What do AEGEE-Minsk, AEGEE-Dresden and AEGEE-Pisa have in common? They didn’t organise a Summer University last year. But they are back with new energy – and a great Summer University! Altogether 18 antennae, which offer a course in 2015, skipped either the last or even several years. The Golden Times asked them why that happened – and why you should apply for their Summer University this year. Read in this first part about the SUs of AEGEE-Dresden, AEGEE-Ioannina, AEGEE-Leuven, AEGEE-Minsk, AEGEE-Pisa and AEGEE-Reggio Calabria.
AEGEE-Dresden: TSU “Adventure Time: The Return of the Rabbits”
GT: What’s the date of your SU?
Jorge Sánchez Hernández, President of AEGEE-Dresden: 16th till 31st of August.
GT: Why should AEGEE members specifically apply for your event?
Jorge: We are not organizing a typical party SU. There will be of course good thematic parties which we are already working on, but the topics of leadership and team building will be very present in every single day during the SU. The participants will do all activities with their teams, earn points and be able to exchange them for different things. This is not a lazy holidays destination! We want only active people willing to give it all for their teams!
GT: Are you organising it with another antenna?
Jorge: We will organize it with AEGEE-Wroclaw and AEGEE-Berlin.
GT: Which cities or other interesting places will you visit?
Jorge: We will visit Wroclaw, Berlin and a lake, Dresden and the Sächsische Schweiz.
GT: In which year was the last SU that you organised?
Jorge: AEGEE-Dresden hasn’t organized an SU in this decade, since we were refounded only recently. The last one was maybe 2007.
GT: Why didn’t you organise an SU in the last years?
Jorge: Because we did not exist.
GT: What motivated you to organise an SU this year?
Jorge: We had an amazing project in mind, and AEGEE-Berlin and AEGEE-Wroclaw are the perfect antennae to bring it to life together with. We do not have any doubts on it.
GT: How can interested people find out more?
Jorge: They can check out our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AdventureTimeTSU2015 or write us an e-mail if they have any doubts. Cheers from the Summer University Project School, where the main organizers of every antenna of this SU are together!
AEGEE-Ioannina and AEGEE-Patra: TSU “BLUE stories – Solve the Ionian Mystery”
GT: What’s the date of your SU?
Kostis Zaviakas, SU coordinator of AEGEE-Ioannina: It will take place from 20th of July to 3rd of August.
GT: What’s the main topic and the three main thematic highlights?
Kostis: As the title of our SU “BLUEstories-Solve the Ionian Mystery” reveals, our main topic are the Blue Stories. These are some mysteries that the participants have to solve by asking questions to the narrator. These can be answered only by “Yes” or “No”. Also we have planned workshops on Greek dances and cooking and after that we will participate in one of the most famous Traditional feasts. Of course adventure cannot be absent; we will cross the deepest canyon of the world, according the World Guinness Book of Records, we will do rafting and many boat trips around the beautiful islands. Our moto is: “Get closer to Greek culture and nature. Sharpen our minds and have fun!”
GT: Why should AEGEE members specifically apply for your event?
Kostis: This TSU will definitely be a unique experience for every participant. We have tried to combine all the aspects of Greek culture and life and our goal is to make the participants feel like they are local people. Of course this TSU wouldn’t exist if the members of AEGEE-Ioannina and AEGEE-Patra weren’t full of creativity and craziness.
GT: So you are organising it with another antenna?
Kostis: We are very happy to collaborate one more time with AEGEE-Patra for this SU!
GT: What will be the social programme highlights?
Kostis: During these 15 days we’re going to show to the participants what Greek entertainment means! Beach parties and dancing till the morning are our specialty!
GT: Which cities or other interesting places will you visit?
Kostis: One thing is sure for our SU. We are not going to stop until we travel across all over West Greece! Our journey begins in Patra, one of the biggest cities in the country! Next stop, Ioannina, the silver city with the beautiful lake! With daily excursions we will discover many surrounding areas, we will visit ancient monuments and of course we are going to visit some of the most famous Greek islands. First we will travel to Lefkada with the amazing coasts, then we will move to Kefalonia with the mysterious beauty and the secret caves and in the end we will visit Ithaca, the historical island of Odysseus!
GT: In which year was the last SU that you organised?
Kostis: Our previous SU was organized in 2013, also in cooperation with AEGEE-Patra.
GT: Why didn’t you organise an SU last years?
Kostis: Last year the Spring Agora took place in Patra. Many of our members helped with the organization and it was very hard to organize at the same time another event.
GT: What motivated you to organise an SU this year?
Kostis: Many members of AEGEE-Ioannina joined an SU last year. This experience motivated them to organize their own event. So, all together, older and new members started to discuss very soon their ideas, then came in contact with AEGEE-Patra and here we are now!
GT: How can interested people find out more?
Kostis: For more information about our SU you can find us on our Facebook page and on our official site: http://www.aegee.upatras.gr/site/index.php/en/tsu15. Also check out our promo video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQec2iWx27c.
