Foundation

The historical message for our future

The historical message for our future project was realized In Lipany, Slovakia during 9-17th of July 2006. For us it was the first Youth projects exchange abroad. Every participating organization sent seven people from it’s country (Poland, Slovakia, Latvia and France) which gave a mixture of 28 crazy people.

Coordinator: Agata Bryk

The topic of the Exchange was cultural heritage of our countries – together we were discussing how tradition and culture refers to our future life and Europe’s future, and also we were taking part in the renovation of devastated mill in Kvacany in Slovakia, which is one of the important Europe’s historical monuments. We were also taking part in many very interesting activities – for example folk dancing, pottery, wire wrapping and a trip to the highest mountains in this part of Europe – High Tatras.

Participants from Poland:
Agata Bryk
Zuzia Miodyńska
Kasia Szambor
Jakub Wiatrowski
Ola Nasternak
Kasia Czarkowska-Guziuk
Michał Podyma

Preparation visit – 19-21st of May, Lipany

During 19-21 of May the leader sof the groups met each other in Slovakia on so called preparation visit during wich they discussed the details of the coming exchange.

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Our group.

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One of the Project assumptions was clearing and tidying the old mill ‘Kamenny Mlyn’, wich is one of the important European historical monument.

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… and first friendships already – Zuzka & Zuzka (PL and SK)

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The organisation’s leaders – from the left Marta, Bosine, Christian, Basia, Aiva, Zuzka and Zuzka

The preparations:

According to the Exchange on 20th of June 2006, we’ve met In „Kaktus”. It was very funny, as always. Although we managed to agree on things, fill all the forms so now we’re only waiting for long-desired departure. Of course, we can always meet to polish our dance technique… we’ll see about that.

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Exchange preparation meeting – Zuzia, Kasia, Kuba, Agata, Michał, Kasia, but Ola is still learning

The Exchange, 9-17.07.2006

On 9th of June gathered in the minibus, wich was about to take us to the town of Lipany and meet the other participants. We had much fun in the bus, as usual. We were thinking and talking about what will the others be, how are we going to communicate, but the most striking topic was how will the French react, if we’ll dress ourselves in Italian flags and sing their national anthem – the Final of the World Cup was in progress and we had no idea of the results.
Finally the lack of Italian symbols made us abandon the idea, and as the evening was beginning to change into the night we reached the hotel. Everybody was already having fun, because they’ve met the day before, but we tried hard to fit in, and soon we did – real good I think.

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We were the ones who sang before every meal (different song every day), knew a lot of games, and we really wanted everybody to like us and have fun. Along with the English, French, Slovakian and Latvian we were dancing, singing, making jewellery (at least everyone tried) and pots (even though we had to explain, that the pieces of clay we made are pots, that was fun too). Removing 300 years old dust from the mill’s attic and digging made us understand, how hard it was to work in the 18th century, but I’m not sure, whether peasants in 18th century had such interesting company as the mill’s owner and our friends from four countries.

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Every day brought us something new and fascinating to learn and experience. We discovered that between young people something like the culture shock doesn’t exist, unless someone wants it to appear. Nobody intended to though.

The saddest but beautiful moment was our farewell. Everybody waited till we got in the minibus and some tried to go with us, but unfortunately they were discovered. And then we had to go. Trying not to talk about the sad things we still laughed, aware of the small folders in our pockets with contained every participant’s address and e-mail. It may be the beginning of the beautiful friendship! Thank you all.

English article: Kasia Czarkowska-Guziuk, one of the participants.

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