// Project summary
DIEM Dialogo Interculturale Euro-Med
DIEM is an Action 2 project - Group EVS - to promote the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008. This project takes place in Altamura, Italy from the 19th of January to the 18th of February 2009.
Working with media, newspaper and simply the voice, the volunteers try to promote the dialogue between the people and the inclusion of youngsters with less opportunities.
The participants come from european and mediterranean countries, all with different cultures, traditions and mind sets.
// It´s not finished (Party)
The participants are at home since two weeks. Link is going on working on other projects.
But still, all the experience done in this month is in all of us.
We are really happy that nearly all of the volunteers are still staying with us in contact.
So we heared about Daniel, who already found a long-term project. Martins is working already on the struture of a new music project in Latvia.
Then the maybe "biggest" thing born during the month is a beautiful youth-exchange, which David and Slavka are preparing at the moment, in cooperation with Daniel, Urwah, Atmane and Serkan. They will apply now in April and we hope that then in August we are having a big Youth-Exchange together with the people of DIEM.
:)
Guys, I hope you all stay good.
Birgit
posted by Link on 05/03/2009
// THE video (Event)
Finally it is possible to see the video which made Urwah on YouTube!
It is the most beautifull thing ever :)
Thank you so much for doing this for us.
And thanks Daniel that you put it on youtube!
To have a real - LIFE - look on the project everybody has to see the video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIUuMKHl36Y
Kisses and Hugs for everyone!
posted by Link on 20/02/2009
// DIEM (Event)
This was it!! ... Fast but good. With some problems but interesting.
With fears but happy.
Today all the volunteers went home and the LINK-Staff is alone again :)
But many of them promised that they will come back, if not for holidays then for some YouthExchanges (Lets Jam in August!) or maybe a Long Term?
Who knows what will happen....
posted by Link on 18/02/2009
// Last day (Training)
It´s time...
time to say: GOOD BYE!
It is amazing how fast this month passed by!
This evening we will have the last buffet, a big cake and a lot of fun - for sure ;)
Additionally the volunteers will receive tonight some small presents - their YouthPass and the T-shirt of Link.
In this morning we had the final evaluation, and all together there were just positive points. The words which were given the most in this evaluation were: exchange, experience, friendship, fun and new things. We all will take a lot of positive energy now we us home.
It was a great month - but of course, DIEM is not finished yet.
The guys will promote their newspaper in their organisation, friends, city. And soon will also be published the Follow-Up, a book, of DIEM.
Peace, love and FUN :)
Birgit
posted by Link on 17/02/2009
// BUON DIEM (Event)
Our newspaper is ready!!
Now it´s time, after one week of hard work we can feel it in our hands, the newspaper: "BUON DIEM".
We are completely happy about the final result. Here you can see it with your own eyes:
posted by Link on 14/02/2009
// Newspaper with Hugs (Culture)
Already in the morning of the 14th we went to the traditional "Saturday Market" of Altamura, were we spreaded our newspaper to the people.
Many people showed their interested in the paper we did, and they asked a lot of questions.
In the late afternoon we went in the central square of Altamura to do something... "special".
Our mission was to hug people :) This campagne is called "Free Hugs" and since it´s birth in 2004 in Sydney it is spreading all over the world.
We liked the idea so much that we thought to connect the newspaper distribution with the Free Hugs. The people reacted first quite shy but after really nice to our action.
Additionally we left the newspaper to many people and in the bars and shops of Altamura.
:) Of course, first of all WE had a lot of fun!
posted by Link on 14/02/2009
// Free Hugs (Event)
Hello everybody!
This is my second article on this blog for DIEM project in Altamura.
Sunday evening we all went together to the old city and we gave the newspapers to the people.
But we did something special today! We went to make the FREE HUGS.
It was soo cold, therefor the people were not so open, but anyway it was really nice.
But especially it was a new experience for me, I never did this before!
I like this very much, and I love LINK, how they do always strange things with the local people to let them see that everything is possible to do different!
Many greetings to all!
Martins Mamis,
Latvia
posted by Link on 14/02/2009
// Decision (Training)
After the workshops about emotions, movement and theater-technics, we tried to act our story in real. We had discussions how to do it better, in which way it is possible to make the people understand what we are doing and why!