AEGEE-Leuven: TSU “Burgundian Bicycles Vol.II: Crossing borders”
GT: What’s the date of your SU?
André Lauer, European Responsible of AEGEE-Leuven: Our Summer University will start on the 12th of July in Leuven and end on the 26th of July. The first week will be organized in Belgium by AEGEE-Leuven, in the second week we will go to the Netherlands, where AEGEE-Tilburg will organize interesting activities for us.
GT: What’s the main topic and the three main thematic highlights?
Our SU is called “Burgundian Bicycles Vol.II: Crossing borders”, because that’s exactly what we are going to do – cross the borders between Belgium and the Netherlands and give participants a chance to gain a lot of new insights. The main topic of this SU is sustainability, so we’ll be visiting a national park in which they have an ecohouse, we will have workshops by local policy makers that will show us what is planned to happen in the next 15 or 20 years, and we’ll spend a lot of time outdoors with activities around our topic and also just enjoying the summer in Belgium and the Netherlands.
GT: Why should AEGEE members specifically apply for your event?
André: AEGEE members should apply for our SU, because it’s a good mix of all the best things that AEGEE has to offer. We will travel, we will have a cultural programme, time to socialize and also many fun activities and workshops around the theme of sustainability.
GT: Are you organising it with another antenna?
André: Yes, we decided to organise this SU together with our friends from AEGEE-Tilburg. The distance between our cities is not very big, but this way the participants will have the chance to explore Belgium and the Netherlands within two weeks. Anybody who has been to Belgium and the Netherlands will have noticed the many cultural differences between these two neighbors.
GT: What will be the social programme highlights?
André: Let’s just say that Leuven is famous for its old market, with one pub next to another, so we’ll be doing pub crawl there. We’ll also have the European Night, of course and as a nice cherry on top, during the week in the Netherlands, there will be a visit to the Red light district of Amsterdam.
GT: Which cities or other interesting places will you visit?
André: Other than Leuven and Tilburg, we will visit Brussels, the capital of Belgium, Gent, which has one of the nicest centers of cities in Western Europe, Amsterdam and its infamous Red light district, The Hague and many more interesting places.
GT: In which year was the last SU that you organised?
André: We last organised a Summer University in 2013, back then together with our friends from AEGEE-Nijmegen. This means we already have some positive experience with cross-country collaboration for organizing the activities in an SU.
GT: Why didn’t you organise an SU last years?
André: There was no Summer University in 2014 because we organised an event in February with Palestinian participants, and since we are a really small local it was difficult to have another big event next to that.
GT: What motivated you to organise an SU this year?
André: A Summer University is arguably one of the best chances to get to know the AEGEE spirit. When you are in your local, it’s nice to organise activities, but you only get an idea of what AEGEE really is when you have the chance to interact with so many people from different countries and different backgrounds.
GT: How can interested people find out more?
André: Firstly it would be great if people would check out our SU description. You can find our contact there in case you have any questions. We’re glad to answer, and if you’re interested in joining, just apply and we’ll see you in July!
AEGEE-Minsk: TSU “Fasten the BELt”
GT: What’s the date of your SU?
Main organiser Elena Liushtyk and President Katya Yakushyk: We are going to start on the 2nd of July in Minsk and finish on the 16th in Grodno.
GT: Why should AEGEE members specifically apply for your event?
Elena and Katya: It is a unique chance to discover Belarus in AEGEE style. Belarus is a country where Eastern Europe meets with Western Europe. Moreover it’s a great opportunity to dive deeply into our history and emerge in a new open-minded society.
GT: What’s the main topic and the three main thematic highlights?
Elena and Katya: The main topic is exploring Belarusian history and culture from the past to current times. We are going to show similarities and find differences in our special Slavic nation. Participants will be able to see all sides of Belarus life in a modern capital city, our countryside with its amazing nature, and unique authentic architecture cities.
GT: Are you organising it with another antenna?
Elena and Katya: We are collaborating with AEGEE-Grodno to hit the whole country!
GT: Which cities or other interesting places will you visit?
Elena and Katya: We will visit four places in Belarus. The TSU will start in the capital city Minsk. Then we will go to a touristic region with the beautiful lake Naroch and the final destination will be the two beautiful cities Grodno and Lida.
GT: What will be the social programme highlights?
Elena and Katya: During the event we will celebrate the Belarusian Independence day, one of the biggest national celebrities. Also the participants will experience the National Slavic holiday Kupalle with its specific spirit and traditions. We will prepare an active programme with many surprises. Apply if you dare!
GT: In which year was the last SU that you organised?
Elena and Katya: Last time AEGEE-Minsk did it in 2011.
GT: Why didn’t you organise an SU last years?
Elena and Katya: AEGEE-Minsk had a changing of generations and we organized a summer event last year in order to gain more experience, motivation and AEGEE spirit.
GT: What motivated you to organise an SU this year?
