Agosto no Crescer a Cores

No ùltimo mês antecedente o encerramento de verão da creche tivemos alguns acontecimentos interesantes. Participamos numa reunião com os pais (ha uma reunião pelo menos cada 3 meses) e uma com as psicòlogas do centro de recursos psicopedagògicos da associação.

Pude esclarecer algumas dùvidas que surgiram com a minha tutora coordenante e com a organização coordenante voltamos a propor o evento de acolhida dos novos voluntarios que chegaram em junho: demos-lhes a bemvinda brindando com ginjinha.

Na semana entre julho e agosto eu e a minha colega voluntaria participamos nas colonias de ferias das crianças utentes do Centro de Recursos PsicoPedagogicos (com por volta de 10 anos de idade) nas que eu aprendi muito sobre essa idade.

De manha fomos para a piscina ao ar livre e nas tardes fizemos diferentes atividades como o arvorismo no parque da freguesia. Eles assistiram uma peça de teatro, uma sessão de cinema, puderam lanchar os bolos duma das mais antigas padarias de Lisboa, parceira da nossa associação. Organizamos uma caça ao tesouro pelos pontos mais representativos do bairro, uma aula de varias danças, e eles tiveram uns espaços de tempo para jogos de tabuleiro.

Jà que eles tem uns pequenos problemas de atenção e agresividade, tambèm reservamos alguns minutos ao dia para o relaxamento e foco na respiração.

O dia 5 de agosto participamos, com as minha colegas, à festa do migrante do bairro ao lado do nosso, no que a nossa associação desenvolve atividades de integração social para a melhora da qualidade da vida e da convivência entre as diferentes etnias.

A maioria dos habitantes vem de Cabo Verde e do Brasil. Escutamos mùsica tradicional, a Morna, similar ao fado português, e comimos comida tìpica, a cachupa, de Cabo Verde, com feijões, gordura de porco e molho.

O evento contou com a presença do presidente da Junta de Freguesia de Carnide (da que fazem parte o Bairro Padre Cruz e o Bairro Horta Nova) e um Vereador/Eurodeputado da Camara Municipal de Lisboa e foi organizado pelo Grupo de Acção Comunitaria, associação parceira da nossa.

A ùltima semana celebramos o aniversàrio da minha colega voluntaria e levamos comida tipica dos nossos paìses para almoçar com as outras colegas da creche. Comimos bolos, dançamos e cantamos.

Atè setembro!

O testemunho da Camilla

My EVS experience is almost over and so is my time in Lisbon spent with the people that gave shape to these 10 months of my life. Besides being grateful, I can say am surprised. Surprised is the adjective that better explains the impact this life experience had on me.

I am surprised about the fact that 10 months in Lisbon have gone by so smoothly and thoughtlessly, I never imagined I would feel completely at ease.

I am surprised about the people I met, after many different experiences abroad you think you’ve seen it all but no, there is always more uniqueness to discover in the world.

I am surprised about the enthusiasm I felt all along, I would have expected myself to lose interest in my daily routine in Spin but it didn’t happen, thanks to the people that surrounded me, thanks to my hosting organization that pushed me beyond limits I wasn’t even aware of.

I am surprised I managed to create and carry out my personal project in Spin by giving Portuguese classes to volunteers and project participants reviving my interest in language teaching and, who knows, maybe opening a new window of possibilities for my future.

I am surprised about the changes I went through as a person. Lisbon and the EVS made me discover so much about myself, and this is essentially what this experience is about. 

EVS gave me many of the opportunities I was looking for even though at the beginning I had no idea these chances to change and be surprised were exactly what I needed.

Junho em creche Crescer a Cores

Chegou o mês mais esperado do ano em Lisboa!

O nosso Clube de literatura quase terminou, infelizmente, porque foi uma boa chance não sò para aprender a lingua màs tambèm para manter o contacto com os outros voluntarios e para quebrar a rotina da creche que pode tornar-se cansativa.

