Hosting project MEDIART

MEDIART ESC/EVS project recognizes the needs of the local community and offers opportunities to young people to express their creativity, and develop their skills for their future life and employment by promoting via media the “International days messages”. MEDIART needs volunteers who actively participate, support and bring in their fresh new ideas, promoting cultural diversity to the local community of Serres.

About Praxis Greece

PRAXIS is a youth Greek NGO which has activities in culture, media and human rights fields. Since 1995 offer a broad spectrum of cultural, media & communication activities. Co-operates with the municipalities, universities, UNESCO and other institutions. Maintains a strong interregional network that allows the realization of internships, seminars, ESC/EVS and youth projects. The intercultural experiences and acquired competences open up young peoples’ horizon. Offer opportunities to express their creativities, spreading all interesting information for them and for their future life and employment.

About MEDIART

Radio Station

The Volunteer will gain valuable experience working with media. Volunteer’s tasks are in control sound system during the journalistic radio-broadcast on the Master Sound control. Every day the volunteer has his/her personal radio broadcast. Every volunteer creates and records a personal radio spot to promote and advertise his/her broadcast.

International web – campaign promoting social and human values

For the theme of every campaign, the volunteer receives all this information some weeks earlier. When the volunteer receives all data links about “The International Day” he/she has to inform about the subject and then works together with the professionals in order to have brain-storming discussion.

Cooperation with schools

The activities mainly take place within the school, with the idea of creating links between schools and the organisation. But also many school classes are visiting the Radio station by many occasions (i.e. International Radio day, promoting their school projects).

Transmission of experience

The volunteer transmits his experience of mobility and youth participation:

organization of a job orientation fair
dissemination of information
press realize every month
radio programme in the internet radio

Creative workshops with young refugees

Coming together-Bringing down barriers is targeted at youth refugees who live in the Serres community and are active in youth initiatives. The volunteers work with and for refugees’ people who are living now in the camp of Serres. The volunteers invite the Yezidi young people from the refugee camp to our Youth Info Centre, to take part in common activities, having fun and sharing parts of their lives, with the European volunteers and local youths in a safe environment. In specific, the project brings together youths who are using social and traditional media internet and computers in order to share common interests and activities, promotional radio-spots, information material aimed at raising community awareness to cultural integration, teaching English or German, other creative activities, cinema nights, group games, outdoor activities, stories and also personal life experiences exchange.

Tasks of a volunteer

Promotion and support of national and international campaigns which mostly are connected to United Nations and their sub-organizations
Radio station (spots, broadcasts and technical support, sound system control)
Management of the organizations various social network channels
Creation of videos related to Human Rights and related campaigns
Coverage of events (videos, photos, articles, interviews, radio reportages)
International web- campaign promoting social and human values
Cooperation with schools
Leisure time using computers in info-center of Praxis with the young refugees from the local refugees’s camp, teaching English, German etc., other creative activities, cinema nights, group games or outdoor activities.

Workplace

We have two places of work: One is the Youth Information Centre, which is next door, just downstairs of the first, the big apartment and seven minutes walking from the third apartment. Second is the radio station, which is a five minute walk from the big apartment and seventeen minutes walk from the third apartment.

Accommodation

We have a first floor apartment which consists of three double bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom, a very large living room and two balconies. The apartment is furnished, with kitchen equipment, sofas, wi-fi etc.
We have a first floor apartment which consists of one double bedroom and a living room/kitchen, bathroom, hallway, balcony. This smaller apartment is furnished, with kitchen equipment, washing machine, sofa, wi-fi, etc.

