Pictures.
vrijdag 14 november 2008
maandag 3 november 2008
Acropolis
Acropolis is a flat-topped rock which rises 150 m (490 ft) above sea level in the city of Athens.
A lot of fun to visit in 30 °C!
zondag 12 oktober 2008
On arrival training - october 2007
From monday till saturday I had to attend an on arrival seminar located in Metaxourgio (centre of Athens).4 star hotel in Greece was not really what I had in mind, because some of us had to sleep in a militairy bed. I slept well most of the time because I was exhausted but my back and neck are telling me something different right now.
60 EVS volunteers attended this seminar. The group was split up in group E and group K (why K and E; I don't know).
I got to know a lot of really nice people this week. There were a lot of games, energizers... in the seminar to improve teamwork, to get to know eachother and to illustrate some usefull tools in future situations. I learned greek dances (okay I remember some moves) and one very nice dance 'TUNAK'.
One day we had to make a little movie, about 5 minutes, considering following demands:
- Participation of everybody in the group/team.
- Make some locals participate in the movie.
- Use at least two means of transportation.
- Speak greek. (or try to)
- Implement greek culture...
My group came up with the idea of the volunteers being superheroes linked to 'saving the environment'. In the end it is was a nice activity. I took the role as camera-woman.
At first the 5 superheroes are filmed in a typical greek situation, then the phone rings and they become 'a superheroe' on their way to Exarchia (where a dirty dirty square is located, but also a home for homeless people). We bought gloves and garbagebags... I had a little trouble filming... because the square is also a location with drugdealers who were a little angry because the tought I was going to give my movie to the police. We asked some people if the wanted to help and they did, (I was amazed by that, because I hadn't expected that at all). And because the speak greek they could explain the aim of our intentions and that it had nothing to do with the police. A lot of garbage was taken away =). We ended the day drinking something in a local bar (because we were still looking for some local people willing to participate in our movie). We wanted to film the greek habbit of drinking coffee very slowly *siga siga* (it's obvious i'm never going to have the same habits, i'm a little addicted to coffee).
I could order for all of the 'filmcast' in greek, a man in the bar really tought I was greek. I'm happy for that and take it as a compliment ;-) They took also part in our movie and gave us some 'retsina' a typical greek wine. It reminds me of normal wine with a lemon taste. I prefer the normal wine. (I'm deffinatly in the wrong country for beer or wine I really like - I hope I'm wrong).
We visited the archeological museum, had a great meal in a 'taverna' and after that a great party located in an Erasmus/ EVS bar in Exarchia. (yes our movie location in the centre of Athens).
... the end of the training > followed by another (birthday) party in a flat from other volunteers who live in the centre. I'm a little tired now =) *Kalinichta*
donderdag 2 oktober 2008
Week schedule. (temporary)
What am I doing here?
The mornings are free, because the children are in school. Maybe later this time will be spent to prepare activities.
On tuesday and thursday I have 2 hours of greek lesson. (It's going very well)
As a volunteer I eat with the children, lunch at 13:30 and dinner at 19:30. So at 13:30 the working day starts...
After lunch the children have to make their homework, this is a difficult activity for me to help with, becaus I cannot understand what the actual asseignment is. Maths on the other hand, I can help but the explaining -again- can be difficult.
It is also quite difficult to motivate them, a lot of them really hate homework and complain a lot about the amount they have to write. Once I tried making it a competition and they seemed to like it.
At 16:00, time for a snack and around this time there are a lot of fixed activities. For example: music, theater, gymnastics, breakdance... (and a cleaning competition in the bedrooms).
For now I'm participating more in the fixed activities than making other activities. There are some problems with the main organisation of activities, classes... so untill then it is not so easy to implement new activities, I'll have to be patient for a while and the programme will eventually include other activities, made by the EVS -volunteers.
Other occupations: The library, a.k.a. 'book chaos'. The library inside the institution would be an excellent place for activities to take place. But until now it doesn't look very attractive. The walls have some old paintings or framed puzzles, and the books: 1 a lot of the books aren't very child -proof (for example a book about heroïne with a lot of pictures about how to do it and the consequenses). Okay children should be informed but we're not trying to traumatise them.
Also a lot of ancient encyclopedia. Second the books are thrown in the cupboards, there is absolutely no system of categorisation.
So we are trying to get rid of the old books and the books that are not on child level and make some theme divisions like: story's, fairy tales, animals, technologie, picturebooks and so on.
We'll make some decorations with the children for the walls, so the place looks more attractive for them. Also rearrange the cupboards and we're using for example only the shelves on the height of the children.
Saturday we'll go with some older boys to a breakdance battle outside the institution and next week I'll be participating in the 'On-arrival'-training in a 5 star hotel =). I will be meeting lots of EVS -volunteers then. I'm looking forward to that...
