One Wild Life: testemunhos

O curso de formação One Wild Life decorreu de 15 a 25 de Junho de 2017 em Sintra. Aqui ficam mais testemunhos de alguns dos participantes.

Teja Pahor, Eslovénia 

This journey was something I will never forget. It was the first time I ever experienced something like that. And it was above all the expectations. It was not only about learning ourselves a different methods and receiving a lot of new knowledge of how to do training. The best value of OWL training was a personal development which came naturally and no one expected it. In 10 days I think I was manage to grow personally more then I have ever before. I am still in research of my vocation but that doesn't mean I am not grateful from the bottom of my heart for this experience. I will never forget the people, the coop and some useful methods which I will hopefully use in the future. 

Nil Roda Noguera, Espanha 

We live in a time of detachment and liquid societies, where individuals struggle to find their place in a highly globalized, ever-changing context. We live in a time deeply suffering from three major divides: the divide between self and nature - I am not my environment, I am not Earth; the divide between self and other - I am not you, your problem is yours; and the divide between self and Self - I am not playing my fullest potential, because I don't even know what that is. However, we also live in the time of data and information, a time where interconnectedness, interdependence and the living globality of the world are a matter of fact. A time where the complexity is visible, tangible and where we are just awakening to the understanding that, it's time to learn how to truly work together. It doesn't take much for youth to understand this reality: they are embedded in it, they both suffer and benefit from it. Formal and informal education are yet to truly evolve to be able to offer the right spaces to support this youth, manly because the People behind the structures, often doesn't have an embodied experience of how to proactively live in complexity and uncertainty, and therefore it is difficult to bring theory into practice. Everywhere I see in youth a growing and deep longing to consciously explore the question Who am I in relationship to the world? What can I do in such a complex world? What is my gift I can/want to offer? And what do I need to unfold my potential? One Wild Life was Experiencial learning for youth workers to get this embodied experience of connection, collaboration and interconnection. One Wild Life helped us be able to practice being the professionals we want to be, so we can be better examples to the people we work with. One Wild Life was the What and How of how to create the right spaces to host youth in this exploration. 

Nicoletta Benfatti, Itália

This experience was very interesting for me. It meant to discover myself and my ability expressing and telling my past and future projects. I learned that the images and the drawings are most important that lots of words, when you need to describe a project to other people. I took home a method with which I could tell and describe my future project of the ecological park that I am realizing in Italy, on the hills near Verona, in a more amazing and interesting way. At the same time I'll share my experience and teach this method to all the people with which I'm working in RIVE, the Italian Ecovillage Network. I suggest to other people to participate at this training course with Reka and Sara, because they are amazing and their sweetness and clarity in ascertaining the concepts are involving. All the people I met made me very happy and comfortable. I hope to see them again. 

Andrada Vaidos, Roménia
What am I going to do with this One Wild Life? This was a thing that I always had in my mind: we have ONE wild life. So why not make the most of it?! Though I kept having a hard time in figuring out HOW to make the most of it. The best gift we have in this life is humanity. And this self-explorative, intense, challenging training course accomplished it`s mission of giving us a vision, a direction about HOW we could make the most of this one wild life by using this gift of being humans. The structure was fascinating and extremely revealing. It`s as simple as that: in order to get an understanding about the world, we need to understand ourselves, so in order to make a change in the world, we need to make a change within ourselves. Each authentic action is driven by inner dreams, wishes, challenges. So first step is to make them clear in our mind. To make some order in the chaos. All the techniques used, all the exercises, all that sharing in circle what was in our mind and what we have been working on was extremely helpful in crystallising and prioritising thoughts. What is what I truly stand for in this world is a question that will probably stay in my mind always from now on. Because it is pointless to do things just because they need to be done and not because something inside drives you, pushes you towards that. Humanity consists in feelings, feelings that lead to action. Feelings need to be expressed, it`s unhuman to lock them inside, though we do that so much nowadays, out of fear of judgement, probably. Humanity is also about people getting united and fulfilling dreams together. One cannot do anything alone. We are meant to do things together, to listen and support each other. And, just like magic, the team and participants from One Wild Life were all there for the others. The connections that had been formed between people were out of this world. For those 10 days, we were a family, for the next decades we will keep on being connected. And this happened because we got a great context to open and connect, a safe and trustworthy one. The team knew what they were doing and how to make us feel comfortable with being ourselves and sharing, expressing what is in our mind and souls. We received priceless tools to work with in this lifelong mission of making the most of our (one wild) life. Long story short, One Wild Life was the trigger. A trigger to understand ourselves, to crystalize what we are standing for and to figure out HOW to take action and to make a difference in this world by doing things that we truly, honestly believe in. Some of us already knew, some others had their revelation, their “AHA” moment there, during the training course, and some others (including myself) didn`t know what they believe in, but now, after this experience they have a strong clue and some useful tools to keep on working on to find what is there worth to stand for. 

