herald 4th

The VSS HERALD, 4th Edition 1 May, 2012

THE VSS HERALD

4th EDITION

MAY 2012

The VSS HERALD, 4th Edition 2 May, 2012

It’s getting serious !EDITOby Joshua Fitoussi

May is very special in some countries, for example in France, they have 3 days off during the 4 weeks. The 1st of May is off, nobody works, even public transportation does not work in some cities. Also, this year, they are voting to elect the new president.For the Volunteer Summer Summit, May is also an important month. First, the time to apply is done, if you did not apply you must have a good reason so it’s too late. Participants, who got the final approval from their AFS office will have to pay, then you’ll have more information about the Support Team, which is probably the most important team of the VSS because they will be taking care of everything during your stay and they will be here if needed.So it’s getting serious for the 4th edition of the VSS Herald, talking about Support team, workshops, rooms, what to do in Latvia and so on!

THE VSS HERALDM

ay, 2

012

4th EDITION

What’s in it?Edito.......................................................2

Balaton’s Plot........................................3

David Bekesi.........................................4

Workshop and programm....................5

The Rooms............................................6

The Support Team part 1......................7

What to do in Latvia?.........................12

What’s Next?.......................................16

The VSS HERALD, 4th Edition 3 May 15th, 2012

The Balaton’s Plotby Joshua Fitoussi & Jules Ortega & Régis Brendel

THE B

ALAT

ON’S

PLOT

May

, 201

2

Joshua Fitoussi - During the making of the 4th edition of the VSS Herald, I was wondering about this part, who could write the story about the VSS in Hungary? We already have the point of view of 2 support team member for the previous VSS, and in the prep team, Balázs would be the perfect one to write about the Volunteer Summer Summit 2010 - but he was a prep team member, and I wanted to have, for once, the point of view of a participant, so I asked around me and two of my friends, Jules Ortega and Régis Brendel went to that one.... So here is their story in Hungary.

Jules Ortega (top left) and other participants at the 2010 Volunteer Summer Summit, in Zánka, Hungary, on the shore of the Balaton’s lake

Jules Ortega - My VSS was a crazy interaction between cultures, AFS visions and life's experiences, which makes it the only good cocktail for breakfast!We had the chance to attend many trainings and to have interesting evenings like the local cultural one.We all exchanged a lot, either around food, guitar or beer, (and sometimes all three of them) no matter what, we were all together!It was a real bounce, giving wings to help me see things differently.Where AFS tempted to be too fancy & up class this summit was in the Hungarian countryside and I think it was tremendous.Preparing my self for an EVS in Macedonia, I got especially interested in the Eastern European & Balcan AFS countries.I would like to thank again those people for the incredible energy they invested in our organisation and for the enrichment our exchanges offered me … Xвала.

Régis Brendel - When I first heard about the VSS, people told me « Can you imagine? It’s like a gigantic AFS weekend! You going to it so much! » ; they were right.I went to Zanka, Hungary, on the coast of great lake Balaton for the 3rd VSS held in a former pioneer camp. Nice place, great weather and awesome people!Organization was very well handled by devoted local volunteers as well as an international « prep team ». Trainers were good and helped creating positive group dynamics.Schedule was tight, we had a lot of interesting workshops to do, such as « Why I volunteer with AFS » or « Intercultural learning throughout life ». Those two were very important to me because they helped me understand not just about volunteering but about myself too. So it’s about being a better volunteer to be a better man and the other way around.Attending workshops also fast forward meeting new people because and talks keep going late at night in an open minded and sharing spirit.That’s why I come back to VSS since then.