Mario Formisano Fernández

Volunteer

¡Hola a todos y a todas! My name is Mario, I’m 25 years old and I’m Spanish. I was born in Madrid, Spain’s capital and biggest city. I’ve been raised and I’ve lived all my life in the metropolitan area of Madrid, concretely in a city called Leganés, except for a couple of periods abroad. I have a bachelor’s degree in Management and Business Administration with mention in Finance by the University Complutense of Madrid, but I studied for 1 academic year (Erasmus) of this degree in the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, and so I lived for that time in Toruń, Poland. My experience over there included the lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic. I’ve also lived abroad for another 8 months while working in Dublin, Ireland. I love to write (I’ve wrote and published 2 books in Spanish language) and I’m really interested in radio broadcasting and podcasting. Currently, I’m studying for a 2nd bachelor’s degree, this time about Communication at the Open University of Catalonia (100% online). After some time working in Spain, plus the time I was working in Ireland, I realized I was not happy at all with my situation. I needed a change and I also had the willingness to live abroad again. And that’s why I decided to look for an opportunity like this one. Praxis and Serres are the perfect chance to learn about communication, social engagement and radio broadcast, to meet new people from different backgrounds, to improve my English and soft skills and, of course, give something in return to society.

Olwen Delsart

Volunteer

Hello everyone, Let me introduce myself: I’m Olwen, the new French volunteer for Praxis. I’m very happy to join us for this beautiful experience. To tell you a little more about me, I am a chill person who likes to discover new things, drink coffee with friends and listen to music. I love music, so if you are any Greek artists you'd like me to discover, I'd love to hear about them. Also, I’m student in Education and Social Sciences in an international career, so I hope to discover your culture and more about Serres, and of course learn Greek! Looking forward to meeting you and getting to know you, see you soon!

Maya Audras

Volunteer

Bonjour !! My name is Maya and I am 18 years old for not even one month. I’m from Valence, a little town like Serres in the French South. I’ve obtained my Baccalaureate in June and I take a gap year before to start my cinema and theatre studies at La Sorbonne, in Paris. Indeed, even though I’m going to study, I’m going to enjoy it immensely (I have no doubt about that). I wanted to take a break before, to experience something new : new people, new country, new culture, etc. I also want to feel useful within an association that highlights human values and mutual aid. That’s why I’m looking forward to starting my work at Praxis

Nina Lemarquand

Volunteer

"Salut ! My name is Nina, I am 19 years old and I’m from the north of France. Last year, I did one year of psychology studies in the University. That’s my first gap year. I wanted to live something else than just studying in the university, improve my English skills, meet new people, a new culture, be engaged, and have time to think about me and my life, because I’m not sure about what I want to do. I came here, at praxis, because firstly I liked the project: doing campaigns, working with radio, schools, doing some videos and photos editing, the fact that we can all express our creativity, show who we are, live with different people…Also, It’s my first time in Greece ! It’s such a good opportunity, and I think it’s going to be a good experience. I can’t wait to see what the future has to offer and to learn more about Greek culture and Greek people. Meetings are so important !"

Rodrigo Duarte

Volunteer

Olá a todo! Hello everyone! My name is Rodrigo and I come from a small town in the center of Portugal called Covilhã. I'm very happy to be here and to be starting this new challenge. Talking a bit about myself, as a good portuguese, I'm very fond of bacalhau and pasteis de nata,i am a chill person who likes to make new friends and have long conversations about anything while drinking something with a nice landscape behind. I studied classical music for almost 10 years, playing clarinet and bass clarinet, I love music and I really enjoy learning more about music of all kinds. I decided to leave my city and my comfort zone by doing some projects through the European Solidarity Corps, this being my second. I'm looking for new experiences that will make me grow as a person, get to know new places and new people. I'm always willing to help and to go on a new adventure! Never forget, Ronaldo is better than Messi! See you soon!

Laura Savoini

Volunteer

Hello everyone! I’m Laura, and just a few days ago, I took a flight from Italy to start my new life as a Praxis volunteer. This is my first time in Greece, and the idea of spending the rest of the summer in this country while working for the European Solidarity Corps makes this experience even more valuable. I graduated in Communication Sciences at the University of Bologna in March. After that, the only thing I knew was that I wanted to use my free time to do something that could have a positive impact on my life and on other people's lives. I've always been interested in stories and how different types of media tell them. With its multicultural environment, I believe that Praxis is the perfect place for me to improve my communication skills while enjoying my time with people from different parts of Europe, together with whom I can share my interests and opinions.