Chaotic thoughts about One Wild Life: 

• It was the confirmation that one can feel most valuable and useful when doing things together with others. 
• It was the push for setting an intention. 
• In order to take action out there in the world, first the healthy thing to do is to take action within oneself. 
• It was the challenge of being completely open and honest towards people around. 
• It was the revelation that giving and receiving support is one of the most human and constructive attitudes possible. 
• Introspection.
• Collecting the energy within and motivation to release it with a specific and clear direction. 
• Putting the chaos in order. 
• All the inspiring people! 
• Authenticity in the behavior, in the words spoken, in the actions taken.
• Pushing the limits. 
• Do it the hard way. 
• Self exploration and being self centered does not mean selfish. 
• It`s just that the balance within oneself is able and will bring balance in the world around us .
• You give what you are. 

Simina Tureac, Roménia

“One Wild Life” was a beautiful, rewarding experience for me. It was like a labyrinth with a lot of unknown paths and each path made my fears one by one to come up and at the end just standing there –being myself – trying to find out the way out. Even before coming to the training, I knew that the methods were interesting (knowing that some were based on the work of Bill Plotkin and Mary Oliver) but my expectations were over reached while participating in the training. Now, after one month, I still have glimpses of the best moments in the training, of the beautiful Eco Village and of the great people I met. I went through a deep learning process starting from who I truly am beyond the roles that we usually play in the society, connecting with myself and speaking about myself from the heart. Related to this, the methods used for this (map of life, charismatic communication) made me remember the relevant moments in my life, the ups and downs, but the most important were the threads – those states when I was driven by passion and excitement in my life for creating something/doing something. Going forward, remembering those moments, I had to confirm to myself that I still have the passion and the inspiration to create again and to know what I want to create: and here it goes the artistic techniques (Double circle and the Dyade) for taking a moment to write everything that comes to my mind and bringing the dream close to reality. 
Further on, with the session “me and the world” I went deeper in the emotional state of being by remembering and sharing moments when I felt “hit” by the world, meaning those moments when I felt meaningless and full of fears because I couldn’t control something bad happening from the outside. Actually, going through a few exercises, made me understand that I am the only one who can control the state I want to feel, maybe there is nothing to do to save the whole world, but for sure there is a solution for everything. It’s up to me to take action instead of watching TV and complain that nobody is not doing anything. The AMOEBA model by Alan Atkinson was for me the most relevant to understand how actually cultural change happens and how can an idea become an innovation, a part of the system. Furthermore, I find that the Nature Quest from Day 6 was really important for discovering how nature always helped me learn new things about myself, especially the things I could see differently- a new perspective for my life, new possibilities for starting something new or just confirmation about what I truly like to do. The quest in nature and the living beings from nature taught me a lot about weakness, being strong, not being afraid of showing vulnerability as long as I am honest and true to my soul. And of course, the most important, the nature circle of everything being perfect as it is, of everything happening for a reason, within a given moment in time and space. A lesson from nature’s order. 
The rest of the learning process that followed until the last day was for me about being inspired, finding partners and collaborators for the dream project idea I wanted to develop. Second by second, I felt inspired, stimulated and excited to make the plan for my dream project and the strategy to develop it once I arrive back home. Except for the project idea I discovered I want to create, I also brought home a lot of new techniques and methods that I can use for supporting a learning group towards personal and professional development. All the processes I learnt and the methods about facilitation at the end of each session are very helpful to make other volunteers and youngsters in my organization finding their own authentic vocation and encourage them to take action towards their dream projects. In the present moment, being at home, I have been working hard on my project since 4 weeks, it’s not easy, but I am working with a joyful heart and it feels great. The enthusiasm is still here. 

Anni Shakur, Estónia

Training course 'One wild life' is mainly a wild journey to inner self. I remember the day when I saw the call and I knew I'll be there. My struggles with world, other people, society, 'system' and myself got many answers. I'd say that many problems got finally talked out and even solved. With those people and environment I felt so comfortable that when I felt like crying I could do it. And of course this course was full of laughs too. I understood much more about my fears, passions and other people around me. What I loved the most about this training course was that I had the space to be myself and people from all over the world had the same opportunity. And that's where the magic started. The beauty of human being without any borders. I'm forever grateful for this life changing experience.

One Wild Life

Aqui podem ler mais testemunhos dos participantes do curso de formação One Wild Life, que decorreu de 15 a 25 de Junho de 2017 em Sintra.

Katja Jezeršek, Eslovénia

The biggest treasure that I got from the OWL course were the people with whom I lived throughout the course and with whom I shared the experience. I am immensely thankful for their honesty, openness, braveness and willingness to share their thoughts, insights, feelings, experiences, struggles, questions, doubts, pain, joy, happiness, love, talents, music and knowledge with me. Used to being alone quite a lot, it was challenging for me to be surrounded with so many people, but I learned something very important. It is easier to find privacy in the midst of a community that find company in the midst of solitude. The combination of guided introspection and reflection on our past actions or reactions, stands and visions plus intensive community living created a space in which I was challenged and provoked enough that I felt some discomforts, fears, insecurity. It was very precious to see those Achilles heels of mine which I am normally avoiding and trying to forget about them. The space held by facilitators and the whole group was safe and compassionate which helped me express, face and challenge my weaknesses. 

