PEOPLE+ | My first Sukhishvili experience

It was time to meet with my international colleagues for the next phase of the ERMI (European Response in Migration and Integration) transnational KA:2 project. I was pumped up for my first experience on the other side of the Black sea. I had no other expectations than having a productive meeting with optimal results for the following phase. I had no idea what an impact this business meeting would have on me...

We landed in Georgia, Tbilisi after a long and exhausting trip and we were taken to our hotel by our Georgian hosts. The atmosphere so far was nothing different than what I had seen before across Europe. However, in the morning of the first day, when I went out of the hotel for a breather, I was blown away by the dynamics of the Georgian work life - long and annoying traffic congestions, people getting on buses, irritated, people walking on the sidewalk not making 1 smile. It came across my mind that in Georgia the driving was worse than in Italy and Greece, but better than in Turkey. The people however were barely smiling, especially the girls.

Nevertheless, we were welcomed there kindly as guests. On the second day we visited the Technical university of Tbilisi, where we met with part of the teaching staff and some students and discussed on the topic with them. We exchanged good contacts and hope to meet again. We also had the opportunity to work in open space - out on the streets. We put ourselves in the shoes of the locals who can’t find a job but need to. I was a bit anxious at starts, but since my colleagues, who were not so good with English, initiated conversations, I was supposed to be the one to continue and end them. It turned out a surprising success - we managed to organize a phone interview at one place, which was never held (obviously).

With my colleagues we used our spare time for cultural and gastro exploration - it was worth it. We barely had such a taste of the magic of Georgia, that there would always be a reason to go back there - one could just never have enough of it.

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by Zahari Vaklinov

Participant in

KA2 ERMI - Workshop in Tbilisi, Georgia

VIE+W | The World of “WonderLand”

How often do you wake up with a smile on your face? How often do you wake up in the morning, not caring if it is Monday or Sunday? How often do you wake up in the morning, being happy with the fact that you have to go to work? Well, for me this is every single day. No matter if it is raining or snowing, if it is sunny or stormy, I feel excited about every day when I have to go to “WonderLand”!

I have been teaching English to young children and teenagers for the past 12 years. It all started after I had a year off after graduation. I applied for a job in a private language school and was immediately hired. Since day one I understood that this was going to be my life. Teaching, helping, loving and taking care of children. Since day one I had a new dream, to have my own magic place, where I could teach the way I believe children are supposed to be taught. I got a lot of experience and professional ideas and I appreciate every single tip that was given to me throughout the years while I was working for other people.

In 2016 I met a person who has the same beliefs and point of view as mine and so “WonderLand” was created. For me this is a place where I have put all my heart, energy and creativity. I believe that every child is special and the connection with the teacher and the other classmates is of great value. So, in my school we are all friends and we always talk to each other, we share, and we learn together.

My days always start with a smile. I go to work in the morning waiting for my students. We greet each other, we play games, we revise, we learn new words, we talk to each other about everything that has happened, we check our homework, we listen, we read and write. Each class is different because each child and each group has got a different dynamic and that's what makes my job extraordinary.

Each holiday, both Bulgarian and international, are celebrated in “WonderLand”.

Sometimes we organize a party, or a contest or we have special guests and have a chat. During the summer we go camping with some of our students usually in the mountain. While we are in Sofia, we visit museums, sports centers, we go to the cinema, the zoo or the swimming pool, we do different art and crats every day There is always something new happening.

I feel blessed to have the chance to work what I love the most. I want to develop and to become a better teacher and person and give more and more to my students every day. If everyone did what thet loved the world would be an amazing place.

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by Viara Kazanaklieva

Participant in

TC “Culture as a tool of conflict resolution” in Budapest, Hungary

LIFE+ | TC "Giraffes go to theatre" in Lagodekhi, Georgia

"Giraffes Go to Theatre” is a TC involving 24 youth workers, leaders, project coordinators coming from 8 different countries - Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Portugal, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia. They gathered together from 24th November 2019 to 2nd December 2019 in the incredibly beautiful Lagodekhi National Park, Georgia. The project was organized by EMINA Career Guidande Foundation (EMINA Pályaorientációs Alapítvány).

The incentive for the realization of the training are the current trends which we encounter on a daily basis involving a plenty of negative factors that are difficult to overcome. We can notice an increased level of violence, radicalization, aggression and lack of tolerance. These all make youngsters more and more vulnerable and therefore Nonviolent Communication is recognized as a more and more needed way to learn and share. For these reasons, all participants have motivated to develop the competences to practice and embrace communication in a nonviolent way, building peaceful relations.

On the first day of the activities we had to get to know each other. Our trainers kept us occupied with a lot of games so that we can remember the first name and some personal details about each participant. The atmosphere was brisk and positive. With the help of soft skills in communication, we quickly became one big family. We had the feeling that we were working for a common cause. The day ended with an Intercultural Evening. Each national group of participants had the opportunity to present their traditional food and culture. Ever since this day, we are friends forever!

Next days we researched Self-Regulation tools. We studied how to get in touch with our emotions and needs, to go through bygone frustrations, and interpret them as a source of learning. Step by step we delved into Non-violent communication which is a method created by psychologist Marshall Rosenberg. We developed an empathic attitude by forming a support group for ourselves. All participants shared their challenges with an open mind and a desire to gather knowledge and develop an understanding of peaceful communication. As a result, we managed to put in practice the skills and tools for coping with situations of conflict, tension and misunderstanding. We learned that proper means of communication and reaching a compromise are essential for the common good, growth and harmonic co-existence.

In a short time, we were able to absorb a large amount of information and to experiment with the things we learned by completing numerous tasks. Our trainers Kety Zhvania - Tyson and Paata Alaverdashvili provided a balanced program of theoretical seminars, outdoor exercise and physical activity. This made the learning process interesting and effortless, and each participant worked actively and successfully.

Being participants in an international project, we were very excited to get to know the local culture and traditions. Our hosts organized an amazing trip to Telavi and Nekresi Monastery.

Our participation in this project has brought us a lot of knowledge, skills, inspiration, many friends and ideas how to improve our work. We are looking forward to Stage 2 of the training in Tata, Hungary!

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by Krasimira Drumeva

Participant in

TC "Giraffes go to theatre" in Lagodekhi, Georgia