Kielce, Poland. 178 kilometres from Warsaw, 116 from Cracow. An isolated hotel among the woods and a hundred people from several European countries were the main components of the 7th International Meeting of European Clubs. The convention, called “Volunteering for Tolerance”, assembled almost a hundred students and teachers from eleven European countries – including Turkey and Ukraine, nations which want to join the EU – and it lasted from 12th to 16th November 2011. Both students and teachers had been sent there to discuss the theme of tolerance and its importance in the development of a more open-minded Europe.
The project was co-financed by the European Union within the programme “Europe for Citizens” 2007-2013. The event was instead organized by the Polish Foundation “Robert Schuman”. The main coordinators of the event – Maja Selan, Juanita van Montfort and Pjotr – were helped by volunteers from EVS who worked for the Foundation.
The programme of the convention was rich in different activities: informative conferences, debates and role-plays, all focused on volunteering and tolerance.
On the second day, participants took part in a role – play called “Take a Step Forward”. They had been given a piece of paper with a role written on it, and they had to take a step forward whenever they thought that the sentences pronounced by the game master were true for the role they were playing. This game was useful to understand how many differences exist among countries and social classes. On the same day in the afternoon each teacher embodied a book to develop the interesting activity of the Living Library. There were love stories, presentations of real books, real life experiences: students had to choose four of them.
Can a law increase tolerance in Europe? On Day 3 participants debated on this theme. They were divided into two groups and they had to discuss and prepare arguments to persuade the other group that they were right.
There was time for fun activities as well: we all learnt to dance “Moves like Jagger” by Maroon Five and we performed a flash mob in Kielce main square. Actually, we didn’t cut many people in on the deal, but we had a great time!
The whole stay was a wonderful experience: it was useful to think about us, about who the young European generations are, and about such a complex theme as tolerance.
The last part of the programme that the organizers had sent us before we left for Poland said: “See you soon – return home”. I don’t know how many of us wanted to return home, but I’m sure that all of us want to go back to Kielce, Poland, 178 kilometres from Warsaw and 116 from Cracow.
Chiara Murgia (3C)