Porèm, o que mais ocupou o tempo e as energìas na creche foi a preparação da tradicional marcha popular com as crianças e os pais. As educadoras prepararam as decorações e os trajes das crianças a mão; o tema deste ano foi “a reciclagem”. Acho muito costrutivo que eles aprendam isso desde logo, divertindo-se.

Alèm disso, estou muito feliz de ter participado ja que acho um ato de integração poder fazer parte de uma tradição tão enraizada na cultura portuguesa. Realizamos uma coreografia e cantamos uma canção escrita justamente para o evento, sobre a creche e a reciclagem.

A marcha realizou-se em frente ao publico no centro da freguesia de Carnide, da qual o Bairro Padre Cruz faz parte. Outras escolas e associações parteciparam, não sò crianças, màs tambèm idosos que marcham ha muitos anos.

Outra tradição muito importante que aconteceu na creche foi o arraial: comemos bifanas e escutamos musica tradicional lisboeta junto as familias.

As crianças do ultimo ano receberam os “diplomas” como “finalistas” em uma pequena cerimonia com trajes tipicos (chapeus e batas pretas). Tambèm celebramos o aniversario do presidente da junta de freguesia que veio visitar-nos, com bolo e brindes.

Mas estas semanas não foram sò de festas: tambèm tivemos a primeira reunião de avaliação com a coordenadora e a tutora. A avaliação do trabalho como volutarias foi avaliada positivamente pela tutora e recebemos a mediação e o apoio da nossa coordenadora.

O testemunho da Cristina

E de repente chegou Julho. Este é o ultimo mês do meu voluntariado. Estou a fazer mêmoria e lembrando parece me incrível que tenhan passado  nove meses desde que cheguei a Lisboa em Novembro do ano passado. 

Tantas coisas aconteceram, tantos momentos vividos, tanta novas pessoas e tantas experiências de aprendizagem positivo que nao posso valorizá lo de outra maneira que como um período muito satisfatório da minha vida em que estou a aprender muito de outras pessoas e elas estão a aprender de mim.

Cheguei a Lisboa un bocado perdida, sem conhecer a língua, e agora parece me mentira que estou a escrever isto sem quase usar um diccionario, estou orgulhosa de mim por ter relações con outras pessoas de fala portuguêsa tanto no meu trabalho como fora dele.

De Lisboa como cidade posso dizer muitas coisas boas, tem umas paisagems fantásticas para passear e admirar as panorâmicas, á gastronomia é muito variada e geralmente deliciosa, é uma cidade multicultural e por isso há sempre ofertas para todos os públicos. Também tem muito ambente noturno e diurno, especialmente agora no verão, grandes festas como Santo Antônio que duram um mês inteiro, e días muito importantes como o 25 de Abril. É claro que também há coisas menos boas mas agora que estou a fazer balanço, não vale a pena mencioná las.

Em segundo lugar, de o meu trabalho, á associação onde vivo os días todos durante sete horas, também fico com as coisas boas, as atividades que corrieron bem, os risos com os colegas e os utentes, o “bom dia”, “até amanhã” , “bom fin de semana” e “ bom feriado” tão precisos, o apredizgem de muitas competências e responsabilidades e também com os momentos maus o menos bons, como as agonias diante de uma atividade que nao sai bem, a morte de utentes, os momentos de decisão e tantas outras coisas que fazem aprender e avançar na vida.

Por enquanto eu fico nesta cidade maravilhosa ¿até quando? Só o tempo dirá, eu só sei que quero continuar a sumar grandes momentos e aprender coisas novas todos os días.

O testemunho do Michał

 I was waiting with this one testemunho for a long time. I was looking for some special topic to write about... something interesting and usefull. Topic which will be more than empty informations, but some knowledge with possibilty to aply it. Well... I found it!!! Yeah! And I'm so proud now! Its so cool! I'm even angry that no one discover it for us (i mean Spin volounteers) before. Really! So.., generally I love Lisbon very very much. 

Its place with positive spirit, and if yout intentions are positive, energy of this place will support you to realize your wishes! But i found also few disadvantages of this city. Its overcrowdet city. You going to experience lot of pressure,  specially on the streets (traffic jams, ...), metro... Also you will miss dome physical movement (if you will not mannage some activity((For sure your mentor will help you with it)). And in the and money and nature. I need to tell it, because I found solution, how to deal with all of this problems by one easy hack! 

