9th day (21st April)

So that is it!

Hard to say, but project has ended. A wonderful time has spent near the Black sea. Lots of memories. Let's see what participants think about this week, what were feelings about leaving camp, how was their trip way back home, what are feelings to be back home and what this project changed in daily life or future. Let's check what they think. :)

• What about feelings when you were leaving camp? And how it feels to be back home?

"It was really hard, because time passed very fast and I met a lot of people. It's like I didn't do some things and I had to go home. Also it was strange to return home to daily routine. "

"Getting back home was hard for me too, because lots of adventures happened in camp."

"Leaving camp and Odessa was for me an excitement about this experience gaining. The most interesting was playing Mafia and walking to sea with everybody. Being back at home was a real shock and going again to school, returning to daily life and also watching all pictures is difficult for me."

"Leaving camp wasn't that hard, but after a moment when the bus left, I realised that I wanted to stay. At least for one more day. To enjoy the calm feeling of the Black Sea or just to spent more time with everybody. In this week I realised, how how much people around me are important in my life. Specially the ones, who are my friends and my soulmates. Saying goodbyes in airport were tough ones. That was the moment when lot of thoughts went through my mind. But all in all, everything is going only for good!
Being back home feels very great, because I started to miss people, who are usually around me, because during the week I realised, how much they mean to me."

"Feelings are hard to explain. It's like you do something what you don't want to. Leaving camp was like leaving something that I've just built. But i know for sure that experience, learning and friends will remain. "

"Being home again was strange. For few hours I couldn't find my place and first thing after I unpacked was to go and take a walk."

"Leaving the camp and also Ukraine was actually sad. The people got really close to each other and I think lots of us would have wanted to spend more time together. And being finally home - nothing new! I had this relatively empty feeling like "ok, that's it?". It was quite complicated to dive into the boring school life back home when we had this opportunity to do something different and escape from our daily routines."

"The feelings before our departure from Odessa varied - from joy to bitter sadness. Thinking about what you've built in 8 days, could break down only with your departure, simply hurt harder than the leaving itself. But forgetting is not an option. I just tried to get close to myself, to remember the pleasant moments and to reflect on what I had gained through this project - friends and new knowledge.
To be home is both - good and bad. To see again your motherland gives you an unexplainable joy, but letting all those things such as the sea or all new friends is just hard.."

"Leaving camp and leaving Ukraine was a hard thing to do. In the night of others leaving, all that was going in my head was: "They will leave. I will leave" And i had two options:cry my heart out or shut myself down. So, not to create another Black Sea, I shut myself down, my mind went blank and I was like a puppet in the hands of God. Also being back home was a shock, really, because I got used to waking up in the morning, hearing the sea, going to breakfast and meeting everybody - wonderful people, full of ideas and wanting to change something."

• What did you gain from this project week and what will you use for future?

"Now I know how to manage my time. I have a lot of new ideas, which i will realize in nearest future. In one word, I am more responsible and I don't want to waste my time!" 

"Every experience changes our life somehow. But this project for sure did it stronger. It's like you were in a routine, then you were in this project and learnt something. Okey. Things you've learnt can't manage with your old routine and you have to change some things, but in a good way. First of all, this project changed my point of view about my country. I see now Romania with better eyes, and maybe the most important things I see now opportunities here that I couldn't before, because I didn't appreciate them. Thank you everyone! I really learnt something from each of you! You're the best, all of you!"

"During this project I got experience by communicating and cooperating with different people in different atmosphere. And I also think I am more self-confident now."

"Project has been a splash colors in my life. I have learnt many useful thing. I have met interesting people there and also made good friends and learnt more about all countries."

"Changing is the way! Only by the simple fact that I lived with so many different people with their cultures and that I've tried to understand them all is just something little that changed my life path. But the greatest thing is that now I know what I want to do next in my life..I want to be The One!"

"In my daily life I have definetely gained more self-confidence and self-awareness. Some people gave a bit inspiration & motivation to actually DO somethinh or to speak up. In the future -  well, let's see."

"During this week I realised, that my plans for future are the right ones and I haven't made any mistakes about that. I know that I can make changes here or there or everywhere I want. I just have to use my powerful initiative and start doing it!"

