tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60640010955133463592024-03-13T03:56:51.688+00:00Juventude Cruz VermelhaA blog exploring the work of the Youth Red Cross in Braga and its four EVS volunteersJuventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-45209512272489096332017-04-21T18:08:00.000+01:002017-04-21T18:08:43.512+01:00Experiences and memories as an EVS volunteer with JCV Braga<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Having spent twelve months with JCV, to reflect on and write
about it all and the impact it has had on me after just two weeks back in the
UK seems a bit imbalanced, but I’m going to give it a go.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I arrived on a rainy day at the end of March 2016, a
rain so incessantly hard that it completely captured my attention with its
force, I had no idea what I really had in store. At that point I barely knew or
understand what EVS was, just that I would be participating in this programme
for twelve months with the Youth Red Cross in Braga, Portugal and that I would
be carrying out some tasks for them. As I settled into the role and time
passed, I quickly began to understand what EVS is and what it has to offer. I
am sure it is different for every individual and varies between organisations,
but to me, EVS is the opportunity to contribute towards society, whilst also
embarking on your own path of learning and discovery. It is the opportunity to
help others, meet new people and broaden your horizons. The chance to
experience another culture and learn another language, all while enforcing
positive change through your role as a volunteer. You don’t necessarily know
what direction your EVS will take, or how it will turn out when you arrive, but
opening yourself up to all these changes, trying new things, and always being
willing to get involved in whatever may be thrown at you will certainly set you
on the right path.</div>
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Spending a year with JCV as a volunteer was a hugely
rewarding one. It gave me the space to grow and develop with lots of people
there always willing to help me on the way. I developed new skills and
strengthened current ones in ways that I found both rewarding and interesting.
It was a safe environment where I could express my ideas and emotions without
fear of ridicule. Everyone was welcoming and enthusiastic about hearing how we
could all make a positive impact on the organisation. To be presented with so
many opportunities to grow and experience new things was something I could not
have anticipated and certainly has helped me to become a better person. In
turn, I hope through my work I made a positive contribution to JCV, enriching
the work done there. JCV was a place where I could paint the canvas of my EVS
as I saw fit and how I wanted; I can’t imagine many other organisations giving
their volunteers the freedom and trust that was placed in us.</div>
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The right person on an EVS with JCV, will of course want to
succeed and do well, but it is a safe environment to try things that may take time
or may not work at all. As a result, I tried a couple of things that didn’t
work out, but I was also able to achieve a lot of great things over the course
of my EVS, and not all of those achievements were things I already knew how to
do. I think if I had to list three things I was particularly proud of achieving
during my EVS, I would firstly have to start with the youth exchange
application. A lot of effort went into it, so to complete the application and
for it to score well and be approved was a really satisfying moment for me and
everyone else involved and I look forward to hearing how the implementation
goes later this year. Secondly, I think I would have to say the book
accompanying the #<i>equ</i><i>ê?! </i>campaign because this has involved me
learning how to use lots of new bits of software. Finally, my third achievement
would be how well I have done learning the Portuguese language. JCV was really
supportive of our efforts to grasp a difficult language and having never learnt
another before, to come away with formal qualifications was hugely rewarding.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Of course, as well as my volunteer role, moving to Portugal
allowed me to experience another country intimately, immerse myself in another
culture, another way of life, learn another language. I have said it on a
couple of occasions before, but it is still very apt to say, that despite
having many friends who had moved to other countries to do different things,
never did I expect I would end up doing something similar. That’s why, to this
day, I still surprise myself and can’t quite believe it when I say I lived in
Portugal for a year. Everything the country had to offer was astounding, from
the big grand events such as São João, to smaller things such as
the scenery and plenty of sunshine. The food was also something else. It was
mentioned to me a few times that Portugal doesn’t seem to realise sometimes
just how good some of it food is; I’m certainly going to miss francesinhas and
natas. Portugal as a country was incredible and I look forward to returning in
the future.</div>
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I would like to say a few public thank-yous before I bring
my final blog to a close. Firstly, to Alifya, Deni, and Carlotta, my fellow EVS
volunteers. I am grateful to you all for being part of my experience and, at
the end of the day, for putting up with me for a whole year. We had no control
over being put together but we seemed to find a really good balance and
cohesion, and I think that helped make everything a bit easier and enabled us
all to complete the things we wanted to get done. Also to everyone I worked
with at JCV, both full-time employees and volunteers, for helping to enrich my
EVS and providing support and ideas throughout the course of my year. Finally,
I would like to thank Cintia, our coordinator. To start with, it goes without
saying, thanks for picking me! If it wasn’t for that I wouldn’t have even been
there! Moreover, in all seriousness, thanks for helping us every step of the
way, from picking me up from the bus station to dropping me off again one year
later. You were patient with me and I think that really helped me to find my
feet.</div>
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Participating in EVS and working as an international youth
volunteer with JCV, has provided an added dimension to my education, something
I don’t think everyone will get to experience, and for that I am extremely
grateful. My year in Portugal has resulted in me becoming more confident,
patient, and aware, a more well-rounded individual with a greater perspective
on life, what it has to offer, and what we as people can take from it. I am
excited and eager to begin future challenges, whatever they may be, and to
implement everything I have learned, gained and cherish as a result of my EVS
experience, in them as it will all help me to succeed and flourish.</div>
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-29316413166836076122017-03-11T18:24:00.003+00:002017-03-11T18:24:41.758+00:00JCV Braga now has its very own Instagram!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you weren’t already aware, JCV Braga now has its very own
Instagram account! If you have Instagram and haven’t already done so, please
give it a follow and help spread the work that we carry out here. The username
for the account is <i>jcv_braga</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why are we doing this? Well it is another tool that we can
use to disseminate the work undertaken at JCV, spreading our message and
demonstrating the value of humanitarian work. It will also be another way to
further connect with our volunteers and partners, to show we value their
support and participation in all the activities we implement. Furthermore, we
also hope that demonstrating our work on such a widely used social media
platform will also allow people to come into contact with our work who haven’t
done so before, and may even provide them with the motivation to join us as a
volunteer!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The aim of the Instagram account is to show JCV Braga ‘in
action’, providing regular updates about what is happening as it happens. Not
only that, we will utilise this tool to spread important messages about our work,
facilitating a greater understanding of what it is JCV Braga does as well as
the wider work of the Red Cross. We hope everyone who encounters our account
will learn something new, even if you have been volunteering with us for many
years!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have a whole heap of ideas regarding how to implement this
new tool and to present our outstanding organisation by showing the amazing
work it does and the opportunities it provides. For example, we plan on introducing
all the projects that we are currently implementing as well as featuring some
of our volunteers so that they can present first-hand the value and worthwhile
experience it is to participate in implementing the work of JCV Braga. Not only
this, we will use the account to present new possibilities, in particular those
related to the project ‘JCV in Action’ and the many international opportunities
it provides to young people. However, the account is still at a very early
stage of its growth and we are still exploring all possibilities regarding its
use so if you have, or ever have any ideas about what we can do, please do not
hesitate to contact us; your collaboration with this will be gratefully
welcomed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the three weeks during which we have already had the
account, we have already shared a lot, some of which I will include in this
article. We began by participating in the campaign ‘We are #NotaTarget’ in
support to the members of the Red Cross who were killed in Syria and
Afghanistant recently. It has also included pictures of a recent Youth Exchange
to Poland as well as images from our #equ</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ê</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">?! campaign and Ponto Vermelho. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I said, I will show some of the images here but the best
thing really for you to do would be to check out the page itself in order to
get a feel for what we are trying to do. It really is a great tool for us to
have and the more of you who are able to interact with it the better and the
greater the impact it will have!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you don’t have Instagram, don’t worry, you can still check
out the page here:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-36244792814013709812017-02-13T16:49:00.000+00:002017-02-13T19:44:20.052+00:00Discover there is more to people than meets the eye through the ‘EQuê?!’ Campaign<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those of you who follow the Juventude Cruz Vermelha Braga page on Facebook, you will have hopefully been aware of the weekly pictures being posted for our ‘<i>EQuê?!</i>’ campaign over the course of the last couple of months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The ‘<i>EQuê?!</i>’
campaign focuses on stereotypes. Preconceived ideas and beliefs we inherit
socially, stereotypes can be placed on specific groups of individuals or
certain ways of doing things. They are notions that exist and are omnipresent
in our day to day life, and can have a strong influence on how we both think
and act. Stereotypes have developed over the course of time, whilst new ones
continue to develop, becoming part of an individual’s psyche through the
influence of family, literature, internet and media, among other mediums.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some argue stereotypes are a natural way for us to
categorise, understand, and give meaning to the world around us, though I would
contest how naturally these develop. We may develop these beliefs through
natural assimilation but the agendas of certain people and organisations mean
they impose certain immoral ideas on us that we then take on, either
consciously or subconsciously. A current and highly topical example is the stereotyping
of 1.7 billion Muslims as terrorists and a threat to Western ideals – like
these ideals are superior to all others - by certain individuals and sections
of the media in order to fit their agenda, a ghastly case of ignorance and
racism. Therefore, to say stereotypes are dangerous is an understatement, they
are extremely threatening. Generalisations like this can lead to discrimination
of various degrees and undermine people’s understanding of one another. As a
result, it is a feasible to argue that stereotypes actually hold us back and
that we should do our utmost to counteract them, instead spreading a positive
message.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is where JCV – Braga’s ‘<i>EQuê?!</i>’ campaign comes in. Most appropriately translated as ‘<i>SoWhat?!</i>’, ‘<i>EQuê?!’ </i>is a campaign looking to challenge common stereotypes that
have developed, dispelling the idea that people can be forced into certain
categories or characterised in particular ways. With all of us at some point or
another in our lives being judged or labelled, we want to show that stereotypes
do not in fact reflect our reality and that there is more to people than simply
meets the eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An online photographic project, each week a new image is
shared on the Juventude Cruz Vermelha Braga page on Facebook, where we
encourage everyone to like and share the image so that we can have as
far-reaching an impact as possible. The participants are those who we encounter
regularly in our daily lives and we want to show, that despite seemingly
appearing to fit in to certain categories or groups, that they are unique
people who challenge stereotypes due to their individual characteristics,
qualities and experiences. They remind us, that despite differences, they are
equal to us and each of us is our own individual being with our own identity;
we cannot be shoehorned into categories. At the end of the article I will share
with you the link to the relevant Facebook page as well as including all the
photos that have been published thus far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ‘<i>EQuê?!</i>’
campaign is actually really simple in its premise. All it requires is some
willing participants to have their photographs taken, holding a placard
demystifying a common stereotype that if often levelled against them but is
completely erroneous. Then after a little photo editing to include all the
campaign images they are ready to be shared online. Following this it is a case
of getting the word out and working hard to make sure the campaign reaches as
many people as possible. Clearly a lot of this is done through social media but
other efforts, including this blog, can help spread the message. Last week,
Tania and Luis also conducted an interview with <i>RUM</i>, the University of Minho’s radio station in order to help
disseminate the message further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The link for the corresponding article on <i>RUM’s</i> website can be found here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://rum.pt/news/juventude-cruz-vermelha-de-braga-quer-quebrar-preconceitos">http://rum.pt/news/juventude-cruz-vermelha-de-braga-quer-quebrar-preconceitos</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The phrase ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ is very
applicable here. We hope this campaign will show there is more to people than
meets the eye. I believe that this campaign contains a very important message
and each and every one of us can take something from it. You may learn
something new or realise that, for example, you had a preconceived idea about a
particular group, whether intentional or not, and a relevant image discredits
that belief. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Additionally, if you want to be more involved, you could be
one of our participants! Take a look at the photos below and consult the
Facebook page, and if you feel that you dispel a stereotype you can take a
photo demonstrating just that. Just write your message on a white card and make
sure you include the campaign name, ‘<i>EQuê?!</i>’
Then you can email your photo to us at <a href="mailto:dbraga.juventude@cruzvermelha.org.pt">dbraga.juventude@cruzvermelha.org.pt</a>.