Apart from learning the shady side of me, I also discovered a lot of joy that I did not know before or I almost forgot about it, especially when we were singing together, dancing, improvising, playing. I felt that we created a space of trust and acceptance where I could very freely express myself. I was amazed in how unique and beautiful way each participant contributed to the whole. Here I became more aware of the fact that the most beautiful things come out when we act from our true selves. This is a bug encouragement not to be afraid of being different and unique, to stand out from the crowd and on the other hand not to struggle to be unique. If you act from your core, you will always be unique and impressive. SO acting from your true self is your responsibility. This is something I would like to share with the youth I work with. I would like to encourage young people to connect to their selves, recognise their real needs and dreams and express them in a assertive and respectful way. I learned a lot of techniques of creating a space in which self expression, imagination and dreaming is encouraged (sharing circle, magic objects, tibetan bells, candles, guided meditations, activities which were focusing on different senses, singing, drawing, creating the map of life, free writing, if nothing would stop me, etc.). What I can easily incorporate into my work with the youth in summer camps is the hero journey. It can bring the experience of the participants of our summer camps to a higher level. I will probably also use the activities we were doing on our last day of the course (walk with eyes closed and others whispering encouraging words and final sharing circle with the wool string). I liked the concept of the course, diving in and climbing out and I think the timeline made sense. I am grateful to the organisers and facilitators for creating this space full of encouragement and opportunities to learn and grow, and i am even more thankful to them for leaving us the freedom to take or reject all the content of the course. I would not hesitate even for a second to recommend the course to the others. And I am not loosing hope that we might organise a OWL volume 2 one day! 

Pim van Luijtelaar, Holándia

A very intense training course which took me in a new chapter in my life. I learned a lot about myself and this helped me a lot in this new stage where I am right now. Finding myself, my own authentic vocation! That also made me to find a new way of working with kids and juveniles that struggle with their lives. During the training course i experienced this change inside myself, and what i think, is the best way to help these kids and juveniles. what is it that i really like and love to do? What is it that i really opens my heart and creativity? Starting at myself, and not so much: what other people would like to see (prejudices)! I got to know myself much better, (helicopter view) looking at my life from different points of view, sharing my life story with others and listening to others stories. It was a very confronting training course! implementing al the new information (finding your authentic vocation and starting at the motivation from kids in a Judicial residential setting) wasn't so hard for me cause I already went trough it by myself, I gave a little presentation for my colleagues and tel them about my experiences. I'm training colleagues to implement in the kids and juveniles there lives: finding things and goals in there life, starting from there own motivation, how to vibrate positivity at every moment and live at the moment! 

Alícia Rendo, Espanha 

This training course has changed my life, and my perspective to see the world. Now, I'm sure of my authentic vocation. Thanks for all, hugs and kisses, Ali 

Liudmila Gasina, República Checa

One Wild Life was a great opportunity for me to meet amazing people who are eager to bring changes into this world. People who can ignite the hearts of others during their own coach sessions or just in a usual conversation. The conditions of the projects literally brought us together giving food for thoughts about who we are, what we can do and how should we do it. At the end we were more than just 26 people living together in wild environment - we became a community. Things which I took from the project are incredibly important for me as a personality: I learnt how important it is for me to stand my ground and have my own boundaries. How my own past affected me and what an important part of my life it is. I learnt to accept myself and let me be who I am. Also I got aware of my capabilities both personal and professional ones.

One Wild Life: testemunhos dos participantes

 Aqui temos mais testemunhos dos participantes do curso de formação One Wild Life, que decorreu de 15 a 25 de Junho de 2017 em Sintra.

Arne Drews, Alemanha

Hi folks, my name is Arne and I‘m a youth worker from Berlin, Germany.

I had the chance to attend the wonderful Erasmus+ One Wild Life- training course on fostering authentic vocation in youth work, that took place in Sintra in June. Hosted and organised by spin it gathered people from 7 different european countries. It was an incredibly diverse group of extremely interesting people and we all stayed together at a fairly progressive permaculture farm and learned about all kinds of approaches and methods that can be used in supporting (young) folks in finding out about their personal goals, values and vocation. We also looked into how one can implement those findings in concrete ways by using tools like the Theory U or Dragon Dreaming. The training course provided us participants with opportunities to grow together on an intellectual level through these models whereas some alone time in nature gave us the chance to become aware of our personal resources. The free time between the sessions was usually filled with inspiring conversations about everything under the sun but often focused on the personal processes we all went through. We all felt so enriched with new insights about ourselves, social work and what really matters in life at the end of those beautiful 10 days. The incredible facilitation team did an amazing job and always made us feel like we were in good hands.

In my particular case the techniques and methods that were applied and taught are directly applicable at my job. One of the things I do is facilitating follow up seminars for young folks who come back to Germany after volunteering abroad in the social field. They often don‘t know yet what to do with their lives and appreciate exercises that help them figuring out which role they want to play in society.

I‘m deeply grateful for the opportunity to attend this training course and I wouldn‘t hesitate to do it again!

Cheers, folks!

Marlies van Duijn, Holanda

OWL was for me an experience where different puzzle pieces that I learned the last years fall together in one big puzzle.

We got the Theory by experiencing it ourself and that makes that I am feeling that I am owning it more myself and that I can start on passing it on to the youngsters I work with.

Through the exercises I came again closer to my own dream and my talents that I have been hiding a bit the last years, back at home I took time to look closer to them and make the right steps to get them to reality! :)

OWL is an interesting course if you want to widen your wings for alternative approaches in supporting people around you.

