Feedback from Footstep 12 in Slovakia 6

Mikidadi Olela, our man in Kisumu, has sent us his reflections on Footstep 12!

My trip to Slovakia was a learning experience and adventure. My first time to be in Europe and outside Africa. I enjoyed every single bit of it, my journey though long and exhausting, it was exciting all the way.

The programme and the way it was ran was superb, hosting, the conference, the excursions were all marvelous. The Slovaks were very friendly and nice people; I love them all and the volunteers too. I would like to express our (Kenyans) gratitude to all the "KERIC"members, the entire Global Footsteps family and all those who were involved...KUDOS....!!

Feedback from Footstep 12 in Slovakia 5

Jana Eyssel our representative from Gottingen attended Footstep 10 in Cheltenham and has twice been on Global Ventures with us. Jana volunteered to help out at Footstep 12 and was fantastic in organising and facilitating before and during the conference. Here are her reflections.

The week I spent with the other participants of the Global Footstep 12 conference was a very enriching and encouraging one. I had the duty (and the pleasure!) to pick up the three participants coming from Kisumu, Kenya, at the Frankfurt airport and travelling with them to Cadca, Slovakia, where the conference was held. These two days served as a perfect introduction to the conference. I enjoyed talking to the Kenyans and to show them around – sometimes it was like seeing my country and Europe with different eyes.

Having arrived in Slovakia, we all had a very pleasant weekend with our host families, I found myself in a family introducing me to traditional Slovak sweets and liquors, and playing a lot of games. For the conference, the participants moved to a small town close to Cadca. Living and spending all the time together, we could get to know each other and I enjoyed having the possibility to talk to people from all over the world about important and serious things, but also to having fun with them. The projects’ presentations were very interesting and the people were linking their projects to each other. At the end of the week, many “small” links between two or three projects or people were established, but also the network as a whole had been strengthened. I hope we will stick to our plans and goals! I also enjoyed learning so much about different cultures. The task for everyone to prepare one typical meal was an ideal introduction to all those delicious national cuisines. Also, singing Kenyan songs at the fireplace and hearing about Desmond’s beehives was a great pleasure!

I hope to see you all again soon!!

Feedback from Footstep 12 in Slovakia 4

Solene Mouton, a young French lady and volunteer with KERIC in Slovakia has written us some feedback from her participation at the Footstep 12 conference. Solene, devised several of the activities and we hope that one day she will establish an organisation in her home village in Brittany and bring it into the Global Footsteps community.

I participated in Footsteps12 in Slovakia - Cadca, because I was volunteer with Keric (European Voluntary Service), so had the opportunity to be connected to this community. At the beginning I didn't understand well the aims of the conference because for me Global Footseps was an organisation that I didn't know. After many exchange, I get the aims of this community. I could learnt a lot about projects that people are carrying out in different countries, in the world around us, the differents cultures, the differents issues that everybody is working on to try to do better the life in their local contaxt.. During the 10 days we shared a lot about our experiences, ideas, culture, point of view.. and this through games, discussion, presentation, and a great great atmosphere that everybody built! This conference was really successful, where we could mix fun and serious exchange, and meet beautiful people. Today, new organisations around the world are connected and start to work on common project: voluntary, international day.. and for this, the conference was a success. To be connected with this community it just give me more and more motivation to pursue common project and be curious about what's happening around us. Let's enjoy future projects together!

Feedback from Footstep 12 in Slovakia 3

The next bit of feedback from Footstep 12 comes from Lenka. Lenka works for KERIC in Cadca and helped to organise and run the conference; her energy and enthusiasm provided so much momentum, she is a star!

I was involved in the conference Footstep 12 as a organiser from host organisation KERIC for first time this year 2010 and it was amazing experience full of positive and enthusiastic people ready for positive changes and open to new possibilities and ideas.

We were sharing experiences, different points of views of ecological issues, voluntary work –how to motivate youngsters, ways of work with children, youth and adults, different kind of outdoor activities (philosophy walk, moving forward, parachute games,…. ). We got new useful skills and knowledge. Different cultures and so similar ideas were leading to cooperation and new projects in local and also international level (especially. – the EU programme 'Youth in Action' - European Voluntary Service)

During conference were participants hosted in families from Čadca. It was big cultural experience for both sides and through international breakfasts and dinners we could taste a bit of different cultures which brought us a little bit closer.

I can only say, I am looking forward to other projects, activities, ideas, challenges, cooperation through Global Footsteps!

Feedback from Footstep 12 in Slovakia 2

More feedback from Footstep 12, this time from Nuran of Trabzon, Turkey

I would like to talk about an activity called The Ecological Walk which we did while in Cadca. There were three ways to go to meeting point: Easy, which I participated in; Medium and difficult! While walking we had to talk about some items about our countries situation (transport, accomodation, rubbish and litter, food, energy sources, natural resources, environmental projection. We talked, talked and talked with Margaret :)) and I learned a lots of things about Kenya. I knew before that Kenya is poor country but I cant imagine so much like that. Along the way was ok for me (even if I dont feel young :)) but Margaret couldnt manage it too easily. I think when that kind of activities are planned more thought for older people is needed. And I would like to say that before meeting you send to us those topics which we will talk about. Because we have to know some topics deeply such as rubbish and litter politics I think.

I would like to say that it was so great meeting for me. As Arosh (from Bangladesh) said, I didn't meet that kind of lovely people in Europe before. I should change my idea about european people :))
All of them are not selfish and cold :))

And Morgan, I would like to say to you that when you were speaking I felt that I was listening BBC News!
Best wishes,

Nuran

Feedback from Footstep 12 in Slovakia

We're just about to post some feedback from those who attended our ground-breaking Footstep 12 conference in Slovakia back in August. First up is Zbyszek from Tilia Forest School in Torun!

For the first time I participated in the conference Global Footsteps. It was a very nice time but also instructive. Cool, because I established many new friendships from around the world, because I know the cool and nice people, because I could see that everywhere, regardless of skin color, race (etc) are good people, that the goodness of people and openness is not dependent on racial and cultural differences.

I might know the reality prevailing in specific countries and problems of people living there. I have read it with the specific work of NGOs and associations. I was able to establish first contacts with representatives of the organization and take the first steps of cooperation between Tilia and NOGs others. It is important also that I could find out for yourself that you can find common ground with people from other countries, continents.

The organization of the conference was done perfectly. The form of each conference, forced to open to conversation, to show himself. It is very important.

Personally, I regret that I could not stay until the end of the conference.

Yours
Zbigniew Szczesniak

Toruń Ecological Association "Tilia"
Torun, 02.09.2010r.

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.