Then we went also outside, like Martins wrote already, to try the scences of the story. But it is harder then everybody imagend! It is really cold and we dont have enough experience to build up something BIG. „For sure“ we have a lot of fun and we already learned a lot.
But at the end we decided that we are not good enough to present this infront of others. And additionally with this wheater you dont know if there will be someone in the square to see it!
posted by Link on 10/02/2009
// Cooking (Party)
Every day mininum 15 people who are more hungry then lions... how to make them full??!?!
Teamwork :)
We had in the first week great food of Lucia but after we were cooking on our own, with the help of Birgit, Teresa and Slavka.
And until now we did not starve!!!
posted by Link on 09/02/2009
// We are good! (Training)
Today I woke up very late, at 14 am. :) After lunch, we started again with the theater workshop. Now we seperated in two working teams. Gladiola and Slavka are thinking about the costumes. The rest of the group is acting and we went already in the square to see how it would be good. There meet the people each other for having a chat every day. For me this is something interesting, because I can not imagine this in my country. Italians are more open and friendly.
The work outside is hard, because we don't know yet how to do it right and it is really cold!!
To act in the streets is something new for me, because I never did this before. But I am happy that I can try this now the first time, this is a great experience for me.
I want to say THANKS for everyone who help me in this EVS project. I LOVE this crazy people!
Peace, Love, Fun for everyone.
Martinsh, Latvia.
posted by Link on 08/02/2009
// Matera (Culture)
After an interesting morning at the saturday street-market of Altamura, we went all together today to Matera. This is a city 20 min by car from Altamura. It was really impressing for the guys to see this beautiful city. We made a walk to discover the particulars, and we had an italian café in a bar. Some shoping and the saturday evening was already finished.
We had a lot of fun and saw the place where the "Passion of Christ" was made!
posted by Link on 07/02/2009
// Newspaper (Training)
The articles are ready!
Translations nearly everything done.
Pictures and drawings on the computer.
Means: Today w ill give everything to our grafic designer.
On Tuesday we will have the first look at it, and we will correct errors or things we dont like!
We are happy that we did a really great work.
Not "just" writing articles, also we got in contact with the local community and the reality of the altamuran people.
For example the group of the Sport-Staff went to take an interview with the Brasilian „5 a side“ – Players. The group of „Education“ went to a school to find out about the childrens sensitivity about interculturality.
And the group about „Work“ had the chance to meet a lot of immigrants in Altamura to understand better their situation here.
posted by Link on 06/02/2009
// The story (Training)
posted by Link on 05/02/2009
// Theater Workshop (Training)
Two long afternoons we tried to build up a story out of the national stories which the volunteers brought with them.
Actually, the discussion "how to build up a story about intercultural dialogue" was the best intercultural dialogue that we had ever had. : )
It was really difficult to do it, because when 15 people with 14 different stories from 14 countries try to build up one story … you can imagen… not really working!
At the end we managed to create the main plot, but because of theater technical problems it was not possible to get to the end of this story.
So we decided we decided instead of 15 people just 4 people will come together and write in in our name. So one long afternoon took for them to build up the story „ False Wonderland“. Houria, Savio, David and Gaelle did this great work!
You will find the story soon here on the blog!
posted by Link on 04/02/2009
// Newspaper (Training)
It started!!
Today we work first time in the groups for the newspaper.
We decided to make four groups with the topics: Education & Youth, Working Opportunities, Sport and Culture - and every of this group is working now seperated on their topics.
This first day was really great and we feel the energy of the group a lot!
Now, what's missing.... still the title of the newspaper!!
:) But we will decide it really soon!
posted by Link on 02/02/2009
// Intercultural Evening (Culture)
Hours and hours of cooking, cleaning, drawing ... The preperation of the Intercultural Evening.
All the participants and the "stranger" stuff of Link organised a beautiful and especially colorfull evening, presenting their culture in pictures, food and clothings.
For make the event again more interesting we invited also local friends to show them WHO is locating at the moment in Altamura.
We had a lot of fun, and we got to know a lot of new things about the other's cultures.
And one special thank to Atmane, who designed to everyone a "beautifull" Henna :)
posted by Link on 01/02/2009
// It's going on! (Training)
Saturday! tinally some sleep after the first three days of "real" activities!
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we started with the newspaper and the theater workshop.
So first some explanation and introduction sessions and after some practise. Like for the newspaper we did some interviewing-exercises between eacht other, and the outcome was already really interesting. So we are looking positivly forward this!
