DO NOT STOP

Summer is approaching and noisy Italy is becoming even more crowded and bustling.

Due to the current situation, we are limited in many things.

Despite these limitations, we still do not stop and manage to carry out various important and fun activities.

With the help of our organization, 2 more Italians left for Georgia through the Erasmus program. Once again I was given the chance to represent my country to them.

I participated in a virtual exchange program “Youth Into Business” with my colleagues and got a Youthpass too. It was the most unexpected thing in my life. I could never have imagined if a virtual exchange would be possible and if I would be so satisfied.

For 10 days we met about 30 young people from different countries and played various fun games while discussing interesting topics and making business plans. At first I was skeptical, but as the days went by, my heart sank and I did not want it to end. Most importantly, it gave me the opportunity to deepen and gain new knowledge.

Eurosud organization collaborates with school Spazio 13 to help young mothers acquire knowledge and contribute to development. I am happy to help young, purposeful parents achieve their goals. One of my students is a mother of 3 children. She with great enthusiasm is trying to learn the most difficult English program and pass the exams.

After taking a photography course, I became a very successful photographer ( I’m kidding ) and I will allow myself to share my photos with you.

 

GETTING EXPERIENCE

Pandemic, New Year and cold weather entered our lives together.

I am still in Italy and continue my favorite activities with EUROSUD. I join the chaotic steps of people in the cold streets and try to put the theory passed through the course of photography into practice.

The words of my lecturer “Tell the story with your photos” come to mind and I try to give a content to each of my photo, to utter my message, vision, feelings, character of the street or people into one photo.

Veil is my faithful companion. I am so used to seeing people in veils as if they follow us from birth. I probably can not even imagine walking in the future without it.  it is really strange.

The day was full of emotions. While Italy and the city of Bari are new and unfamiliar to me, carried away by the phone and the rhythm of life I have not even noticed the beautiful buildings, streets and people walking in these amazing streets. The 2 hours for taking photos given by the lecturer passed so quickly that I could not even notice it.  I was observing all the passers-by one by one, the buildings, the doors, the trees, the shops, the things and I was trying to catch their character.

While taking photos of the people, I wanted to go to them and listen to their sad or happy stories of life, what were they thinking about while walking down the streets or where they were going to in quick steps.

Enjoy each other, take a deep breath of a fresh air and share your stories with each other. Why can’t you stop any passer-by on the street and tell your story? Tell him why you are happy or what made you sad, what is bothering you, it could be that right person who will be able to help you.

When I came out of the warm room I started to moan, but in my heart, so silently. My legs are frozen, I can not feel my hands, I have to walk for 2 hours to take photos in this cold weather, how I can press the frozen finger on the camera button, I have been out all day, I am tired, I want to go home. All these thoughts were running through me. When this 2 hours passes I’ll be able to get the train, go home, eat and get warmly in my bed. Confused by these thoughts, I saw a homeless man lying on the street and I took a photo. I even hesitated a bit, because of what i was thinking about before. I took a secret photo, I did not want him to see me, maybe he could feel abused a little bit that I was taking him a photo.

Some people were entering to the markets, some of them coming out loaded, some of them were going home, some of them to see a parent or a lover or a friend and for taking a coffee and for having a nice conversation.  While this man was lying on a thin blanket. He was facing me and not moving, like he was posing for a photo. No one knows what he was thinking about.

Sooner or later we all finish our doings and go our warm homes. To complete another routine day or maybe some of us it was full of adventures. But this person will still stay there where I took him a  photo.  No one will be  interested in his story and everyone would think that he is another ordinary homeless person. How can we help him ?!

This one day and this course made me think about a lot of things.

 

 

 

 

FIRST STEPS

Despite of the current situation, every day in this organization is full of pleasant surprises. None of the days go routinely.

Writing and sending emails, searching and posting information on the site, reporting, translating documents, arranging presentations and travel guides (which is my favorite activity), contacting and giving the information to the interested and motivated people about the erasmus + programs.

My daily companion with veil and disinfectant became a report writing system . As I have already mentioned my duty in this company is not defined by one specific activity. New assignments, new people, gaining new experiences that motivates and helps me to reach my full potential and to maintain an active rhythm of a lifestyle, I am learning a lot of new things I have never done before.

I am trying to deepen the connection between Georgia and Italy. Every day I meet a lot of people collecting different stories. In collaboration with Agenzia Nazionale Giovani – ANG, I introduce to the public the stories full of adventures of motivated Georgians who came in Italy.  Their fighting spirit full of hope gives me so much motivation to share it with our radio listeners as interestingly and diversely as possible.

This month was quite fruitful because I participated as a volunteer in the activity #INSIEMEPERGLISDGS carried out by Save The Children organization. Another exciting day with interesting experiences.

#INSIEMEPERGLISDG was an opportunity to present the traveling installations # 2030IsNow and #SDGInAction, which started right at the Fiera del Levante in Bari and then continue on a journey through Italy.

The interactive installation # 2030IsNow aims to raise awareness among visitors about the Sustainable Development Goals and the meaning and importance of issues related to international cooperation and sustainable development. Furthermore, it is linked to the role that each individual can play in achieving these Goals. The #SDGINACTION installation shows, with practical examples, how the Italian Cooperation and its numerous international, national and local partners work in Italy to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. The installation also invites young people, families and citizens to get information and participate in the numerous activities that these entities carry out on the national territory to achieve the Goals.

Public art project celebrating the everyday heroes of our neighborhoods. With a focus on historic residents, we collaborate with local artists to celebrate those who have been a faithful, stable presence in strengthening and supporting their neighborhoods.

We partner with overlooked communities, share beautiful stories already taking place within, build community among the old and new residents, and encourage ownership of the neighborhood, so EUROSUD  has signed me up to photo reporting courses where I will learn how to take photos with a professional camera and to able to make expeditions in the future. (It turns out that it is not as easy to take good photos as it seems at first glance). Organizing a group exhibition can be a lot of work, but it’s also very rewarding, and a great way to gain experience working with galleries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BEGINNING OF THE ADVENTURES

My first day and impression in Italy was 10 years ago. I was relatively small then and I could not perceive emotions so strongly. Now after so many years I am back in Italy again as ESC volunteer. I have always loved this country and I did not want to limit my visits to this country just as a tourist.

I am Tika, a volunteer from Georgia, participant of one of the projects called – Me as a Reporter.

I heard about this project from my friend. In order to participate in this project, I had to register on the site of European Solidarity Corps through which I discovered the Eurosud association, full of numerous projects in which young people are able to develop skills, expand their opportunities to enter the world of work.

This project aims to create a significant impact. Its main objective is to create a strong connection between the Georgian community in Bari area and young Italians.

My anxiety grew into excitement and joy when I met and got to know my team members. The association is one whole family where teamwork is valued and the friendly environment  makes it easier to get the job done better.

I spent the first month getting to know better the association and the city. Have visited many beautiful cities, like my favorite city Polignano a mare, where I enjoyed beautiful streets eating the most delicious ice cream, with different emotions, once again with pleasure.

I attended filming in Matera and walked through the rain to this beautiful World Heritage Site. I walked down the narrow streets full of unique accuracy stone houses in Alberobello with childish admiration.

I discovered a lot of region Puglia’s characteristic food and drink like: focaccia barese,pasticciotto, zeppole and my favorite caffè leccese.

My first assignment was to give a presentation about Georgia to 4 Italian volunteers who will travel to Georgia through 2 projects prepared by the EUROSUD Association. The purpose of the presentation was to create a first impression for the volunteers and to create a so-called travel guide for them.