"This project definetely changed my life. As all other projects did. You meet people, make friends, understand other cultures and find the connections. I don't know how this project will affect my life in future, but I know tht I want to help making these youth exchanges possible.

Guys, you have so many things to offer to the world. Just shine. Speak up. Believe."

Sharing is caring... 

Be the one who shares, Be the one who cares!

ENTER

Ukraine 

2013

by Signe

8th day (20th April)

I have bad news! This is the last day of our project..

It has been a great week full with adventures, suprise moments. All the people we've met here. Isn't that great?

Last activities passed by talking about Youth in Action Programme and about our project evaluation. 

In the evening started our bye-bye party in which we revealed our secret friends and also got Youth Pass. In the end ukrainians announced Quest winners.

Also organizers got presents for everybody - stripped shirts like sailors had and also winner teams got sailors hats. What a great suprise, right? :)
When the midnight came, latvians, georgians and estonians started to pack up luggages, because at 3.30a.m. we had to leave our camp. But until then everyone was into Mafia playing. What a great feeling that everyone was together at the last night!

Here are some quotes from participants about this week:

"Expanding the horizon of knowledge and the development of your senses are just the few things that lasts even after ENTER."

"Some people strenghten the society just by being the kind of people they are."

"Although the project was all about a busy schedule and lots of mindwork, the general impression was more than positive. Lots of new acquaintances who became close friends; new inspirative ideas and persons; funny and releasing activities. Of course it was a great opportunity to see the beautiful city of Odessa with its diversities, culture and people. I am really glad to have the chance to participate in this project - I had an experience to cummunicate with representatives of other nations and I also gained lots of self-confidence and self-awareness."

"This project was an interesting and useful one. I gained lots of new information and experience. I spent wonderful time there".

"ENTER - analizing past, understanding the present, planning better future."

"Life time experience and I will always remember people who participated."

"ENTER - that was just beggining of something beautiful, amazing and unexperienced."

by Signe

7th day (19th April)

Hey everyone!

After latvian cultural evening started very important and meaningful day. Before project realizations groups met again together and tried to prepare for later actions, e.g. collecting all needed materials or re-talking plan for a day. Places we visited - kindergarten, school, orphanage house, refugee centre. Let's see how did it go from all group reports:

We visited kindergarten. At first we had discussion with teachers about their kindergarten system and they were really opened-minded about our visit and we noticed some differences between the kindergarten system in each countries.

Even the children didn’t understand english, they were very attached to us and participated in our activities and were satisfied with them. And we are really happy that our plan worked and children were happy about our visit!

On 19th April we visited social institutions in Odessa. One group also visited the orphanage house. A large group was divided into 2 smaller groups – one focused on children between ages 6-10 and the other group paid more attention to youngsters between the ages of 10-16. The second group of 5 people spent their 2 hours with the older children. Lots of fun and developing games were played, cultural diversities and interesting facts discussed and smaller individual conversations were also held. 

The children were very happy and satisfied to spend their day a little bit differently than usually. The big interest into our activity and the sincere smiles on children’s faces made the ENTER participants genuinely happy – they had made a small change. 

After travelling by a tram for 10 minutes, we finally reached the school.  We had only 45 minutes to act, so we tried to make activities in the frames of limited time.

At first, we had a small introduction of the project. Then by M&M activity we melted ice between us and class. We introduced ourselves and obtained information from them. We divided them into the 3 groups and started discussion.  We helped them to collect information about the theme. The topic of the first discussion was an active citizenship.  

Each group discussed it for 5 minutes and chose a person who presented it to the rest of class. Then there was the second discussion about the activities that were already done by them. Students told us about a fair, which was held in their school and which was a truly good example of an active citizenship. There also were girls, who helped homeless dogs. Some of them helped old people as well.  After this, each of us shared our experience with them and tried to convince them, why it is important.

In the end of the meeting students had an opportunity to evaluate our work and to write down the web pages of important projects in different countries. 

“ENTER” participants was in the Odessa Refugee Center. The meeting started at 3p.m. and the guide Luba, who works there, showed us the whole center of the refugees, told us the stories of people and about their daily life. Some families are living there for few years, because the government still did not give them the documents which can allow them to work legally, so this center is their real home and everything what they have.