So: Lisbon became ideal place for my EVS project cause of my idea! I explore it just by chance, only 2 mounths before end of my project. Its an bicycle! I know, it sounds weird and dangerous. But actually, its not! Ita amazing instrument to explore Lisbon from completly diferent, and very alternative perspectiv! Its the fastest kind of transportation here! Imagine, my way from Anjos to Bairro padre Cruz taking 45min or one hour by metro and buses (depends on time you will wait for connections). On bicycle? 40 or 45 minutes! And surprisly this way is moreless flat! Ok, i have some experience with cycling. If you dont, better lets practice a bit before. Just to be shure youre able to show direction with your hand, and look behined you during riding. You will need it during passing thru the crowdy roads. And dont be afraid! Lisbon car drivers are afraid too, so theyre going so slowly and carefully. Plus they are waiting on traffic pughts all the time. In my philosophy, cyclers deserving some extra advantages (cause of ecological and safety reasons/ try to comber bicycle and car, you will understand me),,, so for me; you can using roads , but sidewalks as well! Yes, you should have access for more green lights than cars! And also you can passing under the red light signs, as same as walkers in Lisbon usually doing. But of course, dont lose your head because of this testemunho! Youll be always responsible for yourself! You will explore this possibilietes by your own. 

                                                       ( be cereful for the ants )

But lets continue. What If the police will see you doing somethink illegal? Its not a problem! They cannot catch you, because they dont have bicycles! Youre so privileged! Yes! You should feel like a pirate of the roads here! Its very important!  I dont want to describe you the way to Spin hostel. Even google will not show it to you. I explore it by my own, and it was exciting experience. I found so many interesting places! But as im kind, i will give you few advantages. 1st; never ever follow the bicycle ways! There like a traps! Of course On the way to Spin youll cross thru few, But its an only short parts of this cycloroads wich you can use. so dont forget to leave tham once, othervise youll spinning in circles, or youll desapear. 2nd advice its verry important. If youll loose yourself, you should ask someone for the way (by the way its nice way of practicing your porthugese). But when youre asking, please use only the simple terms! Simple such for example an benfica stadion. Everyone know where is it. Dont ask where is Bairro Padre Cruz! 

Porthugese people are so polite, thet they would answer to you even if they dont have an clue where is the place youre looking for! So it can happen that youll  jumping thru the Lisbon like a flubber for many hours. It sounds like an joke, but its not, and its very anoying! And money! Public transport card costs 37Euros per mounth. Of course, subways and buses are important part of culture, end not to experience tham its like not being here. But you will, for sure, for example couse of weather. But there is not bat wether for bike ride! When its too hot, wind of movement will cool you, and when its too cold, movement of your body will make you feel hot!... I just want to say, that if youre desparate, and youll decide to use bicycle for whole your EVS, youll save a lot of money. 370€ per 10 mounths! You can buy amazing bicycle for this money! If youll be patient,/ or lucky you can find bicycle even for 20€, and it will be better than one I had. I called it suicide bike, becouse it was falling apart during the way. Even my handels get loose during and I mostly died. But now I dont have this bike anymore. and im so sad! I experience so nice times on it. For example way near the cost to the Cascais is very nice.

SEED Journal

The first phase of the SEED - Sustainable Empowerment through Experiencing Diversity has come to an end. Read below a few words directly from the participants in the event!

June, 22nd:

This morning, we got up early because it was a bit noisy. We were tired because of the long way to Lisbon. We have breakfast together with the Portuguese and have taken together some things in the Hostel. We can`t get out alone, only in break we went out in the streets of Lisbon.

