EVS Pre Departure Seminar, Athens, 24-26/11/2007

A great seminar with great people, future EVS volunteers, from all over Hellas!!!

SAFE - Earthquake Readiness Exercise in Heraklion * SAFE – Άσκηση Ετοιμότητας για Σεισμό στο Ηράκλειο Κρήτης

Με μεγάλη επιτυχία πραγματοποιήθηκε η άσκηση ετοιμότητας για σεισμό που διοργάνωσε το Ίδρυμα Τεχνολογίας & Έρευνας και η Νομαρχιακή Αυτοδιοίκηση Ηρακλείου από την Κυριακή 4 έως και την Τρίτη 6 Νοεμβρίου 2007.

Η άσκηση, που είναι η πρώτη του είδους της στην Ελλάδα, πραγματοποιήθηκε στα πλαίσια του προγράμματος “SAFE – SAtelites For Epidimiology” του Ευρωπαϊκού Οργανισμού Διαστήματος (ESA), το οποίο αφορά στην εφαρμογή δορυφορικών τηλεπικοινωνιών για την έγκαιρη προειδοποίηση στην υγεία.


Σε αυτήν συμμετείχαν φορείς – εταίροι από διάφορες χώρες της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης (Γαλλία, Ισπανία, Ιταλία κ.α.) αλλά και από την πόλη και τον νομό του Ηρακλείου, τόσο από την τοπική αυτοδιοίκηση (όπως ο Δήμος Ηρακλείου), τις δημόσιες υπηρεσίες (όπως η ΔΥΠΕ Κρήτης), τις Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις και τα Σώματα Ασφαλείας, όσο και από τον χώρο του Εθελοντισμού και των Μη Κυβερνητικών Οργανώσεων (Σώμα Ελλήνων Προσκόπων, Σώμα Ελληνικού Οδηγισμού, Ελληνικός Ερυθρός Σταυρός, Πανελλήνιος Σύνδεσμος Αναπήρων Πολιτών, Σύλλογος Πολιτικής Προστασίας Ηρακλείου κ.α.), προσφέροντας ο καθένας την τεχνογνωσία και την εμπειρία των μελών του.


Οι Πρόσκοποι του Ηρακλείου συμμετείχαν με σαράντα οκτώ (48) Ανιχνευτές, Μέλη Προσκοπικού Δικτύου και Βαθμοφόρους, που ως κύρια αρμοδιότητα είχαν το στήσιμο του καταυλισμού σεισμοπλήκτων, ενώ κάποιοι εξ αυτών συμμετείχαν και στα σενάρια διάσωσης θυμάτων.

Οι Πρόσκοποι του Ηρακλείου επιθυμούν να εκφράσουν τις ευχαριστίες τους τόσο στους διοργανωτές όσο και στους υπόλοιπους φορείς – συνεργάτες σε αυτήν την δραστηριότητα, που απέδειξε πως με σωστό συντονισμό και συνεργασία μπορούμε να πετύχουμε ένα υψηλό επίπεδο Πολιτικής Προστασίας στην περιοχή μας και κατ’ επέκταση στην χώρα μας.

Heraklion Scout Leaders 2007 Annual Conference * Ετήσιο Συνέδριο 2007 Βαθμοφόρων Προσκόπων Ηρακλείου

Το Σάββατο 6 και την Κυριακή 7 Οκτωβρίου 2007, στην Ιερά Μονή Αγίας Μαρίνας, στο χωριό Βόννη του Δήμου Αρκαλοχωρίου, πραγματοποιήθηκε το Ετήσιο Συνέδριο 2007 των Βαθμοφόρων της Περιφερειακής Εφορείας Προσκόπων Ηρακλείου.

Την επίσημη έναρξη των εργασιών κήρυξε ο Σεβασμιώτατος Μητροπολίτης Αρκαλοχωρίου, Καστελλίου και Βιάννου κ.κ. Ανδρέας, ο οποίος στην ευλογία του προς τους Συνέδρους εξήρε τις πανανθρώπινες Αξίες που πρεσβεύει ο Προσκοπισμός και ιδίως οι Έλληνες Πρόσκοποι.

