Vesti

• Ko je Kristijana-Emilija Štefan, kako bi sebe najkraće predstavio/la?

U najkraćim crtama, osobine kojima me prijatelji karakrerišu, a sa kojima bih se ja složila jesu društvenost, komunikativnost, snalažljivost i optimizam. Za sebe takođe mislim da sam iskrena, otvorena i strpljiva. Rada sam da pomažem, upoznajem se i sklapam prijateljstva. Imam 20 godina, odrasla sam u mestu koje se zove Jarkovac, ali sada studiram agroekonomiju u Novom Sadu. 

• Koja su tvoja interesovanja i hobiji?

Za sebe bih rekla da sam svestrana osoba, tako da proširenje znaja o svojim interesovanijima nalazim u knjigama. Stoga, čitanje i jeste moj primarni hobi. Mada, pored toga, svaki deo slobodnog vremena pokušavam da upotpunim na najbolji način. Šetnja mi je jedna od omiljenih aktivnosti. Veoma volim izlaske, tako da retko zatičem sebe u kutku četiri zida, kada nemam obaveze oko fakulteta. Pored toga što sam društveno aktivna, volim da pratim sportove, a s vremena na vreme se i oprobam u istim, poput stonog tenisa, ili kuglanja.

• U slobodno vreme možemo da te sretnemo na kojim lokacijama u gradu?

Gde me u gradu možete naći zavisi od trenutnog raspoloženja i grupe ljudi sa kojom sam u tom momentu. Najčešće opcije jesu pozorišta, bioskopi i brojne kulturne manifestacije. U česte destinacije obavezno ubrajam i kafiće, tržne centre i kuglane. Spomenula bih čak i neke zabačene regije grada u kojima se neretko nađem, u potrazi za iskustvima. Shodno tome, odgovor na ovo pitanje glasio bi; možete me pronaći doslovno bilo gde, iliti svuda.

• Šta je bio okidač da kreneš u volontersku avanturu?

Presudno da se upustim u volontersku avanturu bila je inicijativa prijatelja, koji je, uzgred, ambasador OPENSa. Bliže me je uputio u volonterske radnje i dešavanja na okupljanjima, a ubrzo potom sam se i sama uverila u značaj i zabavu, o kojima mi je on govorio.

• Kakvo je tvoje iskustvo u volonterskim „vodama“

Moje iskustvo u volontiranju traje nepunih godinu dana. Počela sam da volontiram kada su se obaveze oko fakulteta smanjile, međutim, do sada sam bila aktivno uključena u mnogobrojnim volonterskim skupovima. Od moje prve volonterske akcije, tačnije plesnog takmičenja u Futogu, preko planinskog biciklizma, pa sve do skorašnje posvećenosti umetnosti u Kaleidoskopu u vidu volontiranja, utisci su nepromenjeno divni. Ono što me posebno raduje je što i dalje brojim aktivnosti, utiske, i što ću obogatiti iskustva.

• Koja je za tebe formula i ključ volontiranja?

Ključ volontiranja jeste u socijalizaciji mladih. U širenju njihovog sveopšteg dojma i svesti, kako bi stekli bolju komunikaciju, upoznavali različite kulture i doprineli svojoj, kako kulturi, tako i domovini.

• Koju bi volontersku akciju posebno izdvojio/la?

Omiljena i upečatljivo zapamćena volonterska akcija mi je prethodno pomenuti planinski biciklizam. Uprkos prilično visokoj temperaturi, ovaj događaj mi je obezbedio najbogatije utiske. Maksimalno sam bila aktivna i slušala o stvarima za koje ranije nisam ni pomislila da bi mogle biti zanimljive. Upoznala sam veliki broj ljudi sa kojima sam i dalje u bliskom kontaktu, tako da su druženje i sadejstvo svih divnih trenutaka preovladali nad svakom vrstom umora i nad vrelim letnjim danima.

• Koliko volontiranje pomaže mladima da se samoostvare, da nađu put to sebe i nekog svog „zvanja“ u budućnosti?

Volontiranje zasigurno pomaže mladima u proširenju vidika i izbora profesije ili životnog puta kojim će se nahoditi. Volontiranje budi mlade, ustaljuje im ispravnu perspektivu sagledavanja dešavanja i navodi ih na korišćenje mnogobrojnih kapaciteta, buđenje skrivenih talenata. Pruža im mnoge mogućnosti, koje mogu postati još brojnije kada spoznaju suštinu volontiranja. Mladi već prijavljivanjem za određeno volontiranje zasigurno sklapaju nova prijateljstva, a kasnije postaju komunikativniji i nesumnjivo slobodniji i otvoreniji, sa vidljivijom potrebom za pomaganjem i dovitljivijim rešenjima problema.

