EVS in Dresden

Stranger Festival

2009-09-10T00:31:00.000-07:00

Hi my dear Kultur Aktiv. How are you doing? Alles klar????
I promised that I will update my blog even from Armenia and as I always keep my promises, here I am with my report :)

As you remember I am one of the founding memners of Youth Initiative Centre and we are doing a lot of projects. I want to present this one as it was financed by German embassy in Armenia :)
Here are some photos. :)

My last day in the office :))

2009-06-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

Here we are finally my last day :)) Today is my last day in the office and maybe you will not believe me but I will miss the office and all of you, though it was really hard for me I had a lot of difficulties but any way I met a lot of nice people and I will miss you all... i want to apologize if sometimes I was rude.
I will miss my Blog :)) hope you will check it because I will write new posts from Armenia till Margarita is here and then she will continue to work on it and I will check it everyday :))
My dear Kultur Aktiv I wish you all the best and hope to meet all of you in Armenia :)))

Congratulationssssssss Mirko :))

2009-06-23T00:55:00.000-07:00

HEy Mirko has become a FATHER,,,congratulations Mirko jan,,,He is really cute I am sure I will meet him in Armenia :)) and we will do someproject with him some day and maybe he will marry some nice Armenian girl:)))))))
congratulationsssssssssssss :)))

Harald's next movie :))

2009-06-23T00:44:00.000-07:00

He he :))) as you know I was working with Harald on my movie :)) the movie is readyyyyyyy :)) I am very happy I had the chance to work with Harald I really enjoyed the process. I am here already 11 months and I have never tried German national food and thanks Harald for giving me that chance before my leaving. It was really tasty I couldn't imagine that German food can be so tasty :)) The working process in his studio gave me chance to learn that in Germany there are also institutions and organizations that work like a team and the atmosphere is like in the family. Before that I was sure there are no such things in Germany.
Here is some small and funny video which Harald and me made while making the movie :))
I was just having fun ,,nothing serious ;))

Presenatation with Harald Schluttig

2009-06-12T03:42:00.000-07:00

On 11th of June in Kultur Aktiv took place the presentation of Armenian movie with Harald Schluttig :)) I want to thank everyone who was there :))) I hope you enjoyed it...

Presentation of Armenian movie

2009-06-09T02:18:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone :)))
On 11th of June there will be presentation of short movie about my hometown Gyumri made by Harald Schluttig..
The presentation will take lace at Kultur Aktiv e.V . Bautzner Straße 49 :)))
You are invited to take part in it and to get a little bit closer to Armenian culture :))

P.S. Maybe you will have chance to try some Armenian food and Armenian world famous Ararat brandy :)))

See you there :)))

''Endless Bazar ''

2009-05-29T03:44:00.000-07:00

''Youth Initiative Centre'' non formal group ( one of the creators and members of which is me ;) and ''5th floor'' cultural group with the support of German Embassy in Armenia organized ''Endless Bazar'' project during which was the exhibition of the works of German artist Harald Schlutich ( between he is from Dresden ;).
During the event were present a lot of official guests as well as German Ambassador in Armenia.
Cool YIC ::)))

P.S Wait more photos ;) Harald Schlutich will be back from Armenia in some days and I will have an interview with him :)))

Dancing :) Dancing :) Dancing :)

2009-05-19T02:27:00.001-07:00

Armenian Dancing is back...every Monday at 17:30 KulturAktiv is full of screaming, running, laughing and sometimes dancing kids :))) I know that the noise disturbs the ones who work, and every time I should ask someone to take out the chairs and table ( it's not so easy)...I was upset as that is the room Kultur Aktiv suggested me for having dances, when I wanted to rent the other room for dancing...BUT I have found solution :)))))))))))))) he he Dancing classes in the yard :))) Yesterday we did our classes in the yard and the kids really liked it... I am happy I've found the solution for the room and for the noise... :)))

P.S. no photos...sorry ...my camera ist kaput

The funniest project of Kultur Aktiv

2009-05-12T04:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Hey.... I hope you all still remember about Speilraumheimat :)))...Attention! Attention! Achtung...!Achtung...!WE DID IT. WE Rocked Dresden...On Sunday the streets of Dresden were full of colorful creatures from history and not only...The colorful participants of the workshop were dancing, singing and spreading fun and smiles...
Congratulations Marcus and Lena :)and Kultur Aktiv , of course, :)

