А можно по-русски?
First experience was interesting and fruitful. In pair with an experienced trainer we facilitated an activity on HIV/AIDS for 16 y.o. to-be-construction-workers. As it seemed there's no discipline whatsoever, laughs and jokes all the way, but the youngsters got interested. Altogether I'm pleased.
I've got to be a little faster - I'm calmly laying out the material, whereas the guys are young, with boiling blood, ready to act. That's where I keep losing them.
Well, going to work on. Just need to go home, get a new visa, help to organize a study visit from EU to Belarus...
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Fact
There's two of us. Didn't know that because his/her project was accepted in the Commission.
Sunday, 12 April 2009
STDs and other adventures
Fialta did a big job in the sphere of youth reproductive health. Non-formal seminars on sexually transmitted diseases and drug abuse are still popular, though the last project ended about a year ago. Schools are calling, asking to facilitate.
One-and-a-half hours long seminars are good not just to pass the information to participants, but they also make a great school for the facilitators. The theme is practical enough, but the circumstances tend to be stressful - school classes, pre-formed group, questionable organization and so on. Quite the excitement, I reckon. I can't wait! >:)
Last Sunday I passed a light 4-hour training on STDs with volunteer camp leaders. Usually facilitators for Fialta's seminars are being prepared via 2-day training courses, but they made an exception for me. I think I'll get the hang of it, I'm not a total newbie. On Monday I'll get an improvised test and on Friday I have first field experience. Not nervous, but I consider this kind of important.
* * *
Intercultural learning is working in strange ways. The fact that I speak great Russian is making most of the people confused about how deep I am in the context, about what I understand and mostly they consider that I don't need any extra help or information. This leads to two interesting moments:
1. there are many things everyone knows, but I don't. So I have to ask and insist on explanations.
2. when going deeper into some theme I see that my theory and experience differs from common. Sometimes I can offer another point of view, but I have to overcome the "current".
So basically, on the Johari window I'm walking from "blind" to "hidden".
Guess were I speaking latvian, environment would react differently, would be more obsessive and explain a lot. On the other hand I wouldn't fit in this quick. But this feeling, when you think you know what to do and how, but in practice it turns out you lose something completely primitive were you in the context. *Sigh* :)
One-and-a-half hours long seminars are good not just to pass the information to participants, but they also make a great school for the facilitators. The theme is practical enough, but the circumstances tend to be stressful - school classes, pre-formed group, questionable organization and so on. Quite the excitement, I reckon. I can't wait! >:)
Last Sunday I passed a light 4-hour training on STDs with volunteer camp leaders. Usually facilitators for Fialta's seminars are being prepared via 2-day training courses, but they made an exception for me. I think I'll get the hang of it, I'm not a total newbie. On Monday I'll get an improvised test and on Friday I have first field experience. Not nervous, but I consider this kind of important.
* * *
Intercultural learning is working in strange ways. The fact that I speak great Russian is making most of the people confused about how deep I am in the context, about what I understand and mostly they consider that I don't need any extra help or information. This leads to two interesting moments:
1. there are many things everyone knows, but I don't. So I have to ask and insist on explanations.
2. when going deeper into some theme I see that my theory and experience differs from common. Sometimes I can offer another point of view, but I have to overcome the "current".
So basically, on the Johari window I'm walking from "blind" to "hidden".
 |
Guess were I speaking latvian, environment would react differently, would be more obsessive and explain a lot. On the other hand I wouldn't fit in this quick. But this feeling, when you think you know what to do and how, but in practice it turns out you lose something completely primitive were you in the context. *Sigh* :)
Saturday, 4 April 2009
In Hrodna
But my visit to Hrodna turned out to be nothing like a business trip.
For the time of the training course I managed to visit a disco, get very little sleep, get a personal excursion of Hrodna, get to know the organizational culture of the "Third Sector" a little (very pleasant young journalists), try real blackberry jam and hitchhike to Minsk.