Packing memories…

Well I knew it and I know that packing clothes is so fucking difficult, for me even more, but who knew that packing memories could be that overwhelming; Let me tell you what I am writing about! I spent 52 days in Novi Sad, actually less but let´s keep some secrets, it is healthy for everyone, plus there is nothing interesting to tell, that you might be interested to know I mean, so I was volunteering in this cool NGO called OPENS, the space there is so welcoming so everything becomes easier, and 70% of the staff is just amazing, and the boss I cannot talk about him without sounding crazy (hahaha) because of the image of boss we have everywhere.

But Vukašin is a great boss, better than I thought mostly because of his attitude and his touch and treat to every situation other than that he gifted me these amazing gifts, chosen so carefully and so meaningful that made my day so my respect, love and appreciation for him is out of the charts. And for everyone who met me, even once, they know: “I love gifts and I ask for them, all the time!” 

So I was volunteering in Novi Sad through the project WB6 Maxi, this great initiative taken by RYCO that is alike with Erasmus+ short term volunteering just cozier, because as Balkan people we know how things work in our region!

I like to call my volunteering my “Novi Sad Experience”, in my laptop there is a folder named: “Novi Sad Project”, and in my soul & mind there is another pack called “Memories”. 

I mean not everything was great, I hated the home I was living in for example but home isn´t the building you live in but the places where you feel you can be yourself at the fullest, and Novi Sad gave me that feeling, that spark when you feel like you belong, Sremski Karlovci as well, and most of the people who work at OPENS as well from time to time.

Of course you cannot feel that you belong or are part of all the time, there are things that make the sparkle fade a bit somehow, like: Like when your coworkers speak Serbian all the time in front of you or in Viber groups, like a bad coordinator who doesn´t know the job, like I mentioned above a bad home that lacks a lot but I will not go into details, some disrespectful behavior towards you from coworkers, buses, and taxi drivers who scam you, that last remark is alike everywhere!

I would like to focus on the good memories though, they are a lot actually, some really unexpected, for example: Who knew Vuk could write sweet things and give small cute gifts, he was my secret friend during a game that was never fully disclosed I think, for you that don´t know Vuk I don´t know if It would be wise to recommend him, (he was a participant from Montenegro in our exchange “Opening the doors”). 

Another unexpected gift is that I got some small gifts from the place I did some physiotherapy sessions, I really liked that, not more than the service though.

Now let´s go to the highlights of my memories, that was so difficult to go through and pack them, even though there were only pictures, leaflets, books or notes!

Serbian National Theatre has been definitely my place of love, it is warm, the shows are great, Nikoleta one of my favorite people lately was with me to see “The Nutcraker”, some Portuguese friends were with me at the “Novosadski Jazz Festival”, and my date was with me at “Novosadski Tango Quintet” oh that show left a mark in every bit of my human being, oh I really wish to see them in international scenes, they replied twice to my post for them, man that was so fucking special, I loved them and their art, oh I am speechless, and who me! That good was their performance.

For the forth show I don´t have good things to say and as my mother says if you don´t have any good thing to say, keep your mouth shut, so I am keeping my writing board closed.

Bermet Villa and Sremski is another highlight, lovely place, cozy, cheap, I had sweet wine and a great meal, great museum collection, great hospitality and really nearby from Novi Sad so everything went really as I wanted, it gave me the push I needed to finish all I had started.

My final evaluation was definitely a big highlight, in front of the Danube in a place full of boats, the day was super sunny and the owner of the place reminded me a dear person that isn´t with us anymore, so charming. So we talked about my experience, the mistakes we did, things that went south, beautiful events, things we would like to change, Vojislav gave me seeds, he really wants me to learn to plant a real future with plants.

Human Rights Day, the day I met Dexi a dear friend of mine and a person I recommended as a guest speaker that is an achievement, the event itself was great as well, the essay contest as well went really good and the cocktail was great.

Marine my flat-mate is another big highlight, I loved our long conversations, the liberty of talking freely and scolding each-other, the freedom to kid around about each-others health or habits, her advice is really great and she is an amazing listener, full of great stories, experiences and an amazing human being, French jewel thank you for enriching my Novi Sad experience!