Elena and Katya: It the best time to start! We have been working a lot during the last year. We hosted the project Europe on Track, organized international events in summer and winter as well as many local projects. This sums up all our experiences and shows we are ready for the next challenge!
GT: How can interested people find out more?
Elena and Katya: You can visit the official page or our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/events/1555495308048402/. We are free for questions! You can write to our e-mail: event.aegeem@gmail.org! Fasten the BELt and come to Belarus!
AEGEE-Pisa: TSU “The Italian Grand Tour: in two it’s love, in three it’s a party!”
GT: What’s the date of your SU?
Elena Martino: 17th of July till 2nd of August.
GT: Why should AEGEE members specifically apply for your event?
Elena: Because it’s going to be THE event! Can you imagine? 25 lucky participants are going to have the unique opportunity to visit all the principal cities of Tuscany and the Capital of the Capitals: Rome! Art, food, sun and fun, all of these in just one event!
GT: What’s the main topic and the three main thematic highlights?
Elena: It’s a TSU: so we will travel, travel and travel. We will show and appreciate the beauties of our country: we will focus on the historical, artistic and cultural aspects, also through some workshops organized in collaboration with the Cultural Working Group.
GT: Are you organising it with another antenna?
Elena: Yes, the SU is organised in collaboration with our friends from AEGEE-Firenze and AEGEE-Roma. All together we are a great team: we are working hard and you will see the results.
GT: Which cities or other interesting places will you visit?
Elena: We will visit most of Tuscany: Pisa with the famous leaning tower, the medieval town of Lucca, Firenze – in just one word: Renaissance – and Siena, known for its Palio race. We will spend some days in a typical Tuscan countryhouse and some days at the seaside: in the optional fee there is also a trip to the Giglio Island included. Then, last but not least, we will spend many days in Rome: we will have a city tour, museums, and a typical lunch on the Roman hills.
GT: What will be the social programme highlights?
Elena: The participants will have lot of time to party hard – warning: couch potatoes not allowed! Thematic and dance parties will not be missed, not to mention our aperitives! Other fun activities included in the programme: dance lessons, beach activities, cousine and wine workshop! If you are wondering how to prepare a really typical Italian pizza, just join us!
GT: In which year was the last SU that you organised?
Elena: The last one was ”Kalavrìa: Art Sun Fun!!!” organised in 2013 with AEGEE-Reggio Calabria.
GT: Why didn’t you organise an SU last year?
Elena: Unfortunately last summer most of the members were too busy with their works or studies; we were not able to take such a big responsibility, and we preferred to focus on the local level.
GT: What motivated you to organise an SU this year?
Elena: In the last year AEGEE-Pisa has grown up a lot: we have lots of new active members ready to push their limits with an international event! We have organized many local events, and fortunately we are still very busy! We felt it was the right time to make a European project. And the SU is not the only one we are working on: we are also organizing an official summer event in June: you are all invited in Pisa for its most important festival, the ‘’Luminara di San Ranieri’’; on the night of the16th of June, the city will be lit by a million of candles, amazing!
GT: How can interested people find out more?
Elena: Through the official channel or the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Italian-Grand-Tour-in-two-its-love-in-three-its-a-party/968846479795042. If it’s not enough, write us! This is our e-mail : grandtourtsu@gmail.com. Hope to see you here soon, Italy is calling!
AEGEE-Reggio Calabria: TSU “C.S.I. Reggio: Calabria SUnset, & Ice cream”
GT: What’s the date of your SU?
Giuseppe Grillea, President of AEGEE-Reggio Calabria: The event will take place from Wednesday, 19th of August, to Wednesday, 2nd of September.
GT: Why should AEGEE members specifically apply for your event?
Giuseppe: Because it is the perfect mix of happiness! Perfect weather all the year, one of the best sea locations in Italy, a cultural and historical city, all mixed with a fantastic team of organisers in best AEGEE style!
GT: What’s the main topic and the three main thematic highlights?
Giuseppe: Culture, History and Language. The lucky participant will have the possibility to visit the most important, beautiful and characteristic places of Calabria – and to learn Italian.
GT: Are you organising it with another antenna?
Giuseppe: AEGEE-Reggio Calabria is organizing this SU without other antennae.
GT: Which cities or other interesting places will you visit?
Giuseppe: Reggio Calabria of course, Tropea, Scilla, Pentedattilo, Bova, Aspromonte.
GT: In which year was the last SU that you organised?
Giuseppe: The last year AEGEE-Reggio Calabria organized an SU was in 2013.
GT: Why didn’t you organise an SU last year?
Giuseppe: The new board was elected in April. It was impossible to organise a Summer University, because the deadline was before our elections.
GT: What motivated you to organise an SU this year?
Giuseppe: A Summer University is one of the best meetings in AEGEE, and in the same time we can show our city, his culture and history in the best period of the year!
GT: How can interested people find out more?
Giuseppe: On the official info page. There is also the AEGEE-Reggio Calabria Facebook page, where we are posting and talking about our SU: https://www.facebook.com/events/1616296168583240/. So don’t wait… Check us and apply!