DAVID

BEK

ESI M

ay, 2

012 David Bekesi

Prep team member - VSS 2010

The VSS 2010 Group Picture David Bekesi, in a moment of rest

Dávid Békési is a volunteer from AFS Hungary, he was Support Team coordinator at the VSS 2010 in Hungary. We asked him 7 questions, and here are is answers

The Challenge - The previous two events gave us obvious and clear message about the expectations. It was not that easy to provide that high quality as we experienced in France or Turkey, and find the way how to be innovative, creative, fun, “green”, exciting, authentic, unique, challenging (…) and cheap altogether.After thousands of brainstorms and chess parties we got to Zánka and turned on the VSS machine.The Best Memory - Starting from the preparation I had lots of fun. The Skype calls, the prep- and the support team meetings were unforgettable. It was amazing and motivating to cooperate with those brilliant and creative volunteers.And last but not least to see my friends from all over the world together at the opening ceremony was a great feeling as well.It is pretty hard to pick one so called best from all of those good memories, but if you ask so I would say that my best memory was to watch the participants’ faces at the closing ceremony. To see the faces smiling because of the fun and being sad because the VSS is over. The Worst Memory - When the internet network in the whole camp broke down caused by a lightning the night before the VSS. Would you change something - I would smile more.Changes in your life - I got some cool T-shirts and gadgets, some useful friends, some useful ideas, appreciation and some of my skills developed.And also got more chance to take part in other EFIL events, I think this is what I appreciate the most.Evolution of VSS - As I’ve noticed it’s going on the right path. I know that the prep teams each year try to fix the weak links and keep the good practice to make participants satisfied. The registration process, the ways of communication, the quality of trainings and leisure programs seem to be quite refined.A message to Participants - I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Maybe this year you will have a chance to see Dávid among the participants of the 5th Volunteer Summer Summit


Workshops and Programby Gizem Bayer

WHAT

TO PA

Y? M

arch

, 201

2

The Volunteer Summer Summit is not only about fun, meeting new friends and other AFS celebrities, it is also about learning, sharing and discovering new ways of being a volunteer within your AFS chapter.Today we are introducing the Workshops’ title. You won’t know that much about it, you will have to wait for the special VSS Herald coming out at the end of the month to see what they are about. But you will be able to learn the names of the 32 workshops

Day Am Pm Evening

16 July Arrival in Riga - VenueArrival in Riga - Venue Welcome Evening

17 JulyOpenning plennary Session - Thematic

OppeningWorkshops Latvian Folk night

18 July EFIL Training for Trainers’ workshops Workshops TIRGUS (Multicutural

Market)

19 July Workshops Community Project Community Project’s Night

20 July WorkshopsSharing & Evaluation -

Closing plennary Session

Goodbye Party

21 July Departure Day => RigaDeparture Day => RigaDeparture Day => Riga

VSS 2012’s PROGRAM

That was just a glimpse at what is coming for you, in the next issue of the VSS Herald, you will have a full description of the program and a description of what will be the Training for Trainers.

Non-Formal Leadership / 6 degrees of Separation / Why Aren’t they Here / Human Rights for all Humankind / MAGE - Mini Activities of Global Education / Activities on Inclusion and Solidarity / Racism & Stereotypes vs. Intercultural Learning / Good traditions - Bad traditions? Food in Context of Global Development & Intercultural Learning / Chapter Empowerment / Chocolate - A sustainable enjoyment? / The ABC of team building and motivation / The Great Paradigm of Sustainable Development / Revealing Poverty in Europe / Challenges and Opportunities in Intergenerational teams / The VSS Choir / My journey to the VSS - Why do I volunteer / Changing the future: One step forward towards Social Inclusion / Learn to lead yourself / Intercultural Learning Activities for different audiences / Public Speaking / Fulfilling the AFS Mission without exchange programs / Effective Counseling for exchange students / Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) : Doing the good and avoiding the bad / Human Rights dilemmas / Migration problems or problems with migration / Instant Asian Noodle / Human Rights now and then / Education for All! / To Vote or not to Vote / Dignityland / Socially including volunteers & solving «Peopleware» issues / How to get others to do your work / Getting to know other cultures : Creating your own Chapter Exchange / World peace made easy : ICL-project Development for Dummies


The place to be !The Rooms Selectionby Gizem Bayer & Joshua Fitoussi

THE R

OOMS

SELE

CTIO

N May

, 201

2

You might have noticed on the Fees & terms page of the web site, there is a different price range depending on the rooms you chose. We decided on this VSS Herald to present you all the different accommodation options you can have at the venue, hoping it will help you chose

CAMPING SLOTAccess to: Water & Electricity, Common Washrooms

There is a limited opportunity to rent tents, however you should indicate it your application

4 bed camping house without bathroom

Equipped with:

2 bunk beds.Shared ba th room facilities (in a different building)

Bedrooms for 3 to 10 without bathroom:

Equipped with:Rooms’ numbers may vary as the rooms are of different size.Shared bathroom & WC.