The mornings are free, because the children are in school. Maybe later this time will be spent to prepare activities.
On tuesday and thursday I have 2 hours of greek lesson. (It's going very well)
As a volunteer I eat with the children, lunch at 13:30 and dinner at 19:30. So at 13:30 the working day starts...
After lunch the children have to make their homework, this is a difficult activity for me to help with, becaus I cannot understand what the actual asseignment is. Maths on the other hand, I can help but the explaining -again- can be difficult.
It is also quite difficult to motivate them, a lot of them really hate homework and complain a lot about the amount they have to write. Once I tried making it a competition and they seemed to like it.
At 16:00, time for a snack and around this time there are a lot of fixed activities. For example: music, theater, gymnastics, breakdance... (and a cleaning competition in the bedrooms).
For now I'm participating more in the fixed activities than making other activities. There are some problems with the main organisation of activities, classes... so untill then it is not so easy to implement new activities, I'll have to be patient for a while and the programme will eventually include other activities, made by the EVS -volunteers.
Other occupations: The library, a.k.a. 'book chaos'. The library inside the institution would be an excellent place for activities to take place. But until now it doesn't look very attractive. The walls have some old paintings or framed puzzles, and the books: 1 a lot of the books aren't very child -proof (for example a book about heroïne with a lot of pictures about how to do it and the consequenses). Okay children should be informed but we're not trying to traumatise them.
Also a lot of ancient encyclopedia. Second the books are thrown in the cupboards, there is absolutely no system of categorisation.
So we are trying to get rid of the old books and the books that are not on child level and make some theme divisions like: story's, fairy tales, animals, technologie, picturebooks and so on.
We'll make some decorations with the children for the walls, so the place looks more attractive for them. Also rearrange the cupboards and we're using for example only the shelves on the height of the children.
Saturday we'll go with some older boys to a breakdance battle outside the institution and next week I'll be participating in the 'On-arrival'-training in a 5 star hotel =). I will be meeting lots of EVS -volunteers then. I'm looking forward to that...
zondag 28 september 2008
η Κυριακή (Sunday)
Friday: 1st activity in the appartment: Making cake (petit beurre, condensed milk, cacao, butter and smarties) Mix together and create a big mess =) something children really love:Going out in Kiffisia... An area with lots of fancy (and expensive) shops and some posh bars. We ended up drinking something, on a bench in front of a church and going back home.
Saturday: Went to the centre of Athens, to buy fabric for making a pair of pants + needles... (because watching movies every night can get boring at one point). Met a french friend who also participated in the 'Intensive Programme' location: Rennes. And now also lives in the north of athens.
After lunch we've had a look in an 'ecological design exhibition' and went to Voula, where a beachvolley tournament took place. Team Zanneio did not win but played wel =). A party afterwards and a 2 or 3 hour trip back to Ekali on sunday. Its travelling from very south of athens to the northern part.
Next week will be a week filled with activities. Breakdance for the big kids on monday (where I'll be participating). Theater, music, gymnastics...
We started a project (The picture wall). We'll try to take pictures of everybody, staff, children, dogs with the names written on a blackboard they hold in their hands. The goal is to put all the pictures together on the wall to learn all the names. We still haven't finished this so this is next weeks activity as well.
On monday I'll try to do a drawing-workshop with the little kids.
Oh... and my phone number: 0030 698 1997926.
woensdag 17 september 2008
First week(s) arrival.
Believe it or not, my plane landed EARLY in Greece...
I'm living in Ekali, one of the richest areas in Athens, located in the northern part. Not exactly near the city centre, but easy to reach using public transportation.
The first week I had the time to get to know the neighbourhood, the organisation, the staff and now the children.
All the people i've met so far are nice and very friendly; the director of Zanneio, the EVS-coordinator (Patty), my mentor (Poppy), my fellow volunteer (Aurelien) in fact everyone in the orgisation.
It can be quite difficult somethimes to communicate without having a language in common.
For that I have greek lessons. I've learned the greek alphabet and a few words but at this point I cannot make whole sentences. I'm very motivated to learn of course because I like to talk and the children in the organisation often forget I cannot understand a lot of what they are saying. Somethimes the children teach me the name of objects and vegetables when it is time to eat (thank goodness they can be very patient).
It is the first year the Zanneio foundation started an EVS-project. In this moment there are two volunteers (including myself). Saturday there will be 3 volunteers and in january the others... (5 in total) Some people working in the Zanneio foundation have allready good experiences with the EVS-program and are familiar with it.
The volunteers will live in a flat especially put together for the EVS-project(s), it is located on the property of the organisation. Allmost everything is new; 8 hours of IKEA -shopping results in a very nice livingroom and working area with the most colourfull curtains ever seen in my life!