I highly do recommend OWL for the quality and broadening your horizon on how you can work nowadays with youngsters!

Violeta Ilieva, Bulgária

One Wild Life. It is, isn't it. The first day each of us (the participants) had to present our projects or whatever we felt passionate about. Hearing about various initiatives felt inspiring. So this is what people are capable of when working together!

My presentation was about group dynamics. I had prepared a diagram – two circles, one of them full of colorful smileys, the other one full of little black demons. There were arrows going both ways between the two circles. A man, who I now consider a close friend, had a very interesting presentation a bit before me – symbols of two man, the first one with his head crossed out, and an arrow going from the first man to the second one. He was talking about jumping into the abyss. We literally spent 24 hours a day together, 10 days straight. We learned together, chilled together, ate together, slept together (as in the same space). We shared our inspiration, but also some deep pain and personal insecurities. Some individual traumatic experiences also came out. All a part of the official program, all within the common circle, and later extending beyond it in private communication. I have no clue if the organizers had actually seen such things coming. They certainly didn't seem well prepared to handle them. There was a lot of laughter, quite a bit of inspiration and gratitude, some tears, anxiety, aggression, feeling of being lost or helpless. The social drama of being a human being in a group fully unfolded in this microcosm of limited time and space. Communication was always deep, strong bonds were formed, the emotional thread messily going from one person to another.

Of course we learned a lot. It's not like we learned all the games and songs – we recorded them though, so we can always go back to them, play and sing, imagine we are once again a part of the social whole we thought ourselves to be. We did not memorize all the theories and diagrams either – once again, they are easily available in the records and the book one of the organizers had co-authored. Rather, we learned from trying to walk together, the mistakes we made on the way, letting people close in, facing ourselves and facing others while not at our top shape.

In the end we whispered loving words in each other's ears, we hugged and cried. Yes, it was as melodramatic as it sounds :D Even more. I got sick right after the course ended. I came back home completely drained. Though I did learn a new precious socio-emotional skill.

Now I'm asked if I would recommended the course. No, I wouldn't. Jumping into the abyss is strictly a matter of individual judgment. And nobody can tell you what you'll find down there :D

Atanas Bakalov, Bulgária

The permaculture place has very good atmosphere and I want to thank the organisers for choosing that lovely place for our 10 days experience. 

For me the program was intense full of interactive activities. But the most important and helping for me was the fact that the participants were above 25 and most of them actively working already with youth in different organisations. So we shared useful experiences. 

The lightness of the spirit in the most participants in the group made the whole program unforgettable energised, full of enthusiasm and positive vibes. I am very grateful for that adventure! 

Curso de Formação One Wild Life

O curso de formação One Wild Life decorreu de 15 a 25 de Junho de 2017 em Sintra. Aqui ficam uns pequenos testemunhos de alguns dos participantes.

Kārlis Laizāns, Látvia
A training course which took me on a journey. At the beginning a journey inside me,  getting to know myself, looking at my life from different points of view, sharing my life story with others and listening to others stories. There was a lot of digging inside myself for what is there, what I like and don’t like about it. We shared our dreams and passions too. The first part of the process ended with a sweat - lodge ceremony. A ceremonial sauna, after which I did feel reborn. Coming out of it and seeing the world with new eyes.
Second part of the training course was about crystallising, planning, figuring out what we can and want to give to the world. We lived as a community throughout the training course. I felt the true power of our community at the end, when we had our final ritual, I’ve heard it being called “Angels walk” – people make two lines facing each other and one with eyes closed is passing through in the middle. People from the sides are giving love, support and good energy through their touch and/or words. Beautiful, powerful and emotional way to enjoy for the last time, what we had created. 

Ricardo Pfeiffer, Alemanha
During the One Wild Life training course I learned a lot about myself and this helps me a lot in the stage which I am right now, trying to start projects regarding three main topics, which became very clear during the course, which are education, design and upcycling systems. I have been working on those topics since some time ago but it was not that clear to me that I need to focus my long term goals on them, and from that dream and vision come back to the small tasks that I need to be doing towards getting there. And as part of what I want to do is education, all the methods that we learned are quite useful for me to apply them during any course that I will be sharing as a host in the future. I learned that as clear I am about what are my passions and abilities that I have to offer to the world, the more motivated I will be to take action on those paths, and the same happens to every person, but it is not easy to have clarity, so the methods and activities that were shared are tools to help people gain self clarity and understanding.

The course organisation couldn't be better held, the staff members were so well balanced between each other that the results of the course couldn't really be better. We became a family since the first days of the course, and this is also a big learning that I take from the course and will take into account when planning education events: the participants must feel a complete environment of respect and trust, and in order to achieve this environment, the first step is from the organisers, by selecting similar minded people that match very precisely the content of the course, then always being focused on harmonic moments with flexibility towards any happenings, without pressure and stress. The physical place also enhances the trust. If the course would have happened at a concrete building with no nature around it is felt, so the place was also ideal. And finally the activities were very useful for all, and at the moments when anyone needed a break, there was the complete freedom to take that break. I took a lot of learnings towards inner growth and that I can apply further on. I got a new family and great tools for positive youth change, I couldn't ask for more from this course. I feel thankful for the opportunity.

