mirthful beginning

 

It has passed some time now that I live with an idea about the city of Lisboa. Or better

yet, the idea of me living in this city.  We have ideas about every possible thing that exists in this world and is part of our knowledge, no matter if we actually perceived directly it or not, but we like to dwell only in few of them, the ones whose objects we would care to last indeterminately long because of the imaginary esthetics of space and behavior that take place in that ideas. In this way, time loses its power and space is no longer relevant, for we can, at any given moment, move in and move out of these imaginary cities without (tres)passing any borders or waiting to be allowed in. But for me, not all that constitutes this idea was created by mere imagination and intuition. Some parts of the map were inspired by actual person's telling from this city that I have met elsewhere.  The first of the months that passed, where I was becoming the city's dweller was a continuous approval or denial of preexisting idealizations.  As one dear friend will say, Lisbon becomes a city of memories built on the grounds of the ruins of personal desires and dreams.  It still gives birth to me, his stranger, and for this I find it to be a shelter, an escape towards something, not from something. For now I walk through the city's streets as an unknown silent shadow and busy folk speeding to the next bulletin points of an agenda with their eyes focused on the next step of their feet don't notice me until I pronounce a word in their language and only than is the mystery revealed: he is probably just another tourist. Well, it is true when Karl Krauss says that we exist through our language, but I refuse to exist as a tourist in a city I would rather call home. Tourists take pictures of themselves in front of monuments, squares and other attractions that, besides what they stand for and witness, do good for the economy of the country, and they run with their maps and guides to the next highlighted destination so to share it on social and tourist networks and give publicity advices which hotel is... and what restaurant is...what club... etc, etc. I rarely take photos, but the ones I do, are of our houses we live in that give life to the city, and of people I randomly encounter. I wonder the streets and often get lost so to remember how lost I actually am. I travel to places that are always new so to forget my inconstancy. Is it really some kind of tautological emotional nomadism? Is only our place of birth our home? In this temporary incertitude I'm fortunate to live, work and be surrounded by persons that help me see the city with many eyes and create an impression that is exclusively mine , for it is only through persons that we know and remember a place, a city, and we perceive it as a person as well. For now we remain strangers and the thrill is still on. Will I be able to call it home after the walls of intimacy are crushed, or it will remain just another nice place I've been to?  And than again, as my dear friend, I too, often ask myself, how many places of birth should a person have, so to escape death or the memories of the cities in which he lost someone?

Nenad

My first two months as Spin´s volunteer

I'm Salvatore, from Italy and I just finished my first two months of Evs here in the Spin. These days have been very interesting for me.

I already had an experience in Lisbon, in 2006 when I came here for Erasmus for six months in the Universidade Nova. I loved this city, met lot of nice people so I decided to come back for the European Voluntary Service, to have a full view of the reality of this city. It is really very different kind of thing from as an Erasmus experience, but it is much better.

What I would like to do is to try to learn more about Portuguese language and culture, and growing up with my competences. This first days were full of new things, I still have to be accustomed at all of it but it is a good challenge for me. Working in the Spin office, preparing “Documenting Words” youth exchange, and the photographic exposition of the “Voluntas” youth exchange have been the main activities in these first days at Spin.

I also began my music lessons to the primary school of the neighbourhood of Horta Nova where the association is, witch gave me also the possibility to use my competences in music teaching, my job in Italy. This is for now my experience at Spin. I still have lot of time to know better and work more in this association, and I will for sure write soon more about it on this blog.

Salvatore

EVS in Carnide, Lisbon

Associação Spin, acting as the coordinating organization, is currently looking for four volunteers for the October, 16th deadline. The hosting institution, Junta de Freguesia de Carnide, is the local administrative unit of the Carnide area in Lisbon. Here are all the information needed:

   

Project “EUR@CTION IN CARNIDE II”

Hosting Organization: Junta de Freguesia de Carnide – (2011-PT-5)

Coordinating Organization: Associação Spin, Lisbon (2009-PT-28)

Project EVS service dates: March – November 2012

Project lasts: 9 months

Vacancies: 4 volunteers

Application deadline: 16th October 2011!

Application consists of: CV + project-specific motivation letter. In some cases there may be a video-conference interview.