It really is simple and does not take long and in doing so you will be helping
to disseminate the message that stereotypes are misleading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, take the time to understand our motivations and
objectives by having a look at the campaign and help spread our work to create
a <i>Juventude sem Rótulos!</i> (<i>Youth without Labels!</i>)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a link to the Facebook page of Juventude Cruz
Vermelha Braga:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JCVbraga/">https://www.facebook.com/JCVbraga/</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can also go directly to the campaign photos by using
this link:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/JCVbraga/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10154672594941542">https://www.facebook.com/pg/JCVbraga/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10154672594941542</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are the campaign photos thus far:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d4y592SPk08/WKHmOkQR31I/AAAAAAAAEZs/xtRuIO8u7soBFIiwWpfvGMZ0JoV5yp7bwCLcB/s1600/blind%2Bbut%2Bautonomous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d4y592SPk08/WKHmOkQR31I/AAAAAAAAEZs/xtRuIO8u7soBFIiwWpfvGMZ0JoV5yp7bwCLcB/s400/blind%2Bbut%2Bautonomous.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I am blind but, I am independent, I work, I walk, <br />I take care of myself - E Quê?!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YEnL1xlIkwQ/WKHmOiQtGHI/AAAAAAAAEZo/JKzXhxYnQQsNBzZeuy9dyqqnAo4wE00SACLcB/s1600/alifya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YEnL1xlIkwQ/WKHmOiQtGHI/AAAAAAAAEZo/JKzXhxYnQQsNBzZeuy9dyqqnAo4wE00SACLcB/s400/alifya.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I am Muslim. I am not a terrorist. I stand for peace - E Quê?!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ce2-M-qUY0/WKHmOmlZtJI/AAAAAAAAEZw/8G0LTHgMA2gk-6fLTRD0BJTHXgBeSDwAgCLcB/s1600/candy%2Bshop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ce2-M-qUY0/WKHmOmlZtJI/AAAAAAAAEZw/8G0LTHgMA2gk-6fLTRD0BJTHXgBeSDwAgCLcB/s400/candy%2Bshop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I have Down syndrome and I have a shop! - E Quê?!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-swmiNncYXzs/WKHmNzp48CI/AAAAAAAAEZU/uwCksi5NgcwGUC_B1KTdrIPSIJyQlPCqACLcB/s1600/Carlotta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-swmiNncYXzs/WKHmNzp48CI/AAAAAAAAEZU/uwCksi5NgcwGUC_B1KTdrIPSIJyQlPCqACLcB/s400/Carlotta.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Rasta does not always equal drugs! - E Quê?!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pkeOqd5gh4Q/WKHmO7hTA0I/AAAAAAAAEZ4/VACaNsoJIV82H9WmLVgpVVnHuVgTIw2DgCLcB/s1600/el%2Bpresidente.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pkeOqd5gh4Q/WKHmO7hTA0I/AAAAAAAAEZ4/VACaNsoJIV82H9WmLVgpVVnHuVgTIw2DgCLcB/s400/el%2Bpresidente.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"When I get emotional I cry! - E Quê?!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-grrB1Z3VBoM/WKHmN63DUOI/AAAAAAAAEZM/Gonf1O9dSyQ7kmujVpbvSStL80beVSL2wCLcB/s1600/Driving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-grrB1Z3VBoM/WKHmN63DUOI/AAAAAAAAEZM/Gonf1O9dSyQ7kmujVpbvSStL80beVSL2wCLcB/s400/Driving.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I am a woman and I don't need help parking the car"<br />"But I do - E Quê?!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0GylOHzq1Ok/WKHmN3TyE3I/AAAAAAAAEZQ/RG3m4OQWzHoAi56-06ROBspvQb3c269nQCLcB/s1600/Catholic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0GylOHzq1Ok/WKHmN3TyE3I/AAAAAAAAEZQ/RG3m4OQWzHoAi56-06ROBspvQb3c269nQCLcB/s400/Catholic.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I am Catholic and I go to mass every Sunday - E Quê</span>"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GY60wVcyuP8/WKHmOC8SLDI/AAAAAAAAEZY/WtIFgbReaL05lLGrXqIIkBgdht7gKRAKQCLcB/s1600/Futsal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GY60wVcyuP8/WKHmOC8SLDI/AAAAAAAAEZY/WtIFgbReaL05lLGrXqIIkBgdht7gKRAKQCLcB/s400/Futsal.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I am the coach tor for the national futsal team, and I dedicate my<br />free time to children with special educational needs - E Quê?!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnD_RqqlKj8/WKHmOHuvjOI/AAAAAAAAEZc/tkSNGEZiL1E9EuF3yEWZaBKWCC-V1VTYwCLcB/s1600/Handball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnD_RqqlKj8/WKHmOHuvjOI/AAAAAAAAEZc/tkSNGEZiL1E9EuF3yEWZaBKWCC-V1VTYwCLcB/s400/Handball.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I finished my bachelor's degree at 36 years old - E Quê?!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NjW9hSsG-sc/WKHmOXjahZI/AAAAAAAAEZg/VwfxdwWqJ6sbNhT2mqnnNWpw2vK9GuLCQCLcB/s1600/Muslim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NjW9hSsG-sc/WKHmOXjahZI/AAAAAAAAEZg/VwfxdwWqJ6sbNhT2mqnnNWpw2vK9GuLCQCLcB/s400/Muslim.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I am Muslim and I choose to wear a Hijab."<br />"I am also Muslim and I choose not to wear - E Quê?!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-POFABb6y4uU/WKHmOxAs90I/AAAAAAAAEZ8/G-NP-yVYTOgMXwUlTh0S3NRK5Qg7DdWgACLcB/s1600/neighbourhood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-POFABb6y4uU/WKHmOxAs90I/AAAAAAAAEZ8/G-NP-yVYTOgMXwUlTh0S3NRK5Qg7DdWgACLcB/s400/neighbourhood.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I was born, I grew up and I lived in a problematic neighbourhood<br />and I am not a delinquent - E Quê?!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i6RRG8wu00A/WKHmPMYv93I/AAAAAAAAEaI/lNd-_AId2WkxeRidnmNyYlOx5tnOgQPjgCLcB/s1600/pink.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i6RRG8wu00A/WKHmPMYv93I/AAAAAAAAEaI/lNd-_AId2WkxeRidnmNyYlOx5tnOgQPjgCLcB/s400/pink.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I am a boy and my favourite colour is pink - E Quê?!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yng8LH44KxI/WKHmOcvelTI/AAAAAAAAEZk/6MUs2eZXC68lAlDN5VYTiIrWNIvxAMJbwCLcB/s1600/Vanessa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yng8LH44KxI/WKHmOcvelTI/AAAAAAAAEZk/6MUs2eZXC68lAlDN5VYTiIrWNIvxAMJbwCLcB/s400/Vanessa.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I am Roma, I study, I work and I am single! - E Quê?!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qSfXYP_yiBg/WKHmPTDcS_I/AAAAAAAAEaE/458bxSDSn9sJ6Rg1CjOSTmaQZRt_YbliwCLcB/s1600/vanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qSfXYP_yiBg/WKHmPTDcS_I/AAAAAAAAEaE/458bxSDSn9sJ6Rg1CjOSTmaQZRt_YbliwCLcB/s400/vanda.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Getting married? I choose not to do- E Quê?!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ctOsIVz6ryI/WKHmPIFy7kI/AAAAAAAAEaA/GGpV_BvTIl4VsW-roN_2WSXhNAJfPwiMgCLcB/s1600/toni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ctOsIVz6ryI/WKHmPIFy7kI/AAAAAAAAEaA/GGpV_BvTIl4VsW-roN_2WSXhNAJfPwiMgCLcB/s400/toni.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I am Roma and I promote the empowering of women - E Quê?!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-1094616617898834942017-01-16T18:44:00.000+00:002017-01-16T18:44:57.098+00:00Fomos Embrulhar uma Causa!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Throughout the busy run-up to Christmas, Juventude Cruz
Vermelha – Delegação de Braga once again embarked on one of its biggest
annual actions, Venha Embrulhar uma Causa! This year led by the first-rate efforts
of Rita Vaz, this campaign was an important part of raising funds that will
allow the vital work undertaken at JCV to continue into the future.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The concept was simple; members of the public were able to
bring their gifts to us and we wrapped them all ready to be given for
Christmas! Continente supplied all the materials required such as wrapping
paper whilst JCV provided the motivated and enthusiastic workforce. Whilst we
were like busy bees wrapping away, we also explained to the public why we were
undertaking the action and if they chose to do so, they were able to make a
small donation, for which we are grateful, no matter how big or small the sum.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uWb6Ggk_M_w/WH0TPo3pYTI/AAAAAAAAEYY/A66INBOnsTYpTbcR0xtN0HppTqJVK2DegCEw/s1600/embrulhas_actual_wrapping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uWb6Ggk_M_w/WH0TPo3pYTI/AAAAAAAAEYY/A66INBOnsTYpTbcR0xtN0HppTqJVK2DegCEw/s320/embrulhas_actual_wrapping.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Therefore, every day from the 25<sup>th</sup> November right
up until Christmas Eve, from half past eight in the morning until half past eleven
at night, you would have been able to find a group of volunteers located
outside the Continente supermarkets at Nova Arcada and The Minho Center
respectively, eagerly waiting to wrap presents.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Requiring a huge effort from so many people, it brought
volunteers together from all different areas of Juventude as well as introducing
new people to our work. In total, nearly
500 fantastic volunteers came together to help fill approximately 1500 shifts. Both
of the wrapping stations were in operation for a total of 465 hours each over
the Christmas period! As such, it led to paths crossing that had not before,
the action granting myself and others the opportunity to meet new people and
learn more about what it is they do, whether they were a veteran or completely
new volunteer.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r1kjEnKWUq8/WH0TPVOj8SI/AAAAAAAAEYU/8KrvgPur_2QBtw3xUx8u4rDTXOhRsJ2PACEw/s1600/embrulhas_com_pai_natal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r1kjEnKWUq8/WH0TPVOj8SI/AAAAAAAAEYU/8KrvgPur_2QBtw3xUx8u4rDTXOhRsJ2PACEw/s320/embrulhas_com_pai_natal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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An experience that can certainly have been described as
stressful at times, you certainly felt the pressure of wrapping other peoples’
gifts for them. As a result, it was always key to remind yourself that you were
not expected to be an expert in the art of gift wrapping - though it would have
made things a lot easier - but rather that you were volunteering for a good
cause and can only give it your best. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As well as allowing me to meet new people, Venha Embrulhar
uma Causa was the perfect environment for me to practice my Portuguese,
something that requires constant work as I look to master the language. Often
the client began talking to me in Portuguese at 100kmh but once I explained
that it is not my first language they slowed their speech for me. There were
also several cases where people took the opportunity to switch to English;
everyone often seems keen to practice themselves and I didn’t want to begrudge
them the opportunity, even though I was keen to practice my Portuguese. However,
I definitely think the experience benefited my Portuguese; at the very least I
am now able to say ‘<i>vermelho ou amarelho
papel?</i>’ like I have been saying it my entire life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LP4bEmBYCY/WH0TPuoKoLI/AAAAAAAAEYg/5tl3h9XNtiUB1ZfiGG_TFvW2Y7dE2fi8ACEw/s1600/embrulhas_continente_symbol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LP4bEmBYCY/WH0TPuoKoLI/AAAAAAAAEYg/5tl3h9XNtiUB1ZfiGG_TFvW2Y7dE2fi8ACEw/s320/embrulhas_continente_symbol.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally the 24<sup>th</sup> December arrived and with it
came down the curtains on another year of Christmas wrapping. In order to
celebrate the efforts of everyone’s hard work a lavish evening was arranged at
Lustre in the centre of Braga on 7<sup>th</sup> January. There, all those who
had volunteered were able to come together to enjoy each other’s company, eat
some marvellous food, as well as have a bit of a boogie. However, before the dancing
could commence, some important announcements were made! Firstly to thank all
who had taken part in the campaign, followed by the awarding of prizes to the
three volunteers who had completed the most hours of wrapping. First prize was
brunch for two but despite my best efforts I couldn’t convince the winner to
take me! Then, finally, it was time to declare just how much had been raised. <span lang="PT">In total, Venha Embrulhar uma Causa raised
a total of 9,258.81€ in 2016! </span>This was an extraordinary success, with
the generosity of the public resulting in a final total with an increase of
over 2500€ on the previous year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uiPXU5Jq8rg/WH0TwK5ZGqI/AAAAAAAAEYc/lebvgNbpAAYUwWg7P18wymc2VMhQiUSSgCLcB/s1600/embrulhas_forrer_rocher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uiPXU5Jq8rg/WH0TwK5ZGqI/AAAAAAAAEYc/lebvgNbpAAYUwWg7P18wymc2VMhQiUSSgCLcB/s320/embrulhas_forrer_rocher.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, already mentioned in the opening, a big shout must
also go out to Rita, who was responsible for organising the whole event this
year. Rita worked tirelessly to make sure everything ran smoothly during the
campaign and spent what must have been a considerable amount of time on the phone
asking people when they were available to help; I wouldn’t like to see the
phone bill for December! I believe, if it was not for Rita’s efforts, it is
feasible to think that Venha Embrulhar uma Causa 2016 would not have been
anywhere near as successful as it turned out to be.</div>
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-38883333299436986842016-12-16T19:24:00.000+00:002016-12-16T19:24:16.632+00:00SVE - This, That and Everything!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US">In the midst of being very busy with lots
of different interesting and exciting things, it has unfortunately been a while
since I have been able to update the Red Cross Blog. Deni, Carlotta, Alifya,
and I have all been keeping ourselves very occupied, so I thought a good way to
get things up and running again would be to provide you all with a quick
insight of what it actually is we have all been doing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So in no particular order, Alifya, like all
of us, has been getting involved in lots of different things. One of those has
been to take and edit the photos for a new campaign<i> Juventude Cruz Vermelha de Braga</i> has just launched entitled, ‘<i>E Qu</i></span><i><span lang="EN-US">ê</span><span lang="EN-US">?!</span></i><span lang="EN-US">’ I am
planning on writing a more detailed article about this in the near future but
in a nutshell, this project is a series of photos that will be released through
social media to show how the use of stereotypes is erroneous and misleading. As
well as this, Alifya is also in the process of completing an application to the
European Commission who have called for creative proposals that challenge
xenophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-Islamism, and other forms of phobia related to
race. Alifya, who has named her project ‘Through my Eyes’, has come up with a
really intelligent idea to utilize the new technology of virtual reality. The
idea is for each individual to undergo a virtual reality experience, where they
will step into the shoes of refugees and dedicate three minutes of their lives
to see through the eyes of a displaced person. On top of all this, Alifya has
also recently begun interviewing Romani from the different Roma communities
across the North of Portugal. Alifya’s intention is to reproduce these
interviews in a magazine which will also include photos and a brief insight to
each of the Roma communities in the north of Portugal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FHWBYpLTLzk/WFQxo0irbZI/AAAAAAAAEXs/wuqit1vG_3U8LW6PYR6zohn2ilZ4-3kzwCLcB/s1600/eque%2Btania%2Bluis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FHWBYpLTLzk/WFQxo0irbZI/AAAAAAAAEXs/wuqit1vG_3U8LW6PYR6zohn2ilZ4-3kzwCLcB/s400/eque%2Btania%2Bluis.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>E Qu</i><span style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: italic;">ê</span><span lang="EN-US"><i>? </i>Campaign</span></span></span></td></tr>
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Now we turn to Deni who is also working
with Alifya to complete the project proposal ‘Through my Eyes’ for the European
Commission. As well as this Deni’s main focus has been on the Roma community.
