“SOME CALL IT EUROPE,WE CALL IT HOME!” contest++OPEN CALL++

Dear Network!

AEGEE25 Team is glad to announce the first edition of the contest “SOME CALL IT EUROPE,WE CALL IT HOME!”

After enjoying our promo video here

, ask yourselves what AEGEE means to me?

Choose the section- snapshots or video- you prefer the most, unleash your creativity, get inspiration from your AEGEE experience and from your friends from all around Europe ! :)

If intercultural learning and understanding is part of the answer.. If you are going to enjoy a Summer University , or an exchange or an international event…

well bring your camera with you…make the best video ever, or the best photo ever and send it to aegee25.celebration@gmail.com

To read the rules of the contest click here: http://intranet.myaegee.net/group_file/view/1558/1948

Looking forward to receiving your inspired works ;)

AEGEE25 Core Team

Alla, Coral, Flo, Irina, Roxana, Sveta, Verena

Back to USSR:before&after AEGEE in Sankt-Peterburg

A few months ago nobody could imagine that 12 unbelievably wonderful participants from Spain, Greece, Finland, Belgium and Serbia would gather in Saint-Petersburg to celebrate AEGEE’s anniversary together! We, the organizers, showed them different sides of cultures in Russia, the cultures that came one after another, enriched our history and changed our identity: culture of the tsars’ time, soviet times and modernity (when AEGEE appeared). We strolled through the picturesque parks of Peterhof, took an imaginary trip on the Russian cruiser “Aurora”, explored the Soviet architecture, dived into the white nights, walked many kilometers to the unknown, became young pioneers for a moment and prepared delicious Russian meals… Of course we could never forget that it was AEGEE that gave us such an incredible opportunity to meet each other. We had a workshop “How AEGEE changed me”, where we played a quiz about AEGEE and discussed what are the new things it brings to our life every day. Another workshop was devoted to the life of Soviet people and the way it differed from today’s life. On the last day of event we blew 25 candles in a huge cake in honor of AEGEE =)
-Tamara Petrova, "Back to USSR:before&after AEGEE" coordinator-

"Many thanks for introducing us to this great city and for all the lovely hot summer days we spent together! All has been excellent and the long walks were really worth it!"
(Alex, Greece)

"I had a great time in this wonderful city. You made my time in the city really beautiful. Now I want to come back to visit you and discover the rest of Russia."
(Francois, Belgium)

"Thanks for everything, for being so sweet to us, for showing us this wonderful country and even for training us and our legs! Besos!"
(Carlos, Spain)

AGORA? Here we go! (Opening Ceremony of AEGEE25 project)

Between the 12th and 15th April, AEGEE-Paris was proudly hosting the opening event of the AEGEE 25 project, at which two members of the project team were present. With around 15 participants, coming from all over Europe, and quite some organizers, AEGEE-Paris managed to make it an unforgettable experience. The participants were shown most of the historical and cultural parts of Paris, as well as the nightlife, and most importantly, they were able to feel the diversity and the spirit of the city. Apart from that, AEGEE 25 team members gave a workshop, during which the future of AEGEE was discussed, ideas exchanged and, as a result, quite some opinions collected. So, would like to thank all the organizers for their efforts and for giving us the chance to fall in love with Paris :)

www.aegee-paris.org

'I WAS THERE' (Ai guos der, in Madrid ;)

‘I WAS THERE’ and now I can say that it has been a great event, one of our best events ever. More than 30 people from Europe in the capital of Spain, Madrid, living as Spaniards day and night, with a common goal: celebrate the 25th anniversary of our beloved AEGEE! As one of the antennae which founded AEGEE in the 80’s (EGEE those days), we have been proud of counting with the help of the two first presidents of AEGEE-Madrid, one of them being vice-president of the first Comité Directeur. They shared their experiences with us, giving us motivation, ideas and showing us how AEGEE changed their lives.
Known for our great nightlife, our fabulous city-tours, with professional city-guides, for being more than a team when organizing events, the event was supposed to be good, but with such a great group of participants and friends from all the Network, who came to join us during the weekend, the event was PERFECT.


Some feelings from our participants =):
"Laughing, drinking, walking around in one of the most beautiful cities of Europe, strolling from bar to bar at nights, meeting so many new people, feeling cosy all the time, getting involved into the Spanish life and culture, having a marvellous time with a great group in a flawless organising...

…This was the event to me and, honestly, I feel thankful for being there!