Sandra Diaferia

Volunteer

Ciao a tutti, I am Sandra and I am Italian, precisely from Tuscany. In the past years, I lived a bit everywhere...after finishing my bachelor in Communication Science at the Bologna University, I moved to London and after to the Netherlands where I finished my master's in Human Geography. Currently, I live in Belgium, close to Brussels. I was looking for projects in Communication and when I saw the Mediart project at Praxis, I decided to apply...my goal is to learn the various skills and tools required in Communication and Campaign...and of course...I hope to make a lot of new friendships during my stay in Serres!

Axel Benaben

Volunteer

Hello 🙂 My name is Axel, I am a French graphic design student volunteering in Praxis Greece from April to August 2024. Currently in a gap year after spending my third year of studying communication in Amsterdam, I wanted to have another experience abroad and therefore looked into volunteering with the European Union. This project was the opportunity for me to enhance and practice the skills I learned in university and in my personal life, while also being able to conduct projects in English, discover a new country and culture, as well as meeting new people from all over Europe and learn from them. Three months and a half in, I can really affirm that I had the chance to organise events I am proud of, and I would say that my favourite part about that is creating their visual identity and collaborate with the other volunteers I work with.

Sorrel

Volunteer

Hihiii! I'm Sorrel, a Latvian/German Volunteer of Praxis. I have a keen interest in language and etymology, making Greece quote the interesting experience for me. I also enjoy all forms of media, like shows, animation, music and theater, especially opera. I've studied astronomy and astrophysics, and I hope to have a future within the topic, if lucky enough to do so. I plan to live in Greece for the next few years, and my love for Serres is a big reason why! 😃

Mille Elbæk

Volunteer

Hallo Everyone! My name is Mille, I am from Denmark. I am 21 years old and going into my second gap year after graduating high school. I am taking these gap years to gain new experiences and get a better sense of what I want to pursue later in my academic and work life. In the future I would like to study either Journalism or Political Science. I know I will learn a lot from this experience at Praxis. I have wanted to work as a volunteer for a long time. I am sure I will gain a lot of high valued skills from working here while doing something good for the local community.

Julia Schürheck

Volunteer

Hallo zusammen 😉 I am Julia, 18 years old and I'm from Cologne, Germany. I graduated highschool this year. I decided to take a gap year to concentrate on my interests and to broaden my horizon a bit more. That's how I stumbled into PRAXIS. In my freetime I am interested in making music an d editing short video clips and pictures as well as in making podcasts with a leisuretime group. I enjoy reading and keeping a journal about my experiences when I find the time for it. I am really looking forward to learning some skills towards editing, broadcasting and journalism in general. Also, I care about animals 🙂

Mathilde Pincemin

Volunteer

Bonjour, I’m Mathilde and I’m from France, precisely Quimper, a little city surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean! I finished my last year at high school, and I wanted to take a gap year to practice my English, to make a break between my studies and for me and to gain some knowledge. I founded Praxis like the perfect project because I love to edit videos, to post, to speak English and to share good moments. I can't wait to discover the Greek culture, local people, the Greek landscapes and to have an amazing experience for me and to tell my friends and my family because it’s a big challenge for me to live so far from home with new people.

Erdi Kanik

Volunteer

Hello everyone my name is Erdi Kanık I am 22 years old and I am from Izmir,Turkey. These are the reasons why I want to participate in this project; it is very important for me to share our work with people and the knowledge my English more,to get to know a different culture and to make different friends. I am looking forward to organizing very productive studies and events under praxis projects throughout the project.

Adem Moussaoui

Volunteer

Good morning, My name is Adem, I'm 20 years old, I'm self-employed in the provision of video editing, graduated in Mechanics and Automotive Bodywork, but passionate about the world of cinema and photography, really nothing to do with my diploma haha, I come from France more precisely in Marseille (the best city in France!) I chose to join this project, because I see myself in it! Being passionate about video and sound, I wanted to add my help and my passion in this project. My dream is to travel around the world and report on every place I pass with my video equipment!

