Day 3: Vycholovka and home to Stara for Turkey and Bangladesh

Janet Whyte representing Moneaugue College St. Ann, Jamaica writes about our 3rd day here on the conference.

On the 18 of August 2010, the day begin by embrailing ourselves in the delicious display of Polish breakfast. Everyone went to watch the magnificent display of the clock in the town centre of Stara Bystrica. Then board the bus for Vychylovka. Where the Footstep 12 contigent went to visit Ksucke Muzuem in Vychylovka.
At the Muzeum we were on time for the train tour which takes us several metres of elevation by pushing and pulling (zig zag)by switching lines, going up descending. Where we were exposed to how people lived in the past,there culture and lifestyle. However it was amazing to see the typical system of working the train in the past, to carry wood from the forrest. The wood was used to make house, furniture and also help in the infrastructure of the country for a living.
In the eveing the Keyans were cooking Omenyah,rice, beef, potatoes and ginger tea. Afterwhich the Keyans showcase some leso(cloth wrap), nacklace beads,artwork pictures (picture. Which was designed by the youths of the community,which exposed there skills and creativity, who are now in need of a job. At seven pm Emrah presented on the different aspect of Turkey within there culture, how it is used to uplift the people in the country. Through various organization like the youth organization, which is a non government organization operated by him and other members.
Arosh.Ali who represent Bangladash, present about proverty within his community among young people. Wherein the upperclass people didnt pay much attention towards the lower class people, who couldnt afford to make a living on there own. And so he stated that its a very urgent situation where help is needed. Also, before everyone went to bed, we were all entertained by a movie called, Garbage Warrior. Where people in New Mexico used empty cans and old tyres with soil to build houses,equiptment and other materials to reduce the hike of one`s expense.

Footsteps 12: Day 2!

Day 2 at Footstep 12 was our first in the village of Stara Bystricia, 20 km from Cadca. Jana Eyssel reports on the goings on!

The second day of the Foostep 12 conference began early at 8 o'clock in the morning with a Slovak breakfast served by the KERIC volunteers. We had sweet bread and Zavin s makovou naplnou, sweet bread with poppies, together with jam. For our first workshop we had a walk through the hilly area around our acommodation – but this wasn't to be a normal walk, it was a Philosophy walk. The group got in pairs, discussing different questions. The questions tackled the issues of sustainability, consumerism, over-population, happiness and travel experiences. After having come back to our accomodation, we discussed the questions together: very different views and experiences came together.

The Philosophy Walk was followed by the Kenyan project presentations. Introducing the „Kisumu Links and Sister Cities“ project Mikidadi gave a short introduction of the roots of the link between Kisumu and Cheltenham, reemphasizing Dennis' role. Margaret was next, presenting Kosimbo, a charity founded by her supporting widows and orphans. Third, Steven spoke about CADIF Kenya, a youth based organisation, coping with a wide range of different problems people face in Kisumu (e.g. HIV/AIDS, climate change, children becoming orphans).

After a tasty Slovak lunch we went on with the project presentations: Monika presented Tilia, an ecological association based in Torun, Poland. Among others, they run a forest school providing ecological education.

We hoped Ramnicu Valcea, Romania, would be represented at the conference. I travelled to Romania in March this year on a Global Venture meeting Irina who took me to several projects willing join the GF network. Despite their enthusiasm, their resources are so stretched currently that they could not spare the time to join us here. Teo, a student at the University of Gloucestershire, is here at the conference also representing her home country Romania. Together, we presented the current voluntary and social work situation in Ramnicu Valcea and Romania more broadly.

I also presented my home town Göttingen, which used to be one of the strongest link in the GF networks. However, this connection lapsed in the last years and needs to be reestablished. As I don't live there anymore, we do not only need to identify projects interested in linking with GF, but we also need a contact person in Göttingen.

Being the last group presenting today, Desmond, Janet and Michael from Saint Ann, Jamaica, told us about their college, Moneague College having implemented a very sustainable way of waste recyclying. All the presentations gave an insight into the backgrounds out of which the projects have developed in their communities and also highlightened difficulties they are coping with. However, the representatives already started to connect with each other, discussing possible solutions. If we move on like this for the rest of the week the conference's goal might be in sight!

Right now, we are having a break waiting for the first national dinner: It's the Jamaicans' turn. It already smells very nice!

Hello from Slovakia

Teo Craivan, who is here representing Cheltenham, UK and Romania simultaneously, was the first to pick up the pen to write us a blog entry.

Hello from Slovakia!!! The first conference day started a little melancholic – everybody had to leave the host families we got so attached to, but promised to return another time. Then we all met at KERIC headquarters and we had the official opening. After this we went to the K Museum, where we’ve met the manager of the museum and the manager of the culture house that welcomed us to Cadca and the surroundings. The museum was amazing, participants having the possibility to play the Slovakian ‘building’ game and they were all very excited of what they’ve made. After the visit at the museum we went back to KERIC where we had to find the presents they prepared for us in different parts of the building. After discovering some interesting facts about our host we went to eat. (The food here is really nice) Then Morgan had an introduction of the week. I have to tell you that this conference is dedicated to the person that made all this possible, Dennis Mitchell. The one that had the idea and the courage to not just want a better world but make footsteps in order to achieve his goals. We thank you Dennis and we promise to continue making those footsteps you taught us. Later this day we went to the Culture house for a special program – Slovak music and dance – you must have a lot of energy in order to try the traditional dance. In the evening we boarded on the bus to Stara Bistrica, a small village near CADCA. We are living in wooden cottages and it’s the best thing ever – we are four people from four different countries under one roof. Everybody should try it at least once!!! Jana’s turn to write tomorrow, until then Dobry vecer!!!

On the eve of Footstep 12

Footstep 12 is soon to begin and the participants have started to arrive here in Cadca, Slovakia.

Participants from Jamaica, Kenya, Germany and the UK have already arrived ahead of the conference, most are staying with host families in and around the city, but we all congregated in the town square last night to take in the All Slovakia Handball Championships.

Over the next week or so, we will be reporting on events here at the conference as we attempt to link together community capacity building projects from across the whole world to form a Global Footsteps network fit for volunteer exchange.