. And we don’t speak Hindi...

Behind the filming part of our project there is a never-ending undertone of the concept of global education as we actually applied for a GLEN project in India and GLEN stands for Global Education Network of Young Europeans. Global education is a term than can be best explained from the perspective of what GLEN actually aims for; contributing to a better

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understanding of global interdependencies, fair and sustainable ways of living, responsible development policies and North-South relations based upon equal partnership and mutual respect. If we use the dreaded global village or butterfly in China metaphors; in today’s world, we cannot really escape the connections, bonds and strings woven between people living on this small planet we call Earth. We live in the age of globalisation which is in itself a unifying process and so we are faced with different cultures and values clashing together. Sometimes these clashes can be brutal and global education helps us to learn from the mistakes made in the past, broaden our horizons, understand and respect our differences and take into consideration the Other.

So my goal in India is not only to make films, but also to learn more about the culture and the people; do all Indians eat spicy food, who is that elephant god, what’s the deal with the strange obsession with Hitler in India, do the cows on the street actually belong to someone and where the hell are all the cockroaches. Seriously, I haven’t seen a single cockroach so far and this is Asia... where are they? And where are the monkeys? I haven’t seen a single monkey either...

And what have I learned so far? India is one of those countries you either love or hate. It is truly a diverse country and if you take into consideration the sheer mind blowing size of it, India becomes a country for which I am sure you would need a few lifetimes to fully comprehend. People are really friendly, upbeat and positive and to me they are not as intensive as I’ve heard from some travellers. Food if GREAT, although the word spicy has a different meaning compared to the »spicy« we have back home and if you don’t like spicy food, don’t go into this kitchen, as you will not be able to stand the heat. Auto rickshaw drivers are also a hassle. Sometimes I think they didn’t understand my directions as they are asking for a fare which could take me to Mumbai and I only want to go a few kilometres.

This and many other things happened in a short spam of 30 days. And to answer the question; which is worse? There are miseries in this project and living in Delhi, as they are everywhere. We work a lot, don’t have much free time and Delhi is chaotic but at the same time; the organisation we are working for and the project for which we applied motivate us to continue. This is not a time for sitting!

If you want to read more about mishaps in India and work at Etasha, you can check out the organisation’s blog at:

http://www.etashasociety.org/blog/

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Smiles of Sri Lanka

Author: Žiga Pavlin Photos: Žiga Pavlin

It is 8 in the morning. After more than 40 hours of traveling by car, train and air-planes, I finally arrived to Sri Lanka. I am wearing long trousers and I am carrying backpack that weighs 20 kg. I just stepped under the burning sun into the land without toilet paper. I stepped into chaotic mass of yelling, dark-colored people, where at least half of them are pulling you somewhere, while trying to convince you to sit in their taxi. I was tired, disorientated and annoyed. It seemed I found myself in a completely new world, which was so different and unconnected with ours, that it almost did not seem real. Buildings around me were old and it seemed that only their laziness is holding them together. I was searching for something nice, something to make me smile, but all I could find were too-full, rusting busses and plants, dying on the sun.

After one last bus trip (that took me 6 hours and involved 4 different means of transportation) I finally arrived to open-hearted, kind and friendly people that were soon to become my roommates and my companions. I was living on the top of the hill, surrounded by jungle and monkeys. Even in first couple of days, I was able to experience most of superficial characteristics like morning meditation, sitting on the floor during work-meetings, using right hand instead of cutlery and left instead of toilet paper. But the real characteristic of Sri Lanka are its inhabitants. People that survived more than anybody should. Those optimistic people and their permanent smile, honesty and their wish to return home, although their home is now only a vision, a memory of what it used to be.

I experienced all of that in my second month, when I was staying in Trincomalee, district on the east coast of the island. After almost a week of arranging my first travel, a phone rang. It was Farsar, my friend who was supposed to take me to Mutur 5 days ago: Siga, you ready? We leave 10 minutes!«, he says and comes to pick me up 45 minutes later. The road is still without asphalt and sunken bridges and damaged electrical wires are constantly reminding you why. The whole area is still trying to recover from wound of war, tsunami and recent floods. People are slowly coming back from refugee camps, repopulating their villages that do not really exist anymore. Places of their homes and safety are now taken-over by palm trees, growing out of sand covered with salt. They are living in barracks in the size of our bathroom. Some are trying to supporting themselves with fields in the size of our gardens and some invested in fishing nets, that cost a bit less than 19 €. Most of them, however, are constantly waiting for the support of NGOs.