Afonso Cachapuz Abreu Guimarães

Volunteer

Hi guys! I am Afonso, the newest praxis volunteer I am 18 and I come from Porto in Portugal although my dad was born in Angola and my mom in France I finished high school this year and I intend to study marine biology in the future but I decided to take a year off and ingress in a ESC project to further develop myself in areas that school and university doesn't address. I'll be staying here until June and I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of new people and making the most of this experience. Bye for now

Maria Bollero Gonzalez

Volunteer

I´m Maria, I’m 19 soon-to-turn-20, a virgo and I’m from Malaga, Andalucia, Spain. This is my first time in Greece and I love everything I’ve seen so far in Serres (especially the eggplants rolls with philadelphia inside from ΜΠΑΚΑΛΙΚΟ!!!!) AND EXCEPT FOR THE HOT WEATHER (I´ve never showered that many times per day!!!!!!!!!!) I’m studying nursing, which is very important to me. At first I didn’t want to study that but when I started doing practical training at the hospital I created a lot of meaningful connections with people and I fell in love with the job. I love traveling and sleeping, specifically, taking naps. Also I like to read (even if I dont do it as much as I want to), to have deep conversations and to really know people. Also I’m a vegetarian!

Marcel Gutenberger

Volunteer

Hi! Μy name is Marcel. I am German and Brazilian and I was born in Portugal. My upbringing in an international family has raised my interest in international relations, it gave me a deeper understanding of cultural diversity and feeling as a European citizen. When I finished my Psychology degree I went to work for a year in Munich but I realised I wanted to provide meaningful change in a broad level. That is why Ι joined PRAXIS. Because I really liked its work and I believed I could use my capacities to help it bring its plans into action and have a positive impact raising awareness about various issues. Βesides gaining experience related to communication and media and growing myself professionally, my main goals are involving myself with the Greek culture and to learn Greek. I am sure this will be an amazing experience and I try to get the most out of it!

Joan Anis

Volunteer

Hello everyone! I’m Joan, I’m 20 years old and I’m from Italy. At the moment I’m taking a gap year in order to make new experiences, meet new people, know their values and opinions and last but not least grow as a person. I’ll be staying at Praxis for 5 months. I chose this project because it brings awareness to various issues through different types of means (broadcast, article, video, social media posts and so on) and it demands you to be creative, to put thoughts into actions and gives you the opportunity to learn a lot in term of cultural aspects and on a personal level. It’s the first time that I get to live in another country, far from my family. I’m not gonna lie, it’s a little bit intimidating but I do think that it’s a process that we have to face at some point in our life , we can’t always stay in our comfort zone! I’m looking forward to learn a lot, meet a lot of people and eat a lot of different food!

Nikol Maria Dontschew

Volunteer

Hi guys, My Name is Nikol, I am 18 years old and from Cologne. I live in Germany but my parents are from Bulgaria. I graduated high school this year and decided to do a Gap Year. So here I am! I already love Greece: Its people, culture and food. I am so excited for our incoming campaigns, meeting new people and making (hopefully) an impact. Later I am planning to study something related to medias, so I take this ESC as a great opportunity to get to know myself better and at the same time to gain experience in journalism.

Iria Torres Gutierrez

Volunteer

Hi everyone! My name is Iria and I'm from Valladolid, Spain. I have a degree in Journalism and I have a Master degree of Teaching Social Science... So now I am a teacher of History and Geography! I love listening to indie music, reading books - all the topics, all the genders but more history and thrillers - and, of course, I love travelling around the world. I have lived in Ireland, Poland, Australia.... and now Greece! I'm so excited with this new adventure and I hope to continue growing and learning from life! And to ending I am feminist, antirracist and vegetarian.

Felix Neo Rieder

Volunteer

Hello, my name is Felix and I am from Germany. For me the voluntary service was a chance to develop myself as much as to help people and the society to develop. Furthermore it gives me the chance to prepare myself for working life and for studies which I will start this summer after the end of the mobility period. The reason why I choose this project was because it specifically demands various of skills from us like self initiative, organizing and communicating. I am glad to be here.

Ionut-Marian Ionescu

Volunteer

Hi, I am Marian, I'm 21 years old and I decided to joing Praxis Greece and believe in their mission because before I can change the world, I have to be that change.