Application sent to: evsjunta.spin@gmail.com

The hosting institution, Junta de Freguesia de Carnide, is the local administrative unit of the Carnide area in Lisbon. The volunteers are going to work mainly in three of the Junta's departments and their tasks will depend on the department they are assigned to:

SENIOR ACADEMY (1 volunteer)

· Cooperate with Senior Academy's volunteers and Coordinators
· Support the cultural and recreational activities promoted in the Academy, such as language and dance classes
· Promote and implement cultural and recreational workshops for the seniors (ex: language teaching workshop, dance, handicrafts..)
· Participate and support the Organization of Senior's Arraial (Popular party);
· Support to organization and implementation of cultural visits;
· Participate in Elder's summer colonies;
In particular the volunteer will be involved in the planning and programming of activities developed in the Senior Academy and participate in them, by providing support to the Coordinators and volunteers and also through the preparation of own workshop initiatives with the Elders. The volunteer will also collaborate in the organization of cultural visits and recreational activities outdoors for the Seniors as well as provide support for the logistics and company to the Seniors.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (2 volunteers)

· Cooperate with the Education Coordinating Team
· Cooperate with the Trainers
· Facilitate and promote activities for children and school community
· Elaborate and implement new projects in the area of education
In particular, the volunteer will give support to families, children and youngsters in activities related to curricular improvement. They will also participate in organization of the children’s popular marches, the “Expressions Fair” event and the summer animations. The volunteer will be present in all of the educational projects developed during their stay.

CULTURE DEPARTMENT (1 volunteer)

· Cooperate with the Culture Coordinating Team
· Participate in organization of cultural events and activities for the local community
· Cooperate with formal and informal groups in the area of culture
· Elaborate and implement of new projects in the area of culture
In specific, the volunteer will help with the regular cultural events (exhibitions, debates, book launches and presentations, theater plays, concerts, etc.) in several spaces of the Junta de Freguesia, namely the Culture Center of Carnide, bandstand and parish historical center, Espaço Bento Martins and Carnide’s Arts Market. They will also support the organization of Carnide’s popular marches and celebrations and implement cultural activities in the several neighborhoods of the Carnide area.
Regardless of the department/project, the volunteers will also have the chance to participate in activities with senior/elder citizens. This voluntary work will be done in cooperation with the Senior Academy of the Junta de Freguesia de Carnide and may include accompanying cultural visits and organizing events.

One typical day of the volunteers may be:

11:00 – 13:00: General work in one of the three departments (Senior Academy, Education or Culture)

13:00 – 14:00: Lunch

14:00 – 17:30: Specific support to the Coordinating team of the chosen area (Youth, Education or Culture), developing and implementing the volunteers' own initiatives

19:00 – 20:30: Portuguese Language class

Concerning the stay of the EVS volunteers, the coordinating organization, Associação Spin, will provide the lodging in a flat as close to the workplace as possible. The volunteer might have to share the room with another volunteer/student/young person. A monthly allowance will be provided by the coordinating organization to cover food expenses and local public transportations, including also the pocket money.

Volunteers are expected to spend 30-35 hours a week working. Their daily timetable includes time for language lessons, lunch, social activities and development of their own project ideas, etc. They are entitled to two days off for every month of their voluntary work. At the end of their EVS, the volunteers will receive a Youthpass certificate.

Who are we looking for?

Volunteers aged 18-30 years, open minded, eager to learn about new cultures and lifestyles, as well as to participate in the proposed project activities with the local community. It is not required to have any particular degree of formal education, but to have positive and proactive attitude, show tolerance, flexibility, motivation and enthusiasm.

A minha experiência SVE... so far

A minha história SVE demonstra como nem sempre é uma experiência fanstástica e que existem altos e baixos nesta aventura; muitas das vezes baixos. Que nem sempre chegamos ao nosso ponto de partida e encontramos um sítio maravilhoso, pessoas extraordinárias ou um trabalho que nos motiva. Pensamos que talvez não temos estômago suficiente para enfrentar o que nos espera e questionamos a nossa opção.

O meu SVE começou em Maio e saí de Portugal quando estava quase Verão e o mesmo esperava ao chegar à Grécia. Não aconteceu. Assim que cheguei a Prespa (aldeia Lemos), não estava ninguém nas ruas, chovia a potes e nenhum dos voluntários chegou para me receceber. Em volta só vi montanhas, casas de pedra e tractores. Nas ruas estreitas só havia um pequeno café (o único divertimento da Aldeia) e uma pequena loja.