Emese Dömösi, Hungária

The ’One Wild Life – finding authentic vocation’ training course made me sure that I’m not an UFO; I’m not a lonely, strange soul with weird thoughts who thinks always ’outside the box’ . I have mates from different fields, backgrounds, interest on this planet who are so different from me but kind of the same. Who understands and value their unique self and think that Earth is a good place to live in; who are sure that their personal development matters not just for them but the people around them and the whole society as well. They know that they came with a mission and looking their ways to unfold their talent they are gifted to.
To go along on this exciting life journey I got so much tools, methods to implement on this course that I’m unstoppable now from bring the best out of me and from my focus group. Girls, women and mothers need that more than ever!

Gyöngyvér Balogh, Hungária

The One Wild Life Training course sounded like the perfect opportunity when reading the call for the first time. Professionally, it offered answers, techniques for education questions I am working with on a daily basis. I expected to learn new motivation tool, playful ways of teaching, orientation students, helping them what they really want. I did get all of these, and I like to think that I was also able to give something back, to contribute with my ideas, experience. 
What I did not expect, was a self-development, truly therapeutic course, that helped me find my own way, helped me answer a lot of personal and professional questions that I have been struggling with for a while and had no idea how to answer. I did not expect soul work, sharing circles and learning about my own motivations in such an intensive manner, surrounded by so many truly amazing people. I could get closer to these people in 10 days that I could have gotten in years in other settings. I have heard amazing, sometimes shocking stories, experiences, and I could also share what is in my mind and heart. I did not know that in order to teach this journey I first have to go through it myself, but I am very glad that I had to do it. It just made so much sense!  The One Wild Life training course was a shock, a surprise, and a miracle.

Voluntariado fora e dentro de portas

No Bairro Padre Cruz, em Carnide, a antiga escola do rio Tejo dá agora lugar a um edifício renovado, ladeado pelas típicas casas de lusalite, onde se situa a Associação Spin para o Intercâmbio, Formação e Cooperação entre os Povos. A organização sem fins lucrativos, que tem como principal objetivo a realização de programas de mobilidade internacional para jovens, é responsável por adicionar 15 novos moradores estrangeiros, durante Novembro, ao maior bairro social da Pensínsula Ibérica.

A causa é simples. Deve-se ao “CapitALL – Connecting Capitals, Building Europe”, o projeto de voluntariado europeu, que liga duas cidades do Velho Continente no âmbito das suas comemorações de Cidades Europeias – Lisboa e Cluj-Napoca, na Roménia. A cidade portuguesa comemora este ano ter sido seleccionada Capital Europeia do Voluntariado e Cluj-Napoca comemora o título de Capital Europeia da Juventude 2015.

“Quando vou à feira da Ladra já sei dizer: muito caro! Pode ser mais barato?”, quem o diz é a voluntária romena Natalia, de 23 anos. Apesar da curta estadia por Lisboa, a jovem já consegue formular diversas palavras em português, mas confessa, entre risos, que quando pede uma bica ou um galão, o sotaque rapidamente a denuncia. Confessa-se uma apaixonada por Portugal, e não quis deixar de aproveitar esta oportunidade de viver na grande metrópole do país.

Os 2800 quilómetros que separam os dois países não foram impedimento para a realização de um projeto de voluntariado bilateral. Portugal, através da Spin, recebeu 15 jovens romenos entre os dias 5 de Novembro e 7 de Dezembro. Por sua vez, a Spin enviou 15 jovens para Cluj-Napoca, que de 19 de Outubro a 19 de Novembro, realizaram de igual forma o seu trabalho internacional.

Vlad, de 25 anos, não esconde o entusiasmo por estar a viver em Lisboa. Quando chegou à capital a primeira noite foi passada no Bairro Alto, onde o jovem pôde rever velhos amigos. “Há uns anos fiz uma road-trip e vim a Portugal, mas só conheci uma certa faceta. Agora, estou certo, de que fazer voluntariado vai mostrar-me uma nova perspectiva do país”, explica o jovem.

Durante o mês, Vlad e os companheiros levaram a cabo diversas atividades de voluntariado em várias associações e organizações por Lisboa, que incluíram o Parque Florestal de Monsanto, Casa dos Animais de Lisboa, Associação entrAjuda, Associação Conversa Amiga, e workshops sobre calçada portuguesa. O projeto incluiu ainda uma vertente mais lúdica que deu a conhecer zonas turísticas da cidade como o Bairro Alto, Galeria de Arte Urbana ou o Centro Comercial Colombo.

Paralelamente, outra vertente da iniciativa consistiu no desenvolvimento de projetos finais, que incluem três grupos que trabalharam, através de diversos métodos, como vox pop, vídeos de promoção e teatro forúm, a temática do voluntariado.

Graziano Tullio, monitor e formador do grupo romeno, coordena todas as atividades. Para o italiano de 36 anos, esta dupla valência do projeto é a sua maior mais-valia. Por um lado, os jovens dão o seu contributo pessoal pelas várias associações, ao mesmo tempo que desenvolvem projetos finais. Segundo o monitor, “é de extrema importância porque permite aos jovens refletirem sobre a experiência que estão a viver.”