Some points

2009-05-07T00:58:00.001-07:00

Hallo hallo dear Kultur Aktiv.
As far as I have learnt that many of you are thinking that we are here on vacations and we don't do anything I've decided to clear some points.
Dear all first of all what is EVS. EVS is a programme financed by European Union, which aims to give opportunity for young people from different countries to have cultural exchange, to live in foreign country, to have new experience while HELPING in some CERTAIN project.
The other point that everybody is mentioning that we get more many than other members of KULTUR AKTIV....Dear friends we get money from EUROPEAN UNION, from YOUTH IN ACTION program, we don't get money from Kultur Aktiv. And the costs of nice flat that we are living in are also covered by YOUTH IN ACTION program.
Why are we here? We are here to HELP ( TO HELP and not to work, volunteer is not a professional, and is not worker and employee). In agreement which we signed was written we are supposed to help in ROCK for Peace project and to help in Kultur Aktiv's daily work and we should develop our own initiatives.
So my dears let's talk about the agreement and it's points, as you Germans like rules and are supposed to follow them.
The Kultur Aktiv part of agreement is not complete : there is no project, there was no language course for 5 months and so on... ( small things like money should be transferred on our account monthly on the 1st, but we all know it doesn't work..)
And now Volunteer part of the agreement..we all have developed and realized our initiatives ( we have written our own small projects which we can't apply as Kultur Aktive, other initiatives like Armenian Dance,Opening of German Corner in Armenia, trying to transffer books to Armenia, Ardian is working on festivals,Party in Alaunpark )and unfortunately we didn't get much support from our hosting organization.
Ulyana wanted to realize her idea but she was told she can't apply as Kultur Aktiv, the same was with me when I wanted to apply for the project I wrote.
There are a lot of things I don't want to talk about but the most offensive and awful for me was the story with beamer. I was doing my activity , demonstration and KULTUR AKTIV told I SHOULD PAY 20 EURO FOR BEAMER /projector/ . I know that I should accept and understand cultural differences but I am sorry I can't understand and accept this..But I am happy that I realized my idea even without support of Kultur Aktiv and thanks everyone who helped, special thanks to DANA and ARDIAN. And one more thing you all are very interested what are we doing but only 3 people from Kultur Aktive were present at my activity. And I am sure maximum 3 people is checking the blog. And this blog aimed to show you what are we doing and of course get some feedback, comments, suggestions,,,,
Now some points about our working hours. Dear friends we should work 5 or 6 hours per day. Just to make clear for some of you that we are taking part in language course( 6 hours per week and ) and in Marcus's project. So when we are in the office just 3 hours it doesn't mean that we just worked 3 hours it means that then we have to go to Language course or to Marcus's project which are also working hours for us.
And one more thing you have the attitude that we should be very happy and grateful to be here, that we are people form poor countries and you gave us opportunity to enjoy your wonderful country and we should be very happy and grateful. Of course we are happy to have new experience in new country but we are not 2nd class people and somehow you also should be grateful for having EVS project you know that it's not so bad ;)
So my friends I know that you think that I am the worst one always complaining, but I am just telling the facts as they are...In any case I am happy to meet you all,, you are very nice people..when there is no work ... You are really nice and kind people and I am happy to meet all of you...And I know we are not perfect,, we also have our mistakes..we know it....So I just wanted to clear some points for people who think we are on vacation...Sorry if I was rude but I just retell the facts....I hope there will be some comments,,though I am not sure...
Have a nice day my dear Kultur Aktiv...

SPIELRAUM MENSCH/HEIMAT

2009-05-05T01:24:00.000-07:00

Hallo Hallo :)
Here we are...funny participants of funny project...Does everybody know about the most successful project of Kultur Aktiv SPIELRAUM MENSCH/HEIMAT workshop? If not check the website integradd.de.
SPIELRAUM MENSCH/HEIMAT is Marcus' and Lena's great long-term project in which we take part with pleasure. The atmosphere and the idea of the project is so so cool, that it doesn't even seems like a work. We just relax and enjoy the working process. Thanks Marcus for giving us such opportunity.
Here is some photos...And wait for the photos from great event which will be on Sunday. By the way if you are interested you can come and watch how Auguste the Strong, Madonna, Russian General. the Death and the others will walk, sing and dance along the streets of beautiful Dresden.

