celebrating 25 stages of solidarite photos
TRANSCRIPT
Celebration of 25 Stages of Solidarité
Solidarité founder, David Barnes.
His belief in goodness - and his vision, courage and hard work created Solidarité.
‘The best way to inspire our lives and to get love and meaning is to do things for others and to reflect… Solidarité was born to do this.’
These photos are representative of all those who have taken part in Solidarité; those who could not be there, those
who made it happen and those who share in the journey
Of course, Oxfam and fair
trade wine
Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou,
Commissioner for Education,
Culture, Multilingualism
and Youth, buys some Solidarité
calendars from the Winter 2010-11 Solidarité
Coordinator, Ciprian Begu
“Congratulations for this celebration and for the fantastic achievements!”
“I would certainly be very glad to
come and testify on the extremely successful
collaboration and involvement of
Trainees’ Solidarité”
« Solidarité pour moi:
C’est la possibilité de donner une autre envergure à ces Stage,
C’est profiter voire abuser du rôle privilégié de stagiaire pour faire passer des idées,
C’est utiliser les forces vives et les atouts de chacun pour défendre une cause, c'est l'alliance magique de la convivialité et de l'efficacité.»
Donatienne Claeys-
Bouuaert - thank you
Masters of Ceremony:
Kelly Agathos and Ioana Leu
Solidarité Coordinator, Winter 2002/3,
Emmanouil Athanassiou, shares some thoughts
Solidarité supporters from L to R: Klemen Zumer, Donatienne Claeys-Bouuaert,
Evalyne Soetewey, Nathalie Charbonneau and Merete Michelson
Commissioner Vassiliou
Fashion parade supporting women in India
Being active in Solidarité was such an important part of my experience as a trainee of the European Commission.
It represented an opportunity to meet different people from diverse cultural backgrounds across the world who share the same desire to start making a difference through small actions and with the motivation to reach out to those in need. We bonded and the Projects presented by Solidarité that try to raise awareness of humanitarian issues provide a wide variety of activities that can match the interests of everybody… so meaningful and great
Good to hear Solidarité is still going on!
Front row, Joan Scott, former head of the Bureau des Stages; Commissioner
Vassiliou; Solidarité helper, Elena Fernandez-Frontan and Matthieu
Kleinschmager
Europe Tier Monde President, Dominique-Philippe Levieil
“Solidarité - people coming to unity and peace through self-giving for the sake of others.
Amen to that.”
“Solidarité was the best part of my Stage”
“I wish you all the best celebrating this
momentous achievement!”
Solidarité hand painting
‘The best way to inspire our lives and to get love and meaning is to do things for others and to reflect…
Solidarité was born to do this.’ ‘Solidarité is about a spirit of
kindness, courage, creativity and ownership.’
Immediately before his Stage David was in UN refugee camps in Africa, as he left the camps, people said, ‘don’t forget us’… the
Stage is the world’s longest running, largest and most significant traineeship programme, it is a cradle for one of the most unique and continuous leadership and policy making assemblies in the
world - Solidarité was set up to enshrine the legacy and promotion of humanitarian and social consciousness in this group… this
opportunity is without parallel and why we worked hard to make it happen.
“Each new set of trainees are the current
representatives of past generations - Solidarité
places particular importance on the participation of new trainees from each
Traineeship, inviting their ownership of its
structure, information and values.
« …Avec grand plaisir et bravo pour
l'excellent travail de Solidarité! »
“For me it meant to help people who do not have it as easy as
everyone else.”
“First of all I would like to thank you so much for sharing with all of us this special event and for counting on our
participation.
I wish all of you to have a great gathering and big success. It is great as well that David Barnes is in
Brussels at the moment and can enjoy this big celebration.
Again, thanks for keeping Solidarité walking and for sharing with all those for which it means something
special.”
““TThhee SSoolliiddaarriittéé eexxppeerriieennccee mmaaddee mmyy TTrraaiinneeeesshhiipp......iitt
pprroovviiddeedd mmee wwiitthh aa sseennssee ooff eemmppoowweerrmmeenntt aanndd aa ffeeeelliinngg ooff hhooppee aanndd ooppttiimmiissmm,, tthhee iiddeeaa tthhaatt wwee rreeaallllyy ccaann cchhaannggee tthhiinnggss bbootthh aatt ggrraassss rroooottss aanndd aatt ppoolliiccyy lleevveell -- iinn sshhoorrtt iittss pprreettttyy mmiinndd bblloowwiinngg!!””
“Solidarité was an opportunity to get out of our small, protected EU cocoon and get involved with the “real world”, e.g work with refugees
It’s a chance to broaden one's horizons and to learn and gain valuable experience from other people from VERY different backgrounds.
An opportunity to meet other motivated and enthusiastic people (in general) and from the Institutions (in particular), people I wouldn't otherwise have met.”
“Solidarité for me was an outstanding example of people demonstrating that they care about those less well off than themselves.
Solidarité sets a fine example for employees and trainees of the EU Institutions and helps to do some fantastic work in local communities.”
“Solidarité was by far the most meaningful thing on my Stage”
Left to right: Joan Scott, former head of the Bureau Des Stages, Donatienne Claeys-Bouuaert, formerly from ECHO (both of whom made beginning
Solidarité possible), David Barnes and long term supporters Evalyne Soetewey and Maryse Robert.
Solidarité: you are an Inspiration to me as I am sure
you are to others
involved too. I feel
so fortunate
and yet so damn lucky.
And, what it’s all for…