Deni’s intention is to present various aspects of Romani life such as their
culture, daily life and the traditions of the various communities located
around the North of Portugal. This will be carried out through the creation of
an online platform where Deni hopes to present all these different aspects
through various formats such as interviews, photos and videos so that people
will be able to begin to develop a deeper understanding of Roma life and help
to remove some of the stigmas and stereotypes levelled against them.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4P2SEWnWS_4/WFQ5zSTQ8MI/AAAAAAAAEX8/lxVPMAXHgCAK8b4hyiHGKIoP2DsAV27gwCLcB/s1600/denni%2Binterview.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4P2SEWnWS_4/WFQ5zSTQ8MI/AAAAAAAAEX8/lxVPMAXHgCAK8b4hyiHGKIoP2DsAV27gwCLcB/s320/denni%2Binterview.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A group of Romani being interviewed by Deni and Alifya</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">Next we have Carlotta who has been doing
what she does best and been putting her creative skills to good use. Carlotta
spent a lot of time creating <i>Cadernetas</i>
for the children at <i>Gera</i></span><i><span lang="EN-US">çã</span><span lang="EN-US">o Tecla</span></i><span lang="EN-US">, which included some beautiful watercolour paintings. The purpose
of these booklets, as Carlotta has described, is to record the attendance of
the children at school as well as recording their good behavior, if they learn
anything new and if they make new friends; a really useful tool to help support
each individual’s learning process. As well as this, Carlotta has had a couple
of fun little things recently, performing at the Red Cross Dinner at the centre
in Prado</span> as well as taking charge
of putting up the Christmas decorations in the various buildings within which
we work. Despite her best efforts and enthusiasm, the kids at <i><span lang="EN-US">Gera</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US">çã</span><span lang="EN-US">o Tecla </span></i><span lang="EN-US">unfortunately rebuffed all her invitations to assist in the
decorating. Another activity that Carlotta has also just completed, is to paint
a giant world map on the wall at <i>Gera</i></span><i><span lang="EN-US">çã</span><span lang="EN-US">o Tecla</span></i><span lang="EN-US">. Carlotta’s hope is to give the kids a better idea of where things
are in the world, and she has already told me she has had some interesting
responses from some of them regarding Portugal’s geographical location so it
looks like it will have the desired effect.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C2CYAEN0pzI/WFQx_chEDBI/AAAAAAAAEXw/v3Zg4csp7BcC7cCihaQTiiS6zgRp1ROUQCLcB/s1600/carlotta%2Bworld.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C2CYAEN0pzI/WFQx_chEDBI/AAAAAAAAEXw/v3Zg4csp7BcC7cCihaQTiiS6zgRp1ROUQCLcB/s400/carlotta%2Bworld.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The world as painted by Carlotta</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">Last but not least, it is on to yours
truly! Firstly, I spent a lot of time on our application to host a youth
exchange entitled, ‘What does it mean to be European?’ A number of us
collaborated on this project, including Alifya, Deni, Cintia and some local
volunteers for what was a very comprehensive process that included
communication with potential partners from across Europe and the completion of
a detailed application form. I am delighted to say we have received preliminary
approval and we await official confirmation. I also spent some time helping to edit a video for the project <i>+Atitude.</i> This video provided a background of the project, what it
hopes to achieve as well as some of the volunteers explaining the activities
they had participated in, and their motivations for volunteering. We produced
this video in order to enter a competition for funding of which we were one of
the winners, subsequently receiving a prize of </span><span lang="EN-US">€</span><span lang="EN-US">5000. The main focus of my work the last few weeks has been my
desire to develop a project to deliver in schools regarding mental
health. My intention was to educate students further about mental health and it's importance whilst eradicating some of the stigmas surrounding the
topic. Whilst I was very keen to develop this and believe it an extremely
important topic, I have had the difficulty of realising that at this stage it
is probably not the most practical path for me to pursue. It has been frustrating for me to come towards this decision as it was something I was
very enthusiastic about, but a small consolation was the point made to me that
it is also a valuable skill to have to realise when it is and isn’t best to
pursue something. However I have not yet made a final decision and I will spend
some time over my time away for Christmas pondering the issue. Additionally, the
International Day of Human Rights is held annually 10<sup>th</sup> December, and
following some conversations with Luis I produced a video utilising the concept
of the mannequin challenge to portray how hate speech is an attack on an
individual’s human rights. We then sent this to the No Hate Speech Movement who
then shared it as part of their actions for the International Day of Human Rights.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">As well as all our own individual work, we
have all been continuing to help out at <i>Ponto
Vermelho</i> on a regular basis. On top of our regular turns in the shop, three
of us have helped with a couple of extra activities. The first was <i>BUM</i> – I will admit I am not too sure
what that stands for – where we had a little market stall in the city </span>centre.<span lang="EN-US"> I have been reliably
informed by In</span><span lang="EN-US">ê</span><span lang="EN-US">s that this was a
success and we sold a decent amount. Additionally, we also had a
small stall in the <i>Complexo Residencial
de Santa Tecla</i> for one week where we especially sold a lot of wool hats and scarves. With regards to this action, the key aspect was to raise the awareness of <i>Ponto </i>among the students. As the residence and the shop are on the same road the hope
is that it will increase the number of residents who visit, may lead to more
donations or even inspire one or two of them to join the team as a volunteer!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Another key aspect of all our schedules has
been our return to the classroom for Portuguese; Alifya is studying Level A2
whilst the rest of are working towards B1. Alifya has described the experience
as, ‘Bee’s buzzing in my head’ which certainly seems like a pretty apt
description to me. It has certainly been a challenge learning the language at a
more advanced level, and poor Deni and Carlotta do often find themselves having
to deal with my high stress levels in class, but the difficulties I experienced
were enjoyable to overcome. I’m pleased to say I’ve learnt so much now I can
just about talk in the past, present and future tenses. Having attended class
twice a week since the beginning of October we have now completed our courses and
we are eagerly waiting to receive our exam results; we are all hoping to have
achieved highly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Finally, another action that we have all
been getting involved in has been <i>‘Venha
Embrulhar uma Causa!’</i> Every day since the 25<sup>th</sup> November a group
of volunteers have been outside the Continentes at Nova Arcada and The Minho
Center respectively, wrapping presents in the build-up to Christmas. This is
one of JCV’s biggest fundraising efforts, with members of the public able to
give donations in return for our wrapping services if they so choose. All of us
have been involved with this, taking turns to try our hand at some wrapping and
whilst at times it can be somewhat stressful, what with the pressure of
wrapping other peoples’ gifts for them, it has also been enjoyable. As well as
giving us a chance to practice our Portuguese, it has also been an opportunity
for us to meet other volunteers from across JCV who we had not previously
encountered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So there you have it! As I am sure you will
agree, we all seem to be following interesting paths and are all achieving and
learning some fantastic things. Soon I hope to add some more articles about the campaigns <i>Juventude Cruz Vermelha</i>
has been undertaking recently as well as more information about EVS as a whole and
its benefits. I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about what it is that each
of us EVS volunteers are currently up to and that you like what it is that we
are doing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-48666503023441786782016-08-05T18:07:00.001+01:002016-08-05T18:07:28.453+01:00EVS Camp in Amarante!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For what turned out to be a very memorable weekend, Casa de
Juventude da Amarante hosted over 50 EVS volunteers, myself, Carlotta and
Alifya included, from across Portugal at their organisation in order to
celebrate the 20 year anniversary of European Voluntary Service. Concurrently
the municipality of Amarante had organised Há Fest in the city, a festival
targeted at the young people in the city, meaning there was plenty of events
going on throughout our visit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first day we went to a small village called Vila Meã,
where we were taken to see a few historical sites, before heading to the river
running through the village. There, we experienced our first event of Há Fest,
with a surprisingly large set-up for such a small place. A large sound system
had been set up and it was definitely power hungry as the electricity cut out
on more than one occasion! It was a great environment for us all to start
getting to know each other and everyone enjoyed taking a swim in the river. In
a rather odd moment that I still don’t understand a few people started
releasing some fish into the river and it left a few of us perplexed as to why.
The circus equipment had also been brought along so everyone tried their hand
at different things; I tried my hand at juggling with clubs but it is a difficult
thing to master so I will have to stick with using balls for now.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NzzudUo3trM/V6TEs4CyCHI/AAAAAAAAEWs/_L-AcLny97U8Ehug3Zji81e7NwZs4e9GACLcB/s1600/vila%2Bmea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NzzudUo3trM/V6TEs4CyCHI/AAAAAAAAEWs/_L-AcLny97U8Ehug3Zji81e7NwZs4e9GACLcB/s320/vila%2Bmea.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vila Me</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;">ã</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next day really commanded a lot of energy as we were due
to make the 10km journey from Vila Meã back to Amarante on foot. Not a large
distance to cover at all but certainly tiring, especially considering it was
the hottest day here in Portugal so far. I was extremely grateful for a cold
shower upon arriving in Amarante but the walk was pleasant. In the afternoon
there was a circus workshop for those who wished to attend but a lot of us took
the opportunity to rest after the walk.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egOkZr0NHj0/V6TEsY5xX_I/AAAAAAAAEWg/mm7ByVpYKxQXzNra_hSeT-B8GFHjdQmGwCEw/s1600/its%2Ba%2Blong%2Bway%2Bto%2Bamarante.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egOkZr0NHj0/V6TEsY5xX_I/AAAAAAAAEWg/mm7ByVpYKxQXzNra_hSeT-B8GFHjdQmGwCEw/s320/its%2Ba%2Blong%2Bway%2Bto%2Bamarante.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">En route to Amarante</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIu7QVLQC7I/V6TEsif6lkI/AAAAAAAAEWo/GUJdQf0Xt00LqRWGeRS1aiVJ-LkYywa3wCEw/s1600/post%2Bhike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIu7QVLQC7I/V6TEsif6lkI/AAAAAAAAEWo/GUJdQf0Xt00LqRWGeRS1aiVJ-LkYywa3wCEw/s320/post%2Bhike.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A sweaty group photo upon arrival in Amarante!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As well as having all of the EVS volunteers at Casa de
Juventude, they also had about 30 young people participating in a youth
exchange at the same time. That evening those on the exchange all produced a
buffet of food from their home countries meaning I got to experience some traditional
cuisine from Georgia, Armenia, Macedonia, Slovenia and of course Portugal as
well. It was all very delicious and certainly added to the experience; I
definitely did not ever expect to be eating Macedonian food whilst living in
Portugal!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6UQUMzCJdhU/V6TEsXiXuzI/AAAAAAAAEWY/4kHxVH74fR8i3_AQxvimPNtr9Af-g-lXQCEw/s1600/international%2Bdinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6UQUMzCJdhU/V6TEsXiXuzI/AAAAAAAAEWY/4kHxVH74fR8i3_AQxvimPNtr9Af-g-lXQCEw/s320/international%2Bdinner.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A very international meal</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After dinner we had another Há Fest event, this time on the
bridge in the middle of the city, where a couple of sound systems had been set-up;
I keep thinking there can’t be that many different ways I will find myself listening
to bands and DJs but I continue to be surprised. It was certainly a great way
to end the day, enjoying a few beers and the atmosphere, before trekking back
to our campsite for the weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Saturday brought another day of varying activities,
surprisingly starting with a trip to the golf course. There we got to have a go
on the driving range and try our hand at a bit of putting. I’ve never been
particularly good whenever I’ve tried golf in the past but I surprised myself
actually hitting quite a few decent balls on the driving range. However I do
know now I have a habit of hooking the ball right so better get myself a coach
and sort that out. Whilst I certainly wasn’t expecting to play golf, as EVS
volunteers we do get to experience such a wide variety of different things. At
its core this stems from living and volunteering in a different country and
this is one of the reasons why EVS is such a valuable and worthwhile journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Everyone in golfing action</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The afternoon started out with a talk from Miguel, one of
the first ever EVS volunteers, about the work and values of Casa da Juventude.
It was interesting to hear about all the interesting things they have done
there, including all the different European projects as well as the opening of
the first Fairtrade shop in Portugal. Following on from this, we relocated to
the forest for a seminar of sorts with a member of the municipality and a
representative from the national agency. It was good to hear just how highly
they regard young people and how important they feel projects like EVS are. In the evening there was a performance by Dengaz,
a well-known artist here in Portugal, but for a lot of us it wasn’t our
favourite music so we found ourselves a pool bar and chilled there for the rest
of the night.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">EVS volunteers in abundance!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sunday, the final day of the camp, was no let up on the
previous few days, with another early start. We spent the day at Fisgas de
Ermelo in the Parque Natural do Alvão, a beautiful place with the views
extending for miles. In the morning we hiked up to the most scenic lagoons I
have ever seen and of course this meant more swimming. The water was absolutely
gorgeous and we were able to jump from the waterfall into the lagoon below.
