Who is the AEGEE member of the year 2020? Which antenna, which project was the best? What were the highlights of the year? And what will 2021 bring? The Golden Times asked many active AEGEE members. 30 of them replied – over the next week you can see what they answered. In this first edition: read what Luca Bisighini, Julia Gospodinova, Ruslan Kvitnevyi, Michalina Górka and Nacho Argüelles said.

Luca Bisighini, AEGEE Day Coordinator, AEGEE-Brescia

Golden Times: What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2020?

Leading a very underrated project like AEGEE Day to be joined by 1565 people and 55 locals, making it the largest project this year in terms of audience. Also, the 3rd and 4th year of the AEGEE Human Rights Days initiative and the “Night of Champions”, which saw AEGEE-Valladolid and AEGEE-Salerno taking the two major prizes for both projects, with more than 50 people connected. This was a very nice moment!

Which moments of AEGEE-Europe in general in 2020 do you remember most vividly or as outstanding?

I think everyone will remember the Autumn Agora and the announcement of the Extraordinary Agora because of the Financial Report project. One of the all-time lows, in my humble opinion.

Who was for you the outstanding member in 2020?

I would like to consider the Financial Taskforce members. Rik, Lisanne, Ivo, Jasper and Teodora made a very professional work for free, and even getting into personal risk by getting into a Red Zone Brussels. Without a doubt they have been ten steps above anybody else.

Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2020?

  • AEGEE-Valladolid for winning the AEGEE-Day Trophy by organizing so many activities for the AEGEE Day despite being such a tiny local.
  • AEGEE-Alicante, because their members have those types of skills, creativity, professionalism and willingness to reach for the best – no matter what. Plus, they give me an idea how to be such a great bunch of friends in real life, something honestly I haven’t seen that much in six years so vividly.
  • Lastly, AEGEE-Brescia and AEGEE-Zagreb sharing the third position, for having turned from mid-antennae when I joined six years ago, into some of the big ones just by delivering hard work and having been amongst the few ones to organize events during the Corona pandemic year. Incredible respect to them.

What was for you the outstanding European project, working group or interest group in 2020?

Easy to say: AEGEE Day was a project nobody cared about it, although it was supposed to be the one of the 35th anniversary. And in the end it has been the largest of 2020 – beyond any conception.

What is the biggest opportunity for AEGEE in 2021?

AEGEE was already in a noticeable decline in numbers in the last years, but 2020 might have been a mass murder. I hope just to see many locals resist the decline and possibly to see many new people taking over some locals with enthusiasm. In addition, I would like to see a stronger focus on projects producing more concrete results for as many people as possible around Europe, rather than focusing on some projects which are interesting for a minority composed by 30 to 50 people at best.

The Corona crisis hit AEGEE hard in 2020. What measures should AEGEE take to overcome the crisis? Maybe you also see some positive examples in the network that you can name?

“Hard” is an understatement. Here are some measures AEGEE could do: Not giving a **** about the existing criteria or requirements, aside from giving money to AEGEE-Europe as fees, as AEGEE-Europe needs those a lot.  Also, maybe some of the richest locals can donate a bit of money to create a social fund to reinstate some locals and reinforce the weak ones, can it be a thing to be done? In any case a lot will depend on the events: AEGEE needs at least 100 to 120 events per year to work nicely, and out of those 50 to 60 must be SUs. AEGEE needs possibly 100 locals to organize those, with the help of other, more powerful locals. I think this can be reached easily if the Covid-19 season is overcome. I would also recommend to redefine the concepts of the EPM and the Network Meetings, at least in a tiny part, as I have never seen those as very efficient or interesting tools to train people.

What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2021?

It has been years I am saying to myself I am done – at least since the Spring Agora 2018 – and then even by doing tiny things, I am still here. I have nothing more to do, say or demonstrate and I am more focused on work and life projects. It is seriously time for new generations to stand up and do their own and lead AEGEE into the 2020s. Wish you all of the best!

 

Julia Gospodinova, Speaker of the Sustainability Committee, AEGEE-Stuttgart

Golden Times: What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2020?