Το Συνέδριο επίσης χαιρέτισαν οι κ.κ. Γεώργιος Χουρδάκης, Αντιπρόεδρος του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου του Σώματος Ελλήνων Προσκόπων, Ιωάννης Βαβουράκης, Έφορος Προσκόπων Περιοχής Κρήτης και Νικόλαος Ντεβές, Πρόεδρος της Επιτροπής Κοινωνικής Συμπαράστασης Περιφερειακής Εφορείας Προσκόπων Ηρακλείου.

Τα θέματα που απασχόλησαν τους πενήντα τρεις (53) Βαθμοφόρους και τα δέκα (10) Μέλη Προσκοπικού Δικτύου της Προσκοπικής Κίνησης του νομού μας ήταν:

• Απολογισμός Έργου Σεπτέμβριος 2006 – Σεπτέμβριος 2007.
• Προγραμματισμός Έργου Έτους 2008.
• Η Σύγχρονη Αποστολή του Βαθμοφόρου του Σώματος Ελλήνων Προσκόπων.

Στα πλαίσια του Συνεδρίου, το Σάββατο έλαβε χώρα Πνευματικό Βραδινό με τίτλο «Η Μάχη των Ιδεών», στο οποίο αναδείχθηκε η αναγκαιότητα της εποχής μας για μία αγωγή των νέων βασισμένη σε Αρχές. Την Κυριακή το πρωί οι συμμετέχοντες μετείχαν της Θείας Λειτουργίας.

Οι Πρόσκοποι του Ηρακλείου επιθυμούν να εκφράσουν τις ευχαριστίες τους στον Σεβασμιώτατο Μητροπολίτη κ.κ. Ανδρέα, στην Διοικούσα Επιτροπή και τις Μοναχές της Ιεράς Μονής Αγίας Μαρίνας, για την φιλοξενία και την αμέριστη συμπαράστασή τους, καθώς και τον κο Ελευθέριο Κοτζά, για την δωρεάν μεταφορά των Συνέδρων.

Η συλλογική αυτή διαδικασία ενδυνάμωσε όλα τα Ενήλικα Στελέχη των Προσκόπων του Ηρακλείου και έδωσε μια νέα ώθηση και δυναμική, καθώς αποδείχθηκε πως οι δραστηριότητες και ενέργειές τους έχουν τα ζητούμενα αποτελέσματα απο το Πλάνο Ανάπτυξης 2006 – 2008.

Με την ενεργή συμμετοχή τους οι συμμετέχοντες απέδειξαν για άλλη μια φορά πως το ρητό των Προσκόπων του Ηρακλείου, «ΟΛΟΙ ΜΑΖΙ ΜΠΟΡΟΥΜΕ», είναι ζωντανό όσο ποτέ.

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The Scouts support the victims of fires in Hellas (Greece)!!! * Οι Πρόσκοποι βοηθούν τους πυροπαθείς!!!

The Scouts of Greece, the largest youth movement in Hellas (Greece), keeping alive the Spitit of the Scout Law & Promise, support the victims of last weeks fires in our country.

Watch the relevant videos posted on YouTube (in Hellenic/Greek).





Το Σώμα Ελλήνων Προσκόπων, η μεγαλύτερη κίνηση νέων στην Ελλάδα, κρατώντας ζωντανό το Πνεύμα των Προσκοπικών Νόμου & Υπόσχεσης, βοηθούν τα θύματα των πυρκαγιών των τελευταίων εβδομάδων στην χώρα μας.

Δείτε τα σχετικά videos που έχουν αναρτηθεί στο YouTube.

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The Diary of a Scout Troop * Το Ημερολόγιο μιας Ομάδας Προσκόπων

The Scouts of the 4th Air Scout Troop of Heraklion, Crete, Hellas (Greece) have created an online diary, in the form of a blog, with photos and texts from their activities.

A really interesting idea from a really good Scout Troop!

Well done, guys!!

To visit it, click here.
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Οι Πρόσκοποι της 4ης Ομάδας Αεροπροσκόπων Ηρακλείου Κρήτης έφτιαξαν ένα online ημερολόγιο, στην μορφή ιστολογίου, με φωτογραφίες και κείμενα από τις δραστηριότητές τους.

Μια πραγματικά ενδιαφέρουσα ιδέα από μια πραγματικά καλή Προσκοπική Ομάδα!

Μπράβο, παιδιά!!!

Για να το επισκεφθείτε, κάντε κλικ εδώ.