Afterwards we hiked back to the coaches and were driven to the site for lunch,
another BBQ Portuguese style.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fisgas de Ermalo</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Following this was the perfect opportunity for a siesta
before the Volta a Portugal passed by, the equivalent here to the Tour de
France. The two breakaway riders came hurtling round the bend but unfortunately
only one continued his race. The rider failed to slow down enough and went
flying into a rock wall, damaging his arm badly enough to be forced to retire.
In the evening it was time to do some racing of our own, participating in a 5km
night race to round off the camp. Whilst a few of us ran, and I actually
surprised myself in how well I completed the 5km, the majority walked and it
was a good experience to see so much of the city out to participate.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">EVS being repped at Amarante Night Run!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It really was a great experience meeting so many people
undergoing their own EVS journeys and getting to be a small part of them; I
hope I made a positive contribution. Hearing all their stories and about the
work they do makes you realise we are all doing something amazing and how fortunate
we are to be doing so. EVS has given me so many opportunities to do such
amazing things and meet such incredible people and this was one of those occasions,
of which there have already been many and I hope there are many more to come.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Amarante</span></td></tr>
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-323559990965360752016-07-26T11:36:00.004+01:002016-07-26T11:36:56.983+01:00JCV in Prado<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last week I got the opportunity to take a break from the
normal routine and go and help out with the summer activities for the young
people at Juventude Cruz Vermelha in Prado, a small town about 5km outside of
Braga. Here they work with several Roma communities in a similar way to Geração
Tecla, providing various types of support to the families.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the great aspects about Prado is that they have a
beautiful river running next to the town and during the summer, with the centre
only a five minute walk away, it is a great place to take the kids for them to
have a swim, play games and just enjoy the good weather. We went to three
different beaches during my week with them and each one was just as beautiful
as the first. I don’t think I have ever experienced a river like it before with
the water so fresh and clear; I could literally see tiny little fish swimming
around my feet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We were also able to go kayaking and the young people really
enjoyed being able to do something different and go out to explore the river.
There were sand banks where we could stop and have a quick dip in the middle of
the river, and they also really enjoyed hearing the echo of their voices as we passed
under a bridge near the beach from which we set off. I did end up getting
rather wet in my kayak though as some of the kids’ techniques at using the
paddles did result in a lot of splashback.</div>
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There was one rather amusing moment on Wednesday afternoon.
We had been to visit the swimming pools in Braga in the morning before
returning to Prado to have a picnic and spend the afternoon at the river. Out
of nowhere a bag of make-up was produced and out came the nail varnish. I was
more than happy to put my feet forward to be painted and I must say a rather
impressive job was done on my nails.</div>
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A lot of table football was also played before and after
activities, with the games highly competitive. The young people were keen to
see how I shaped up and a few of them were a lot better than me to say the
least. However this was a really good opportunity to build up my relationship
with the young people and to communicate with them as best I could with my
limited Portuguese.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If we had not also spent at least one afternoon playing
actual football then I would have thought that something was wrong. The
football club in Prado is located behind the centre and we were able to use one
of their smaller five-a-side pitches to have a small game. This was a lot of
fun and it also descended into something of a water fight due to the high
temperatures that we have recently been experiencing as everyone tried to cool
down.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We also spent one afternoon doing some art and craft. By
taking a load of wine corks and a hot glue gun, you are able to make a really
simple mat for your hot pans. You glue the corks together in pairs and can then
arrange them in a way to make a neat pattern. After this you can decorate it in
any way you see fit; by using varnish you can keep the simple appearance of the
corks but you can also paint them and even add a bit of glitter. The results
were excellent, with the young people working together and helping each other
to create the mats.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I had such a great week getting to know the kids in a very
relaxed environment and they equally seemed to enjoy having me around to take
part in the activities with them so the week felt like a very worthwhile and
rewarding experience. I really enjoyed communicating with them and getting
involved with their activities; it was a massive help for my Portuguese and a
few of them even relished the opportunity to try speaking a bit of English with
me, something I was more than happy to do. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-66628131057676742242016-07-12T11:29:00.002+01:002016-07-12T11:29:57.571+01:00Geração Tecla<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last week I spent a lot of time helping out at Geração Tecla
so I thought now was a good time to explain what they do there and how I and
the other EVS have been getting involved. Geração Tecla is a project that works
for the social inclusion of young people and young adults from vulnerable
socio-economic backgrounds. They look to provide equal opportunities and foster
social cohesion. The project works with the young people from the Social District
of Santa Tecla which includes a large Roma community with whom a lot of their
work is primarily with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To promote school inclusion of the children and youth of the Roma community</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Promoting community and citizenship of children and youth of the Social District of Santa Tecla</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To promote vocational training and employability of young people and young adults of the neighbourhood</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the summer a number of activities are run for the
young people to enjoy and I was also able to help out with a number of them over the last couple of weeks, including one I organised myself!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m going to call the activity organised crazy games which
explains itself in a way; I prepared a number of games for the children to just
get stuck into and have some fun. These included an egg and spoon race,
three-legged run and a leap-frog race. The best game was probably a water race
where the teams had to fill up large jugs from a large bucket but the only way
they could transport the water was with cups that I had cut a number of holes
into. It is safe to say everyone got very wet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also spent a morning at Bom Jesus, a beautiful site, high
up the valley side. There we all split up into teams for orienteering which
gave everyone the chance to explore the area on a glorious morning. I went with
one team and it is safe to say I probably did most of the map reading for the
young people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The day after the visit to Bom Jesus, I again went on an
excursion with some of the children from Geração Tecla. This was very exciting
as it was an opportunity for them to try American Football, a sport very few of
them had experienced before. At a number of stations they were able to try
kicking, passing, making runs and catching the ball and also flag football.
Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is really good to help with these activities as it
provides opportunities to those who would not probably get them and being able
to help in delivering that, even if it is in a small way, is very rewarding. I
also like to think that I have already developed some good relationships with
the young people at the project and with another nine months of my EVS to go, I
hope I can continue to develop these. The work those at Geração Tecla do is
vital in equipping the young people and young adults with the skills that can
help them as independent people later in their lives, whether it is a hard
skill such as helping with academic work or soft skills such as communicating
effectively or team work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another really exciting thing that happened last week was
the painting of the stairs leading up to the building. Carlotta, with the help
of Alifya, worked really hard to add some extra colour to the building and the
results are excellent. I could try and describe it but I think the best thing
to do is add a picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also continue to go and play football with the young
people, though the amount of times I have now been nutmegged by a number of the
kids is starting to get embarrassing; they just have a technical ability that I
am not able to contend with. Though I suppose not having much in the way of
technical ability is pretty typical for an English football player; please
refer to Euro 2016 for evidence. However what really continues to amaze me when
I go to play football is the respect shown by everyone to one another. The
young people are all extremely competitive but they are very good at refereeing
the game among themselves and very rarely is there any disagreements, something
which you would not find in England from my experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was also a very important week for Geração Tecla as they
held their party to mark the end of the academic year. A large chunk of the
community was in attendance as well as a number of special guests, including
the President of the Red Cross in Braga. Following some speeches a number of
awards were given out to the young people who had shown excellent commitment to
school over the course of the year. An important part of the work of Geração
Tecla, celebrating those who have demonstrated this commitment is a way of
continuing to highlight the importance of this to everyone. After the awards
had been given out, we were able to enjoy some traditional Roma dancing by some
of the older young people before some food and cake was laid out. A mad rush by
the children ensued for all the good food before the adults were left to eat
the healthy bits remaining.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-40977139369052284112016-07-11T11:03:00.002+01:002016-07-11T11:04:50.490+01:00Dia do Colaborador!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On 1st July, the Red Cross in Braga held its annual <i>Dia do Colaborador</i> - Day of the Contributor - a big party which celebrates all the work that everyone does here in the city. It was an evening of team-building, performances, fun, food and drink that was enjoyed by all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We began with a couple of speeches and following this, with the Red Cross Headquarters a sea of red - everyone had been told to wear a red item of clothing - we undertook our first challenge, Human Bingo! In order to complete this you had to go round, finding people that fit the criteria, such as someone who wrote left handed or had been born in another country. One of these was also to find someone who had a beard for which I had to sign a lot of people's sheets. Unfortunately I didn't win but it was entertaining watching people get more and more agitated as they got closer to reaching bingo.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After this we were treated to a short but excellent performance by Carlotta along with our friend Nico whilst everyone enjoyed some snacks and a few drinks. Whilst Carlotta was performing it was great to think about all the different talents each of us four EVS volunteers has and all the different skills we bring together as a group. It was also wonderful to consider that all the people who were in attendance were all working selflessly to try and help improve the lives of others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One really fun aspect of this was that all the different sections of the Red Cross received a challenge that they would have to perform later that day at the party. We all gathered excitedly to hear that we had to prepare a performance accompanying the song 'Bailando' by Enrique Iglesias. Here at Juventude we spent the afternoon practicing what I feel turned out to be an excellent performance. The women split into two groups and had a dance off while the men provided the accompanying backing music, complete with Luís on guitar. The performances took place after everyone had eaten and much to some people's dismay, I managed to capture ours on video so you can enjoy it again or for the first time below!</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dybUJ8lGi3lUuyLwyIYkX1nyAXzdYLDASShFOkh-4exlzQC7LoCt52MhKbQ9oQniapSz9PpUcuSNt9gOW4Tmw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Following the conclusions of the performances there was not much left to do other than for everyone to have a laugh and dance the evening away. Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves and I feel the evening was a great success.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unveiling the Challenge</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nico and Carlotta Performing</td></tr>
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-28190757613757713952016-06-22T16:55:00.001+01:002016-06-22T16:55:53.856+01:00Barriquinha de São João<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Currently taking place in Braga is the festival of <i>São João, </i><span style="background-color: white;">which means nearly two weeks of festivities. </span>Celebrated annually, São João - Saint John the Baptist - is the patron saint of Braga with the city being completely taken over for the celebrations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An aspect of these festivities is the fair, with lots of small <i>barraquinhas </i>- small tents- that line either side of Avenida da Liberdade, one of the main roads into the centre of Braga. These stalls sell literaly everything from fresh bread all the way to sunglasses. One of these stalls is occupied by <i>Ponto Vermelho</i> - Red Dot - a project run by Juventude Cruz Vermelha.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ponto is a project of social entrepreneurship which aims to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people in Braga. The project's main objective is to provide to those most in need free necessities, which have been donated to them, such as clothing and footwear, among other things. Therefore Ponto kind of works in a similar to foodbanks in the UK; the organisation receives donations and then these are redistributed where needed most. Additionally,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ponto also has a shop selling second-hand items to the general public. I have even been able to pick-up a couple of items up there myself and the funds that are raised are used to help contribute to the financial sustainability of the Red Cross in Braga.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throughout the festival of <i>São João</i>, the barraquinha of Ponto is open and manned, selling a variety of items from scarves and books, to cooking utensils and jewelry. Everyone from Juventude contributes by taking some shifts in order to make sure that the barraquinha always has enough help. With the stall open until 11 at night during the week and midnight at the weekends, everyone takes shifts of three hours in order to make sure no-one is overworked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything at the stall is sold for the grand total of 1 Euro which means you can pick up some real bargains. This also helps us EVS volunteers who are still getting a grasp of Portuguese. Whilst helping at the stall is really good for practicing the language it does mean that if we are confused and do not understand what is said, we can simply reply with, 'Tudo <span style="font-size: 12pt;">é um Euro', which as you can imagine means, 'Everything is one Euro'. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The final thing to add is that it is a really good way for us to raise awareness about Ponto Vermelho and its mission, which is to promote equal access to basic necessities. By having this stall they are able to encourage more people to volunteer or donate items for the shop. It can also have a cumulative effect as someone can see the stand and mention it by word-of-mouth further raising awareness. </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">It is also a lot of fun to break from normal routine and experience something different. Helping at the barraquinha is a different way of experiencing the work that Juventude Cruz Vermelha does and how they can do extra things to promote themselves.</span></span><br />
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-75216950877165717422016-06-09T18:03:00.000+01:002016-06-09T18:03:02.046+01:00+Atitude Football Tournament!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This May, the project +Atitude held their annual football tournament, which is always a hotly contested event. +Atitude is a project that works to prevent the use of drugs among young people at schools and foster homes. Through a wide variety of activities, and largely with a peer-to-peer approach, they intend to develop within the young people they work with the skills and competencies that will allow them to say no to things such as drugs. The purpose is not to purely frighten them and intimidate them into saying no, but rather equip the young people with the confidence and willpower to make a choice and refuse. One of the ways they try to develop these competencies is by providing healthy free time activities and the football tournament they organise each year is always popular.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UfO3RHzAH1U/V1mcRTMJraI/AAAAAAAAER4/fYBXVRh2jr8rF5y_4Ph_i09uNm3rb58iACLcB/s1600/prelim%2Btourney%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UfO3RHzAH1U/V1mcRTMJraI/AAAAAAAAER4/fYBXVRh2jr8rF5y_4Ph_i09uNm3rb58iACLcB/s320/prelim%2Btourney%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An inter-schools event, throughout the month of May, each of the participating schools - Escola Básic (EB) Andre Soares, EB Francisco Sanches, EB Frei Caetano Brandao, EB de Real - held matches after school in their own individual tournaments to decide the top team from each who would go on to participate in the grand final. I was able to go to a few of these matches and help to referee and it was clear to see how much the young people wanted to be the top team in their school. However the games were also played with a great deal of respect and if there ever was a foul, there would be no arguing or fighting about</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it, those who were involved would shake hands </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and carry on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the preliminary tournaments had been completed, it was on to the grand final. Prior to this, the young people had requested a draw be made to find out who would play whom in the semi-finals. We therefore decided to make a video in the office with an FA Cup style draw taking place to determine the fixtures. The video, which can be found below, features <span style="line-height: 15.6933px;">Lu</span><span style="line-height: 15.6933px;">ís Saldanha as the commentator, joint coordinator of the project along with Vanda Ara</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;">újo</span><span style="line-height: 15.6933px;"> who also features, and </span>T<span style="line-height: 107%;">ânia Gomes, the Coordinator of Juventude Cruz Vermelha in Braga. Not only that I also took part in the filming of the video, helping to draw the balls. I was also </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">persuaded to wear a shirt and tie in order to heighten the sincerity of the event.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzvdjPlsNOActKYiC5BO3g1aRWV5ddwO19cDUON89l28PT8BQ-QaA7WsEYwAdGEJQNlpFjiwSeZry3vxrzwBA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kfFkU5FtocU/V1mcz7tO6WI/AAAAAAAAESE/xUMe1I7u3vUyDUMvbJpzaAEL6tx6SFQmACLcB/s1600/fair%2Bplay%2Bactivity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kfFkU5FtocU/V1mcz7tO6WI/AAAAAAAAESE/xUMe1I7u3vUyDUMvbJpzaAEL6tx6SFQmACLcB/s320/fair%2Bplay%2Bactivity.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was then on to the final event on a glorious Saturday morning. Everyone arrived in good time and was very keen to get going. We began with a short activity highlighting the importance of fair play and team values; it was considered worthwhile to do this because we wanted those participating to take more away from this than solely the enjoyment of playing football. Each team had a set of words such as 'honour', 'respect' and 'team value' and they had to pick those which they felt were most important. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then we had the semi-finals and we were fortunate to have two professional referees volunteer their time to officiate. It had been decided in the draw that EB Andre Soares was to play EB Francisco Sanches, whilst EB de Real was to face EB Frei Caetano Brandao. The games were very well competed with Francisco Sanches defeating Andre Soares by nine goals to seven and Real victorious over Frei Caetano Brandao by seven goals to four. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Therefore Francisco Sanches and Real faced up in the final to decide the overall winner of the inters-schools tournament. Real started the better of the two teams and went three goals up before Francisco Sanches were able to respond with a goal of their own. However despite their best efforts, Francisco Sanches were never quite able to close the gap, with Real victorious by five goals to three.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the tournament had ended we then had the presentations, with all the students receiving a certificate and the winners, EB de Real, accepting their trophy. We also had a trophy for the team who had demonstrated the best fair play and this was awarded to EB Frei Caetano Brandao. The whole tournament was a great success and it was great to see the students so enthusiastic. It is good to think that these sorts of activities can benefit young people by equipping them with competencies they can use to make sensible decision in the future.</span><br />
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0Braga, Portugal41.5454486 -8.426507000000015141.4503786 -8.587868500000015 41.6405186 -8.2651455000000151tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-49237549171197200852015-09-15T12:05:00.000+01:002015-09-15T14:16:37.639+01:00The Dream Team<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">My EVS is coming to an end so
for this reason one of the last blogs (<b><i>written by fabulous me</i></b>) will be <b><i>about
the team</i></b> I spent working with this all year!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QhMJ3Enib3g/Vff3V8_IC-I/AAAAAAAAEKk/TjYCyCT8kjE/s1600/joao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QhMJ3Enib3g/Vff3V8_IC-I/AAAAAAAAEKk/TjYCyCT8kjE/s200/joao.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">João – the Boss</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"> (who hates to be called boss).