Please indicate in your application whom you would like to share a room with and what size of room you would prefer (no guarantee, but we try to make your wishes possible)

Bedrooms for 3 to 8 with bathroomEquipped with: Different numbers of rooms and beds. Private bathroomWCSofa

Rooms are of different size and quality; please indicate in your application whom you would like to share a room with and what size of room you would prefer.(no guarantee, but we try to make your wishes possible)

Equipped with:

Private bathroomWCTwo bedrooms

DOUBLE ROOM


In the two last editions of the VSS Herald, you read stories about former Support Team members of the past VSS. Who are they? What do they do? If you read the last two VSS

Heralds you might know, but if you did not, now is the time for you to understand the importance of the Support Team. What they do, who they are, and remember the faces of

those who will make this VSS unforgettable for you.

THE SUPPORT TEAM, part 1by Joshua Fitoussi and Matiss Lacis

2011-Portugal

2012-Latvia


THE S

UPPO

RT T

EAM

PART

1 May

, 201

2

Anete MurnieceAbout me: I’m would call myself a person of contrasts, I always like to look at things from various different perspectives – sometimes it helps, sometimes – just drives me crazy. Why I’m in the support team: I’ve been an AFS volunteer for about a year now, so I see it as a great opportunity for my personal growth in context of AFS and, of course, in life as whole... a bit selfish, I know.. :DMy hopes for the participants: most importantly – to be willing to learn and have fun, and that’s all there is to it.A tip to remember: it’s good to challenge yourself a bit every day.. but sometimes it’s good to be lazy too (you see – contrasts :D).

Anton BoelskifteA small description I’m 23 years old and from Copenhagen, Denmark, and ever since my exchange year in Grenoble France in 04/05 I have been a volunteer. Besides my AFS “work”, I’m studying mathematical engineering. Why you have volunteered to be in Support Team I’ve already been involved in planning and organizing several big Danish camps, so when offered to join the support team I immediately saw it as an interesting challenge!What are your hopes for the participants As support team member I hope that we will

be able to make the VSS go as smooth as possible, so that the participants can concentrate about

what VSS is all about; having fun and learning!

A tip to remember when PAX will be in RIGA or at the venue I’ve not yet visited Riga or the venue myself, so I’m looking forward to it – Heard the beer should be cheap in Latvia :-D

!

INTRODUCTION TO 8 SUPPORT TEAM MEMBER


THE S

UPPO

RT T

EAM

PART

1 May

, 201

2

Arturs PurisHey everyone, I'm Arturs or Arthur from Latvia. I'm 19 and I love hanging out with AFS people.:) I am working in hospital and also studying medicine. I volunteered to be in VSS Support team, because I was in last VSS in Portugal, and it became an addiction to me. Also wanted to gain some experience in planning big events like these. I hope that this years VSS will bring you a lot new friends... and naturally great VSS after-party. A tip that I can give you guys is just be yourself and everybody will love you or at least will be OK with you! Oh and Latvians love to go to the forest and do mushroom picking and then we make delicious food. Hope to see you in Latvia! :)

!

Evita FridenbergaHello everyone!

My name is Evita. I’m 17 years old. I’m living in Latvia. I will go to Germany in 2012/2013. Since

March 2011 I’m an AFS-volunteer. At the moment we’re hosting a girl from Germany.

I chose helping out the Support team because I have a lot of fun organizing events and I enjoy working in a group. I hope that the participants will use their chance to get to know the Latvian culture and that go home with a smile on their

face.


