Who is the AEGEE member of the year 2015? Which antenna, which project was the best? The Golden Times asked more than 50 locally or Europeanly active members. In the fifth edition: read what Ioana Duca, Damien Latacz, Glòria Llopart, Kristóf Papp, Erika Bettin and Taha Korhan Salan said.
Ioana Duca, former Comité Directeur
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
Hmmm, my personal AEGEE highlight in 2015? Installing the new bookkeeping software and bookkeeping data for six months in three weeks, before Agora Oviedo. Highlights were also the Network Meetings in Budapest and and Kastoria, the SUPS and all amazing people that I met during these events. Plus our anniversary conference in Brussels, where I had the chance to be an organizer again.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
One of the most memorable moments of AEGEE-Europe in 2015 is the celebration of 30 years of existence, plus the “Nights of the Seven Antennae” events.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
I don’t want to give names, but I’m happy to see more and more motivated and active people. This is the way, be active!
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
Difficult decision. For me in 2015 outstanding locals were: AEGEE-Burgos, AEGEE-Oviedo and AEGEE-Kyiv, for all the amazing statutory events of this year.
What was for you the outstanding European project in 2015?
For sure all our external projects, which are amazing: My-Way, Great, EU-th, Life Style in Mobility and Quat. Plus our amazing internal projects: EOP, DIP and the anniversary project.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
Well, not so many. For the moment I know that I will be Training Manager for the SUPS 2016 and I will continue my work with AEGEE-Europe, through the My-Way project, until the end of my contract. And then I will see…
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I think this is the easiest question. I will spend New Year’s Night in Romania, with my husband and some friends, probably in a cottage in the mountains.
Damien Latacz, President of the Mediation Commission
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
I have so many! Cooking for the 28th Anniversary of AEGEE-Aachen, opening the champagne with Paul Smits on stage during the Night of the Seven Antennae, being elected president of AEGEE-Aachen, and then afterwards for MedCom. But the one I liked the most was presenting my first proposal at Agora Kyiv. Sitting there in front of everybody, explaining my idea and answering questions from people who you can see are committed to it… I was really enjoying it!
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
Well for me it is for sure the Night of the Seven Antennae! It has an even deeper meaning to me as I was main organizer of our event in Aachen. But seeing the participants sharing ideas during the day, and being live with six other cities during the night: it was just awesome! And I know it was not just some regular event: people were really watching, some are still getting inspired by it for future events. This in particular makes it something incredible.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
It’s not The AEGEEan, I am allowed to say someone from my own Antenna, right ? So: Philipp Blum! He is crazily active in our local, is posting on Facebook, was doing the Key to Europe, and is now in the SUCT. Being such an all-rounder, I think he really deserved to be Member of the Year!
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
I think the current situation in Europe about refugees and what we can do about it will become an even bigger topic in AEGEE. We already decided it was important enough to chose it as our EPM topic, but we see more and more antennae publishing statements about it, or organizing conferences to educate people, or events to integrate the refugees. I really hope we will manage to achieve something good.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
My AEGEE life will be quite different next year, as I am not in the board of AEGEE-Aachen anymore. But I am now in MedCom, and also in the Agora Task Force, so it will stay interesting for sure!
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I will be in Aachen, but with some friends from my French university. We have a tradition: every year we celebrate together, but always in a different place. This year, they come to Germany! I cannot see them often so I am really excited about it!
Glòria Llopart, Juridical Commission
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
Everything that you do in AEGEE is a challenge, but if I have to choose one, I would say the organization of the Gala Ball and our Pre-Event for EPM Leiden in Heidelberg. Both will take place in February 2016.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
The Night of the Seven Antennae in Aachen because it was an outstanding event. During the day, we could attend several discussions about current topics in Europe with professors and professionals. In the evening and at night, we enjoyed a European Night and, of course, the Night of the Seven Antennae!
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
AEGEE-Oviedo and AEGEE-Kyïv for organizing such great Agorae!
What was for you the outstanding European project in 2015?
The Election Observation Project. It really shows what AEGEE is: active participation in the society, learning how elections work in the European countries and making you realize how different they are, traveling to know more about new cultures, and meeting new people and working with them.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
I wish we could talk about why the EU countries are so divided when trying to solve the refugee crisis. We should exchange our own ideas and opinions as well as the ones of our countries to find what divides us.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
Keep on working in the Juridical Commission and attending the Great Gala Ball in February!
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I will probably be in Freiburg, but I will eat the 12 grapes in the midnight to make me feel like in Spain.