Profile picture

2009-04-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

Finally EVS family has got a profile picture...it not so easy..though we lived together but it's was difficult to have a photo all together , but finally yesterday we managed it and now we have the most wonderful photo ever ;)
Hope you will like it...
Das ist Fantastisch!!!!!!!!!!!!!

April 24...

2009-04-28T04:55:00.000-07:00

I will not write much about this ... photos will tell everything...and thanks everyone who helped us...special thanks to Dana and Ardian...

Preparation process /April 24/

2009-04-27T00:43:00.000-07:00

24th of April...Never Forget...This is the day which can not forget any Armenian...
...Armenian volunteers Nelli Minasyan and Mikhail Badasyan is getting ready for the action for Armenian Genocide Memorial Day...

April 24th

2009-04-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

Alle sind herzlich eingeladen

Hallo meine Liebe!!!

Hiermit möchte ich euch zur Erinnerung an die Opfer des armenischen Völkermordes durch das Osmanische Reich auffordern.

Vor 94 Jahren wurden im damaligen Osmanischen Reich bis zu 1,5 Millionen Armenier umgebracht.

Was geschah vor 94 Jahren?

Von 1915 bis zum Ende des Ersten Weltkriegs 1918 wurde Schätzungen zufolge die Hälfte der armenischen Bevölkerung in der Türkei vertrieben und getötet. Die 1,5 Millionen Armenier hatten sich schon Jahrhunderte vor der Ankunft des alttürkischen Herrschergeschlechts der Seldschuken in Ostanatolien angesiedelt. Viele brachten es im Osmanischen Reich zu beachtlichem Wohlstand und wurden deshalb von vielen beneidet.

Warum gilt der 24. April als Gedenktag?

Für die Armenier ist der 24. April der Tag des Gedenkens an den Beginn des Völkermordes. Am diesem Tag vor 94 Jahren ließ die jungtürkische Regierung fast die gesamte armenische Oberschicht in Konstantinopel, dem heutigen Istanbul, verhaften und deportieren. Die 235 armenischen Politiker, Künstler, Journalisten, Unternehmer wurden später ermordet. In den folgenden Monaten trieben türkische Gendarmen, Polizisten und Soldaten fast alle Armenier des Osmanischen Reiches in Sammellagern zusammen. Viele wurden auf die berüchtigten Todesmärsche nach Süden geschickt, direkt in die syrische Wüste. Bis zu eine Million Menschen starben nach Schätzungen auf den Todesmärschen. Insgesamt fielen etwa 1,5 der zwei Millionen türkischen Armenier dem Genozid 1915 und 1916 zum Opfer.

Am 24. April veranstalten das Kulturbüro Sachsen e.V. und Kultur Aktiv e.V. eine Straßenaktion in Dresden zur Erinnerung an die Opfer.

Alle Interessenten sind herzlich eingeladen um 20 Uhr neben dem Theaterhaus (Postplatz) an einem Kerzentanz als Zeichen der Erinnerung teilzunehmen.
Der Kerzentanz - Mompar - ist ein armenischer Volkstanz und dient dazu zusammen die Kerzen anzuzünden und an die 1,5 Millionen ermordete Armenier zu erinnern.

Ihr könntet auch bei euch zu Hause von 20 Uhr bis 21 Uhr eine Kerze anzünden und den Opfern gedenken.

24. April – NEVER FORGET

Hiking day ..."Sächsische Schweiz :))

2009-04-20T00:27:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Ex EVS volunteers organized a hiking day to Sächsische Schweiz. It was great I enjoyed my day. Hiking, jokes, nice people, searching for eggs,,,( by the way thanks Easter Bunny :))...Sächsische Schweiz is really nice place,,,( not so fanatastic as Armenian mountains,,,but nice view ;)

Party in Alaunpark

2009-04-17T03:54:00.000-07:00

Last week Ardian, Ulyana and Martin realized their idea of doing party in Alaunpark.
Nice music with, tasty food, happy people...everything was great people were enjoying the nice weather and music and food.
Cool idea guys :)

P.S. But unfortunately later the police made them stop the party...unfortunately I wasn't there at that time otherwise instead of these nice photos we would see how policemen made chaos in Alaunpark...