Esta é, também, para a jovem voluntária Natalia a maior vantagem do projeto. “Eu já tinha feito voluntariado noutros moldes, mas não tinha definido na minha cabeça um conceito específico sobre ele. Então esta é uma forma para o descobrir e finalmente defeni-lo à luz da minha própria experiência, sem clichés.”

Para a jovem, o projeto CapitALL não representou a sua primeira vinda a Portugal, porém reconhece que só conhecia as belezas naturais e a beleza de Lisboa, mas não a vida social, que agora pôde conhecer através do contacto com as várias associações. Questionada sobre as coisas de que mais gosta na capital, a resposta é imperativa: “São as pessoas, muito calorosas e simpáticas.”

A Associação Spin, escolhida pela Câmara Municipal de Lisboa para liderar a iniciativa, tem como objectivos fundamentais o fomento do diálogo intercultural e da cooperação entre os povos, a defesa dos direitos humanos e da igualdade de oportunidades, a promoção da solidariedade e da inclusão social, o desenvolvimento de uma cidadania activa e participativa e o estímulo à formação e aprendizagem ao longo da vida.

Do bairro para o Mundo

Hospedados no Spin Hostel, paralelo à associação que lhe deu nome, durante a estadia na capital portuguesa, os jovens emergiram na realidade daquele que é o maior bairro social da Península Ibérica. A ação da SPIN ajuda a tornar o bairro mais multicultural e a combater ideias errantes e pré-concebidas, sobretudo entre os novos “moradores estrangeiros”. Ideia essa partilhada por Fábio Sousa, presidente da Junta de Freguesia de Carnide, que caracteriza a ação da associação como de uma “importância ímpar”, e explica que permite trazer outras realidades para dentro do bairro.

Graziano Tullio acrescenta: “Acabámos por ter pessoas de vários sítios da Europa e do mundo no bairro, e isso cria uma dinâmica engraçada.” O monitor, que se revê como freelancer, por trabalhar com várias associações, acredita que estes jovens fazem parte do processo de transformação do bairro, e que todas estas atividades culturais que se implementaram ajudaram a valorizá-lo, e a derrotar o apelido de gueto anteriormente atribuído.

O jovem romeno Bogdan, de 26 anos, caracteriza o projeto CapitALL como interessante. “Promovemos esta parte da cidade [Bairro Padre Cruz] porque muitas vezes as pessoas a viver em Lisboa não a conhecem, e as que conhecem dizem que é perigosa, mas não me senti inseguro aqui”. Bogdan refere que há ainda um preconceito associado ao bairro, manifestado em pequenos detalhes, e confidencia um episódio. “A pizza não é entregue no bairro, disseram-nos que só o fariam na estação da polícia de lá. São detalhes que nos fazem rir”, brinca o jovem.

Por isso, uma das ações de voluntariado do projeto CapitALL deu-se no Bairro Padre Cruz, na zona das construções de alvenaria, constituída por casas com mais de 50 e 60 anos, muito degradadas e ainda com telhados de amianto.“As casas precisam de uma reconversão urgente e enquanto tal não é possivel, rua a rua vai se requalificando. E, assim, com a ajuda dos voluntários, podemos humanizar o que existe”, explica Fábio Sousa.

Entre carros de cantoneiro, pás, sacholas, baldes e luvas, a ação envolveu os voluntários romenos e portugueses do projeto, além de colaboradores das associações locais e a própria comunidade do bairro, e consistiu numa campanha de limpeza e reabilitação de quintais devolutos para serem transformados em áreas de utilização comunitária, tais como hortas, jardins, espaços de lazer e estendais comunitários.

Alexandra Barbosa, Inês Marques, Inês Brito e Joana Matos integraram o grupo de voluntários portugueses na Roménia que se juntaram à atividade de limpeza no Bairro Padre Cruz. Para as quatro jovens, do projeto ficou a amizade, memórias de uma experiência internacional e o “bichinho” de fazer voluntariado. Para estas, a aventura europeia foi numa experiência positiva, e destacam como aspeto mais marcante do projeto, a criação e produção de um evento, de nome “A casa portuguesa”.

“O evento foi um sucesso”, frisa Alexandra Barbosa, licenciada na área das Relações Internacionais, de 26 anos. Realizado no centro da cidade, no Central Park, o evento incluiu comida portuguesa, música ambiente tradicional, uma galeria de arte com as obras mais marcantes da cultura, puzzles e jogos interativos, além de vídeos sobre Portugal.

Para as duas Inês, ambas recém-licenciadas em Gestão, a experiência foi uma aprendizagem fora do contexto académico. “Apesar de não ter muito a ver com a minha área de formação, enquanto pessoa e mesmo a nível curricular, esta aventura enriqueceu-me muito”, salienta Inês Marques.

Joana Matos, mestre em Relações Internacionais, de 28 anos, revela que apesar das diferenças entre os dois países europeus sentiu que há valores partilhados. “O povo não é tao quente como o português, não são tao abertos e não há o tal sorriso”, explica. É precisamente isso que o voluntário Bougdan encontra no povo português. “Aqui as pessoas são calorosas e têm um sorriso amigável na cara”, elogia o jovem.