Man, see I have a lot of great memories, I cannot unpack all of them here, in this short article, it would take a lot, and I do want to be read by lots of people so I will cut it here.

Packing memories is too difficult, first because it means you are saying “See you soon or Goodbye to an experience and a country at the same time”, but you know that an experience is full of ups and downs, full of beautiful people that made your life easier, happier and greater and less beautiful people who got on your nerves, made you angry, and made you reflect. But everyone teaches you a lesson even if that lesson is that :“Never to become like him or her.”

I packed memories, lots of them, loved Vojvodina region, some of the people I met, I worked with I want them to be part of my journey for a long time, some others I’m glad I will not see them anymore. Truth be told, packing memories is challenging but unpacking them is unbearable so I am going to wait to unpack them, I will wait till I become an old handsome grandpa and unpack them in a fun way, hoping I will be remembering all about this journey till then!

Use your time wisely, create memories, lots of them, and then pack them, it is all you can do, that is your power that no one can rob you of. Pack memories, enrich your life!

P.s: Follow me at @adriinnovi

Adrian Zalla
WB6volunteer

• Ko je Strahinja Pavlović, kako bi sebe najkraće predstavio/la?

- Sebe bih predstavio kao jednu pozitivnu, plemenitu, optimističnu i veselu osobu, spremnu da pomogne ljudima. Imam 21 godinu, dolazim iz Loznice i student sam turizma na Prirodno-matematičkom fakultetu u Novom Sadu.

• Koja su tvoja interesovanja i hobiji?

- Moje primarno interesovanje jeste putovanje i upoznavanje različitih kultura i običaja, zbog čega sam i upisao studije turizma. Pored toga, volim da planinarim i obilazim različite delove naše prelepe zemlje. U slobodno vreme, volim da igram tenis, basket, obožavam kvizove, a pored svega toga, volim da volontiram.

• U slobodno vreme možemo da te sretnemo na kojim lokacijama u gradu?

- Možete me naći bilo gde u gradu, jer u toku dana pređem veliki broj kilometara. Trenutno, zbog obaveza oko učenja, najviše vremena provodim na fakultetu. Kad nemam obaveza oko učenja, volim da sa društvom odem do centra. S vremena na vreme se uključim u neku volontersku aktivnost, pa me možete sresti na raznim kulturnim dešavanjima u gradu poput koncerata i izložbi.

• Šta je bio okidač da kreneš u volontersku avanturu?

- Sasvim slučajno sam naleteo na prijavu volontera za Evropsku prestonicu kulture (negde prve polovine ove godine) i to mi je privuklo veliku pažnju i želju da budem deo jednog takvog događaja koji je poseban i značajan za ceo grad. Pored toga, jako sam komunikativna osoba i volim da se upoznajem sa drugim ljudima, pa je to još jedan razlog uključivanja u volontersku avanturu.

• Kakvo je tvoje iskustvo u volonterskim „vodama“

- Moje iskustvo u volonterskim vodama traje još iz srednje škole, jer sam volontirao za lokalnu turističku organizaciju na raznim događajima i dešavanjima u gradu. Pored toga, bio sam uključen u rad kancelarije za mlade. 

• Koja je za tebe formula i ključ volontiranja?

- Formula i ključ volontiranja je da se mladi aktivno uključe u različite volonterske aktivnosti, što će doprineti međusobnoj povezanosti, dobroj komunikaciji, socijalizaciji, a takođe pomoći lokalnoj zajednici, kako bi se poboljšao život u gradu.

• Koju bi volontersku akciju posebno izdvojio/la?

- Posebno bih izdvojio Kaleidoskop, gde sam učestvovao na otvaranju i volontirao na samoj manifestaciji. Utisci sa ovog događaja su bili sjajni. Upoznao sam dosta ljudi, pričao sa umetnicima, pogledao sve izložbe i sva dešavanja oko same manifestacije (na nekima sam i volontirao), a pored svega toga sam se dobro zabavio i uživao.

• Koliko volontiranje pomaže mladima da se samoostvare, da nađu put to sebe i nekog svog „zvanja“ u budućnosti?

- Volontiranje može pomoći mladima da se pronađu u različitim društvenim sferama i da shvate u kom pravcu žele da idu i šta je ono što ih ispunjava. Takođe, mladi mogu da se oprobaju i u svojoj struci i da otvore vrata svojoj budućoj karijeri kroz sticanje znanja i veština.