He is one of those people who is more <b><i>like a buddy</i></b> than a scary boss. Sadly
this year he had less time to be around us EVS, but I think for everyone who
wanted he managed to find some time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bvjArbsdxeU/Vff3Vq_J_dI/AAAAAAAAELo/PJ3n2JYASV0/s1600/intia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bvjArbsdxeU/Vff3Vq_J_dI/AAAAAAAAELo/PJ3n2JYASV0/s200/intia.jpg" width="187" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Cintia- the everything
person. </span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">She is
the coordinator of <b><i>the JV in Action</i></b>. Also she is a mentor, a friend, our
coordinator and a boss for those who work with her on the projects. I think <b><i>she
is the first person</i></b> us volunteers call for in any case.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Luís – the little guy, with a
huge heart</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. He is
a coordinator of the project +Atitude. Also one of the mentors, and has always
a joke hidden in his small pocket. <b><i>He also did EVS</i></b> so feels close to
us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sR2uU6emFKY/Vff3ZjsKujI/AAAAAAAAELQ/XXpXUKsKlN0/s1600/vanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sR2uU6emFKY/Vff3ZjsKujI/AAAAAAAAELQ/XXpXUKsKlN0/s200/vanda.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Vanda – the materials queen</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. She is also a coordinator
of +Atitude. Another person who will welcome you <b><i>with her arms wide open</i></b>.
What is more, she has anything you might need in the office.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sl3jATT2elE/Vff3Y1Y5RwI/AAAAAAAAELI/-_P3mzGvYjQ/s1600/tiago.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sl3jATT2elE/Vff3Y1Y5RwI/AAAAAAAAELI/-_P3mzGvYjQ/s200/tiago.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Tiago – the silent mind</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. He is responsible for the <b><i>national
coordination</i></b> of the Youth Departments. A little bit shy, and will not
talk all the time like Luis, but has <b><i>such a big Aura</i></b> that anyone becomes
a better person just by standing next to him!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lXkT23PvFy4/Vff3YST3A5I/AAAAAAAAELY/Y3xE8orw9LY/s1600/tania.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lXkT23PvFy4/Vff3YST3A5I/AAAAAAAAELY/Y3xE8orw9LY/s200/tania.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Tânia – the hidden secretary</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. She is one of the
coordinators of the project <b><i>Geração Tecla</i></b>, but also does all the
paper work <b><i>that everybody needs</i></b> but has no idea how to make it happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xG8C7ao6xcI/Vff3apgbC0I/AAAAAAAAELg/5NvfzcuigUw/s1600/virginia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xG8C7ao6xcI/Vff3apgbC0I/AAAAAAAAELg/5NvfzcuigUw/s200/virginia.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Virgínia – the nice witch</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. She is the head of <b><i>Geração
Tecla</i></b>. All the kids love her and are afraid at the same time and <b><i>not
only kids</i></b>. Besides, she is great at gardening. Has <b><i>a great husband</i></b>, but I am
not allowed to get more rides from Lisbon with him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Mcesr0MVII/Vff3aBhGZdI/AAAAAAAAELc/-A-tyrcDtl8/s1600/vanesa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Mcesr0MVII/Vff3aBhGZdI/AAAAAAAAELc/-A-tyrcDtl8/s200/vanesa.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Colonna MT;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></span></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Colonna MT;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Vanessa – the </span>gypsy<span style="line-height: 150%;"> queen</span></span></span></i></b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Colonna MT;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">. She is also a part of </span></span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>Geração
Tecla</i></b><span style="font-family: Colonna MT;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">. What is more, she is </span></span><b><i><span style="font-family: Colonna MT;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">our bridge </span></span></i></b></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US"><b><i><span style="font-family: Colonna MT;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">to </span></span></i></b></span></span><b style="line-height: 150%;"><i><span style="font-family: Colonna MT;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">the </span>gypsy<span style="line-height: 150%;"> community</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: Colonna MT; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">. Will
never speak with you in English, but always understands what you are saying to her.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iL5WisHAVrA/Vff3U2rDWUI/AAAAAAAAEL4/C61KNrFBDtg/s1600/catia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iL5WisHAVrA/Vff3U2rDWUI/AAAAAAAAEL4/C61KNrFBDtg/s200/catia.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Catia – the Library</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. She is one of <b><i>the
mentors</i></b> and a part of JCV in action project. She always comes with <b><i>cookies</i></b>
and supplied us with all the <b><i>7 Harry Potters</i></b> besides the other
books to practice on our Portuguese.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bQfZTv1vYZY/Vff3XuNtoDI/AAAAAAAAELs/YizU6aPhUSw/s1600/reis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bQfZTv1vYZY/Vff3XuNtoDI/AAAAAAAAELs/YizU6aPhUSw/s200/reis.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">João Reis – the boss of
Barhouse</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. However,
he is not the boss of any bar, but he is <b><i>the coordinator of coordinators</i></b>. He is
the boss of Barhouse, because you can always meet him there and of course it
was the first bar he showed us in Braga.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jjz63CkZ6k4/Vff3Wu7PLwI/AAAAAAAAEK4/shjd0UXz7aI/s1600/pedro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jjz63CkZ6k4/Vff3Wu7PLwI/AAAAAAAAEK4/shjd0UXz7aI/s200/pedro.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Pedro – the wicked beard</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. He is the coordinator of <b><i>Copos…Quem
decide és Tu</i></b>! He is the friendliest person you can find, with crazy
ideas and always a <b><i>helping hand</i></b>. Participates in as many international projects as
he can; and does it with all his heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qGDz30Ezgv4/Vff3UxK0iVI/AAAAAAAAEL4/M9dLFBxC4S8/s1600/ana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qGDz30Ezgv4/Vff3UxK0iVI/AAAAAAAAEL4/M9dLFBxC4S8/s200/ana.jpg" width="185" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Ana – the Saturday girl</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. She is the coordinator of <b><i>Colorir
o Sábado</i></b>, that is why she is the Saturday girl. Also works with the marketing
team and some other projects on the spot. In the beginning I thought her name <b><i>was
Hanna</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHJ1YWJHyCU/Vff3Xz-SviI/AAAAAAAAELk/vbA4zYjyTDs/s1600/sofia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHJ1YWJHyCU/Vff3Xz-SviI/AAAAAAAAELk/vbA4zYjyTDs/s200/sofia.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Sofia – the Pinterest girl</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. She is the coordinator of
the <b><i>Atelier
Criativo</i></b> and sometimes gets her inspiration in Pinterest. Also is
responsible for <b><i>healthy eating project</i></b> and finds ways how to mix both projects
with great results.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-26jcJ7qRTno/Vff3UhtSsrI/AAAAAAAAEMA/bsumPHDhljE/s1600/ana%2Brita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-26jcJ7qRTno/Vff3UhtSsrI/AAAAAAAAEMA/bsumPHDhljE/s200/ana%2Brita.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Ana Rita – Miss j’adore</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. She worked with us together
in <b><i>JCV in action</i></b> as the right and left
hands of Cintia. And now she is doing her EVS in England what I am really happy
about and also sad, because my last month is without <b><i>the craziest little shining star</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are way more people her
in Juventude, but I wanted to mention the people I had an opportunity to work
most with. I hope that one day, someone will write a blog about <b><i>every
little and big person</i></b> who once have stepped through the doors of
Juventude with <b><i>full heart of willingness to volunteer</i></b>. It is still a pleasure
to work with all of them and I hope <b><i>they will never lose their touch</i></b>!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Gi</i></b></span></span></div>
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-58338889821817632252015-09-08T11:34:00.000+01:002015-09-08T11:34:02.355+01:00Atlantis XI<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">This year is <b><i>really
great for Juventude</i></b> and I feel more than lucky to do my EVS during this
period. So many things are waiting ahead and so many things have already
happened. So once again let’s <b><i>look in the past</i></b> and see what more
has happened during this year. Whole last week was dedicated to one
international training course – Volunteering 4 Humanity. And the best part that
it <b><i>was
not the only one international project</i></b> this year! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Exactly the next day when Volunteering
4 Humanity ended another international project started. This project is called <b><i>Atlantis
Youth Camp</i></b> and is the biggest Red Cross event for the Youth. This project
is an annual project and this year was the <b><i>11<sup>th</sup> edition</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U-_jJp_diQg/Ve6440kBZuI/AAAAAAAAEKE/bWWfv66bkTk/s1600/atl.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U-_jJp_diQg/Ve6440kBZuI/AAAAAAAAEKE/bWWfv66bkTk/s640/atl.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">This project is just for Red
Crosses and what is more, just for the </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>Red Cross Youth departments from the
Mediterranean Sea region</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. And this year Atlantis was organized by the </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>Portuguese
Red Cross</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"> in partnership with the </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>Centre for the Cooperation in the
Mediterranean</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. And as you already probably understood the part of Red
Cross was made by the Delegation of Braga.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">And now a little bit more
about the project. As I have already mentioned, Atlantis Youth Camp is for the
youth of Red Cross National Societies. <b><i>Around 60 young people</i></b> came to Portugal
from all the countries of the Mediterranean region. They all gathered to s<b><i>hare
their ideas, to learn more and widen horizons</i></b>. As the theme of this
camp was <b><i>Youth Volunteering: Opportunities and Challenges of Making a Difference</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4WcFFpjFh-o/Ve64lKjrdUI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/B-BEj7Yf6Ts/s1600/Red_Cross_Med_Map_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4WcFFpjFh-o/Ve64lKjrdUI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/B-BEj7Yf6Ts/s640/Red_Cross_Med_Map_26.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">The camp took place in
amazing city of </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>Guimarães</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. What is right next to Braga and made it easier to do
all the preparations. And of course it was </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>an inspiring place for all the participants</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">,
not only to work in but also to stay. Whole week was full not only of different
kind of seminars but also exploring the city where the </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>Great Country of a Portugal</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">
was born!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KerJ6pG03S4/Ve64n53MX1I/AAAAAAAAEKA/_n-OvrwGUzM/s1600/atlantis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KerJ6pG03S4/Ve64n53MX1I/AAAAAAAAEKA/_n-OvrwGUzM/s640/atlantis.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">I think Atlantis Youth Camp
is a spectacular event. </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>It combines lots</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"> of different
cultures, nationalities and even religions. But at the same time, all the
people with their different customs were </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>working for the same goal</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"> and it
makes you think that everything is possible!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Gi</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-36883274833467201592015-09-03T10:39:00.000+01:002015-09-03T10:39:53.598+01:00V4H (Part III) Preparation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">To finish the week let’s look
<b><i>at
all the work that had to be made before</i></b> for this training course to
happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">To tell the truth, the
preparation stage started already just after <b><i>the New Years</i></b> – more than
half a year before. As everything, it started with meetings and discussions of
what needs to be done, who will do what and how are we going to make it happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">As the project included a lot
of countries that <b><i>are not in the EU</i></b> we needed to check who of them will <b><i>need
visas</i></b>, how to get them, what are the procedures and of course prices. It
was interesting to call the embassies, find out that some countries don’t have
the Portuguese embassy in the country and that another embassy is responsible and
once again call and try to explain everything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bPIrVFocztk/VegUl62aXMI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/8m-nc2nNPtQ/s1600/siena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bPIrVFocztk/VegUl62aXMI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/8m-nc2nNPtQ/s400/siena.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">However, it was just first of
</span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>all
the tasks </i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">we needed to do. We still needed to take care of accommodation,
training room and a great place to eat. Of course, our target was to have all
the places close enough that participants wouldn’t need </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>to spend a lot of time</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">
just getting from one place to another. With magical powers of Cintia and
others of Juventude we made it possible!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">So finally, we got to the
last preparation stage just weeks before the project started. We had to buy all
the materials, food for the coffee breaks and prepare GNRation. It was so funny
<b><i>to
do the shopping</i></b> for the coffee breaks. We had a shopping list of what
more or less we will need and of course we bought more. We had just <b><i>one
cart full</i></b> of water not counting other stuff. What is more, we needed to
go to different shopping centers to get everything, because we had some special
cases – <b><i>NO gluten and NO sugar girls</i></b>. When in the second shopping
center we forgot to ask for the invoice so we needed to come back, and when the
address was wrong so we reached the point when we were singing and dancing next
to the cashier waiting for a miracle to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLzmHS7z5Qw/VegUuF2XsPI/AAAAAAAAEJY/Ujp5aBP1s40/s1600/karuutis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLzmHS7z5Qw/VegUuF2XsPI/AAAAAAAAEJY/Ujp5aBP1s40/s400/karuutis.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">The last day of preparations
was </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>even
crazier</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. We already had some participants in Braga, but nothing ready.