In the afternoon we started on wednesday with an theater workshop. This three days were more to understand "what is theater and how can I express myself on a stage". So we got a small training of Savio about theater-work.
So after this intensiv days we really need this weekend to relax.
Nice weekend to everyone!
posted by Link on 31/01/2009
// Surprise (Event)
A great surprise got the hole group today!!
Because we went to see a REAL Editorial Office in Bari, the "Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno". We went there and Mister Devito explaned what a newspape is build up, what is journalism, how to write a good article and he gave us a lot of good ideas for our newspaper.
It was a really great experience for all of us, because no one had before an idea how a newspaper is made - now we know!
Thanks to the Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno!
posted by Link on 30/01/2009
// intercultural dialogue - activities start (Training)
Today was the start of the activities. In the morning we had an idea about the newspaper that we are going to make.
In the afternoon the theatre; we had a preparation course (relax adapte and understanding) between each other and it was really great!
Atmane
posted by Link on 28/01/2009
// Final Evaluation of the On-Arrival Training (Training)
The first week, and so the On-Arrival Training is over.
Therefor we had a great Evaluation for the volunteers to think about everything what happend and to say what could be better and for the staff to see how they liked it.
The evaluation happend in a really nice atmosphere and a lot of candles. :)
posted by Link on 26/01/2009
// Youth Pass Presentation (Training)
This afternoon we informed the volunteers about what is the Youth Pass. We presented the key competences and why we will do this certificate. They were all really curious, also if it is hard to imagen at the beginning of the project.
Every week they will write some lines about what they have learned, so at the end of the month it will faster to prepare the certificate.
posted by Link on 25/01/2009
// Sport Sunday (Culture)
We have the need of movement!!!
So we decided today to do something sportive.
One group went to see the surroundings of the house - the Murgia! A great walk about two hours.
The other group got some breakdance lessions of Atmane.
posted by Link on 25/01/2009
// Bari (Training)
This saturday we took the train and went all together to Bari!
Bari is the capital city of Puglia, has 321 000 inhabitants and it is situated adriatic sea. Unfortunately the weather was quite bad, it was raining from time to time and a cold wind. But anyway we made a beautiful long walk in the historical center of Bari, we discovered that Bari has a lot of churches and that the seafront of Bari looks like the one of Marseilles! :)
After this we want for shopping (the girls went for shopping!) and then we had a great dinner in the "italian McDonald" Spizzico.
posted by Link on 24/01/2009
// Time Out (Party)
As you can imagine we also want to have some fun here... not just working :)
This weekend we went in the city to discover the nightlife of Altamura an we found some nice Pub's where we had great fun together. We got to know local people, and we practised out italian, as far as we know :)
We will go there for sure more times, it was really nice.
Serkan, Turkey
posted by Link on 23/01/2009
// italiano? (Training)
"Come ti chiami?
Ciao, mi chiamo Birgit!"
Yes, we are already talking in italian!!
Every morning the whole group gets a really great italian lesson from Lucia with the help of Teresa and David. They are all happy about it and you can hear the progress everyday!
In the afternoon we have the active italian with Birgit and Slavka. This means we are playing games to repeat phrases, to learn the time or other important basics.
posted by Link on 22/01/2009
// On Arrival Games (Training)
Some pictures of the Training!
Gettting to know eacht other, Energizers, Group-Building Activities, Fears and Expectations ....
We had so much fun!!
:)
posted by Link on 21/01/2009
// First Day (Training)
Yes, we already passed the first day of activities! It was a day full of energy, games, fun and I think after this we already got to know each other quite good. But anyway we have one month in front of us and me personally, I have the feeling that this will be a great month full of curiousity, new cultures and new skills.
Today we did in the morning first games for getting to know eacht other´s names and to get a bit more "easy" :) In the afternoon we fixed together the rules for the house, we got to know the team of Link. After we thought about all the fears and expectations we have about this month.
It was a quite intensive programme, and now after the dinner everyone is just chatting and going to sleep soon - in expectation of a new great day tomorrow.
Also with two new particpants which arrive tonight!
So, let´s see forward!
Birgit
posted by Link on 20/01/2009
// The team (Training)
Today I have the pleasure to present you the TEAM :)
The fantastic, beautiful, lovely, and full of energy - team for your Group-EVS!