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| Hrodna - Landmarks |
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| Hrodna - Streets |
For the time of the training course I managed to visit a disco, get very little sleep, get a personal excursion of Hrodna, get to know the organizational culture of the "Third Sector" a little (very pleasant young journalists), try real blackberry jam and hitchhike to Minsk.
 |
| Travel |
Friday, 3 April 2009
School of educators
I spent the weekend in Hrodna at a training for leaders of educational circles, organized by the Organization of Civil Education.
They have an idea to integrate an interesting form of non-formal education for adults - educational circles. This form was borrowed from Sweden, where these circles are popular. The idea is to research a certain theme over a number of meetings (5-15 about 3 hours each) in a direction the group is interested in. The group is up to 12 participants, from which everyone is making an input to the learning process. And all this based on the principles of non-formal education.
The training was the first part of a large project. It was just to investigate the concept of the circle. Next we'll have a thematic seminar (6 different themes in different cities across Belarus) and a methodological, after which we'll be able to organize our own learning circle.
I can't really say how effective this form is in this concrete context. Guess time will tell.
They have an idea to integrate an interesting form of non-formal education for adults - educational circles. This form was borrowed from Sweden, where these circles are popular. The idea is to research a certain theme over a number of meetings (5-15 about 3 hours each) in a direction the group is interested in. The group is up to 12 participants, from which everyone is making an input to the learning process. And all this based on the principles of non-formal education.
The training was the first part of a large project. It was just to investigate the concept of the circle. Next we'll have a thematic seminar (6 different themes in different cities across Belarus) and a methodological, after which we'll be able to organize our own learning circle.
I can't really say how effective this form is in this concrete context. Guess time will tell.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
A word on the photos
Before my departure from Latvia my dad gave me his camera. Which came kind of handy - I stuck to a schedule of 3 photos a day for a month. And I don't think I'm still behind it.
My photos, after some tweaking and editing, make it to the internet. I use Picasa Web Albums as a host and divide my photos in a few main albums, which I update on a regular basis.
Captions mainly in russian, sorry (untranslatable play on words, some realities, which I can't find a synonym to and so on).
Here they are:
My impressions collected all over Belarus. Things which mean something to me personally (and often only to me personally).
From my apartment in Belrad - an institute of radiation protection.
Things I find funny, peculiar or just plain interesting for the major public.
More usual things I see in the streets.
Photos of famous sites, monuments or other objects of historical or cultural value.
Photos connected with my hosting organization Fialta.
Photos from my travels in Belarus. Yet to come. ;)
Occasionally I make albums dedicated to a single event, like Zubrenok or Minsk Boulderfest, which are available in my public photos.
My photos, after some tweaking and editing, make it to the internet. I use Picasa Web Albums as a host and divide my photos in a few main albums, which I update on a regular basis.
Captions mainly in russian, sorry (untranslatable play on words, some realities, which I can't find a synonym to and so on).
Here they are:
 |
| Belarus - Impressions |
 |
| Belrad |
 |
| Peculiar |
 |
| Minsk - Streets |
 |
| Minsk - Landmarks |
 |
| Fialta |
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| Belarus - Travel |
Occasionally I make albums dedicated to a single event, like Zubrenok or Minsk Boulderfest, which are available in my public photos.
Monday, 23 March 2009
RUSH Boulderfest 2009
On the weekend I took part in Minsk boulderfest RUSH 2009 (bouldering is a kind of rock-climbing on low rocks without safety equipment).
The competition was held all day Saturday (qualification) and Sunday (finals). There were reporters, television and stuff.
Qualification was divided into 3 sets 3 hours long each. With 25 routes and long queues. 5 routes for the finals and one super-hard route for anyone interested with a separate prize.
Altogether there were 182 climbers of different ages from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus. And one baltic-latvian-EU-representative. Guess who.
"And where's my flag?"
Even the competitions in climbing have a special atmosphere. It's not a competition between people, but more of a struggle with your own self. This produces respect and understanding which you feel in the mood and attitudes.