Em casa tinha que saltar por cima de colchões e de sacos sujos com roupa até chegar ao quarto, e em toda a casa havia sinais de insecticida para ratos. Todos os dias teria que cortar lenha para tomar banho e para me aquecer, assim durante 1 ano que ali iria estar. Não consegui dormir e só pensava em ir-me embora no dia seguinte.

Durante semanas não tirei as roupas da Mala; olhava para a mala todos os dias e todos os dias pensava em sair de Prespa. Assim se passaram exactamente 3 semanas até que dei a mim mesma um prazo para ficar ou sair; para pensar se realmente valia a pena fazer SVE, ficar na Grécia, ficar em Prespa.

Ao fim de 3 semanas vi poderia perder tudo sem sequer tentar e que desistir nunca é solução. Decidi ficar.

Hoje, perto dos 5 meses de projecto vejo tantas diferenças em mim que me sinto crescer e ficar mais independente todos os dias. Sinto-me mais auto-confiante e consigo fazer coisas que antes nunca pensei fazer: corto lenha todos os dias, coordeno um projecto sozinha, consigo comunicar em grego com os locais, vou à montanha todos os fins-de-semana, nado no lago...

Esta breve história prova que nem sempre tudo corre conforme esperamos. O SVE não é linear. Tem altos e baixos, ensina-nos coisas que nunca pensámos aprender, aprendemos com os erros. Ficamos até mais fortes.

Não ter voltado as costas a Prespa ensinou-me mais do que agora posso compreender, mas vejo que os meus horizontes estão mais largos e sinto-me diferente da pessoa que saiu de Portugal.

Da minha história quero apenas transmitir que existem adversidades no SVE e que desses momentos menos bons também aprendemos e amadurecemos. Ainda que agora seja dificíl compreender.

Andreia

Curso de Formação em Mentores SVE

De 04 a 09 de Setembro participei, através da Spin, num curso de formação internacional dedicado à formação de mentores SVE.  Este curso de formação teve lugar em Torri Superiore (Itália) e contou com a participação 15 de pessoas de 9 nacionalidades diferentes!

Durante uma semana trocaram-se impressões sobre o que é ser um “mentor SVE”, bem como a melhor forma de desempenhar este papel especial, e essencial, para o sucesso do Serviço Voluntário Europeu. Novas ideias surgiram e novas metodologias foram aprendidas, após uma semana de intenso trabalho e muita produtividade!

Este curso foi muito útil para mim na medida em que me forneceu uma nova perspectiva sobre o papel e as funções do Mentor SVE. Foi também muito importante a partilha de experiências entre todos os mentores SVE e a troca de boas práticas nas mais diversas situações. Todos os participantes tiveram oportunidade de expor as suas questões e de encontrar soluções conjuntas aos problemas que iam surgindo.

Tenho a certeza que, após este curso de formação, todos nós seremos melhores mentores para os nossos SVE!

Raquel Carvalho

Projecto SVE já aprovado em La Zubia, Espanha

Temos uma vaga aberta num projecto SVE já aprovado em La Zubia, em Espanha (é uma vila a 5km de Granada)!

A estadia é de 9 meses; o projecto deve começar já em Maio. A organização de acolhimento é a Fundação Docete Omnes. As informações detalhadas acerca das actividades propostas ao voluntário encontram-se na página do projecto na base de dados do SVE.

A entrada do edifício principal da Fundação Docete Omnes.

Se estiverem interessados ou tiverem quaisquer perguntas, devem contactar-nos para sve.spin@gmail.com o mais cedo possível!

Erasmus Placement: a Ewa na Associação Spin

My name is Ewa and I am doing the last two weeks of my Erasmus Placement in Associação Spin.  I am very glad that I had such a great opportunity to spend a magnificent time with fantastic people!  My internship was invaluable experience and allowed me to write my own project which I hope will be approved! I really enjoyed coming to Spin’s office and to see my gorgeous tutor and other volunteers. The time here was incredibly fruitful and I learnt a lot! I will come back to Poland with new ideas and excellent experience which I would like to apply in my future endeavors in Poland.

In addition to working in Spin, I had an extraordinary rich social and cultural life. Lisbon is a wonderful place which has much to offer.  Twenty four hours were often not enough considering the variety of ways to spend my free time! People I met here were very open and we had an amazing time together.

My adventure started three months ago, it seemed to me that it is a lot of time. Now, I really regret that the time passed so quickly. Thank you Spin, thank you my friends, thank you Portugal!

Ewa