Maria Tsetsou (Athens)"

"It has happened..I WAS THERE....IN MADRID...Now i am sitting on my chair thinking about it, still missing wonderful people that i have met ,...still want to be THERE. Does really exist some word witch describe all my thanks for being chosen as participant on such great even like these..?!?
'' C'mon people get up......we have to go...!!!!!'' , hm, i have wanted to kill them (Jorege and Leo), after we had workshops during a day and long fiestas during nights , they wanted us to be waked up at 9am...AAAAAAA!!!!!! But , i miss that now:-) First night ... the best fiesta ever, Kali, Jorge,Leo,Giovanni and me, staid until the end..still have scar on my hand of broken glass....cos Jorge and me were really celebrating:-)))In my room was craziness....my sweet bad-mate Renato has always wanted to sleep , still can hear funny Italian ascent ''Jelena, you always late'', hahaha, Givanni, the craziest one:-))) . The best body on event, Kostas, was my roommate....olalalala...always standing in front of the mirror :-)
Every morning, during days and nights , she was smiling , our sweet Magdalena . I can tell, Sophio has bought a very good boots :-) I am happy to have her and Tako , my first friend from Georgia. Kali, Kali, Kaliiiiii , yeap , the best one! Enough with my roommates, lets focus each other on wonderful eyes of Manja and the best smile of Brazilian boy Darkson:-) We, especial guys, could enjoy in company of beautiful Micol and Sara, the best looking ones. Andreaaaaa, he has been like a brother to me. I have enjoyed watching Fortunato, handsome doctor, dancing salsa with Maria(the best female organizer). Flowers was looking better with Enrique and Conny , that day in park... such a wonderful walk with my team,Enrique, Conny, Micol and Andrea. Kate can you be my personal photographer ?!?:-))Last night of the event....Ruslana, lets have a drink :-* Peopleeee, i have learned my sweet friends, Thomas and Ruari , how to drink rakija on Serbian way.Yeap, Jorge and me, we were very cruel giving rakija to participants on the European night , i can tell all of them liked it, didn't you?!? :-P
Somebody was singing to me ''Budjav lebac" , i was suppressed by Yu Zu and Natalia, good job girls:-)))
The best organizers Jorge,Leo,Coral,Maria,Rosario , Antonio, Sergio and Susana, thank you for everything, for being nice, always cheerful and funny:-) Leooo, lets dance :-))))
On the end i want to say i am happy that i have met Maria Tsetsou, who was always there when i needed advice :-)

Now i am prepared and looking forward to another Aegee 25 event :-))

I miss all !!!!! Besos

Jelena Stojanovic"

www.aegeemadrid.org

What AEGEE25 is?

April 16th of 1985 was the day AEGEE held its first conference in Paris with topics related to the paralysation of the European integration process. Starting with just six locals in Western Europe, AEGEE became a platform for students from Europe to discuss the future of Europe. A lot has happened since 1985: with the fall of the Iron Curtain, AEGEE was able to embrace Eastern Europe and it was just a matter of time before the first city in Eastern Europe would join AEGEE. Even today, locals in Central and Eastern Europe prove to be valuable for the European society. AEGEE continues to move beyond the accepted European borders and found locals in Russia, Turkey and a few years ago, Georgia and Azerbaijan also joined AEGEE.

25 years later AEGEE has 230 locals, scattered all over Europe with more than 15.000 members, ten working groups and several projects and together we strive to reach the aims as established during the first years of AEGEE existence: the promotion of a unified Europe without prejudices, creating an open and tolerant society of today and tomorrow and fostering democracy, human rights, tolerance, cross-boarder co-operation, mobility and European dimension in education.

AEGEE25 has been establish not only to celebrate 25 years of existence of AEGEE but also to show Europe that we are a multicultural organisation with locals in every country in the European Union and even outside it. We want to highlight AEGEE' s accomplishments in the fields of cultural exchange, active citizenship, higher education, peace & stability. The aim of this project is to look at the past, present and future of AEGEE: what has AEGEE done for its members and the European society? How are our projects relating to the European society? What can we develop AEGEE so that the members can contribute more to the European society?

All projects and activities are based on voluntarily work and commitment of its members, and as 2011 will be also European Year of Volunteering, we would like to emphasise the need of volunteer work to create a better European society. The year 2010 will therefore be full of activities which will contribute to achieve the aims of this project: conferences and more activities, contests, summer events, anniversary celebrations, workshops. The events will take place in different edges of our Network, and this will make 2010 a year AEGEE will not forget.

Enjoy reading the complete PROJECT OUTLINE

Participate in any of our 2010 events and be part of the celebration!!

It might be difficult to avoid AEGEE this year, so... STAY TUNED!