Participants

İsmet Utku Musaoğlu, Turkey

I am working on this association operation as volunteer and I am active member of this foundation as working for all camps. I have worked in Turkey for dialogs of civil nations and european culture.

I have been interested in photography as my hoby and taking photos for a special foundation also I am free working with a photographer.

I am usually trying to have active roles in social and association foundations, also this training going to help me to meet with a new culture and this way I know it is going to help me give new ideas alive while there for our project.

I lovely  in motivation wih meeting Balkan countries and the main Balkan country Serbia is makes me so excited which is the mostly has  main culture.

Judith Müller, Germany

Hey, my name is Judith, I am 24 years old and I am coming from Germany. I will do my degree in communication/journalism and geography.

When I was younger I was leading activities with children and also a youth exchange with France. Since one year I am volunteering for «Viva con Agua» which is a NGO that wants to collect money on concerts, festivals etc. to finance drinking water projects around the world. Also I’m doing publicity work for a local initiative which is collecting left over food in supermarkets to give it to poor people, called «Tafel».

I love to travel and I want to see more of the world, next year I am planing to go to South America for half a year to do some voluntary work in the field of geography/environmental work. But I also want to get to know and see more about Europe, with all its amazing facetes.

I am very interested in photography and I hope to get new inspirations in this week!!! I really also like food and animals (not to eat ;)) and music, of course!!

I am looking forward to see Serbia, a place I have never been before, and to get to know new people!

Maja Čabarkapa

I am a member of the NGO: “Da Zazivi Selo”. I recently took a part in the project: “Sustainable Development”. I took a course in my high school regarding photography. I finished high school education in Italy, Trieste: UWC of the Adriatic. Currently I am a senior student at an American Skidmore College. I like helping people and animals. I believe that key to everything (including becoming a nice and happy person) is education and finding peace within oneself. I play chess, and attended many championships. Also, I adore swimming. I would like to finish my education, and start international career and probably engagement in international NGO that deal with helping those who are the most in need, as well as for preserving/ achieving peace. My mother is my role model, and I am thanking her for everything I am.

Piotr Goldstein

I am a professional student. I have studied continuously since 1999. Currently I am writing a PhD about NGOs in Serbia and Bosnia so be aware and feel observed J. Apart from that I love photography! I started with a Smena many years ago, then went through a Zenit, Praktika, and many other cameras including a nearly 100 years old Voigtlander which I really loved. For the first couple of years of my adventure with photography I took pictures mostly of buildings and animals as I would find it strange to have pictures of people I don’t know at home. Later this changed and I started shooting pictures of random people all the time J. My favorite animal is elk (or moose as they call them in America). Apart from working for Yalla! I am also active in Polish Society of Elk Admirers (actually I am the president there).

Ciarán Wilkinson

I have recently started youth work in Feb of this year having previously taught History in my local secondary school the last number of years. Working with young people has always gave me great satisfaction however I felt I needed a new challenge as I was becoming a little bored.
The particular group I work with are in danger of becoming under the influence of some of the armed groups that remain in our society as a result of the previous, and to a very small extent, the conflict that remains , as a result of our past. My job is to give them an alternative and develop them as individuals, personally, socially and in an educational capacity where possible.
I like almost all sports however I prefer the more physical like rugby and UFC.
On a personal level I don’t take myself to seriously and enjoy the craic (banter/laugh) with people and I am most happy when with my family and friends.

See you all soon, Ciaran

Manila Harizi, Albania

I am a member of Warm Hand NGO and the experiences that I earned so far have inspired me to continue my involvement in voluntary activities. I have participated in the programme “Travel to Europe” (“Europa erfahren”) which was supported by

Robert Bosch Foundation, and coordinated by the Balkan Trust for Democracy, Belgrade in the region

respectively by MJAFT! Movement in Albania.

I have also participated in a seminar in Cologne, Germany, which was about Balkan Affairs of Visa Liberalization, in training in Mavrovo, Macedonia “Dealing with diversity in international youth work”, in Wustrow, Germany “Training & networking seminar for future coordinators of international “no more war” work camps & other peace voluntary projects”.

I am a member of Peace Messengers and No More War international working groups. I have taken part in some work camps in Albania, among them also travelling work camp “Peace promotion in Balkan”.

I am studying communication and languages and has made me realize how much important is communication and that with the lack of it nothing would have functioned.

I like rock and other genres of music and I think that music connects people who have similar styles of living. I don’t like to be slavish to fashion, but I like to wear clothes of the style I like most, hippie and punk. I think the appearance is the reflection of your own soul.

Non formal education is my main interest in NGO network. I believe in peace and in voluntary work, which is quite motivating and meaningful to me than many other social events.