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It was there that my life stopped and my reality shifted. It was there that I realized how much life those people have in themselves and how much strength they need to be able to smile. We were sleeping on the floor on a centimeter thick plastic floor mate. It took us 7 hours to catch and prepare dinner and it took me one hour to write couple of pages in my diary...using shaded candle light and a plank that was used as a table. Kids that I meet do not go to school. Instead, they are helping their parent to survive. Like their parents they are full of optimism and their jokes and stories are full of life.

Eventually I had to leave the warm sunshine and the smell of green vegetation, which rise proudly into the sky and embrace us with its shade. I had to leave all those people who were offering help and inviting me to make my travel easier by driving in their tuk-tuks. I left the interesting crowd on their buses and their healthy and delicious food. Eventually I flew from Sri Lanka from the same airport in which I arrived two months before. I returned back to the partially cloudy weather with the possibility of rain. I returned back to problems and concerns of our society, in almost the same environment as I left.

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Izola is small, a bit Italian, and not very touristic – perfect.

In the morning I was passing the empty town to get to the sea. Going through the labyrinth of narrow streets, with fresh, warm bread in my hand I felt like the time had stopped 15 years ago. There is something really unique in the atmosphere of Slovenian towns. Simplicity of life, kindness of people, respect for nature and old values. Like marketing does not exist and the rat race is not taking place. I felt free, careless, orientated on different aims. I was 10 again.

Otok Cinema

Izola was my destination point because of Kino Otok - International Film Festival that is taking place each summer for eight years in a row already. I went to see Alps, the movie of Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos. The girl checking the tickets already knew me, so I passed without showing my accreditation. I was moving slowly, waiting for my friends. There was a couple standing next to me, also trying to pass, but they were asked to show their tickets. When I heard the man said calmly “we don’t have tickets” I turned in curiosity and I got surprised. Yorgos Lanthimos was standing there, waiting for a ticket girl to realize that he is a special guest. Irony mode: on. The director of the movie nominated for Oscar, who three years before received the prize during Cannes Festival, got stuck in the door before screening of his movie in some Slovenian town. Hilarious. I sent him a smile. He smiled back. This is how it is there: no red carpets, no limousines, no flashes. Just plastic chairs standing in the open air of Manzioli Squere. With stars just above you.

A bit like work, a bit like holidays…

Author:Anika Dziewior Photos: Anika Dziewior

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It was not a typical workcamp

Hundred of plastic chairs that we – the volunteers of the work camp – were setting up before the festival. This was a part of our tasks. Called “the intervention squad”, we were preparing Manzioli for projections and carried around stuff. Girls, for whom the work was too hard, were working at registration point at the camp area. I was one of those girls. Sitting there or lying on hammocks I was guarding the place eight hours per day on different shifts. Meeting people, drinking coffee, reading books. Perfect for me. A bit like work, a bit like holidays. I have never been on SCI workcamp before, but I heard from other volunteers that they look different. They are more about working in the international team for some local community. In this workcamp we were just four foreign volunteers among one hundred Slovenians, working on the festival. I like work during events like that and I feel good being a part of it. Maybe it was a bit different, but it was great for me. Kino Otok: I’ll be back. ;)

Photos: Anika Dziewior

If you want to know the impressions of other international volunteers taking part in the work camp, check them on the website of Zavod Voluntariat. Listen to radio interviews with Anna and David.

www.zavod-voluntariat.si/www.zavod-voluntariat.si/radio_more.html

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Life began in the prehistoric oceans, in salty water; we still carry it inside ourselves today. Maybe this ancient memory hidden somewhere in our genetic code is the reason we have such strong feelings and respect to the blue water. Our mother sea is still providing abundance for all of us, with food, water and salt.