We liked the nature, the modest area. Everything was already the weather and many different things. Then we came back and ate for lunch (it consisted of: turbo soup, noodle with sauce, for dessert there was melon) then we did something together again; Rescheduled and some things explained then we are back out and were in a small supermarket. We liked it today. Now the others prepare the dinner while we write the diary. Today was cool and tomorrow will be even better and more beautiful. We wish us nice weather and good mood. :)

June, 23rd:

Today we woke up, took a shower and after that we dressed up. We had breakfast and then we made 5 groups which had to search for paper notes on which were written tasks. As we made all the tasks, the teachers collected the notes and read them out loud to everybody. Later we had a small exercise where there was one person in the middle and all the others had to split up and run away from him. After he catches somebody he needs to take his hand and then walk together with him to catch the remaining people. Then it was time for Lunch. We ate salada russa, it´s a Russian salad.

After lunch we made groups again and every group received an apple and an egg. The apple needed to be traded to something else that’s worth more and the egg should be returned cooked. The catch was that everything should be done outside the hostel, we asked strangers to trade with us and cook the egg for us. At 16:30 we met at the local school and went together to the Arraial Festival close by. Some people played soccer and some listened to the music. Then we returned to the hostel and everyone got asked how they feel and tell something about how the trip is going so far. Then it was dinner time, we ate chili con carne and baba ganoush. In the evening we watched the soccer match between Germany and Sweden.

June, 24th:

Dear Diary,

today we went to the Museu da Eletrecidade. We learned a lot about technology. It was interesting. 

After that we went to a park and had a picknick where we ate pastel de belém. It was very delicious. We had some free time and looked around the beautiful city and played games.

June, 25th:

Dear Diary,

today we had a workshop where we played games and spoke about cyberbullying. We learned that social media is a big place where bullying is happening. 

When lunch was finished we went to association “Bola p´ra frente”. There we upcycled trash to keychains and watched videos about 5 min. hacks. Then we went home.

Later, we will have German intercultural night.

My first two weeks as EVS volunteer in Lisbon

You know this feeling that you are lost and no doors open in front of you. Well, I was in this situation just after my final exams in France, I didn’t know what I wanted to do: take a gap year ok, but what to do during this free time? I applied for an EVS volunteering because I wanted to go abroad, to be part of a concrete project and to learn more about others and myself. I’m just 20 years old so I need this kind of experience which allows you to evolve. I remember I was with friends when I received a mail from Spin telling me I was choose for this EVS volunteering, and I screamed because I was so happy. I know I’m very lucky to have been chosen.

   
I arrived in Lisbon two weeks later. Two of my flatmates came to pick me up at the airport the 1st of June. I had just put down my suitcases as we went out to the streets to party. In fact, I arrived at the right time because it’s Santos Populares now, the biggest celebration in Lisbon. During all the month of June, every night it’s party in all Lisbon. This situation permitted me to discover a Lisbon very festive, colourful, with a smell of sardines in all the streets. Yes, sardines, but do not stop at the visual, it’s very good with bread. This festive environment allowed me also to meet other volunteers of my EVS project. I met wonderful people from so many different countries. We all speak in English but it’s very interesting to discover the culture of everyone, to share our own life experiences.
     

My roommate was also a big support for me during the two last weeks to discover the city and surroundings. Lisbon is a city where you can try a lot of things whether in terms of sports, museums, concerts, beautiful beaches. I have already tried kick-boxing, surf, yoga, zouk dance. Yes, I love to try a lot of things 😊 And for me, discovering a culture is first and foremost about cooking. I’m French but I agree to say that Lisbon is excellent for its pastries. My goal is to try almost every specialities, it makes really a lot but I have 9 months !!

I began to work in Vicentix one week after my arrival. It’s a recreation center after school. I was impressed because they do so various activities with kids. Not only sports, but also cooking, coding, activities with the elderly. I felt immediately at ease in this environment, surrounded by young children full of energy and joy. I need to improve my portuguese to be able to talk with children, so this experience permits me to improve two languages in the same time!

   
I feel the 9 next months will be very intense, whether in Vicentix or in my everyday life. When I arrived, the weather was a bit too much windy and cold but now the sun is pointing the tip of his nose. I continue to discover this city so alive, where people are of an incredible sweetness (like pastries 😉).  I know this is just the beginning of my adventure but after these two crazy weeks, I know I will go out transformed from this experience.