Daniel Jozan, Hungary

Hello everyone I am Dániel. I was born in Debrecen, Hungary where I lived for about six years and in the US where I lived for seventeen years. At the University where I recently graduated from I majored in Political Science along with two minors; Russian and International Relations. I speak four languages and love to learn new ones whenever the opportunities arises.
I am a new volunteer for the Útilapu Hálozat and looking forward to a wonderful time spent with the Hungarian organization. As of now my role is to learn as much possible about what the organization does in Hungary and in other countries and at the same time meet new people and have fun. I was involved with a project in another organization called Volunteer for Peace (VFP). I went to Croatia for two weeks where I worked along side with other volunteers from Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Czeh Rep., France, etc. Understanding diversity and working together was the key role in the camp and of course making new friends.
I plan to be involved in as many projects possible to the point where I am still effective in my work which ever it may be. Working along side other people just like me who like to travel and see and understand new cultures is something I am looking forward to wherever I go.
Hobbies? I have many but my favorite is small engine repair, flying real airplanes, martial arts, drawing, traveling, and there are many more. Usually I listen to trance, techno, rock,
classical, and oldies. Many people influenced me in my life I cannot really say who did the most. After being in the US for so long I have gone custom to their traditions and culture but Magyarország (Hungary) is truly my home.

Ledia Harizi, Albania

I am Ledia, 28 years old. I have studied architecture and now I’m working in a small office of construciton. I love my profession, because it gives me the possibility to create something of my own. It’s excititng when you fullfill desires, wishes and ideas of other people and you realize them how they want. I’m also interested in styling since I’ve been little and I think that it has a lot in common with architecture. The same vocabulary and similar terms, like folding, wrapping, drafting, colors, dressing, esthetic, etc. It’s the desire to cure the image. I think that the appearance tells a lot about the inside. If you really like to live with passion, you should enjoy food and music like I do. And they have a lot in common, they both connect people. My friends say: I eat because I consider it as a biological need, but you enjoy food.

I like Netherlands and Spain because of the culture, the architecture, the people and the free spirit, the way they live their life.

Milosh Rakic, Serbia

Hello there, my name is Milosh and I’m coming from Serbia. Last three years I’ve spend working on board cruise ships,  where I started as a photographer, and then later on switched to an Art Auctioneer. For the last two years I was conducting auctions around the world, auctioning off  different types of artwork. I love art, in any form or way., and I loooove to travel, so I had that luck to have all those combined in my work.

Photography is still my hobby, and my favorite one is definitely street photography, just for the simple reason, that you are able to capture true essence of life. I see photography as  strong medium, that is not exploited enough in terms of practical, beneficial, but non-commercial way. Well, this might be the chance to make a little change in that picture.

I hope I’ll have a chance to meet some amazing people, learn a lot and have fun J

Marcin Kaczor, Poland

I’m an educator and a sociologist. I have been involved in several youth projects, but none of them was using photography as a tool. As I can consider myself as a person who know a bit about taking pictures I’d like to broaden my knowledge and skills in this theme and one day use it for my youth work. I have been taking pictures in different places… from the rich north and west European countries to the poorer eastern and southern Europe. I’d be proud to share some stories, skills and ideas with you. Some taste of them you might find on my website http://marcinkaczor.net/

Satenik Babasyan, Russia

I m coordinator in NGO „Youth  information centre“

The organization is active in following fields:

• Organizing seminars trainings and youth exchanges for young people
• Assisting to youth workers in their professional development
• Developing new youth work initiatives.
• Producing and distribution information materials and manuals on youth work
• Integrating into the practice of Russian youth work methods and principles of non-formal education, open youth work and youth information work.

Before NGO “Youth information centre” I was working in school as a teacher of computer.

I got two high education. I graduate St.Peterburg Mining University economic science.

Talking about hobbies I would name dancing, I was dancing in Armenian group “Nairi” 7 years.

Also I like swimming and travel.

Jelena Marčeta, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Hello, I’m Jelena. I’m very talkative person, I like to meet people who have interests like I have. I’m interested in photography since I was 16, and I would like to learn something more about it. Beside photography, I like to draw, paint and sing.  My favorite music genre is metal, especially death metal ( band Obituary, song „Slowly we rot“). And, as for food, I’m not picky. I like animals too, my favorite animals are dogs.

Main influence in my life was my father, and still is he. And, finally, I’m looking forward to meet new people, and maybe new friends .

Ruzanna Ivanyan, Russia

 

At this moment I work as a program director of youth NGO „Youth information centre“. The organization is active in following fields:

• Organizing seminars trainings and youth exchanges for young people
• Assisting to youth workers in their professional development
• Developing new youth work initiatives.
• Producing and distribution information materials and manuals on youth work
• Integrating into the practice of Russian youth work methods and principles of non-formal education, open youth work and youth information work.