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Thoughts

It's been two months since the moment I left Poland to come back to Crete.
Two months without "dzien dobry" and "dzęknuje".
Two months without "my Polish family".
Two months without my mentor.
Two months without the friends I made there, in work and fun.
Two months without the Orthodox community of Koszalin.

A lot of things have changed during these months. Poland seems like an old memory now, like a dream from the past. Koszalin is faraway now, like an untouched vision in my mind.
Shall I see this country again? Shall I walk in this city again? Shall I drink its water? Shall I smell its perfumes? Shall I dance its dances? Shall I taste its food? Shall I feel its girls? Shall I pray with its people? Shall I...? Who knows...

But, this distance in space and time makes things more clear. Poland appears like a dream, but a living dream. Koszalin is like a vision, but not a cloudy one. It's a vision in a crystally clear sky...
This distance makes me see my EVS and my life in Poland in an other way. Makes me think about in an other way. Is it a more clear one? Perhaps. No doubt that it's a different one. It's a way with less passion, less temptation, less confusing feelings. But, full of sadness. Full of nostalgy. Full of eros. Full of love.

Yes, it was hard living in Poland. It was hard sharing a house with these three girls. A lot of times it was hard to communicate, it was difficult to find a common ground. Often we were eating in the same table, but not together. We were drinking in the same garden, but not together. We were dancing in the same place, but not in the same rhythm. Yes, sometimes, it was over my powers...

On the other hand, it was nice sharing things with them. Even if we had problems. Even if they never really liked me. Even if we never crossed some borders. Even if I never crossed some borders...

My last night in Koszalin, we made a farewell party for me and we exchanged some gifts. I gave to each one of them a card, with a poem in their own native languages and some thoughts of mine in English. All cards had the same ending, something like: "Perhaps we will not meet each other again. Possibly you will not think about me anymore. Sure you will not miss me. I doesn't matter. I wish you..." and my personal wish.

I still remember Meltem's surprise when she got a card written in Turkish, I stll remember Alejandra's reaction "It's Neruda, it's Neruda, it's my favorite poet, it's Neruda!!!", I still remember Amanda's hug.

And since that day, Meltem's question, in her lovely Turkish accent of English, has been fixed in my mind, has been stuck in my mind: "Michail, how can you believe that I'll forget you? Do you really believe that we can forget someone that we lived six months together?".

No, Meltem, no, Girls, I don't believe it. I never believed it. Neither now, neither when I wrote the cards. But, when you possed me that question, I already knew a Truth. I already knew a Truth written by cries, encraved by pain, taught by life. A Trurh which I learned by experience. A Truth that all Travellers, all Life Travellers know. I already knew the Truth which says that we tend to estimate things and people only when we miss them. That we must feel the distance to realise the lack of their presence, to understand the loss.

And when this moment arrives, we are ready to ask for forgiveness and to be asked for forgiveness. To give it and to take it. As we say in my language for forgive, to "sygchorein" (συγχωρείν), to "co-exist in the same space". Even if we live in far distance.

Good bye, Girls! Good luck in your life! LIVE YOUR LIFE!!! It Worths! It's Yours and it's Life...

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Meltem has birtday!!! * Η Μέλτεμ έχει γενέθλια!!!

Yesterday, Meltem had birthday and an other great opportunity for one more party appeared (as you have perhaps already realised we don't need too many reasons for a party here in Koszalin, and of course birthday IS a reason!!!).

In the morning she prepared sweets that shared with all the people of our association during the breakfast time, when gifts were exchanged.

Later in the afternoon we (girls and me, I mean) went to "Villagio", a pizzeria-restaurant here in Koszalin and then to the pub "Graal", where we met "our Polish parents" and some other friends to celebrate the day.

Happy, Purple and Sexy Birthday, Meltem!!!

WhiTeRaN, welcome to the Jungle of the Blogs * Άσπρε Ραν, καλωσόρισες στο Δάσος των Ιστολογίων

Manolis Apladenakis, the Scout County Commissionner for Heraklion, also known with the nickname WhiTeRaN (from The Jungle Book), is since the last two days a new blogger.

His weblog, "..The Land of Thoughts..." (available mainly in the Hellenic (Greek) language) invites us to a journey of thoughts about Scouting, youth and life.

Welcome to the Jungle of the Blogs, WhiTeRaN, and don't forget:
"We be of one blood, ye and I..."