For the week of the On-Arrival Training we have a great team of 6 people
The language team: David and Lucia
The "Energy/Culture" team: Sante and Martin
The active language team: Birgit and Slavka
The weeks after it depends which topic we are working on, but in general all this people will always work with you.
Additionally for the newspaper work we have the gorgeous Teresa,
and for the theater work whe have the amazing Savio, working with us.
Look on the pictures to get a first impression of all this wonderfull persons.
See you in 3 days!
posted by Link on 16/01/2009
// Preperations (Event)
Dear Volunteers!
We hope that everything is fine with you all.
I want to give you just some informations about the project.
The programm for the first week is attached at this article.
You can have a look at it, and get prepared for all the things we are going to do, as learning italian, getting a training about problem resolving and to have the first real impression of a wonderfull culture.
I want to remember you again of the CHECK-LIST which you find already on the blog. That you dont forget nothing to bring and that we can work as good as possible with all the materials you bring with you.
posted by Link on 14/01/2009
// Happy Christmas (Party)
Dear Friends!
The whole LINK-Team wishes you all a Happy Christmas and a good 2009!
But 2009 will be for sure great, because our project DIEM will happen already in january 2009!!
Nice greetings to all!
posted by Link on 24/12/2008
// Luggage (Event)
Things to bring with you:
In January also in the south of Italy it will be quite cold. The average temperature is arround 10 degrees, and there is always a cold wind. So please take warm clothes with you!
If we want to make activities in the garden it would be good if you take some clothes which can get dirty. Also if we make some excursion in the countryside or we have to do some "dirty things" like painting doing graffity.
For sleeping you find sheets and cover, but we ask you to bring your sleeping bag. Because of the cold temperatures and an organisational question.
For the body hygiene we ask you to bring all the staff you need, and also a towel for your use.
Furthermore we invite you to bring typical food, spices, drinks, games, instruments and music from your country. First of all of course for a nice intercultural evening for us :) And after, for the organisation of the cultural weekends we need a lot of material to dimostrate “the other cultures”.
Especially music, pictures to show to the others, or maybe also traditional clothings, flags, ...... everything what you want and what its possible to bring. There is no border for your fantasy! :D
In the document you can find the "checklist". (the same like in the "Welcome to Altamura").
posted by Link on 04/12/2008
// Acconmodation (Event)
You will live together with the other volunteers in a house 15 min. outside of Altamura called Buoncammino. This house was used before as a theological seminary, since one year LINK is using it for projects.
You will sleep together with one or two persons of the same sex in one room. Every room has its own bathroom with shower.
The house has a common room, with TV and DVD-Player where the volunteers can stay together, play games, talk or prepare stuff for the next day.
There is a big garden which we can use, depending of the wheater.
From the house you have to possiblity to reach the Murgia in 10 min. Murgia is the name of the hills and the National Park around Altamura.
The streets there are very famous for doing sport like speed-walking, running or cycling.
In the other direction you find by feed in 10 min the train-station or the city bus station and in 20 min the center of Altamura.
posted by Link on 03/12/2008
// Project Describtion - Overview (Culture)
Europe is expanding, every year are coming new partners to the European Union and there is more and more interest to develope the dialogue with the mediterranean countries. There are many cultures, religions, traditions, people, languages – everything is DIFFERENT. Often happen cultural missunderstandings, because of not superable barriers like language, ignorance, unknowing, stereotypes, fear or, because there is not enough or no dialogue between the people.
Which brings us to our topic, we want to TALK.
We want to creat a bridge between all the youngsters of the european and mediterranean countries. Between persons who never had understood how the other cultures are built. The main goal is to inform and to educate the local inhabitants about other cultures, about the cultures YOU are living in, about the Year of Intercultural Dialogue, we want to creat the dialogue.
13 youngsters from the countries France, Macendonia, Georgia, Turkey, Portugal, Albania, Egypt, Jordan, Latvia, Spain and Marocco can be an example of the richness we have around us.
Through media, artistic workshops, the production of a newspaper and a book about the project, we try to reach visibilty for this important topic.
posted by Link on 03/12/2008
// Altamura - where? (Culture)
Settled in the south of Italy, exactly in the region Puglia, one hour from Bari you find the city Altamura. With its 70.000 habitants its for italian measure a small city in the middle of the “Murgia – Hills” which is a National Park.