Voluntariado na Casa dos Animais

Na lista das organizações pelas quais os voluntários romenos passaram está a Casa dos Animais de Lisboa. Inaugurada em 2014 é o único canil/gatil municipal da cidade, e alberga atualmente cerca de 140 cães e 40 gatos. Numa tarde fria de Outono, a deslocação a Monsanto ficou a cargo de três pessoas - Alexandra, Geta e Ionut, para quem o frio de Lisboa, não é nada comparado ao da Roménia.

Para Geta, esta foi a sua atividade favorita. “Eu corria com os cães por estarem tão contentes por saírem à solta.” A jovem de 23 anos já tinha estado em Portugal envolvida noutro projeto de curta duração. “Eu só tinha a imagem turística, mas Portugal era um destino ao qual eu gostava de voltar e de viver. Por isso, um mês a viver em Lisboa era a oportunidade perfeita para mim”, revela a voluntária.

Alexandra, de 20 anos, nunca tinha estado num canil, e revela que quando voltar para a Roménia quer envolver-se com a causa animal. Para a voluntária, a oportunidade de explorar a cultura de um novo país foi irresistível, e partiu para Portugal sem saber nada sobre o país, mas pronta a aprender tudo.

Elizabete, que coordena 52 pessoas no programa de voluntariado da Casa dos Animais de Lisboa, explica que para se ser voluntário é preciso acima de tudo gostar de animais. “É o único requisito”, frisa a coordenadora. Por lá, os voluntários fazem a sociabilização dos animais e tudo o que é a garantia da melhoria do bem-estar dos bichos.

A equipa de Beta, como é carinhosamente tratada, inclui quatro jovens com necessidades educativas especiais. Rodrigo é um destes voluntários. Acompanhado por Igor Santos, voluntário há pelo menos um ano, os dois auxiliaram os jovens romenos.

Ao longo da tarde, foram passeados quase 30 cães de diferentes portes e raças. Ionut desconhece o motivo pelo qual os cães não têm nome. “Acho que é para não nos afeiçoarmos tanto, porque não é difícil criar este tipo de ligação”, explica-lhe Igor.

Sofia Barreira Pavão

Texto da Zofia - a sua última tarefa SVE na SPIN

Hoje vi que O Churrasquinho 'Os Lopes' ganhou prémio por ter a segunda melhor sopa do Bairro Padre Cruz. Isto lembrou-me dos almoços na Spin com os meus colegas, de todo o meu SVE em Lisboa e da minha última tarefa – escrever o meu testemunho. Confesso que é muito difícil resumir num texto curtinho 9 meses da experiência do trabalho na Spin e vida portuguesa (com certeza!). Liguei o fado e comecei a pensar.

O trabalho na Spin deu-me muitas oportunidades de desenvolver as minhas competências e aprender as coisas novas. Agradeço às minhas chefes, mentoras e amigas – Aneta, Sara e Raquel– por me terem acompanhado e apoiado nesta aventura de aprendizagem contínua. Aprendi a ser melhor tradutora, a editar o site e o blog, a organizar os eventos locais, a gerir os projetos europeus, a trabalhar no âmbito internacional, a falar línguas, etc.

Agradeço ao Álvaro que foi o melhor colega de projeto possível!

Com quem passei muitos momentos inesquecíveis tanto no trabalho como no nosso tempo livre; quem me apoiava sempre quando foi necessário, quem me fez sentir em casa. Agradeço a todos os meus colegas da Spin – Emilio, Enric, Gonzalo, Graziano, Kasia, Maja.

Agradeço à Klaudia com a qual partilhei a casa e incontáveis momentos dos quais vou lembrar-me sempre.

Desde o início fui acompanhada. Nunca me senti sozinha. Andei a conhecer a cidade, os seus cantos pouco conhecidos, os costumes e tradições portuguesas rodeada por um grupo de pessoas excelentes. Por isso agradeço a todos os voluntários, ex-voluntários e os seus amigos que me acolheram sem nenhumas hesitações. Obrigada, Giacomo, Johan, Laura, Marcos, Marta, Miriam, Richie, Tatiana, Tiziano, Valeria. Agradeço a todas as pessoas que trabalharam ao meu lado na Associação Ginga Brasil (Ricardo, Cláudia, Wojtek, Ricardo) e Creche Crescer à Cores (Noemi). Foi também um prazer conhecer novos voluntários em Carnide (Anteo, Erica, Lidia, Natalia, Serena, Tommaso) e partilhar com eles os seus primeiros momentos em Lisboa.

Muito obrigada a Romina, Sole, Gonzalo, Hellen, Nico, German e a toda a minha família argentina em Lisboa. Muito obrigada a todas as mulheres maravilhosas do grupo Expat ladies in Lisbon.

As minhas lembranças de Lisboa são todas estas pessoas que encontrei. Os momentos que passei com elas a falar, a fazer silêncio, a rir, a chorar, a dançar, a trabalhar, a conhecer novos sítios, a passear, etc. São as pessoas das quais nunca vou esquecer e às quais digo: OBRIGADA! E mesmo que agora tenha saudades, estou feliz por ter podido conhecer todas estas pessoas. Agora começa a minha viagem pós-SVE e sei que sou mais rica em experiências que me vão ajudar nas aventuras seguintes. Um bocado do meu coração ficou em Lisboa e com certeza algum dia voltarei.