Kristóf Papp, Coordinator of the Youth Employment Working Group
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
I can’t really choose one particular moment from 2015. Personally I consider it as a very fruitful but challenging year, I am very proud of our team in the Youth Employment Working Group; every moment when we have a Skype meeting or discussion is a personal highlight for me, because I see all these great people who are doing everything they can to help AEGEE. I am there to get the maximum out of them.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
The birthdays. I was in Brussels when AEGEE-Europe held its anniversary celebration and I was at the birthday gala of AEGEE-Budapest. It was great to talk to our former members and discuss issues which we consider as new ones, but they have been there for a long time.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
As a Working Group coordinator I rely on two CD members: Pablo and Réka. I think they are doing an outstanding job and I am grateful for all the support and help I receive from them.
What was for you the outstanding European project in 2015?
If we are speaking about AEGEE-Europe’s projects, personally I think the Election Observation Project has great potential and I was happy to see that they managed to reach out to so many places. If we are speaking about projects in Europe in which AEGEE is also a partner, I would choose the My-Way project. This project is dealing with a very important topic from an aspect that not many did before.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
I would like to see the realization of the Agora reform and restructuring of our statutory events. Besides the internal challenges we will have to face the refugee situation and its side effects such as the growing euroscepticism and xenophobia.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
I would like to see the realization of all the plans we created in the Youth Employment Working Group and I hope in August we can close a successful year. In 2016 I would also like to attend more local events all around the network to bring the topic of youth employment closer to our members.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
With AEGEE-Budapest, they are organizing a great New Year’s event, which I wouldn’t miss for the world!
Erika Bettin, Editor-in-Chief of The AEGEEan and Key to Europe
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
I think that the most emotional moment for me was when AEGEE-Venezia was deleted during Agora Kyiv. I do not wish to any AEGEEan to witness their own local’s death. On a happier note, for sure the moment when we took the stage to present the Key to Europe 2014-2015, also in Kyiv. Last year we didn’t have the chance to do it due to time constriction and it was nice to have people enjoy – and complain – about the result.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
We turned 30!
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
Last year I nominated all the members who worked hard to develop the association. My respect to them didn’t change, but this year I want to give you three names. Svenja van der Tol, Secretary General of AEGEE-Europe, because she believes in what she is doing and she is efficient in a way that mesmerises me. Network Commissioner Lisa Gregis, because, even if she won’t agree, I saw her blooming in the past two years and I wish her a rewarding term. Then last, but definitely not least, Anna Pykhtina from AEGEE-Kyiv for believing in her project and guiding her local to the organisation of something not all locals dare to do.
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
I would say AEGEE-Burgos. I was not in a positive mood for the EPM, because I had to travel 24 hours to go there and I was not looking forward to any AEGEE event in that moment for personal reasons. But then, the organisation was so smooth, so unexpected that I really didn’t want to leave. They did a great job and when your participants are happy, well, you simply win. Kudos to them, I’m a fan! Then, AEGEE-Verona. They welcomed me in the most delicate time, when I needed a “family”. I’m happy to serve them for one year and I hope not to let them down.
What was for you the outstanding European project in 2015?
AEGEE Election Observation for sure. They manage to continue to engage youngster to become active citizens in a very professional way. I would also mentioned The AEGEEan and Key to Europe. People in both teams deserve a lot of recognition for their daily job or their summer job, in the case of K2E. And sometimes it’s not very easy to deal with AEGEE members.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
Hopefully AEGEE will grow more internally, becoming less attached to bureaucracy and more focused on the well being of locals.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
Hard to say. For now I have plans in my agenda only until Agora Bergamo.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
In Italy we say that you don’t change the winning team. I will spend the last days of the year with some lovely people on a road trip. The only thing I know is that we are going to leave from my house a couple of days before the 31st to an undisclosed location.
Taha Korhan Salan, Founder and Vice-President of AEGEE-Hatay
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
We applied for Agora Kyiv with six people. Unfortunately we could not go there because our application form had a small mistake – we did not select any option whether we are delegates or visitors. This was our mistake, because we are inexperienced. We spent much effort on it, but the people who contacted us replied so late. In the end no one booked our plane tickets – it was so sad for us.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
The celebration for the 30th anniversary on AEGEE-Eskişehir was so amazing. Their team was so professional. Everything was perfect. Not only AEGEE-Eskişehir’s, but also the other celebrations were good. I will never forget it.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
Suzan Dilara Tokaç and Uğur Çimen from AEGEE-Eskişehir, as well as Ramin Alami from AEGEE-Adana.
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
AEGEE-Skopje, they are so active!
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
The refugee problem will raise a lot of attention in all over Europe, including in in Turkey. AEGEE bodies and locals alike should help finding solutions for the refugees problems.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
I hope that I will be able to join as many international events as possible.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
AEGEE-Hatay will celebrate the new year with a barbecue party and after it we will go to a nice club.