THE S

UPPO

RT T

EAM

PART

1 May

, 201

2 Einars AnspoksHello everyone. I am Einars, 19 years old bloke from Kingdom of Latvia. I can cook pancakes, chop wood, play guitar, philosophize, turn napkins into roses and most importantly volunteer :)).

In 2009, I spent three months (unfortunately only three) in Switzerland. Since then I’ve been an AFS volunteer and trainer later on. I have participated in various AFS seminars, including a „TFT” in Poland and basically acquired tons of knowledge through self-education. Being and working in the support team for VSS is a challenge I have taken, a pleasure I am having, a duty to be fulfilled and an achievement yet to be unlocked.

I hope that the participants will enjoy the whole VVS as much as I enjoy making it comfortable and unforgettable for them. And of course, I hope the expectations, hereupon the most anticipated event of the year, will be met. Two tips for PAX, when in Riga. The Central market is fun, but you better watch your bag and purse as some wild pick-pockets may appear. Don`t hesitate to ask for help if necessary, people are rather friendly here.

!

Dārta Ošeniece Hello my name is Darta, I am from Kandava, but live in Riga. I love football, dancing, karaoke and other thingsI am AFS volunteer 4 months. I really like this experience, because I have learned new things, which could help in my life. I’m learning Latvian folk dances and I’ll try to teach you too. I hope you

will like here and we will have a great time together.

!


THE B

ALAT

ON’S

PLOT

May

, 201

2

Jakob KaduraAge: 20 from: Pfaffen-Schwabenheim, Germany current role in AFS: volunteer/trainer in Germany

In ´08/´09, exchange year in Līgatne and Liepāja, in Latvija!! volunteer in local chapter, sending coordinator of the chapter, volunteer also on regional level, organized a AFS school-tour visiting 15 schools, took part in the VSS 2011 in Portugal, became a trainer recently. I’m still staying in Portugal after the last VSS to tidy up...no, I am working there in a community-project, creating a model for a sustainable, peaceful, loving culture

I like to be in nature. It somehow happened, that I can understand more or less 7 languages. I love to play music. I just took the possibility to volunteer in my host country! I wish the participants will enjoy the atmosphere of a Latvian summer and let us enjoy, too. Go to Liepāja ;) and don't forget to eat Kārums!!

Karlis MillersSveiki, sveiki everyone! I am from beautiful country Latvia and My name is Kārlis. I am one them, who can`t stop wondering how marvelous, amazing is the world. I like to travel, already have been more than 20countries and I know that number will raise rapidly. I have been an exchange student to Italy in 2009. Since I am back have been volunteering for AFS and in those 3 years I had have a lot of good moments there. I love AFS mission, because that is good way, how to change the world better. Now as volunteer I had that wonderful possibility to be a part of the VSS. I am proud that we, Latvians, will host this big evening. That will be joyful experience including many of useful skills. I hope all of you will enjoy this VSS and have a lot of fun, experience, friends, good memories and so on.

See you in Latvia!

!

!


What to do in Latvia?by Kitija Banele

WHAT

TO D

O IN

LATV

IA M

ay, 2

012

When we visit other countries we do not just think about learning, discovering new things, history, visiting new places but also about adventures, fun. Latvia offers a lot of different entertainments for different kind of people.

1. Extreme entertainment fansFor those who loves adrenalin, speed, height Latvia is a great place where come to. All over the world are different entertainment that offers all kind of activities. Water sport lovers can rent canoes and enjoy Latvia’s rivers. There are a lot of different itinerary; some of them are 280 km long and takes about 10 days. Here you can learn how to windsurf, kite-surf, dive, wakeboard. A lot of people love to ride with wave runners. BWSF certified water ski & wakeboard instructors will teach you to "fly" on the water. Water Club is

l o c a t e d n e a r Jurmala Hotel Concordia and offers different kinds of water ski and water-board including fantastic SKY SKI. This is not just a road trip on a smooth highway, but rather a quest for the most remote parts of Latvia. Enjoy the challenge of exploration of all types of Latvia's

b e a u t i f u l countryside. As deeper pool - as better. These vehicles are not afraid of dirt. Military training areas - the best place for demonstration the capabilities of these machines. If you're dreaming to drive a airplane - that's your chance. You don't need pilot license. Under the supervision of an instructor pilot, you will know what it means to drive a plane. This "Iron Bird" will be under