I am Member of Consultative group of Committee on youth affairs of Saint-Petersburg city Administration. And in 2008 I was awarded by the Government of Saint-Petersburg for the personal contribution to the development of youth policy in Saint-Petersburg.

More than 9 years I am involved in international youth work as a trainer of Council of Europe (Directorate of youth and sport) and European Commission in field of project management, citizenship, non-formal education, intercultural learning,  I am a member of SALTO trainer’s pool and trainer’s pool of Council of Europe.  More about experience as an international youth work trainer can be found on http://trainers.salto-youth.net/RuzannaIvanyan/.

Before the NGO “Youth information center” I was working for 4 years for United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), I was a coordinator of UNICEF activities in North-West region of Russia. And today  I still continue my lecturing at Saint-Petersburg State University of service and economy as a  Senior lecturer which I started 13 years ago.

I got two high educations. The first  Diploma is in social work. The second – is in journalism. I graduated Saint-Petersburg State Institute of Service and Economy, Faculty of social technologies and Saint-Petersburg State University Faculty of Journalism. Both diplomas are of honors. In 2007 I passed my PHd on political science. I also took part in many  non-formal educational activities.

Annamaria Kovacs, Hungary

I am a curious girl from the Western part of Hungary who wants to see and try the amazing things that are around us, but the main thing I like is to get to a know a new culture by its people. That is why I joined Útilapu and one of its projects in SCI to get a new way of seeing. I was in a camp in Galicia, that was my first project, but later I would like to become active in my home organisation, too, especially dealing with the Fair Trade Products.

Now my hobby is to discover new places with my friends with Couch Surfing, as this is an amazing opportunity to get involved in locals life. My favorite music is rock and ethno, that is why summer is my favorite part of the year with its music festivals 🙂 the most influencing persons in my life are writers, books and life-stories, e.g. I wanted to learn Spanish after reading Hemingway…

So basically, I can easily get interested in new things, now this is photography. But I would like to do something useful with my passions; I hope I can do it with this as well!

 

Karina Lange, Germany

I have just finished my studies in social science. My personal interests beside learning about and taking part in social and political processes lay in culture and art, namely photography and juggling.

During my studies I have focused manly on the topics ethnicity, social movements and social disparity in a theoretical way at university as well as in a practical one through work experiences in Germany, Argentina and Ecuador. Beside my studies I have always been active in social and cultural groups as for example the student union or a group of photographers.

My favorite hobby is traveling. I have done different trips in Europe and overseas (Australia, Asia and Latin America). I like the basic traveling an getting in touch with people to learn from their cultures and perspective on life and satisfaction. Through this encounters grew my idea of working with this different cultures, to bring them together, take them to a different cultural content and to develop a way to create an access for other people to get in touch with it. The access for this which I will focus on is ’art’. Art has to different ways to advance this: an active one and an descriptive/representing one. The first is the basic one and opens, especially to young people, the way to engage in a group or a project and to express themselves, sometimes even to give them a perspective in a life characterized by difficulties or poverty. The other way, which is often following the first, is presenting artistically work form different cultures, or by presenting social topics in an artistic way to reach peoples desire.

And to say something about my personality: I am a lively person, get interested really quickly in things. I like to talk to different people, to discuss topics as well as to join any kind of venture (e.g. dancing, juggling, sports, chilling) together. But I also enjoy the quietness and time for myself. I don’t have a favorite country, I like it everywhere where i feel welcome (and where the weather is nice). There is to much good food in the world to decide which one is my favorite, i think i like the variety. To sum up: I got influenced by the diversity of things which now characterizes my multiple interest.

 

 

Sima Baktaş, Turkey

 

I am the leader and founder of Youth Agenda Association in order to solve youth problems in Turkey and in the world in societal level and to enable young people to be heard. I am also university student and I am studying Law. I think that this training course is an opportunity for young people from different countries to work on common projects to handle youth and poverty problems in global perspective, thus my presence in this program as a professional youth worker will reflect its consequences in turn to civil society environment of Turkey. I am coordinator in many youth projects in Turkey. First of them is “Facestaj” project, which is awarded in World Bank “Creative Development Ideas Competiton” among 791 competing projects and is funded by World Bank. This project aims to solve the unemployement problems of Turkish youth. Through this project, it is established a network where unemployed young people are given necessary personal development trainings and ar provided employement opportunities. Moreover, one of the biggest problems of Turkish youth is not to speak English in an advanced level. Thus, I am organizing an International English Speaking Camp in Turkey. I am the general coordinator of this camp (onlyenglish.ning.com). Furthermore, I have been involved in many EU and international project as project leader. I was the project leader in YIA Project which took place in Poland in August 2009 and I will be the project leader in YIA Project “East Meets West – For Future to Europe” which will take place in Georgia in March 2010.