Altamura is called >City of the bread<. This bread is famous in whole Italy and also abroad. (Of course you will eat it!!)
It has a well maintained historical town with a Cathedral from the XIII Century. The found around Altamura many important historical objects: the footprints of dinosaurs and the oldest skelett of a pre-hestoric human. (250 000 years old!)
Near to Altamura you can find one quite important city, which the name is Matera. There they have the old district called "Sassi" which is protected by the UNESCO. For sure we will organize a trip there.
For coming to Altamura you have to arrive to the airport Bari-Palese. Another possibility would be to arrive at Rom and then come with the autobus or the train.
posted by Link on 02/12/2008
// Information (Culture)
Hello people!!
I am sure you are already really curious about everything, so we sent today all the information to your sending organisation. But as long as not everyone has a strong contact to their organisation we will use the blog to give you all informations, you can ask your questions and we answer you!
posted by Link on 01/12/2008
// Meeting in Bulgaria (Training)
Hy people! I am writing you today of Bulgaria, of the meeting for the yource project.
I got a lot of information about other projects, and how they worked together over the yource online community. So my constant thought is about how to make our project still better (maybe better then others lol)
So it would be great to already have a lot of contact with YOU, the persons who will participate in this Group EVS.
We are happy about all comments you write. If you register yourself you have the possibility to creat your own blog, write posts on the DIEM blog, to get and stay in contact with the other participants.
We will put all the information you need and you want (ask us!!) here on the blog, so you will stay updated all the time!
Furthermore we will use yource as a tool during the Group EVS, to show up the things we are doing, and to document it with pictures. After, when everyone went home we can easyly stay in touch and exchange news.
So youngsters: Get up and start to support us!
Nice greetings to all of you!
Birgit
posted by Link on 28/11/2008
// Our previous project (Culture)
Ciao! Time is running fast and preparation is going on pretty well. As you can read in our previous post, the main topic of the project is intercultural dialogue. DIEM is the follow-up of another short-term EVS project we hosted in Altamura in September 2008. At that time we have also made nice things with the aim of spreading information about Intercultural Dialogue and, together with the 4 volunteers, we have produced two issues of a newspaper which has been distributed for free to the local polulation.
You can read the 1st and the 2nd issue (copy - paste)
http://www.linkyouth.org/images/stories/cd_1.pdf
http://www.linkyouth.org/images/stories/cd_2.pdf
and you can also see our old blog at the address http://culturaldialogue.myblog.it/tag/dialogo+interculturale , than your comments here are very welcome!
We also suggest to have a look at the official website of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue at the address http://www.interculturaldialogue2008.eu/
posted by Link on 15/11/2008
// Curious? (Culture)
13 volunteers from 11 countries together under one roof for one month – how does this sound like?
Like cultural exchange for breakfast? Like advventure for lunch? Like a lot of fun for dinner? ... not even yet mentioned the midnight snack, which will be full of curiousity! For sure! Curious for all the persons, who are coming from different countries, out of different traditions, life-standards and ideas in their minds. : )
To satisfy all this curiousity we will work with artistic and media workshops, to understand better all the differences, from clothing styles, eating happits until body language and mind sets.
We will go to speak with immigrants, with local people, with youngsters, adults and oldies, to understand more about the cultural dialogue, to promote it and to favour inclusion. To speak about important topics like discrimination, xenephobia, social problems and equality for men and women will be our daily life. We will work oral with discussions in public places and streamings on the radio, written with a newspaper and a book produced by us.
If the curiousity is still not satisfied ... we have to use again the midnight snack! : )
In the attached document you find the partner organisations, countries and volunteers!
posted by Link on 29/10/2008
// DIEM APPROVED (Event)
The main aim of the project is to spread information abou the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. DIEM (Dialogo Interculturale Euro-Mediterraneo) is a group EVS project which involves 13 volunteers from 11 countries, both from Program Countries and from Neighbouring Countries. All the volunteers involved are young people with less opportunities. The project intends to promote active participation, education to respect differences, affirmation of equal opportunities for all. During 4 weeks, including on-arrival training, we intend to set paths of inclusion through the implementatio of artistic workshops, the organization of events and a wide information campaign to raise awareness in the local community about Intercultural Dialogue.
posted by Link on 10/10/2008