After the qualifications we had an afterparty with a free well-deserved pint of beer for every climber.
The finals were a different kind of spectacle. Both mens' and womens'. When you understand how much strength and time these people gave to climb like that, you can't ignore a feeling of great respect.
A guy from Kiev won mens' competition.
It felt like he did not compete, nor follow the results, nor count the points for different routes, but he just climbed everything he could. No emotions, calmly and precisely he climbed all 25 qualification routes, all 5 final routes and the super-hard route as well. A machine, not a human.
Anyway, I got great pleasure from climbing, it's not like anything else. Besides I met new and interesting people and even made it onto television.
My photos
Links:
Organizers' photos (club Han Tengri) - qualifications
Organizers' photos - finals
Results
An article on tut.by (belarussian news portal)
And video from ONT channel:
The competition was held all day Saturday (qualification) and Sunday (finals). There were reporters, television and stuff.
Qualification was divided into 3 sets 3 hours long each. With 25 routes and long queues. 5 routes for the finals and one super-hard route for anyone interested with a separate prize.
Altogether there were 182 climbers of different ages from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus. And one baltic-latvian-EU-representative. Guess who.
"And where's my flag?"
Even the competitions in climbing have a special atmosphere. It's not a competition between people, but more of a struggle with your own self. This produces respect and understanding which you feel in the mood and attitudes.
After the qualifications we had an afterparty with a free well-deserved pint of beer for every climber.
The finals were a different kind of spectacle. Both mens' and womens'. When you understand how much strength and time these people gave to climb like that, you can't ignore a feeling of great respect.
A guy from Kiev won mens' competition.
 |
| From Minsk - RUSH Boulderfest 2009 |
It felt like he did not compete, nor follow the results, nor count the points for different routes, but he just climbed everything he could. No emotions, calmly and precisely he climbed all 25 qualification routes, all 5 final routes and the super-hard route as well. A machine, not a human.
Anyway, I got great pleasure from climbing, it's not like anything else. Besides I met new and interesting people and even made it onto television.
My photos
Links:
Organizers' photos (club Han Tengri) - qualifications
Organizers' photos - finals
Results
An article on tut.by (belarussian news portal)
And video from ONT channel:
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
A visit to "Zubrenok"
On Sunday I didn't pass an opportunity to visit the most popular children camp in Belarus - "Zubrenok".
Camp administration invited different youth organizations to do small master-classes, present themselves and discuss further partnership.
The camp is situated on the bank of Naroch, the biggest lake in Belarus. Whole year through the camp takes in children of different ages for health and vacation programs.
They say the camp wasn't very good till some time ago, but improved much during last few years it was thoroughly renovated. Looks very appealing, 4 beds in a room, computer classes and stuff.
The atmosphere is very "campish". When entering a room children greet you on count of 3-4 with a loud "Good day!" all together.
Children are all smart and intelligent (the stay at camp is not a cheap one, 990 000 belarussian rubles for a summer session). The timetable is quite full, there's a lot of different activities, which makes children want a rest back home after such a surge of information and impressions. The camp serviced 13 600 children in 2008 or 167160 children-days.
We made a few simple getting-to-know and team-building exercises with the children, made a small reflection, as much as it was possible, and went on to the round table to meet the administration.
There were representatives of big youth organizations - pioneers, union of youth, the scouts, the guides, Association of UNESCO clubs, League of Youth Voluntary Service, Fialta (our organization) and others.
Mainly we discussed partnership possibilities with the camp, organization of some activities, inviting of volunteers and such.
After the round table we had an opportunity to present our organizations to the wide camp audience. Children were listening and asking questions, which is peculiar. I wouldn't sit through half the presentations in their age.
And that was the end of our visit, which overall left strong impressions.
Children walking in pairs with camp leaders, waking up and doing things strictly on schedule, greeting guests with a common yell, discipline, solitude...
Well yeah, "Land of Childhood", why not?