We just had time to leave everything in GNRation, but not prepare the rooms. In
the hotel we still needed to leave the list and when we had some presents, but
we didn’t know when to give them. So we went to the hotel and of course the </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>list
of participants was wrong</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"> and one person was written twice. Then we
decided to leave all the presents in the rooms, but </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>not all the rooms were already
ready</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. So we prepared everything in one room and then with the help of
cleaning ladies we made it happen.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtChugH96dE/VegU52ms9MI/AAAAAAAAEJg/vAmIys_rPJ8/s1600/lova.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtChugH96dE/VegU52ms9MI/AAAAAAAAEJg/vAmIys_rPJ8/s400/lova.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">The only part was missing the
preparation of GNRation, but we also managed to make it in time. </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>Hotel
was so helpful</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"> that they were even sending some of the participants straight
to GNRation even if there was no need, but we met some of the participants in
advance. By the way, while doing all the preparations we also needed from time
to time, go and grab someone from the bus station. </span><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I think we made it well
and we made it happen. I was a lot of <b><i>hard work</i></b>, but in the end we managed
also <b><i>to
have fun</i></b>. We had a <b><i>great team</i></b> and sometimes all you
need is just some people like you!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Gi</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-2836489618803814642015-09-02T10:46:00.000+01:002015-09-02T10:48:01.613+01:00V4H (Part II) - Intercultural Night<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today I am going to continue
with the <b><i>Part II of Volunteering 4 Humanity</i></b>. And as Wednesdays we talk
about <b><i>Juventude after action</i></b>, let’s see how Juventude had fun during the
intercultural night, while other members were working there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">So first of all, as all the
international projects V4H also had and <b><i>intercultural night</i></b> where every
country could present what they had. And believe me they had a lot. Starting from
the traditional food and drinks, souvenirs and lovely stories about their
countries some of them even presented their traditional dances!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1xAMER0LzTs/VebCa2VwkiI/AAAAAAAAEI0/0jzVIdTv49w/s1600/pirma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1xAMER0LzTs/VebCa2VwkiI/AAAAAAAAEI0/0jzVIdTv49w/s640/pirma.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">In the beginning of the night
everyone were </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>running around </i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">trying to prepare their table as best as they
could. Then of course </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>sneak peaking to the other tables</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">,
that what kind of easy as it was one long table for all the countries to share.
And finally, presenting what they have.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was so great to hear about
the differences or similarities of some countries. To taste all kinds of foods,
I am still <b><i>very happy about my stomach</i></b> and how it handled all the food and
of course the drinks. I think the food even tastes better when you <b><i>hear
a story behind it</i></b>, so believe me no one left the party with an empty
stomach!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LeT99sbapqs/VebEpauEBCI/AAAAAAAAEJA/PvOI20-i6-A/s1600/antra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LeT99sbapqs/VebEpauEBCI/AAAAAAAAEJA/PvOI20-i6-A/s640/antra.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is more, after all the
presentations and all the degustation the party was not over. It was the second
night and we could already see how <b><i>the group was as one</i></b>; acting like
lifelong friends. The music was on and the real party started. Some of the
countries had their traditional music and <b><i>the real performances began</i></b>. I was
mostly amazed by the Georgians who started their <b><i>traditional dances</i></b> and
more than shocked us in a very pleasant way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was a great night for
everyone. We traveled around 8 different countries <b><i>without even leaving one room</i></b>!
All the smiles, all the happy faces, crazy dances and awful singing was something
that l hope neither participants, Juventude or anyone else who were there will
ever forget!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Gi </span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='481' height='400' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy_hE3epibVXdaQmNKUKsO3uVLf2BDKNEni8CwZeckfbko1mhIwx96fM4ihrTVR0MzLHicLUp11ABJcMwktZw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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</div>
Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-66143999519246050832015-09-01T17:04:00.000+01:002015-09-01T17:04:03.810+01:00Volunteering 4 Humanity (Part I)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This week
I want to dedicate to an amazing project called <b><i>Volunteering 4 Humanity</i></b> (V4H),
that had happened here in Braga almost a month ago and I had a pleasure to help
<b><i>make
it real</i></b>. Today, tomorrow and Thursday all the blogs will be about this
project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I was
thinking how could I manage to describe the project in one blog and I decided
to look at it <b><i>from the other way </i></b>and I hope you will like it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OL9RN3q1EPU/VeXAQbSMX7I/AAAAAAAAEIY/qT6axp2gm7g/s1600/v4h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OL9RN3q1EPU/VeXAQbSMX7I/AAAAAAAAEIY/qT6axp2gm7g/s640/v4h.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Once upon a time <b>an idea was born</b> in the heads of three
crazy people. In the beginning it was a small idea, but those crazy people
decided to grow the idea till it <b>becomes
reality</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Idea is like <b>a little plant</b> that you need to take
care of. First of all, you need to give a lot of water for it to grow. And these
crazy people did exactly the same – they <b>put
the idea into words</b> that they could share it with others and made the first
step of growing it. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">However, as we all know water
is not enough for a flower to grow. It needs sunshine, good dirt and some
lovely touch. An idea is the same; it needed <b>more people to work on it</b>, some people to <b>sponsor it</b> and some to <b>supervise
it</b>. </span></i><i style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Here came the
Juventude Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa, Delegação de Braga, Erasmus+ program and
trainers from YOPA to the help.</span></i></span></div>
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<i style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When the plant grows enough
you need to change the vase, because the roots are too big and the plant cannot
fit in the same place anymore. The idea was also not fitting in the hands of
only few people. The crazy people were not only crazy, but crazy smart. They decided
to share this idea to the world and the best way to do it is <b>including more people from other countries</b>
to the process of the growing idea that later the seeds could faster split all
around the world. 4 people were invited from <b>8 different countries</b> to be a part of the process.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And then it all started. All the
masterminds from different countries with <b>different
qualities</b> and <b>sets of mind</b> came
all together the great city of Braga. They all came from different backgrounds and
for a moment the idea, like that little flower, started being afraid, if it will
work, but this feeling was just for a second. After the first task they all did together it
was already obvious that <b>idea will grow
and turn into the brightest flower of the year</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The team of masterminds was
working really hard for 8 days. As real scientists trying to find a new flower type,
they also had great supervisors who helped during all the process. The group was
<b>analyzing themselves</b> – to find a way
which quality is the best to use for the growth of the idea. <b>Working in a team </b>– sharing ideas,
teaching each other new things. And finally, it happened, all the hard work,
all the adventures, all the smiles and sad faces paid off, <b>the IDEA became real</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ef_vxfZfXJg/VeXCnjUUZeI/AAAAAAAAEIk/b4ZEhXQxOCg/s1600/visi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ef_vxfZfXJg/VeXCnjUUZeI/AAAAAAAAEIk/b4ZEhXQxOCg/s640/visi.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The entire town was invited
to see that new type of flower: the idea becoming reality. And it really
happened. The idea was real now. All the <b>participants
were glad</b> with their results; <b>supervisors
could not believe </b>how great the results were and the <b>town was amazed</b> by what they saw.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It was a result of a team
work, of people engaged to what they were doing and a result of some huge
hearts. But it was not all. After those 8 days, all the scientists left Braga,
but they didn’t left it like they came before. They left with <b>new friends, new contacts and most
important with new ideas</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now our little idea is a huge
flower giving seeds, that we can spread all around the world and make this idea
not only one flower, but as a <b>huge
garden</b> of shinny bright flowers, that makes you not only look at it, but
also take some actions to make it last forever.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Once again
I want to say, it was really great to see <b><i>this flower growing</i></b> and I think that
the real growing process just started and in the end I also want to share the
results of this amazing idea. (More videos next time!)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FOCufvBEcMo/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FOCufvBEcMo?feature=player_embedded" width="481"></iframe></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 115%;">For more information about the project </span><b><i><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzFUsaqnDS29dlppMUl3V3JVZms/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">click here</a></i></b>.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Colonna MT; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Gi</span></span></i></b></div>
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-59252279382095216982015-08-25T17:11:00.000+01:002015-08-25T17:11:30.359+01:00Roteiro+<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Holidays are good, but as <b><i>everything
good in life they also tend to end</i></b>. So for this reason after holidays I
still want to talk about traveling. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Normally holidays consist of travelling
somewhere even if it’s from work to home. I am not going to talk how Red Cross
Youth works during holidays, but will present a <b><i>pretty new project</i></b> that
is called Roteiro+ and is connected with traveling.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iim8T5Fi7t4/VdyL_hnZihI/AAAAAAAAEHk/lz0bXobtGkQ/s1600/roteiro.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iim8T5Fi7t4/VdyL_hnZihI/AAAAAAAAEHk/lz0bXobtGkQ/s400/roteiro.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: 150%;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Roteiro+</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"> is a project of <b><i>Red
Cross</i></b> in partnership with <b><i>Portuguese National Agency for Erasmus+
Youth in Action projects</i></b>. The protocol was signed just in <b><i>April</i></b>
and I am really proud that I can be part of this project.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The main idea of this project
is that Red Cross Youth department of Braga travels around Portugal to the
other Red Cross departments <b><i>presenting them the opportunities</i></b> of
the Erasmus+ program. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">As it is a new project so not
so many sessions have happened, but we already visited <b><i>Chaves, Porto-Matosinhos, Fafe
and Gondomar</i></b>. Of course in every city we were welcomed more warmly than
just with open arms. It is really interesting to see how other Red Cross
departments looks like, <b><i>to find the similarities and differences</i></b>.