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Ο Μανώλης ο Απλαδενάκης, ο Περιφερειακός Έφορος Προσκόπων Ηρακλείου, γνωστός επίσης με το Προσκοπικό όνομα WhiTeRaN (Άσπρος Ραν, από Το Βιβλίο της Ζούγκλας), είνε εδώ και δύο μέρες ένας νέος ιστολόγος.

Το ιστολόγιό του, "..The Land of Thoughts..." (Η Χώρα των Σκέψεων, γραμμένο κυρίως στην Ελληνική γλώσσα) μας προσκαλεί σ' ένα ταξείδι σκέψεων για τον Προσκοπισμό, την νεολαία και την ζωή.

Καλωσόρισες στο Δάσος των Ιστολογίων, Άσπρε Ραν, και μην ξεχνάς:
"Είμαστε απ' το ίδιο αίμα, εσύ και 'γώ..."

An interesting Blog * Ένα ενδιαφέρον Ιστολόγιο

"art for more" is a quite interesting blog about a Future Capital Project of the European Commission YOUTH Programme which is realised by Isabel and Miranda, two ex-EVS Volunteers in Athens, Hellas (Greece).

Through this Project Isabel and Miranda organise "Creative workshops for 'special' people in Athens".

It really woths to visit it!!!

"Tata" has birthday!!! * Ο "Μπαμπάς" έχει γενέθλια!!!

On Wednesday, May 16th, our "Polish dad" ("tata"), Marcin, had birthday. That means a great opportunity for a party appeared!!!

So, today we went to Piwiarnia Warka (Warka Beer Pub), one of the newest and best pubs in Koszalin. Enjoy the photos!!!

As you can see a lot of people were there...

...and of course a lot of beer!!!

If I like piwo (beer)? Of course I do!!! You, don't???

Dad, all that beer is for you??? Be aware of the effects!!!

What effects??? These ones, of course!!!

We did it!!! * Τα καταφέραμε!!!

In my previous post I wrote that we were preparing a theatre play, based on the Hellenic (Greek) Mythology, to be presented in a Meeting of the Annexes of my Hosting Organisation in Mikołajki.

What I didn't write, because I didn't know, was than the Meeting was actually a competition!!! The 5th National Polish Competition on Theatric Arts for Mentally Disabled People.

So, we wen't to Mikołajki, we presented the play and we got the Second (2nd) Prize!!! A Prize that we had to share with the 2nd Workshop of Koszalin (WTZ-2), that presented a play about the Holocaust.

Following are some photos from the play. Good job, don't you think so??

Here are also some photos from the 5-stars (!!!) Hotel Gołębiewski, where we stayed. Any comments???

And the Church of Święta Lipka, near Mikołajki, where we spent our first night and where we went for an Organ Concert./div>

Theseus and the Minotaur travel to Poland!!! * Ο Θησεύς και ο Μινώταυρος ταξιδεύουν στην Πολωνία!!!

There's no doubt that, if you are a Hellen (Greek), you do know the Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. If not, then you can visit Wikipedia, to learn more.

Why am I writing all this??? Because, nowadays, Theseus and the Minotaur are visiting Poland!!!

What that means??? Simply, in my Hosting Organisation we are preparing a theatre play based on that myth!!!

The play will be presented next week at a meeting of all the Annexes and Workshops of the Association, that will be held in Mikołajki, in Masury Lakes, on the occasion of the Day of the Dignity of the Mentally Disabled People.

The need to create a kind of presentation for the meeting, on one hand, and the request of the Hosting Organisation, expressed by both my Director and Mentor, that elements of my culture to be presented in the Project, on the other hand, gave birth to the idea of this drama play.

The preparations started some weeks ago, just after my return to Koszalin from Toruń and I think everything is going great. Following you can see some photos from the preparations:

BBQ at our Hosting Organisation!!! * Μπάρμπεκιου στην Οργάνωσι Φιλοξενίας μας!!!

Today was a really funny day in our Project!!! We had a BBQ breakfast!!! The weather was great (sometimes I'm wondering if I am in Poland or in Greece :) ) and we had great time!

The menu included sausages, kaszanka (traditional Polish sausages from pork blood and cereals) and two surprises: Hellenic (Greek) salad and tzatziki (traditional Hellenic sauce with yogurt, garlic and cucumbers).

And after (or should I write during) our breakfast we played football, tennis and other sports in the garden of our Association.