When the introduction was finished, we had a chance to meet refugees’ kids and to know them better. We were slightly surprised that they were gently accept us and were glad to participate in our activities in which  they were all with us during all our visit. We can say that children there are full of energy, have great enthusiasm, so they even proposed their own game!

Some of us were shocked that this kind of problem with refugees exists nowadays, because in their own countries they don`t attach with it. When you meet people you always think about their past and their future and these kids came from somewhere where they will never be back. They do not have their own home, they need to live all together and they have no chance to have a normal job. But the idea is that their decisions are only up to them! What they are going to do – is in their hand and it doesn’t mean that the game is over, that is why such kids need even more attention! We were learning from them: NEVER BREAK DOWN!

 

This was was full of suprises for us, but what is more - for kids. Isn't that great feeling to see children smiles? Because "Sharing is caring.. Be the one who shares, Be the one who cares!"

In the evening moldovian night finally came. They welcomed us with handshakes and kisses. This night was a bit different that others, because tables were moved in one line, so all participants sat at table together.

Moldovians made their national dish and of course everybody had a chance to taste it - wine, tomatoes, Mămăligă (porridge made of maize flour) with meat and salty cheese with sour cream. I can say - it was really delicious. Also we tasted some moldovian sweets - candies and marmalade.

At the same time they made a quiz for all countries. Lots of tricky questions and what was the interesting part - they made questions specially for each country and for the right answer got Moldova's flag bracelete. 

The evening continued with games and dances. They even showed some performances from their national dances. After that we tried to repeat and it wasn't that hard. :)

by Signe

6th day (18th April)

Hey!

Our 6th day is here and project is slowly going to end. But we still have a lot to do, right?

This morning was like others. We woke up with few energizers as usually, had some fun and freshened up and were ready for few discussions with our guests - Pavel and Olga.

First guest was Pavel, who is representative from Instituteof Political Information - NGO from Odessa, which works on analizing and making some researches in the sphere of process of democratization process that is going on in this society.
Other guest was Olga Tkachiv was a representative from Lviv'v NGO "Samopomich". They are mostly making social projects by involving people from different age categories. For youngsters they are organizing some trainings for personal development, organize some activities in order to promote sport and healthy lifestyle, for elders (pensioners) they organize some communication activities. The mission of organization is to increase society activity in their region, to develop people, to give a help to hose people who need it and also to help citizens to fight for their rights.

Also representatives from each country talked about NGO situation and good cases practices.

 And finally latvian cultural evening started too. We welcomed our guests with phrases like "Labvakar"(Good evening) and "Sveiki"(Hello). Also we took a lot  of pictures with our evening guests.

Also latvians made a quiz before, in which were tricky questions like - how high is the highest hill in Latvia, what does latvian anthem "Dievs svētī Latviju" means or special question for estonians - how many toes do latvians have!(just because of estonian stereotypes about latvians) Winner team got Latvia's flag braceletes.

We also introduced everyone witl latvian national folk dance outfit. Actually many many years ago latvians were used to walk in them in daily life.

And as it should have been, Signe and Verners showed one combination of latvian national folk dances. Also latvians wanted to entertain others, that's why they asked others to repeat few of our tongue twisters like:

• Dzīvo dzīvē dzīvu dzīvi, dzīvam dzīvē dzīva dzīve (Live in life lively life,alive in life has lively life.)
• Šaursliežu dzelzceļš (Narrow railway)
• Ezīša puskažociņš (Hedgehog's half fur coat)

Our traditional food and drinks - black bread with šprotes and black bread with honey, grey peas with meat, cranberries in powdersugar, Laima's candies - Serenāde and Skrīveru Gotiņas, dessert - bread soup with dried fruits and whipped cream on top, Riga's Black Balsam with black currants. 

And after tasting traditional meal we had some fun - latvian traditional dancing games like Krakovjaks, Oira Oira or The last couple splits. Also I learnt others one popular song's "Es skrienu" ("I run") dance moves from latvian singer Lauris Reiniks, which is also known in Baltics and other countries, because this song has been translated in - estonian, lithuanian, english, turkish, italian, german and french.