In modern times we take salt for granted, something from the supermarket shelves, without even realizing its upmost importance for, well basically life. It is an essential ingredient in us, thus the basic spice in our food. Imagine the food without salt, just, just awful… Well in the past, when getting the salt was not as easy as running to the store around the corner, places where you could actually get salt were worth gold, actually salt was gold, white gold.

This is why the old Sečovlje salt-pans are such a magical place. They bring you back to basics, to the beginning, when the sea played and danced with the earth, the air and the sun. A symphony that our ancestors learned to listen and added their own contribution to the cosmic dance. The reward for the effort, if done properly, are the most beautiful white crystals of salt, because they contain a bit of all basic elements; water, fire, air and soil.

Living in such a diverse environment as the land of Istria is, will bring you a more open way of thinking, not to mention the influence of the sea as a trading place, that brings foreign people, food, commodities and ideas. The place has been an intersection for major cultures of Romanic, Slavic and Germanic heritage. There were wars, treaties and collaborations during different times and nations like ancient Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Venetians, Austrians, French, Italians, Yugoslavs, Croatians and Slovenians. No wonder Piran elected the first black mayor in Slovenia.

Today the descendants of all these nations can come enjoy the heritage of their ancestors that helped to cocreate in the mother of all intersections, where the salt grows even today, somewhere in between the elements, between the Slovenian and Croatian border, between public and private interests…

The international volunteer workcamp in the Museum of salt-making fits perfectly in the whole concept of creating bonds between nations, between the past and the future. Team of young individuals from diverse backgrounds, working for the preservation of the stories from the past, for future generations to enjoy and learn from them.

Although the team was diverse, rather than focusing on the differences that make us unique, we focused on similarities and the basic things that we have in common. If not anything else, the salt was a strong binder for all of us. No matter how unique and diverse food we would make, without the salt it would be tasteless.

Maybe the salt and its story of creation can teach the humanity that cultural diversity enriches us. The more diverse the building elements are, with proper care and feeling for nature’s symphony, more beautiful the salt crystals are. The more diverse group of people, the more outstanding and beautiful things they can create. If only we realized we have the same blue mother…

Salt….The white gold created out of water, fire, air and soil.

Author: Peter Guštin Photos: Anastasija Popovska

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A story about my divine summer experience

Author: Anastasija Popovska Photos: Anastasija Popovska

From 9-19 of July I participated as a volunteer in the International Ethnological-Renovation workcamp Soline 2012. Marvelous experience….

The workcamp took place in the museum area of the Sečovlje salt-pans (Sečoveljske soline), that is located in the southern abandoned part of the salt-pans called Fontanigge. We all met in Piran and headed towards the saltpans. To get there you need to actually cross the Slovenian border and right before the Croatian border control there is one small road that takes you to paradise…

Who was there? Beautiful people! Anna (Poland), Olga and Glib (Ukraine), Leonardo (Italy), Martin (Spain), Maja (Slovenia), Anastasija (Macedonia) as volunteers, our camp leader, Peter (Slovenia) and co camp leader Mario (Slovenia). Different people with different cultural backgrounds, from different countries who were about to share same experience - “Living at the Salt pans”.

As we passed the road to get to the museum an overwhelming felling started to arise inside of me. I felt immediate tranquility. A whole new surrounding has opened in front of my eyes. I felt like getting out of the car and just running and hugging the trees and the birds, felling the gentle touch of the breeze. I had no words to express myself, couldn’t speak at all actually. Was mesmerized! I thought that nothing can be worth enough saying. So I kept quiet… I couldn’t get enough of the surrounding.

Away from everything, in the middle of the salt pans like in some forgotten place back in the past. Living in basic conditions including no electricity, no running water, kind of disconnected with the rest of the world….. What actually could you like there?! How could you live without running water?! Were you able to take shower?! You are crazy I could never do that! Were just some of the questions/comments I got from people…

Well my dear children of the planet earth, we obviously forgot where are we coming from, enjoying our comfort and availability of everything that’s has been served to us. We got so distant to nature, distant from our roots, distant to ourselves.