2020 has certainly been a year like no other. I am really happy that despite the circumstances the Sustainability Committee, being a new European body, managed to develop its structure, grow and become known in the network. Of course, there is still a long way to walk and many things to be improved, but it is a good beginning. For me a highlight was that the Autumn Agora 2020 accepted both our proposal for changing travel reimbursement criteria and the motion for improving the sustainability of statutory events. This shows that, even if it is slow, the network is open to changes.

Which moments of AEGEE-Europe in general in 2020 do you remember most vividly or as outstanding?

The first online Agora was a big challenge, which turned out better than what probably most people have expected. It was history in the making! At this point I want to say a huge thank you to everyone, who worked hard to make it happen.

Who was for you the outstanding member in 2020?

As answer to this question one name immediately pops up in my mind – my fellow speaker Julian van Loo. Not only has he been an active and creative part of our Sustainability Committee family, but he is also the content manager for the upcoming EPM. During 2020 he also finished his board year and participated in the creation of the new contact Rotterdam. And all of this he does with lots of energy and a big smile!

What was for you the outstanding European project, working group or interest group in 2020?

Since the work of the Climate Emergency Working Group is closely connected to some of the goals of the Sustainability Committee, I have got the opportunity to follow their development over the past few months and to collaborate on several projects. In a short period of time they have managed to build up a wonderful social media presence and thus raising awareness on the topic. Furthermore they are actively organising and participating in events to support locals. I would also like to mention the SU Project and the members of SUCT, who did and are still doing some tremendous work. In what’s probably the worst year for Summer Universities, they came up with many alternatives for us to enjoy the summer months.

What is the biggest opportunity for AEGEE in 2021?

The biggest opportunity for AEGEE in my opinion is taking a deep breath and being nice and supportive to each other. We are all humans with different life circumstances, working habits and emotions. We are all here because we share the same vision and want to make our surroundings a better place. Yet, sometimes we get carried away and forget that. Even more so now that physical events are not taking place and all we see are two-dimensional pictures instead of a real person. I am absolutely sure that we can do better.

The Corona crisis hit AEGEE hard in 2020. What measures should AEGEE take to overcome the crisis? Maybe you also see some positive examples in the network that you can name?

It is an important but also a very complicated question. This crisis has an enormous effect not only on multiple locals but mostly on the individuals. Maintaining a good mental state is essential. I think good communication, respect and understanding are a good start.

What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2021?

If there is one thing I have learned in 2020, it is to not make any plans. But one thing is for sure, I will keep working towards making AEGEE more sustainable!

 

Ruslan Kvitnevyi, Network Commission, Content & PR Manager of Eastern Partnership+, AEGEE-Lviv

Golden Times: What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2020?

On the local level, it would be having a gender-equal board, keeping the antenna alive during these times, and successfully passing the torch, but also, on the European level, it would be me being elected to two European bodies of AEGEE-Europe.

Which moments of AEGEE-Europe in general in 2020 do you remember most vividly or as outstanding?

Having the General Assembly online for the first time in AEGEE history and invoking the Extraordinary Agora.

Who was for you the outstanding member in 2020?

I feel that naming just a couple of people wouldn’t do justice to the other people, who have been working hard under these circumstances.

What is the biggest opportunity for AEGEE in 2021?

To redefine itself and evolve.

The Corona crisis hit AEGEE hard in 2020. What measures should AEGEE take to overcome the crisis? Maybe you also see some positive examples in the network that you can name?

Covid Taskforce? I think it’s a good time and opportunity for AEGEE to adapt itself, its vision, mission, and strategy first and foremost virtually to continue bringing together young Europeans. Out of desperation, comes invention.

What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2021?

To end my terms well and pass the torch.

 

Michalina Górka, Speaker of the Strategy Committee, Finance Officer, AEGEE-Kraków

Golden Times: What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2020?

EPM Barcelona! For my AEGEE journey 2020 was related a lot to the word strategy, so it has to be a strategy-related thing. It was my first EPM, which already makes it a huge thing. It was also a possibility to finally experience myself what everyone in AEGEE has been mentioning to me – the feeling of meeting people I work with online in real life. I need to admit it was an unforgettable feeling!

Which moments of AEGEE-Europe in general in 2020 do you remember most vividly or as outstanding?