Camp administration invited different youth organizations to do small master-classes, present themselves and discuss further partnership.
The camp is situated on the bank of Naroch, the biggest lake in Belarus. Whole year through the camp takes in children of different ages for health and vacation programs.
They say the camp wasn't very good till some time ago, but improved much during last few years it was thoroughly renovated. Looks very appealing, 4 beds in a room, computer classes and stuff.
The atmosphere is very "campish". When entering a room children greet you on count of 3-4 with a loud "Good day!" all together.
Children are all smart and intelligent (the stay at camp is not a cheap one, 990 000 belarussian rubles for a summer session). The timetable is quite full, there's a lot of different activities, which makes children want a rest back home after such a surge of information and impressions. The camp serviced 13 600 children in 2008 or 167160 children-days.
We made a few simple getting-to-know and team-building exercises with the children, made a small reflection, as much as it was possible, and went on to the round table to meet the administration.
There were representatives of big youth organizations - pioneers, union of youth, the scouts, the guides, Association of UNESCO clubs, League of Youth Voluntary Service, Fialta (our organization) and others.
Mainly we discussed partnership possibilities with the camp, organization of some activities, inviting of volunteers and such.
After the round table we had an opportunity to present our organizations to the wide camp audience. Children were listening and asking questions, which is peculiar. I wouldn't sit through half the presentations in their age.
And that was the end of our visit, which overall left strong impressions.
Children walking in pairs with camp leaders, waking up and doing things strictly on schedule, greeting guests with a common yell, discipline, solitude...
Well yeah, "Land of Childhood", why not?
Monday, 2 March 2009
Qualification
I spent the most of today at a training course, learning how to improve quality of projects, supported by the CCF (Christian Children's Fund, as I understand one of a few foundations represented to Belarus).
I've had experience with "Youth in Action" as a project coordinator and this is a completely different experience for me. More strict, more to the lines and more... Sysytematic, I guess. They don't think about European dimensions, but they go for what Services which Clients receive, they have Indicators of reaching objectives which have Numbers. Which must have Numbers - the only way you can measure and monitor is through numbers...
I was sitting there like a happy piglet with a bag of balloons - at last something systematic! Someone really analyzes numbers and finds calculable criteria! It's exactly what my built-for-maths-and-systems brain can handle and work with!
But... Giving it some thought, there is something missing there. Exactly what was missing in the IT sphere - attitudes or values. Something that you can't measure, but really miss when it's not there.
When I write to YiA I talk about how I work, my approach and understanding.
When I write to CCF I talk about what I'll do and when, what results I'll have.
That's the difference I see right now.
I've had experience with "Youth in Action" as a project coordinator and this is a completely different experience for me. More strict, more to the lines and more... Sysytematic, I guess. They don't think about European dimensions, but they go for what Services which Clients receive, they have Indicators of reaching objectives which have Numbers. Which must have Numbers - the only way you can measure and monitor is through numbers...
I was sitting there like a happy piglet with a bag of balloons - at last something systematic! Someone really analyzes numbers and finds calculable criteria! It's exactly what my built-for-maths-and-systems brain can handle and work with!
But... Giving it some thought, there is something missing there. Exactly what was missing in the IT sphere - attitudes or values. Something that you can't measure, but really miss when it's not there.
When I write to YiA I talk about how I work, my approach and understanding.
When I write to CCF I talk about what I'll do and when, what results I'll have.
That's the difference I see right now.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Birthday
Yesterday Fialta has officially gone a 14 year old teenager.
Only senior members, who know the organisation for some years, remember Fialta's founders. So everyone is sitting quietly listening to great stories.
And watching presentations.
Story of a city (ru)
Fialta's citizens (ru)
The photos are 3 to 14 years old.
Only senior members, who know the organisation for some years, remember Fialta's founders. So everyone is sitting quietly listening to great stories.
And watching presentations.
Story of a city (ru)
Fialta's citizens (ru)
The photos are 3 to 14 years old.
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