Aside from the things we didn’t have and believe me we didn’t even need, we had serenity! We could breath in, with full lungs and feel the clearness of the air, we had beautiful birds creating magnificent scenes, the reflection of the Sun in the salt pans creating spectacular blinking of the white crystals waiting to be harvested, the Sunsets with everyday different scenery …. We had

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nature in it’s almost purest form. Surrounded by these nearly unreal sceneries we had time to reach deep within ourselves. We had our inner peace, clear mind and open heart. At least that’s how it was for me.

Working was a great pleasure in this environment. Everyone had a smile on their faces while doing not such an easy job actually. Team was functioning perfectly. Every day different two people were cooking for the others. It was great, we had a chance to taste and learn about all of these countries’ cuisines, traditions different ways of combining ingredients. We used the coffee breaks and after lunch breaks and dinner time to talk about the differences and the similarities in our cultures, the Salt pans and their importance throughout the history and now as a cultural heritage.

Besides working, bike rides around the coastal area were organized. On “the route of health and friendship” …..Enjoyable times, discovering Slovenia’s seaside…

More about this workcamp organized by Marine museum “Sergej Mašera” Piran (Museo del mare Pirano) and Zavod Voluntariat-SCI Slovenia you can find on the following links:

www.kpss.si

www.zavod-voluntariat.si

www2.arnes.si/~kppomm/frames/index_s.htm

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This summer, my mom and I were working in Ireland on a working camp, which we found through our agency »Zavod Voluntariat«. In Roscommon, there is Holiday Centre named Cuisle intended for people with disabilities, who want to spend some time in the nature. This place is very peaceful, where guests can really relax and forget all the problems at home. We helped in the centre for ten days and met all the people who work or are on holidays there.

We came in Roscommon Centre on 21 of July, where Fergus, who was one of the most important person in the Centre, accepted us. He gave us much information, where all the rooms are, where is kitchen, what can we do as volunteers, who are our guests and represent us all the people. The first and most important thing we noticed was that all people there are so nice, polite and always there to help or listen to you. If we had any problems (which we did not have, because there was truly not a thing that we could complain about), we could share it and together we would find a way to solve it. All the people are there together, helping each other and nobody should feel alone. The day starts with: »Hello, how are you? Did you sleep well?«, which is amazing, because in our country (Slovenia) people are too busy to even say hello.

What had to be done, we just followed our instinct and people were happy for every help, no matter what is it, either in the kitchen or just a chat with the guests. We helped in the kitchen, in the bar, going outside with people on wheelchairs, chatting with them, like we knew each other before. Chatting with the guests and later in the evening with the nurses and helpers was so relaxing and amazing, we played games and had music almost every night. We did karaoke night and we were dancing, even with people on wheelchairs and they were so happy that nobody could ever imagine. Every day we went on a trip – one day shopping in Athlone, in the evening we spent time dancing and singing in a Pub in the late night with the guests of the Centre. The most beautiful trip was to Galway, where we helped pulling the wheelchairs and going to those small stores to buy beautiful Irish little souvenirs.

Our working camp in Ireland

Author:Erika Krvina and Matejka Krvina

Through that week we learned so many things and we enjoyed it so much, because people there are amazing. We had a great experience and the most important thing is that we saw now life with different eyes as we did it before and each experience was good for our personal growth. We became such good friends in that week and it was really worth it. It is for sure that from now on, every our summer will be intended for volunteering camps and we will hope to get more experience as it was with this one.

Photos: Erika Krvina and Matejka Krvina

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Our road trip along the east coast of the USA 31.7-23.8.

Author: Tina Trdin Photos: Tina Trdin

Ahhhh, viva America. When you travel to USA, you cannot resist having certain kinds of stereotypes, positive and negative. I must say, in comparison to my travel buddies, I had the least expectations on how it should be when we arrive to the dreamland of so many people from 1880 to the end of 20th century. But I was in no way disappointed (just Miami wasn´t as awesome as someone described it to me).

Our trip began in New York, in this magnificent, hectic city, where red on the traffic light does not necessarily mean red. City of big buildings, skyscrapers and a true melting pot of all the cultures in the world, where you cannot say that one race or nation are in majority.