One thing is for sure – all Red Cross departments are <b><i>more than friendly</i></b>. I cannot
even compare any visit with another because they were amazing in their own way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6Y3zd6drYI/VdyRup-VZFI/AAAAAAAAEH0/4UWGtppjS5M/s1600/11752056_868571579899873_1650950188097952943_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6Y3zd6drYI/VdyRup-VZFI/AAAAAAAAEH0/4UWGtppjS5M/s400/11752056_868571579899873_1650950188097952943_n.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">The presentation is more
concentrated on the youth and we explain more in details all the possibilities of
Erasmus+. What they can do, where they can go, </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>how everything can be real</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">My part in this presentation
is just <b><i>to talk about me</i></b>. How I found my EVS, how is life in EVS and
all other details that might be important of interesting to hear. It sounds
really easy and it kind of is, just the fact that I need to do it in Portuguese
makes it <b><i>more interesting</i></b>. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">The part I love the most about
Roteiro+ is <b><i>the faces of people</i></b>; how they change from the first sentence of
presentation till the last word after everything is over. You can see <b><i>the sparkles
in the eyes</i></b> and the will to do everything. I feel like I managed to
change someone’s life just in one day!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vHrbo-JTvtQ/VdyTb_GXc9I/AAAAAAAAEIA/sktia3-b5eU/s1600/PicMonkey%2BCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vHrbo-JTvtQ/VdyTb_GXc9I/AAAAAAAAEIA/sktia3-b5eU/s400/PicMonkey%2BCollage.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am sad that I will not be
able to attend all the sessions, but I can still feel happy, that I would have
participated at least in some. Spread the news, inspire others and make someone
realize that <b><i>EVS is something</i></b> <b><i>not only to listen about, but also to live
it</i></b>!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gi</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
</div>
Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-74316430543160438072015-08-13T10:40:00.001+01:002015-08-13T11:05:11.149+01:00Cultural Challenges for EVS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Being an EVS volunteer each day you may encounter not
just with a work challenges, but also <b><i>“country” challenges</i></b>. So today let’s
see some of the cultural challenges, you may encounter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I come from an Easter Europe country where people are
a little bit more conservative and more closed. Well, Portugal is totally opposite.
Here people like to touch you, invade your personal space and of course kiss
you while saying hello, what is <b><i>not something so usual</i></b> for me. I don’t
mind changes and I got ok with it, but of course I had some funny moments. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">It</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"> was my first days in Portugal and I was just learning
how to say or probably “<b><i>do</i></b>” the proper Hello in Portuguese,
when somehow I mixed sides. Maybe because I am lefty and I do everything
backwards, or because of some other reasons, but I leaned to the wrong side.
When I realized it was a wrong cheek, I instantly tried so change sides, the
person also got confused, and as I had in my head like a little tutorial
singing how to say hello – <b><i>cheek, kiss, cheek, kiss</i></b> – I was
already in the part of kiss, when I decided to change directions… So what can I
say, I just gave a very warm Portuguese welcome. Of course both of us felt very
embarrassed, but it is life, anything can happen!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I18jrjxW8xw/Vcxk4xOhobI/AAAAAAAAEHI/615k3gr4eko/s1600/kiss.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I18jrjxW8xw/Vcxk4xOhobI/AAAAAAAAEHI/615k3gr4eko/s400/kiss.gif" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Other thing
that I had to get used to was different climate. I come from a </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>pretty
cold country</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">, but it’s only cold outside. Despite the fact that outside
might be -20 degrees inside will always be +20 or even more. Winters in
Portugal without central heating system are a huge difference but then you </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>spend
more time with others</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"> and heat just one room and stay in the house with
more sweaters and winter pants. However, the climate for me is extreme not only
in winters. I am used to not that </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>great temperature differences</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">, but
here people feel OK with +35 in the day and less than 20 in the night. For my
Lithuanian body it’s too much, so I am always wearing a sweater when others are
with t-shirts and I already got used to be called </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>a girl from Angola</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">,
because I am always cold in Portugal!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fQVWjsNyBHU/Vcxliq6QTtI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/gRH2pZUubxs/s1600/min.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fQVWjsNyBHU/Vcxliq6QTtI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/gRH2pZUubxs/s400/min.gif" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">One way or
another, EVS is an experience with lots of <b><i>different challenges</i></b>. They arise
every day and in a lot of situations. You may try to hide or run away, or you
can just deal with them with your head up high. EVS is a school of life, so try
to take as much from it as you can!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: right;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gi</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
</div>
Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-66539842847385775962015-08-11T10:40:00.000+01:002015-08-11T10:41:49.180+01:00The week of Barraquinha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Last week was mentioned the
great festivity of <b><i>São João</i></b>, but it is not just a festival, but also a fair. In Braga
the whole city is already <b><i>decorated</i></b> more than one week before
the festival of São João and it also has more nice things. One of them, as already mentioned – is <b><i>the
fair of São João</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">In one of the main streets of
Braga you can find more than hundred small <b><i>Barraquinhas</i></b> – little stand that
sell everything. Starting from cookies to shoes and anything <b><i>you
can imagine</i></b>. The traditional music is playing almost all day long and every
evening there are way more events in the city to prepare for the great festival
of São João.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjGgww5ZlDw/VcnC2OS6aiI/AAAAAAAAEG0/RhB0fuYY3xk/s1600/11844188_10207187626270219_141602211_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjGgww5ZlDw/VcnC2OS6aiI/AAAAAAAAEG0/RhB0fuYY3xk/s400/11844188_10207187626270219_141602211_n.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: 150%;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">Ponto Vermelho</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"> also has its own <b><i>Barraquinha</i></b> in the fair. For this
reason once again all the great people of all departments of Delegation of
Braga <b><i>unite and share their time</i></b> also working in Barraquinha. All the
resources are needed because the working hours of Barraquinha are <b><i>from
10</i></b> in the morning until <b><i>11:30</i></b> in the night.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KGL3-GIEFrM/VcnCcHGlMOI/AAAAAAAAEGk/IE9oQ7Z9_j0/s1600/10384465_463514470486587_420075503252342280_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KGL3-GIEFrM/VcnCcHGlMOI/AAAAAAAAEGk/IE9oQ7Z9_j0/s400/10384465_463514470486587_420075503252342280_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">It is nice and interesting
experience. The easy part is that everything is sold </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>for 1 Euro</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">, for this reason
anyone can work not worrying that they might forget the price of sell some
things in the different prices, and also </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>it is easy to count</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"> how many things
you have already sold. Another reason why is it fun, is that you can work on
your </span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>sale
person skills</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;">. From trying to convince people to stop by your Barraquinha;
to trying to convince them to buy more stuff.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">I loved working there and
trying to <b><i>communicate with people</i></b>. We had lovely customers and of course
not so lovely. Some just wanted to chat and others were almost demanding to
find them their size even if we tried to explain that we only have what they
can see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfLJ7agtxxY/VcnCmGLw9zI/AAAAAAAAEGs/kYm39ZIeUi4/s1600/11168388_466098150228219_2298176117398055085_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfLJ7agtxxY/VcnCmGLw9zI/AAAAAAAAEGs/kYm39ZIeUi4/s400/11168388_466098150228219_2298176117398055085_n.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Anyway, it was a new
experience and I think it is a good from time to time <b><i>to run away from your routine</i></b>
and be someone else for a change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: right;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Gi<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-59181891132873980342015-08-06T09:20:00.001+01:002015-08-06T09:20:32.866+01:00EVS after work <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We as EVS volunteers try to
live here till the fullest. We try new work areas and always are the first to
help everyone, because <b><i>everything is still very interesting</i></b>
and we want to <b><i>do everything</i></b>! For this simple reason, we want to do everything
not only in work area, but <b><i>also in free time</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Portugal is a <b><i>great
place to do your EVS</i></b>, not only because old tradition and amazing architecture,
friendly people and nice working environment, but also because of all the
celebrations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not a very religious person,
but ended up in the one of the <b><i>most religious cities</i></b> in Portugal –
Braga. You can find a church in every single corner and I am not kidding at
all. But it’s not that bad, when you get used to it. For example – Braga as all
the main cities in Portugal has a Saint of the city and it is <b><i>a
huge celebration</i></b>. The entire city is decorated and there are a lot of
traditions for this celebration.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tVwprU1eMr4/VcMYgwpdM0I/AAAAAAAAEGM/SbAlamGHrqI/s1600/port.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tVwprU1eMr4/VcMYgwpdM0I/AAAAAAAAEGM/SbAlamGHrqI/s400/port.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">This celebration is called <b><i>São
Joaõ</i></b>. And the best part is that it is also celebrated in Porto. For this
and only this reason, we decided to celebrate this amazing feast in <b><i>Porto</i></b>.
Of course we had to work, so we left for Porto just in the late evening. <b><i>Almost
made it</i></b> to the train, like Portuguese style, but made it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We even had a <b><i>make-up
session</i></b> in train and didn’t even see how the time past and we were in
Porto. What is more, we had <b><i>green wigs </i></b>– presenting <b><i>traditional
herbs</i></b> of this celebration and the best part was that the wigs we got in
Braga for free and basically no one in Porto had them, so it was very easy to
find each other in the crowd. The not so fun part was that there is also a
tradition to hit everyone with <b><i>a plastic hammer</i></b> on the head during this
night, so we also got hit more times, because everyone wanted to hit a green
wig.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RZU4zEiEsFY/VcMXXOj97NI/AAAAAAAAEF0/7VUwsy7RDF8/s1600/gele.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RZU4zEiEsFY/VcMXXOj97NI/AAAAAAAAEF0/7VUwsy7RDF8/s200/gele.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cne6Tw7l-78/VcMXXLlhb_I/AAAAAAAAEF4/lKmhjtJm8pU/s1600/plktukas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cne6Tw7l-78/VcMXXLlhb_I/AAAAAAAAEF4/lKmhjtJm8pU/s200/plktukas.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This celebration is also known, for <b><i>Sardinhas</i></b>
– traditional Portuguese fish that everybody was grilling in the streets. Everywhere
you go, you can smell the Sardinhas and see people just eating only them. It’s
not only restaurants who are grilling them, there are a lot of <b><i>casual
people</i></b> who just go out of their houses and make a <b><i>Sardinha party</i></b> next to
the house and sometimes they offer Sardinhas or you can buy them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">You walk in a huge crowd of
people, get hit by hammers, you stop and dance in the crowd, because someone
was dancing and now everyone is following the lead. You have a great time with
your friends and then, you go to see the fireworks in the <b><i>Ribeira</i></b> – next to the
river. I felt like it was New Year night how great the fireworks were.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3t_Oy6xPxVM/VcMX6drZ8iI/AAAAAAAAEGE/ihNkcx4tWMM/s1600/11536101_10204451513664599_2603254229883982917_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3t_Oy6xPxVM/VcMX6drZ8iI/AAAAAAAAEGE/ihNkcx4tWMM/s640/11536101_10204451513664599_2603254229883982917_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was really one of the
greatest nights – all the crazy traditions, all the amazing food, spectacular
views and of course best company ever! </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Gi</i></b></span></span></div>
</div>
Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-17713905225307970882015-08-04T10:51:00.001+01:002015-08-04T10:51:45.979+01:00Wrap it up!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Despite the fact that we are
in the middle of summer and the sun is as hot as it could be, let’s remember
some other actions that happened more than half year ago when it was even
snowing in some parts of Portugal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">This action that takes place
in the same <b><i>Continente</i></b> and is another <b><i>National level action</i></b> and is called <b><i>Embrulhamos
a causa</i></b>! (Wrapping the cause!). This action takes place between the end
of November and Christmas. The main idea of this action is that people who buy
presents in Continente can come to the <b><i>wrapping stand of Red Cross</i></b> and get
the presents wrapped for free. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jg1OPOm8Zk0/VcCHwAmIFKI/AAAAAAAAEFM/2fKbmop-k7U/s1600/campanha_embrulhos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jg1OPOm8Zk0/VcCHwAmIFKI/AAAAAAAAEFM/2fKbmop-k7U/s400/campanha_embrulhos.jpg" width="355" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Actually, presents are
wrapped for a <b><i>donation</i></b>, but the donation depends on you. Nobody will look at
you differently if you donate more or less money. The main point is that you
are donating for <b><i>a good cause</i></b>!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Working there is really
funny. Firstly, not all the volunteers know <b><i>how to wrap presents nicely</i></b>,
so we are again like a big family trying to help each other to cope with the
presents who are not in the perfect box shape or needs more than one sheet of
wrapping paper. It is also funny, because you can <b><i>use your imagination</i></b>
while wrapping a present and make it look like a candy, dinosaur or whatever
you can make happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YiuAth03RNw/VcCIH0e5K9I/AAAAAAAAEFU/At1mADY-DV8/s1600/11830085_10207135037115523_349469641_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YiuAth03RNw/VcCIH0e5K9I/AAAAAAAAEFU/At1mADY-DV8/s400/11830085_10207135037115523_349469641_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is more, you get to see
what people are <b><i>buying as presents</i></b> and maybe it will help you to get some ideas
for the presents you want to buy. Some people are nice and they not only bring
some things for us to wrap, but also <b><i>bring us presents</i></b>, like a bar of
chocolate, so you can feel the real Christmas spirit in the air.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some presents are impossible
to wrap or at least it looks like that. Once there was a <b><i>human size toys</i></b> of Santa
Claus and Snowman that we needed to wrap. Another time we needed to wrap <b><i>raw
Bacalhau</i></b> – traditional Portuguese fish that was also a great challenge.