Y O U R c o n t r o l . DISCOVER the SKY! Plane CESSNA-172 m a y t a k e 4 passengers. In the b e a u t i f u l G a u y a N a t i o n a l P a r k i n

Sigulda you can jump from the Cable car from height of 50 metres where river look likes a narrow stream. The way down takes a few seconds but time for coming to yourself - much

more time. For acuteness of feelings You may jump tandem (two persons together) or ... naked. "Have you ever jumped with parachute?" How many times you have been asked this question. Time for real extreme is come. Are you ready to discover feelings of Agent 007 James Bond? It's your chance! Who said people can't fly? YOU

CAN!!! Make your dream of flying is real in vertical wind tunnel AERODIUM and get excited! No rope, no parachute. It's something you need to try for sure - FLIGHT! You must try it! Even Jackie Chan has tried it in Jelgava, Latvia. He was filming his upcoming movie "Chinese Zodiac”.

!

!

!

!

!

!

!


WHAT

TO D

O IN

LATV

IA M

ay, 2

012 2. MUSIC FANS

If you come to Latvia in summer you should go to music festival. The music is great, the people are nice, the sea is just few meters away and the weather is amazing. (There are more than 3 festivals)

1.Summer Sound.

Liepaja has a long history of summer festivals and this year is no exception. SUMMER SOUND of 2012 (July 6th and 7th) will be a two-day event with a wide variety of musical genres – rock, hip

hop, electronica, ambient, pop and more. Five stages will be located in the beach and park. Five stages for five themes – the defining element of the festival sitting well not only with ‘party hard’ youngsters, but also families with children and middle-aged people. There will be a lot of amazing artists: FAR EAST MOVEMENT, COLOURS OF BUBBLES, THE BIG PINK, HELLSONGS, IIRIS, EWERT AND THE TWO DRAGONS, FRENCH FILMS, ON VOLCANO, ZEBRA ISLAND, THE WOW etc..

2. Positivus.

The Positivus music and art festival, the largest of its kind in emerging Baltic states, delivers an eclectic mix of musical genres and an inimitable atmosphere to the 20 000+ festival goers passing through its gates each day.Positivus Festival is a budding attraction to locals and Europeans alike. Festival site in Salacgriva, Northern Latvia, is accessible from all Europe via Riga International Airport, only 120 km away. The breathtaking scenery of the festival’s location, set in the woods next to the beach of a beautiful coastal town together with a friendly and open crowd makes it a different experience even for experienced festival-goers. Positivus Festival 2009 was voted into the finals of UK Festival Awards as the Best Overseas Festival.

3. ZVERA Fest

ZVERA is an open-air festival organized in the best traditions of DIY avoiding the commercial influences. Since 2006 every last weekend of July we present a huge number of underground bands and DJ's on several stages in "Dzilnas" near Zirni, Saldus region, Latvia. Although the main focus is on hardcore/punk bands, there will always be something for those who enjoy slower or electronic music. However, Zvera is not only about music, from year to year the sports activities play a big role in the festival atmosphere - more than 30 football teams fight for the Zvera Cup, the best BMX riders show their best on dirt jumps, but skateboarders rip the ramps in our skate park. Everytime we bring something new up to make your summer more colorful. This year is special - for the first time in Zvera history we do it a 3-day festival starting the show on Thursday evening.

!

!

!

!