The flat will have 3 bedrooms, bathroom, storage, kitchen, livingroom + workplace (with internet connection). I have to admit, all this is more than i've expected. Off course on the 3rd of octobre we'll have a party to start the project...
In case you want to send me something; my adress is:
Zanneio Foundation (TO: JANA)
Thiseos 131, 145 65 Ekali, Greece
I also have a greek phonenumber but I can't remember at this point, give it to you later...
At this point I haven't seen much of athens or greece. I've been to Voula, to the beach linked to an other project in athens (pikpa) where there are a lot of nice volunteers as well and a great mojito party afterwards. I've been to Ekali (ah yes I live here) ,went walking up a mountain, went to a local market. I wen't to Monasteraki to see the area, shops and acropolis, went to Omonia and went to Victoria/Kipseli Where Sofie (fellow belgian EVS-volunteer) lives...
In short:
+ the project,
+ people involved in the project,
+ party's,
+ new experiences...
- musquito's!!! (only for writing this, I've got bitten)
- traffic (Belgians drive cars slowly very slow)
- QWERTY keyboards (aargh!).
I'm living in Ekali, one of the richest areas in Athens, located in the northern part. Not exactly near the city centre, but easy to reach using public transportation.
The first week I had the time to get to know the neighbourhood, the organisation, the staff and now the children.
All the people i've met so far are nice and very friendly; the director of Zanneio, the EVS-coordinator (Patty), my mentor (Poppy), my fellow volunteer (Aurelien) in fact everyone in the orgisation.
It can be quite difficult somethimes to communicate without having a language in common.
For that I have greek lessons. I've learned the greek alphabet and a few words but at this point I cannot make whole sentences. I'm very motivated to learn of course because I like to talk and the children in the organisation often forget I cannot understand a lot of what they are saying. Somethimes the children teach me the name of objects and vegetables when it is time to eat (thank goodness they can be very patient).
It is the first year the Zanneio foundation started an EVS-project. In this moment there are two volunteers (including myself). Saturday there will be 3 volunteers and in january the others... (5 in total) Some people working in the Zanneio foundation have allready good experiences with the EVS-program and are familiar with it.
The volunteers will live in a flat especially put together for the EVS-project(s), it is located on the property of the organisation. Allmost everything is new; 8 hours of IKEA -shopping results in a very nice livingroom and working area with the most colourfull curtains ever seen in my life!
The flat will have 3 bedrooms, bathroom, storage, kitchen, livingroom + workplace (with internet connection). I have to admit, all this is more than i've expected. Off course on the 3rd of octobre we'll have a party to start the project...
In case you want to send me something; my adress is:
Zanneio Foundation (TO: JANA)
Thiseos 131, 145 65 Ekali, Greece
I also have a greek phonenumber but I can't remember at this point, give it to you later...
At this point I haven't seen much of athens or greece. I've been to Voula, to the beach linked to an other project in athens (pikpa) where there are a lot of nice volunteers as well and a great mojito party afterwards. I've been to Ekali (ah yes I live here) ,went walking up a mountain, went to a local market. I wen't to Monasteraki to see the area, shops and acropolis, went to Omonia and went to Victoria/Kipseli Where Sofie (fellow belgian EVS-volunteer) lives...
In short:
+ the project,
+ people involved in the project,
+ party's,
+ new experiences...
- musquito's!!! (only for writing this, I've got bitten)
- traffic (Belgians drive cars slowly very slow)
- QWERTY keyboards (aargh!).
maandag 1 september 2008
Busy.
3rd of september... I'll be leaving belgium for a while.
For all of you wondering what I'm going to do over there in the north of athens, an extract from my activity agreement:
"The volunteers wιll be involved in a wide range of activities, according to their interests and talents (sports, music, drama, creative media projects, art, etc.) spending their time working directly with the residents, sometimes under supervision of qualified members of staff and sometimes working on individual projects. This is a great informal learning opportunity for the volunteer to develop their interpersonal skills and also their knowledge of youth work issues. Working at Zanneio would provide a volunteer with an insight into how the voluntary sector works with disadvantaged young people. "
I will be writing more soon.
For all of you wondering what I'm going to do over there in the north of athens, an extract from my activity agreement:
"The volunteers wιll be involved in a wide range of activities, according to their interests and talents (sports, music, drama, creative media projects, art, etc.) spending their time working directly with the residents, sometimes under supervision of qualified members of staff and sometimes working on individual projects. This is a great informal learning opportunity for the volunteer to develop their interpersonal skills and also their knowledge of youth work issues. Working at Zanneio would provide a volunteer with an insight into how the voluntary sector works with disadvantaged young people. "
I will be writing more soon.
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