The next volunteer from Armenia

2009-04-09T04:01:00.000-07:00

Here we are,,,as you know the next EVS project is approved and so in summer Kultur Aktiv will have new volunteers...
Here is the next Armenian volunteer Margarita Zakaryan.I had an interview with her on mobile and I am happy to present it to you

'' Hi I am Margarita. I am very romantic & I guess this is one of the reasones for being connected to art.
I have graduated from the Vanadzor Teachers' Training Institute the faculty of philology, English department.
I attended the music school & also the painting school. Music & painting are my hobbies & passion .
I have been the vocalist of one of the local rock bands & the songwriter.
These 2 (playing the guitar & painting ) are very imporatnt occupation in my life. I am very very happy that I will have the opportunity to live in Germany and of course to work in Kultur Aktiv.
If you need some more information ,please let me know!!

So dear Kultur Aktiv wait for your new volunteers,,I hope that this time you will have less problems with them...At least I can guarantee that Margarita will not complain the whole time ;)
So good luck :)))

EVS 2009 :))) the project is approved :))))

2009-04-09T03:57:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Kultur Aktiv and mainly Petra,,,
Great the project is approved and in 3 months you will have new porjcet and new volunteers.
We hope that the new ones will be better than we ;) and we wish that in this project there will be no problems...
Hope they will like Dresden and our EVS flat ;)
Good luck Kultur Aktiv :)))))))))

( check the interview with the new Armenian volunteer from Armenia ;)

Opening of the office

2009-04-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

Yahooooooooooooooooooo,,,,finally,,,after the awful chaos,,,finally,,,ura ura ura,,,

A lot of guests!!!nice music!!!Russian songs!!!Armenian dances!!!food!!!everything was great!!!

Congratulations KULTUR AKTIV!!!

Open air language course

2009-04-04T11:39:00.000-07:00

Finally spring's come :)))))

Last week we decided to do our language course in the park enjoying the beauty of Dresden, at the same time we were trying to speak German with our nice teacher Petra ;)

It's always great when we find the way to bring together useful and pleasant things.

Dancing, Dancing, Dancing :)))

2009-04-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

And here we are again with Armenian dances,,,

We have new dancers ;)))

Little Nastya and our brave and handsome Lewin and Leon have joined my very beautiful and talanted Emily and Antonia.

I am really surprized and very happy they are very talanted...

I am sure you will witness great show in June :)))

Language Course

2009-03-26T16:05:00.000-07:00

Ich siehe was, was du nicht siehst... ( sorry if I did spelling mistakes ;)

This is not a quotation and not a volunteers' philosophical thoughts,,,ABER,,, the name of the childish game which we played during the language course,,,,Thanks Petra jan for funny and useful lesson ;) it helps to learn and remember german words,,, Looking forward to the next lesson :)))

Cleaning day :))))))

2009-03-26T00:45:00.000-07:00

Like in all families in our EVS family also, there are cleaning days....not so often,,but sometimes it happens ;)...yesterday it was cleaning day after strange and funny language course we decided to clean the flat,,,,,after 2 not so long and hard hours ( as Ardian was cleaning with me ;) thanks Ardian ;) we have clean and nice flat again,,, :)))) and with Ardian's very clever and creative idea to take away all the dishes and leave only 3, I hope our flat will be clean for a long time... ;)

New office :)))

2009-03-25T07:18:00.000-07:00

ha ha finally Kultur Aktiv has moved to a new building,,,everything is new,,,large and light rooms,,,more space,,,but not everything is ready yet,,,,but ALLES CLAR,,,we have still time till the official opening of the office :))

Wait for new photos from the opening party :)))

Getting ready for Demonstration

2009-03-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

''Geh Denken''... ''Go and Think''...''Գնա և Մտածիր''............ with this slogan Kultur Aktiv NGO got ready to the Demonstration which took place on 14.02.09...

We EVS volunteers worked hard in posters making process and we really enjoyed the process :))) It's always great to have something to do and especially when that something is the thing you like and that something you are doing with the people you like ... :))

Armenian Dance

2009-03-25T06:28:00.001-07:00

EVS volunteer Nelli Minasyan started her own small project '' Armenian Dances'' with german kids. Every Tuesday at 5 o'clock Nelli is enjoying her time with the sweet and cute german kids :))).

''Every time I am looking forward to Tuesday to come. I am surprized how talanted are the kids. They can dance and they enjoy it. It's great. As the result of these lessons there will be a small perfomance.''

You will find more info and photos on this blog... :)))