The Riga nightlife is deservedly considered amongst the best in Eastern Europe - and even on a par with the celebrated Tallinn nightlife. So what is it exactly that makes Riga's party scene worth traveling for? Well the high concentration of pubs, cafes and bars in the Old Town is certainly a

major draw and newcomers to the city will have plenty of fun. You can find here sports bars, student bars, pubs, clubs, wine bars etc.Skyline bar - The one and only Riga’s cocktail lounge in the sky located on the 26th floor of Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija and featuring the best view in the city.Coyote fly - Housed in the exclusive Vernisāža complex in the Vērmanes Park, you pretty

much have to be well-heeled, well-dressed and local to gain entrance to this pleasure palace for Riga’s elite, which essentially consists of celebrities, TV personalities and the über-rich. Foreign DJs are often imported from around Europe and its stage is also graced by local musicians, rappers and the like. You can expect a trendy atmosphere, expensive cocktails and Champagne and, of course, incredibly beautiful wait staff, but as a tourist in the Latvian capital, you might not

pass its strict face control. The Latvian National Opera House is home to both the Latvian National Opera and the Latvian National Ballet. In the course of a season that runs from September to June the LNO performs more than 200 performances, staging on average six new productions every season of both opera and ballet. The LNO today is a repertoire theatre. The Riga Opera Festival, founded in 1998 as the first festival of its size and scale in Eastern Europe, has already become a valuable tradition. The festival is highly anticipated by both Latvian audiences and opera-lovers from abroad, who form the majority of Riga Opera Festival visitors.

WHAT

TO D

O IN

LATV

IA M

ay, 2

012

!

!

!

!

!

3. Night life in capital of Latvia – Riga.


Every summer, the festival marks the end of the Latvian National Opera’s performance season with an overview of the best moments of the previous year, offering fans a chance to relive their favorite scenes or see what they’ve missed. The high quality of the opera's productions has been noted outside of the country, and has helped the opera to draw brilliant guest conductors and soloists to Riga.The highlights of the 2012 festival will be the performances of Götterdämmerung, the final part of Richard Wagner’s tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen, the next step on the way to the production of the full cycle which will be performed at the Riga Opera Festival in 2013.The Latvian National Theatre (Latvian: Latvijas Nacionālais teātris) is the national theatre of Latvia in Riga.The Latvian National Theatre was founded 30 November 1919, just over a year after independence. The creative program was authored by Jānis Akurāters, a Latvian writer, then head of the Art department of the Ministry of Education. The current managing director of the theatre is Viesturs Rieksts and the artistic director is Edmunds Freibergs.The Daile Theatre was opened on 19 November 1920 with a performance of "Indulis and Ārija" by Rainis in the premises of the Craftsmen Assistance Society at Lāčplēša (then - Romanova) Street 25, the former abode of the New Rīga Theatre closed several years ago.The idea of setting up a new theatre in Rīga, different from the existing theatres pursuing the so-called psychological naturalism, has been seething for some time among the intellectuals, until the publisher Ansis Gulbis, poets Rainis and Aspazija, a former actor of the New Rīga Theatre Eduards Smiļģis and a number of others teamed up to form the "Rainis's Club" and seized the opportunity to open their own

WHAT

TO D

O IN

LATV

IA M

ay, 2

012


BUT ALSO OTHER THINGSTHEY WILL TALK ABOUT

THEIR WORKSHOPS

WHAT’S NEXT????????? WHAT ????

WHAT IF THE TRAINERS

TAKE OVER FOR ONCE?

NOTHING NEXT????

WHAT

’S NE

XT? M

ay, 2

012

The VSS HERALD, 2nd Edition 17 February 15th, 2012

Don’t forget as soon as your office validates your application, you got to go on our web site to register, pay, chose your rooms

your workshops, and then...BUY YOUR TICKETS !

18

EFILVOLUNTEERSUMMERSUMMIT

LATVIA2012 16-21 July

aisbl

Design : Joshua Fitoussi/ Text : Joshua Fitoussi, Gizem Bayer,The Support Team, Jules Ortega, Régis Brendel, David Bekesi, Kitija

Banele/ Pictures : Vss 2010, Vss 2011

herald 4th

Documents

previous vss

vss heraldmay

vss herald4th editionmay

important team

support team member

prep team member

volunteer summer summit

balatons lakejules ortega