After New York our trip continued to Miami, where we rented a car, heading down to the – in my opinion the most beautiful and exciting part of the trip - Key West (thanks for the amazing experience goes to our two couch surfers from Key West). And slowly we continued our trip back up

to NYC. We have made several stops and experienced the real city life of USA and pure nature for example in St. Anastasia state park. Some of the cities/places we have visited on our way: Charleston, Cape Canaveral, Washington, Philadelphia, Atlantic city, Greensboro, and above mentioned.

Things that come to my mind right away when I think about our trip? Beaches and camping in the wilderness in St. Augustine, drag show and bar hopping in Key West, Chipotle, Times square in NYC, Smithsonian museums in Washington, market place in Charleston, playing beer pong, how people speak in Georgia, Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, searching for a motel in Atlantic city on a Saturday night, real American house warming party in Charleston, manatees on Cape Canaveral and many more… And guess what? I have gained only two kilos up from all the fast food America has to offer!

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Upcoming events

Thursday dinners will start in September!Do you have an idea for the event, always wanted to organize an exhibition, but don’t know where to start? You want to make a movie or start some project, but you don’t know with whom? Come for a Thursday Dinner – the meeting of Club of Volunteers.

Originally the Thursday Dinners were meetings of artists and intellectuals held by the last King of Poland, Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski. The dinners were held in the Royal Castle in Warsaw in XVIII century. During the dinners, which typically lasted three hours and resembled French salons, the King dined with his guests and discussed literature, art and politics.

Not in the castle, but in the office of Zavod Voluntariat, not the king, but the simple coordinator of Club of Volunteers is inviting you for Thursday Dinners, every Thursday from 6 p.m. at Cigaletova 9.

The idea of our Thursday Dinners is to meet people, share concepts and to debate. Let’s make something together… or at least try some new dishes.

Just tell us that you are coming, so we can prepare the plate for you. Write on: globalvolunteering.voluntariat@gmail.com

What is the 5 Ws & H principle? Learn more on our workshops.

How to write an article? Where to put important details? What should appear in the lead? Find the answers for those and more questions during communicational workshops at Zavod Voluntariat.

Since the Internet offers a lot of tools, like blogs, twitter and many others platforms, we can express ourselves easier, faster and more effective. Everyone can do that. You don’t need to be a journalist to inform others, to create opinions, to share your ideas, thoughts and experiences. The only thing is that still you need to be responsible for what and how you write. Improve your skills, develop your style and share your experience with us.*

If you are interested in taking part in the journalistic workshop write to Anika on: globalvolunteering.voluntariat@gmail.com

* we don’t guaranty that you will became a bestseller’s author after the workshop, but for sure you will get something to think about, while writing… or reading.”

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Upcoming events

Workshop in the Garden of Povšetova PrisonEach Wednesday morning we are gardening on Povšetova with permaculture specialist Mirjam Kopše. Workshop is a continuation of the project that has started last year. The workshop’s aim is to actively involve young people for the promotion of a more sustainable way of life for all. In this workshop the group will consist of volunteers and prisoners.

By cleaning the place, planting seeds and taking care of plants we are trying to grow vegetables and herbs that will be used in prison’s kitchen.

Limit for this workshop is 12 volunteers.

If you would like to join us or if you have any question and you want to know more about this workshop, please contact us on club.of.volunteers@gmail.com.

Weekly Creative workshops in ZAVOD VOLUNTARIATJewelry, Macrame, Recycled Art, Clothes, Decoration, And more….

Bring old fabrics, jars, beads from broken jewelry, stones, simply everything you don´t want to get rid of but you don´t know what to do with it.

And of course bring your Imagination.

Wednesdays at 17.00

How to apply?

Mail the Club of Volunteers : club.of.volunteers@gmail.com

Contact: Anastasija Popovska

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Upcoming events

˝Knitting bonds with Africa˝ Festival 27.09.2012

Make an African jewellery, play some african games and enjoy african theatre, drumming, music, dance and food. Join us on 27.09.2012 from 15.00 o'clock in ČMC Mladi Zmaj – Šiška.

Final event of the project ˝Knitting bonds with Afrika˝ and celebration of ČMC Mladi Zmaj birthday party... More info comming soon on Voluntariat web page.

Stay tuned www.zavod-voluntariat.si