I wrote an Action 3.1 project called‘ ’Against  Racism and Prejudices ONE MİNUTE !’’  with the partnership of Greece, Bulgaria, İsrael, Armenia,Georgia and Azerbaijan. We, as Youth-Agenda, has recently written a project called “Triple Culture Camp” and we have applied with this project to European Commission “Culture and Art” Grant, with the partnership of 17 different national, local and international organizations.

Jovan Gojković, Serbia

 

My name is Jovan Gojkovic, and I was born on October 4, 1986. in a city of Aleksinac, Serbia.

My current residence is in a city of Nis, Serbia, where I moved in 2005. I am a final year Law School student, and an amateur photographer.

As a photographer, my primary interests are based on street and life photography. I see photography as a good way to express emotion and to record the world around me. By doing this, I tend to persuade people to look at the world in a more undisguised way, to see the world around them without prejudices. I’m a bystander of an opinion that the story which one photo tells is much more important than a technical quality. As Henri Cartier-Bresson once said: “To take a photograph is to align the head, the eye and the heart. It’s a way of life.” My motto is that the beauty is in the eye of a beholder. I sincerely believe that photos can change the world.

You can see my photos on portfolio website www.jovangojkovic.tk.

My photos were published in the most popular photo magazine in Serbia, ReFoto, in more than one occasion. Photo “After School” participated in a final of annual photo competition organized by this magazine, and was exhibited in all major cities in Serbia. This year, my photos of Nisville Jazz Festival have been published in two major web sites, jazzin.rs and troublemaker.com, and in September, I have been invited to do a photo-report on Nisomnia festival.

I also participated in two group exhibitions, in cities of Aleksinac and Nis (my solo exhibition will take place in Aleksinac on September 11-th, 2010.), and I am a proud creator and owner of one of the best and most popular photo forums in Serbia, www.fotosrbijaforum.com.

Petra Ilijević, Montenegro

Aloha! J I’m Petra, 17-years-old ordinary girl xD I’m addicted to photography. I’m big fan of all kinds of arts. I admire Salvador Dali, he’s my favorite artist and I die to desire to visit his museum. I wasn’t involved in many projects because I’ve recently became a member of organisation, but deffinitely I like the most the role of photographer.   After I finish secondary school I’m planning to study architecture of FVU(faculty of visual arts)

Hobbies….photographing, drawing, bugs collecting…

Here’s something more about me J I really enjoy reading books, actually I’m addicted to books. I red almost every book written by Paulo Coelho. I like listening to music, I can’t imagine a day without it. I have a dog, little chihuahua called Abrakadabra J I’m an animal lover, and for a long time I’m trying to become a vegetarian xD favorite song: Wish you were here-Pink Floyd, favorite animal: definitely dog J but I also like owls a lot, they’re kinda cute and interesting, aren’ they? 😀 I forgot to say that I’m also adrenaline addict, and enormous fun of extreme sports! I’ve jumped bungee this summer (best feeling EVER) 🙂

Think I’ve said enough, see u soon 🙂

Susan Duncan, Northern Ireland

 

I work in the Youth Unit at The Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland (CHNI). I am responsible for the delivery of the Youth Speak Participation Project, which provides opportunities for homeless young people to become directly involved and have their say in the changes to policy and practice that affect them.

Many of the young people involved in the project are multiply disadvantaged, may have recently left care or experienced significant family breakdown and will often be isolated from any form of mainstream services or support. The project seeks to raise the self-esteem and confidence of these young people, provide a route into mainstream training and employment and ensure that they have a voice in finding solutions to the complex challenges they and their peers face.

Other people describe me as laid back and friendly, but also as a positive and upbeat person who enjoys travel, meeting new people and is always open to learning new ideas and skills. One of the best places I have travelled is through the Andean Mountains in Peru and Bolivia. Although some of my other favourite places include Moscow, Budapest and Verona, all for very different reasons!

Francesco  De Dominicis, Italy

I’m involved with ”el margallo” through university and various activities.

I wanna continue to study, I’m very happy that I’m going to Finland for Erasmus project next January.

I ‘m a sunny person who love to travel and meet new people everywhere, I’m  crazy for music, especially metal and electronic music and go the concerts and party!

My favorite animals are  dogs and turtles  and my favorite food are arrosticini (abruzzo’s tipical food)…sorry but I can’t bring you some because of space  😀