The "Free 2 Choose" Project in Hellas!!! * Το Σχέδιο "Free 2 Choose" στην Ελλάδα!!!

Some days ago I wrote a post about the Anne Frank Exhibition in Heraklion (and yesterday an Updates post), where I mentioned the "Free 2 Choose" Project of the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam.

Well, in the framework of this Project, the NGO "Kids in Action" created a short movie about the "Avaton of Mount Athos". Mount Athos is a religious community of male Monasteries of the Orthodox Church, where the entrance is banned for women.

The video presents both the opinions of the Monks and those who believe that the Avaton consists a violetion of Human Rights in Europe. The main aim of that video is to raise awareness about the limits of Freedom and Human Rights in real life and to act as a starting point for reflection and exchange of opinions of the topic.

A second video about "Albanian Pupils and Greek Flag" will be soon available.

Below you can watch the video on the Avaton. If you also want to participate in the relevant discussion, please click here.

Updates about the Anne Frank Exchibition at Heraklion * Νεώτερα για την Έκθεσι της Άννας Φρανκ στο Ηράκλειο

Some days ago I wrote a post about the Anne Frank Exhibition in Heraklion. Now, I'd like to share with you some information that I just got from Mr. Emmanouil Apladenakis, the Scout County Commissioner for Heraklion.

This six (6) days long Exhibition was visited by more than 800 visitors and 500 students (primary & secondary schools and Universities), that had the opportunity to read extracts from the Anne Frank's Diary, to see photos of the Holocaust period, to virtually (3D) visit her house in Amsterdam, to see the videos of the "Free 2 Choose" Project and through that to realise the importance of Human Rights and to reflect on their respect.

It worthies to mention here a comment made by Stefan, a Junior High-School Student, immigrant from Ukraine, that said: "Me also, the first time that I arrived in Greece, for almost one (1) year, I was not exiting my home..." .

It also worthies to mention the emotions of the older visitors, a lot of them victims of Nazism and Fascism and survivors from Concentration Camps.

I must also mention the comment made by the members of the Group of Recently Drug-addicted Purged Youngsters: "We suppose that we feel like Anne used to feel..." .

So, I invite you, after having also seen the following photos, to reflect on Human Rights and to think how many times in our daily life we discriminate other people (perhaps without wanted and not even realising it), just because they are different...

The Mayor of Heraklion, Mr. Ioannis Kourakis, opening officially the Exhibition.

The Scout County Commissioner for Heraklion, Mr. Emmanouil Apladenakis, opening the Exhibition. You can also see the Major of Heraklion and Members of the Hellenic (Greek) Parliament, that honored with their presence the opening day.

Scouts of all the Age Sections (Cub-Scouts, Scouts, Venture-Scouts, Rovers, Leaders) in the opening day of the Exhibition.


Students of a School that visited the Exhibition.

The Scouts of the World are proud for the Scouts of Heraklion!!! * Οι Πρόσκοποι του Κόσμου είναι περήφανοι για τους Προσκόπους του Ηρακλείου!!!

Visit the following web page of the World Organization of the Scout Movement and select Greece from the countries list...

http://www.scout.org/en/giftsforpeace/public_awareness_campaigns

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EVS MidTerm Evaluation Meeting, Toruń, 11-16/04/2007 * Συνάντησι Ενδιάμεσης Αξιολόγησης ΕΕΥ, Τόρουν, 11-16/04/2007

Like a glass of fresh water! That was for me this Meeting, organised by the Polish National Agency of the European Commission "Youth in Action" Programme.

The Meeting took place in Toruń, a beautiful medieval city of Poland, famous for its ginger-bread (in Polish: pierniki) and motherland of Nicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik), the astronomer who "stopped the Sun and moved the Earth".

The main aim of this event was to encourage the EVS Volunteers who participated in to reflect on their EVS Projects as well as on themselves and after that to plan better their Projects and (most important) their life.

That was fully achieved through a wide exchange of experiences, opinions, knowledge and skills about EVS Projects, EVS in general, Volunteer Work in general, Polish and other European Cultures, values and future plans.

Our Youth Trainers, Marta and Eliza, were really great and succeed to create a good climate and an open atmosphere, that really facilitated our learning process. Moreover, perhaps inspired by the beginning of the Spring, they picked-up as symbol of our Meeting the Flowers, giving that way a symbolic framework and a new dimension to our work.

So, let's leave our Flowers to grow-up!!!