And again thanks to Sun, which started this morning after georgian cultural
evening.
It's the 4th day, but it doesn't seem so. The 4th day was about our
collected ideas putting into action by involving students from 4 Odessa's
Universities. Before going to universities groups gathered together and
re-talked about strategy of plan realization.
When the right time came, we went to маршрутка. We were totally
suprised about the payment system - pay when you leave.Here are reports from
all 4 groups and let's see how it went:
“I want such meetings to happen every week” – that was the best description
that we could receive from ukrainian students about the meeting that happened
in 16th of April. Our ENTER team spent 3 hours in Odessa I.I.
Mechnikov National University and providing different
activities about entrepreneurship and social responsibility. We’ve shown to the
students that to be initiative, creative and active is very important for
reaching the high levels and improving their ideas into the real life. So
according to the feedback that we’ve received for sure we’ve succeeded in our
goals.
So, ENTER, let’s go further!
We visited Odessa’s Economic University and before that we
planned out our activity plan.
First, when we got there, we prepared all materials and posters. When all
students arrived (about 15) we introduced ourselves – who are we? where
are we from? what we’re going to do? We also let them know about Youth in
Action Programme and our project ENTER.
After that we also talked about our
experience in youth projects. Students were really suprised that we have those
kind of opportunities. We adjusted that also they have a posibilities to
participate in such projects.
Our main topic was „social entrepreneurship”, but at first students were
confused, because they haven’t heard about it at all, but later when we started
to speak about „good case practises” they recognized NGO’s, so our conversation
continued.
Practical part for students was to divide them in two groups and make their
own NGO. They created a problem specific to Odessa and made a solution. In the
end groups presented their work, by the way, ideas were really great and sustainable
for future.
It was a great opportunity to work with young people and also letting them
into our world by letting them know our experience. Sharing is necessary!
We had ability to visit Medical
University. Such an opportunity was given by gentle Kostya, who is a student of
the medical faculty in this University and nowadays takes parts in Volunteers
Activities on behalf of Bees NGO. Firstly he decided to show us the Anatomical
museum of University. Following him and wandering around the University he told
us that it was built in 1990`s and the first Medical workers were the world
famous scientists. Also he added that the medical faculty during that period
was the best in popularity and conveniences around all Russian Empire.
When we arrived to the Anatomical museum we were pretty impressed as there
were many foreigner students from different countries such as: India, China,
Vietnam, Arabic countries, Israel, Egypt, Iraq and so on. But what was really
amazing when one of students began speaking with girls from Estonia on their
own language. It turned up that guy was their compatriot. It was something
incredible. Then we made some photos near the museum and after went inside.
Indoors we met our next guide who had a student`s sobriquet Granny Dandelion.
Funny grandma she wanted to made us fun but most of us didn`t understand her
Russian. Although we had acquainted with museum and its mysterious creatures,
which includes: mummies; human skulls, bodies, bones, huts, brains; male whale and
his girlfriend; cat Barsik; 120 age human body and etc. It was said that museum
has around 3000 exhibits from which the most are prepared by students.
Downstairs on the ground floor Granny Dandelion showed the main statue the man
without skin which symbolizes “The death serves the exultation of life.”
Afterwards there were shown anatomical halls where students dissecting the
human body. The death and smell of formalin made the area not so applicable but
we coped with our feelings and fortunately finished our journey outdoors.
The next two hours
we spent in the conference class at the round table. There were nine
participants who joined our meeting, also three photographers and journalist.
Due to the roundtable atmosphere the space was prim and proper. Furthermore,
from nine representatives only four were students and the rest were university
workers. The format was as such formal as we couldn`t imagine, so we decided to
change our discussion plan. We started from the each other’s introduction and
the introduction of Youth exchange ENTER. When everyone got to know each other
well we asked all participants to tell some words about their motherland,
something that they should really proud of their country. During our discussion
photographers were making pictures with all of us, the journalist made
important notes for the newspaper`s title. The next task was to represent the
NGO of each country. Everyone knew something new about NGO in different
countries. Ukrainians even asked to give them flipchart with latvian and
estonian NGO. Also Kostya described his Bee`s NGO which main idea is to invite
more youth for rendering assistance to old people. The Medical University
workers represented their Medical Faculty with its support in the Students and
Social Life Activity. In the end we
exchanged our contact details and made a few photos for memories. 
Our group chose Ecology University. It was very interesting
experience, because we worked with students. They were in the same age as we
and they were interested in social problems. It was the plus for us. But at the
beginning we forced with some difficulties - they didn`t understand the way of
informal education and it was our minus. We didn`t predict that locals may be
not ready to our games. First 30 minutes we just tried to create a first image
about each other. Students hesitated to speak English and it also made extra
barrier between us. In such regime we worked first part of meeting.
I was surprised and in the same time proud about our team, because we didn`t give up. Our participants show them how it may be cool to study through the games. Moreover, students opened during the meeting and even wished to spend with us extra time. So, we realized that locals just needed the time to get used to something new.
Somebody of us admitted that it was enough natural and appropriate way of education, because even in wild world animals study to survive through games.
In the end we had tea with tasty candies and talked about different topics. Students asked about project, about foreign cultures, about our lives. Also they shared with us their feedback about this meeting.
Also with their dances and some tricky tongue twisters like - "Viska õlu üle Ülo õla" (Throw the beer over Ülo's shoulder) and "Eminemi esimene esinemine" (Eminem's first performance). I can confess it was quite challenging to repeat them over and over again!
by Signe