And I also heard stories about last year when someone had to <b><i>wrap
a bicycle</i></b></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2Vsozcok78/VcCKyCVeu2I/AAAAAAAAEFg/akjeWkRzWWs/s1600/11815914_10207135170718863_575839893_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2Vsozcok78/VcCKyCVeu2I/AAAAAAAAEFg/akjeWkRzWWs/s400/11815914_10207135170718863_575839893_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think this action is really
great, not only to learn how to wrap presents, deal with impossible presents,
but also get in <b><i>the spirit of Christmas</i></b>, when everyone is nicer, with bigger
smiles and wants to help with a great cause by getting their presents wrapped! </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Gi</i></b></span></span></div>
</div>
Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-53503520347171127872015-07-30T10:10:00.001+01:002015-07-30T10:15:00.631+01:00Jump Your Feet Away<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Being a volunteer you have to work in different areas and sometimes you see <b><i>interesting things</i></b>. Today I am going to tell you about one of these interesting things.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">One of <b><i>the Geração Tecla</i></b> actions
is going to the schools and spending the break with kids called <b><i>Animação
de Recreios </i></b>. We have three different schools that we visit every
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – <b><i>once per week</i></b> every school. This
activity is something different from all the office work, that sometimes makes
you more <b><i>tired</i></b>, than a <b><i>half an hour</i></b> spend with kids, so it
is good, that we have an opportunity to try to find ourselves in different
fields.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In all the schools the best
game for all the kids is <b><i>jumping the rope</i></b>. It reminds me a
video of DJ Fresh – Gold Dust. But of course kids are not such professionals
yet!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BjtIjU2RdJc/VVMm2khrclI/AAAAAAAADj8/F8Qebul1hXY/s1600/20150407_103556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BjtIjU2RdJc/VVMm2khrclI/AAAAAAAADj8/F8Qebul1hXY/s320/20150407_103556.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The strangest part is that we
are going to three different schools, but that are kind of close to each other,
and half of the kids from all the schools <b><i>live in the same neighborhood</i></b> and
come to the activities after school, but still they jump the rope <b><i>in</i></b>
<b><i>different
ways</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The kids from <b><i>Tuesday’s
school</i></b> have a special song when they are jumping a rope and they sing
it while jumping and they even have the special way of dealing with the rope. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The kids from <b><i>Wednesday’s
school</i></b> really enjoy jumping in pairs; or if you allow them, they will
try to fit as many as possible to jump. Then, when someone doesn’t manage to
jump on time they have to go back to the end of the line while others continues
to jump till the last person is left, who is <b><i>the Master of the rope</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thursday school’s</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> kids have their own different
traditions of jumping the rope. They all line up and then one kid runs in jumps
once and runs out and they go like this till the first kid is in the front. The
first kid then jumps twice and on and on, till the break is over. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The part I love the most about
going to schools is that the kids try to count in <b><i>English</i></b>. Ok, firstly we
were counting in <b><i>Portuguese</i></b>, so now you can wake me up in the middle of the
night and I will count you in Portuguese <b><i>as fast as I</i></b> can without even
thinking till 30! But now, as I already mentioned, the kids are trying more and
more to count in English and show us, how <b><i>much they know</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Once we even made a <b><i>special rope</i></b> like<b><i> a
net </i></b>that they need to climb through without touching the rope. Of
course they were jumping, flying and crawling on the ground like preparing for
war. We were even laughing that we are making <b><i>the little soldiers</i></b>. But
they really are like that especially when they start every 5 minutes to say,
that it is <b><i>too easy</i></b> and we have to find a way to make the net more difficult
to climb through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sometimes, it is so <b><i>nice
to feel like a kid</i></b> and play with them; sometimes we also try to jump
the rope or climb the net or play other games. Once we tried to do a <b><i>relay</i></b>
and they loved it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Probably the best part of
this activity is forgetting everything. You are <b><i>a kid again</i></b> and you don’t
have any more work to do, just for that half an hour you can crawl on the
ground and pretend that you are 5 again and <b><i>don’t worry about anything</i></b>!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><i>Gi</i></b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RNuUgbUzM8U/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="399" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RNuUgbUzM8U?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Colonna MT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-57968880087100144802015-07-29T10:00:00.002+01:002015-07-29T10:00:39.050+01:00Movie nights!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who doesn’t like a <b><i>good
movie</i></b>, or just casually to leave the house and go for <b><i>a
cinema</i></b>? It’s obvious that probably everyone loves movies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the reason why <b><i>Red
Cross Youth</i></b> people enjoy movies as well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WgO75z1Zr04/Va9cR1v5CKI/AAAAAAAAEBU/Y8JKEZpxamM/s1600/cinema.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WgO75z1Zr04/Va9cR1v5CKI/AAAAAAAAEBU/Y8JKEZpxamM/s1600/cinema.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are <b><i>volunteers</i></b>, so we try to
have fun without spending a lot of <b><i>money</i></b>. For this reason we are very
glad that other organization has an old movie theater and every week they <b><i>had
movie sessions for free</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The movies are normally in
foreign language and it’s not English, so it is very fun to watch a movie in a
language <b><i>you don’t understand</i></b> while reading subtitles that <b><i>are
changing too fast</i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, the actual fun part is
that you can come with all your <b><i>friends</i></b>. Bring your own <b><i>food</i></b>,
enjoy a good movie or not that much of your taste, but you can <b><i>spend
time together</i></b> with others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HY_OrmC7LcY/VbiWD2sXUJI/AAAAAAAAEE0/0yq4k6dcqzk/s1600/11824125_10205860189242794_838225603_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HY_OrmC7LcY/VbiWD2sXUJI/AAAAAAAAEE0/0yq4k6dcqzk/s400/11824125_10205860189242794_838225603_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Colonna MT;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">It’s going to cinema, but
it’s not going to cinema at the same time. The only thing that feels like movie </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">theater</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> is </span></span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>the room</i></b><span style="font-family: Colonna MT;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">. All the rows going down, the big screen in front of
you, and still good sound system. And that is it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Colonna MT;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">The atmosphere is more like
at home, cause as I already have mentioned we tend to bring our food and
drinks. It’s like having a </span></span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>movie night</i></b><span style="font-family: Colonna MT;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> at home with friends,
lying on the ground and eating homemade </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">pop-corns</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">. Just instead of ground, you
have comfortable seats and pop-corns are sometime substituted for </span></span><b style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><i>wine</i></b><span style="font-family: Colonna MT;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">,
but I think it even sounds better. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iqpKJL8GI5E/VbiTtma7ygI/AAAAAAAAEEo/TqTdm8nCcZg/s1600/930cecdb3166fe44ee25fd098539dd41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iqpKJL8GI5E/VbiTtma7ygI/AAAAAAAAEEo/TqTdm8nCcZg/s400/930cecdb3166fe44ee25fd098539dd41.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nowadays everyone has a busy
schedule and not always you can convince people to do something after work.
Even going for a coffee might not sound interesting at all. Movies are
different, you normally don’t go to movies every day and when someone invites
you for a movie session with a sentence: <b><i>Wanna go for a movie tonight? It’s for free,
and it might be bad, but we will have wine?</i></b> Somehow makes it impossible
to say no!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Gi</i></b></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-87759764996167099952015-07-28T10:02:00.001+01:002015-07-28T10:02:55.375+01:00Missão Sorriso!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Juventude is just a small
part of a very big <b><i>movement</i></b>. For this reason, it not only has its own projects,
but also takes part in some projects that are happening in all Portugal at the
same time in all <b><i>Red Cross Delegations</i></b>. Today I am going to tell you about one
of the projects like that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The project is called <b><i>Missão
Sorriso</i></b> (Mission - Smile). It is made in partnership with <b><i>Continente</i></b>
(Shopping center). The main idea of this project is really nice – to <b><i>collect
food</i></b> for those who <b><i>cannot afford</i></b> to buy it themselves.
People, who buy food in Continente can put it in a <b><i>special Missão Sorriso bags</i></b>
and donate it to the <b><i>Red Cross volunteers</i></b> who are
collecting the bags next to the cashiers.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9hcfyawWc8/VbdEiZCR_5I/AAAAAAAAEEE/quE7oqHTNwA/s1600/missao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9hcfyawWc8/VbdEiZCR_5I/AAAAAAAAEEE/quE7oqHTNwA/s320/missao.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">For me it was <b><i>the
first project</i></b> I participated while doing my EVS. It was in the end of
October, so I just have managed to get around with all the things that a
happening in <b><i>Juventude</i></b> and I already had an opportunity to participate in
such <b><i>a
great action</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">During this action all the
volunteers are divided in 3 groups. The first group <b><i>gives people flyers</i></b> with
the basic information about this action and explains in short how can they
participate and be part. The second group <b><i>receives all the food donations</i></b> and
gives a very welcoming thank you! The last group consists of strong men, who
take all the donations, put them in the <b><i>storage</i></b> room and prepare for it all
to be taken to the Red Cross. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--V8j17qj5U4/VbdE2Ty9SLI/AAAAAAAAEEM/7rXIfKf6ArY/s1600/11778041_10207085461356160_602206036_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--V8j17qj5U4/VbdE2Ty9SLI/AAAAAAAAEEM/7rXIfKf6ArY/s400/11778041_10207085461356160_602206036_n.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Portuguese was still
non-existing, so my job was just to <b><i>collect the food </i></b>and <b><i>say a
very big thank you</i></b> with the biggest smile in my face. It was really
strange, because I was not expecting that people are <b><i>donating so much</i></b> food. It
was the first time that it made me feel that I am <b><i>a real volunteer</i></b> in
Portugal and that I am a part of <b><i>making someone’s’ life better</i></b>. The
smile on my face was as real and bright as the sun and I was feeling more than
amazing!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">This action takes place for <b><i>one
weekend</i></b> (including Friday). All the volunteers of Red Cross delegations
tries to be a part of this amazing action by giving at least <b><i>3
hours</i></b> of their time and working in one shift.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0oe4-LNjBUc/VbdFAry38bI/AAAAAAAAEEU/5o56tIUonrE/s1600/11815953_10207085458676093_1334096802_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0oe4-LNjBUc/VbdFAry38bI/AAAAAAAAEEU/5o56tIUonrE/s400/11815953_10207085458676093_1334096802_n.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">It doesn’t matter what is
your job <b><i>during the week</i></b>, or witch department you work in, on this
weekend whole <b><i>National Society</i></b> of Red Cross is like a <b><i>big family</i></b> that joins
together and <b><i>works as one</i></b>! This is the spirit that made me see how amazing
are everyone and how <b><i>little you need</i></b> to make someone’s
life a little bit better!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Gi</i></b> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064001095513346359.post-42986583276057053722015-07-23T10:14:00.000+01:002015-07-23T11:42:52.226+01:00Language helps you, Language fools you!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today let’s remember some <b><i>funny
stories</i></b>. EVS is something really big in a life of a person who goes
through this journey. Sometimes you have to deal with upcoming problems and
hard work, and sometimes you just smile and say <b><i>Oh well, it is life</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So today I want to tell you a story how
sometimes language can not only help you but also make some obstacles. Firstly,
when I came to Portugal to do my EVS I knew just a little bit of Portuguese. Actually
now, I think, that at that time I have <b><i>convinced myself</i></b> pretty well that I knew
a little bit of Portuguese. I could understand some things, but talking part
was as for everyone really hard. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IBFF3w2-cDs/VbCwSTOV3PI/AAAAAAAAEDU/XWqZl1ueaK4/s1600/kalba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IBFF3w2-cDs/VbCwSTOV3PI/AAAAAAAAEDU/XWqZl1ueaK4/s400/kalba.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I decided to work extra to
faster improve my level. From one side, it was really easy, because I spent a
lot of time working with kids, and it is normal, that they still <b><i>don’t
speak English</i></b>, or their English is even worse than mine <b><i>non-existing
Portuguese</i></b>. However, kids just had some specific questions in the beginning
so it was not that hard to be in their level, but I wanted more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I asked some Portuguese friends,
if they know any ways how I could improve my Portuguese. They were really kind
and said that <b><i>reading books</i></b> really help. So I started to read in Portuguese. By
the way, I also had a course in the university, but as I already said I wanted
to improve faster. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3bCVovrQtrc/VbCvaGofPPI/AAAAAAAAEDE/KKcwL65eL04/s1600/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; font-size: x-large; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3bCVovrQtrc/VbCvaGofPPI/AAAAAAAAEDE/KKcwL65eL04/s400/books.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">First book was really hard – I
basically was translating every other word, but ok I managed to read it. However,
maybe the main idea got lost in the way… Like in any language in Portuguese as
well are some words that <b><i>are written similar</i></b>, but the <b><i>meaning
is totally different</i></b>. In my fist book I would always encounter with the
word <b><i>sido</i></b>
– that in Portuguese is a past tense of to be, but at that time I didn’t have a
fancy dictionary that could tell me that, and <b><i>sida</i></b> – is AIDS, so in my
imagination, all the guys in the book had aids, because this word I managed to
find. It was a little bit strange, but you know, it is a book anything can
happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next book I took had <b><i>pastor
alemão</i></b>, that in the beginning sounded ok – a German pastor, but then
the German pastor was always following one guy, it became weird and I finally
figure out that it’s not a German pastor like some kind of priest, it’s <b><i>German
Sheppard</i></b> – a dog! But as long as I managed to convince myself that what
I was reading was true, I had more than interesting books!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am still reading books and
improving my vocabulary and the structure of the sentence, just sometimes I read
words how I see them, not how they are written and for that reason, sometimes
people don’t understand me. Like I was talking about <b><i>cacatriz</i></b>, and no one knew
what it was, because a scar is <b><i>cicatriz</i></b>. Or I saw a little nice <b><i>saparinho</i></b>
in the sky and no one else could see it, because there were only <b><i>passarinhos</i></b>!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxkU-UkRYcc/VbCv20YxsKI/AAAAAAAAEDM/W4-9QA_kaVM/s1600/bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxkU-UkRYcc/VbCv20YxsKI/AAAAAAAAEDM/W4-9QA_kaVM/s400/bird.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think every language is
interesting to learn, with all the crazy stories of all the wrong interpretations
of the words or phrases. But the most important thing is <b><i>to try and not be afraid later to
make fun of yourself</i></b>! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Gi</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Colonna MT'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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Juventude Cruz Vermelhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01576012023602354522noreply@blogger.com0