Later in night started Mafia evening again, as usually every evening. But in 5.30a.m. few participants went to sea and wait for sunrise. What an amazing feeling to welcome the sun and see its wonderful  and magical appearance. And also - thanks to the Sun! :)

by Signe

5th day (17th April)

Can you here? Odessa is calling! 

Yes, Odessa is calling!

But let's hang up the call a bit, because in morning we had an evaluation about projects in universities. 3 groups chose the gossiping methode, in which everyone talks about one person from a group and what did they notice about him/her during project process. But one group was presenting themselves in front of others by telling how it went and if they've reached the goal.

Before Odessa visit Katja and Tanja informed us with few instructions about the day plans. On the way to centre Tanja and Olga presented Odessa's significant history.

Our first stop - harbour, where we had lunch break and got filled up with energy for upcoming Quest. Everyone should have listened carefully, because girls provided us with very important information with clues for tasks in Quest.

And here are lots of photos from all teams during Quest and managing to find all hidden objects:

After running through city and doing sightseeing we spent some time in city centre and also finally saw Odessa in night. What a beautiful view. Streets full of lights and decorations. 

Driving in маршрутка was adventure again, because of the people crowd pushing themselves into transport and smashing others, but we survived.

Rumanian night was very cheerful after pretty hard day. They learnt us dances and also some games. 

by Signe

4th day (16th April)

Hey,

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 16^th 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. Students wrote a great feedback for us and we felt satisfied with our result there.

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.

After all activities in universities we had some free time to see Odessa, but just a little bit, because we had to be on time for estonian cultural evening. They welcomed us with their national food, drinks.

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

3rd day (15th April)

Hey guys and girls,

After ukrainian evening and their dances participants were a bit tired, so we started morning with energizer "Samurai", which was like a wake up call for us. 

After "Samurai" activity we found our buddy chat pair and discussed about active citizenship, which explains that active citizenship basically is society involment into different actions by taking initiative in process. 

What does "Social entrepreneurship" means to you? To someone it means taking initiative, uniting society, participation etc. 

We also had a market in which we had to improve ourselves to others while selling our "entrepreneurship" definition and making at least 2 trades. It was all about using different selling skills - communication skills, eye contact, gestures..

And we - as a hard-working participants have been prepared our homework about Social Entrepreneurship and during presentations we represented our good cases pratices. For example, in Latvia we have Student companies, which provides young people with knowledge about business basics and process about being in business. Also we have School councils, where young people can develop their knowledge about social entrepreneurship by involving youngsters in different kind of events and by supporting their daily school life more colorful and interesting. What is more, in Estonia and Rumania there is an organization "Let's do it!" which is ecological project involving local people to clean up their environment. 

In the second part of day we got introduced with debates. What are debates? Debates are contention in argument, discussion of public interests. Why do we need debates? Answer is easy - "Every person should develop society and prove their idea". To debate = to decide. Debates are not about fighting over each other, they are about using great skills  to prove the idea.

In debates there are 2 teams (3 person per a team). Debating includes group work and its cooperation during process, also listening to each other, specially to other team members, because only by careful listening provides you with significant clues which may lead until the victory. To my mind, it is very easy to play with other team member minds by asking tricky questions, because they might get confused and might "get off the road"!

After some coffee break we started to gossip about each other, but in a nice way by telling about their skills or some other things we have noticed during these 3 days. It was very great opportunity to hear such a things, because in everyday hurry we forget to think something positive about us, only the worst parts. This task was very cheering us up and after that we could start brainstorming about social entrepreneurship ideas, which we could realize next day in 4 universities in Odessa:

• National University
• Ecological University
• Economical University
• Medical University

When the idea collection started, we wrote down few ideas for each university and after chosing the best and meaningful idea we divided in 4 groups. Groups discussed about up-coming plan realization and made a poster including their resources, main message, project visibility and main criterias for project evaluation.

And after all our activities started Gergian cultural evening. They welcomed us in their national outfits and also showed us few traditional dances and we had a change to try them. We also had a contest in spelling some tongue twisters, which were quite difficult for everyone who's not from Georgia.

by Signe