Testemunho da Maria sobre o seu SVE na Polónia

Lugares que vivi, pessoas que conheci. Semanas após ter regressado da jornada incrível que foi o meu projeto SVE olho para trás e são estas as palavras que escolho para tentar explicar, nem que seja apenas numa fração, o que estes oito meses significaram para mim.

Em Fevereiro de 2014 atravessei a Europa para ir de encontro ao meu país de acolhimento, a Polónia. Sem qualquer opinião previamente formada e apenas com a bagagem histórica em mãos rapidamente fui conquistada pelas "ryneks" coloridas e de telhados irregulares, pelas mil uma pontes da minha cidade, pelos "pierogi" saborosos e sobretudo por um povo discreto e calmo, diferente de nós mediterrâneos, mas de braços abertos e coração quente em igual medida.

Em contínuo deslumbramento e de sentidos espicaçados fui também recebida pela minha organização TRATWA e pelos outros voluntários SVE que mal eu sabia na altura iriam-se tornar na minha família polaca. O meu projeto “My place NGO” tinha como objetivo promover o autoconhecimento e o desenvolvimento de competências em jovens em risco de exclusão social com recurso a ferramentas não formais. A aproximação aos jovens foi desafiante quer pela barreira linguística quer pelo facto de sermos estrangeiros mas com o tempo, dedicação e presença consegui estabelecer uma relação de confiança com eles. E de silêncio e olhares desconfiados passámos a sorrisos e abraços e tentativas de comunicação. E este sim é dos frutos mais recompensantes do meu voluntariado.

Poderia-me alongar e falar-vos das pessoas incríveis que se cruzaram nas minhas inúmeras viagens, do meu enriquecimento cultural como no training em que haviam voluntários de Portugal até à Rússia, da tolerância e sensibilidade de partilhar casa com duas culturas diferentes ou dos pequenos momentos em que me sentia afortunada como quando visitei pela primeira vez a República Checa a fazer hiking nas montanhas a convite do presidente da minha ONG. São tantas as memórias maravilhosas que refletem a multidimensionalidade do meu projeto SVE. O sair da zona de conforto e abrir as asas para o desconhecido para apenas nos redescobrirmos e darmos lugar a uma força que nos diz que tudo é possível. E assim foi.

Maria João Arrifano

Projeto SVE “My place NGO”
Fevereiro-Outubro 2014
Wrocław

Carta de Gratidão - testemunho da Fátima - voluntária SVE na Polónia

Olá meus bens preciosos,

Primeiramente, peço imensas desculpas pela demora na resposta às vossas cartas, a transmissão do vosso afecto em palavras. Na primeira noite, depois de imensas horas de viagem, li as vossas cartas. Foram o aconchego na minha primeira noite na Polónia, as vossas palavras tornaram o meu céu estrelado, um dos mais bonitos da minha vida. Para mim, vocês são estrelas. As lágrimas de felicidade e de saudade inundaram o meu rosto pela emergência de se transformarem em gestos, em milhões de abraços apertados à cada um. Dormi abraçada as cartas e estávamos todos tão próximos.Senti cada palavra, imaginei cada sorriso e guardei no âmago da minha alma. Nunca vós deixarei partir, vivem dentro de mim, nos lugares cativos que todos merecem.

O meu coração está preenchido pelo vosso afecto, ri e chorei ao vosso lado, espero que tenham sentido. Acredito, que as emoções verdadeiras, podem ser transmitidas apenas pelo coração e esse bate tão forte por vocês, pelo amor incondicional que tenho por cada um, minhas pessoas lindas, de coração cheio. 

A minha gratidão é infinita, pela dádiva de permanecerem na minha vida, de me acompanharem nesta longa jornada. Sabem o quanto choro de felicidade, por olhar para as vossas cartas e perspectivar o afecto que me dedicam?

Não me considero merecedora dos elogios descritos nas vossas cartas. Não são necessários elogios ou troféus. Vocês são as minhas pequenas grandes vitórias, representam os meus dias luminosos, renovam a minha esperança, permitem-me continuar a acreditar no nosso mundo.

Sou uma pessoa imensamente sortuda, pelo privilégio de conhecer pessoas de alma e coração cheio. Sinto um imenso amor, por vocês.

Este primeiro mês será mais complicado, mas quero responder a cada pessoa. Por favor, leiam este texto aos meus avós de coração. Transmitam-lhe a minha gratidão e o relembrem-nos o quanto gosto deles, de forma incondicional.

Prometem que vão tentar realizar os vossos sonhos? E, que vão tentar ser felizes, um bocadinho, todos os dias?

Merecem o melhor do mundo!

Não tenham medo de serem pessoas de coração cheio! Um obrigada infinito, que perdurará na incondicionalidade do nosso afecto. 

Com muito amor e milhões de abraços,

Fa, a vossa sonhadora

P.S.- Preciso dos vossos emails. Será mais fácil , responder-vos desta forma. Pelas vossas cartas, compreendi que desejam mesmo que não regresse a casa e arranje um namorado polaco :) Gosto muito de ser solteira por opção e quero voltar para casa :)

Lê este e outros textos da Fátima no seu blog www.belivetheworld.blogspot.pt.