I don’t think I will be original if I say that it was the Spring Agora. First-ever online. I was amazed that young people can organise such an event and adapt it to the online form. It felt amazing to also see that AEGEE means so much to all of us. We proved that even if we can’t meet in real life, we still are happy to meet, discuss and work on what we believe in with the same enthusiasm.

Who was for you the outstanding member in 2020?

There are a lot of amazing people in AEGEE that I could mention now…. First Nicoleta Mihalescu for all she did for AEGEE this year: from being Finance Officer for most of the year and Speaker of EQAC to becoming NetCommie in spring. Second, Monika Mojak for leading the online Agora organisation in spring and preparing it for us with the Chair Team. The third person is Zurita, with whom out of these three people I worked the most. That is why I have seen all the work they put into the coordination of the new Strategic Plan’s start and making the newly born committee work as a team.

Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2020?

I think all locals deserve the shout out this year for keep being active and creating the feeling or AEGEE Spirit under current situation! It’s not an easy task. If I need to name one or two antennas though it has to be AEGEE-Moskva and AEGEE-Yerevan for not giving up on the Agorae organisation, even if they couldn’t happen this year and their decision to do so in 2021. Partially for 2020, but also a bit already for 2021, AEGEE-Tartu is a hero for me. Despite the uncertainty, they took up the challenge of organising the EPM. Now we know it is impossible to have it offline in Tartu, but they are still organising a conference. It shows me that AEGEE people don’t give up easily!

What was for you the outstanding European project, working group or interest group in 2020?

Europe on Track and SUCT reorganised everything so fast and delivered unique content that reached so many people. That was amazing! I want to also highlight the working groups in general. Being the first generation for the new Strategic Plan is a huge opportunity for the teams, but it’s also a challenge that they are coping with amazingly.

What is the biggest opportunity for AEGEE in 2021?

To learn our lesson from 2020 and start taking action. 2020 showed us how quickly things can change and that we need to be able to adapt what we are doing to those changes. We saw it on the example of going online with everything we do, but I believe we can learn and implement it in many other fields. We need to start believing that we can do a lot if we actually try instead of discussing endlessly.

The Corona crisis hit AEGEE hard in 2020. What measures should AEGEE take to overcome the crisis? Maybe you also see some positive examples in the network that you can name?

It’s not a measure, but we need to stop clinging to the past. As silly as it sounds, Covid is not really planning to leave us so soon, and besides all the bad aspects it showed us changes are part of life. There is a tendency to be afraid of changes and stick to the patterns and ideas that worked for us in the past. We need to plan to adapt to the new reality to make it possible for AEGEE to live on, and we need to do it all together.

What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2021?

As a part of Strategy Committee, the main topic for me for at least a couple of months will be the EPM at the end of February and making sure we can draft a valuable Action Agenda for 2021/2022. Besides a lot of strategy… let’s see – AEGEE is full of opportunities and new challenges!

 

Nacho Argüelles, Europe on Track 8, Liaison Officer towards YFJ, AEGEE-Oviedo

Golden Times: What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2020?

My personal highlight was joining the project team of Europe on Track 8. We had an extremely intense knowledge transfer process in July, but it definitely paid off and I am very satisfied with the direction the project is heading in this eighth edition.

Which moments of AEGEE-Europe in general in 2020 do you remember most vividly or as outstanding?

I think EPM Barcelona was an outstanding event, not only due to the fact that it was one of the few physical events we had this year, but also because it was the first time that the entire network had the chance to work on the new established Focus Areas for 2020-2023. Besides, I reunited with lots of friends that I hadn’t seen in a while and that always makes an AEGEE event memorable and special.

Who was for you the outstanding member in 2020?

I feel obliged to mention my beloved peers from the project team of Europe on Track. It takes a lot of work behind the scenes to make a project like EoT happen and everything feels much easier when you get to work with such committed and enthusiastic people. I only have good words for them!

What is the biggest opportunity for AEGEE in 2021?

We don’t know what Europe will look like in 2021, but hopefully, the pandemic will soon enough give way to normal life again and physical events will come back better than ever!

What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2021?

I’ll be working on Europe on Track until the end of the project and I intend to strengthen connections between AEGEE and the European Youth Forum as Liaison Officer. The rest is still unknown, let’s see how the current pandemic evolves next year.