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.

Barbara Antal

Hello! My name is Barbara, a Hungarian volunteer of Praxis and I’m excited to be a part of this volunteering initiative. After graduating, I knew I wanted to get involved in something that promotes understanding and brings people together. I’m passionate about giving back to the community, and believe that small efforts can make a big difference. In my freetime I enjoy reading and painting, which helps me stay creative. Particularly I like learning about different religions, as it broadens my view. I’m excited to contribute and learn through this project!!

Romy Brisson

Salut ! My name is Romy and I’m 18 yo, I’m from Vendee, a county in France next to the Atlantic ocean, I graduated from high school this June. I enjoy everything related to art : dancing, singing, acting and I am a big fan of cinema and film making. I wanted to take a gap year to have a year off in my studies and having an experience in a foreign country with people from all around Europe was something I wanted to do for a very long time ! I am here because I really enjoy making videos, getting to learn new cultures, new languages, new ways of living... I can’t wait to see what we’ll be able to achieve here.

Lucia Dublanka

Hello! I am Lucia, an 18-year-old from Germany. When I finished school this year, I did not want to hop directly into studying or a specific work field, so I decided that I wanted to get out of my home country and do voluntary service abroad. I have a strong interest in cultural exchange and love meeting new people, which is why the Praxis Project caught my eye. I am always excited to explore new cultures and broaden my horizons, by connecting with others from different countries and backgrounds. Creativity also plays an important role in my life, which also influenced my choice of going to Serres to contribute to this project. My passions include music, where I enjoy dancing, singing and playing instruments like ukulele or the violin. Additionally, I have a deep appreciation for art, film and literature. I’m looking forward to the time in Serres and continuing my journey of personal growth, fueled by getting more independent and also taking part in this project with many other nice people.

Dorothea Scheerer

Hello! My name is Doro and I am from Cologne. Cologne is a big city in Germany. I am 18 years old and I just graduated high school. I love cycling and everything that has to do with creativity. Drawing, painting, writing etc… I’m also very interested in history and psychology. I wanted to take a gap year before attending university to experience something entirely new. I like to meet new people and learn about different cultures. That’s why I choose to stay in a different country during my gap year. By participating in the MediArt Project I’m hoping to learn more about communication and communal values. I’m also hoping to meet many new people. I’m very excited to start working here!

Kira Lamers

Guten Tag! Hello! My name is Kira Magdalena Lamers , I‘m 19 years old and from Cologne in Germany. In my free time I do sports or more particular football. But I also enjoy going to the gym and other sports. I will volunteer in Praxis Greece from September 2024 until April 2025. I really want to engage myself and get to know the world. This is one of the many reasons why I wanted to go to Serres. I have just graduated and I don't want to jump straight into university or the working world. Instead, I want to explore the world, make new friends, engage myself and get to know different cultures, landscapes, and places. Furthermore, for me, this journey represents an opportunity to grow beyond myself, to develop my personality and to gain experiences that will benefit me throughout my life.

Léa Zwisler

Hi everyone, it’s Léa speaking here 🙂 I’m an 18-year-old French girl from Charleville-Mézières (north-east, next to the Belgian border). I enjoy reading and I’m passionate about a lot of themes. My main vocation in life is history and culture. I just finished high school where I studied languages and got history and literature classes in German in order to get both French and German degrees. That’s why I feel so connected to Europe and to humanity more globally. Thanks to these courses, I met a lot of people and travelled a bit but above all, it's been a real eye-opener. You may know my city from Arthur Rimbaud, an eccentric French poet on whom I';ve done a lot of work. You may be asking yourself why I am telling you all this stuff but actually, it’s directly linked to my presence here, in Serres. During this project, we made a radio broadcast with German students and our teachers, and I really loved it. Furthermore, I found Rimbaud’s life inspiring because I learnt that he was a big traveler. All of this echoed when I found Praxis’ project Mediart online and I didn’t wait to send my motivation letter to the organization. I'd been looking to volunteer after high school for several months, to gain experience, both personal and professional, and to improve my language skills before going to university. And indeed, it was the best choice ever. Since I arrived, I';ve met some incredible people and I feel like I've always lived in Serres, I love the town. I can't wait to start working at Praxis and make the world a little bit better <3

Clara Jene

Hola! My name is Clara, I live in Tres Cantos, a small town north of Madrid, Spain. I'm 22 and I'm studying psychology and different ways of understanding people's behavior. I've been working in the social sector for 4 years (with older people, people with different disabilities and children) and it's my vocation to continue to do so. I am very happy to be here because for me it implies an important change and personal growth. I hope that this experience will teach me a lot and that I will be able to learn from the project, the people, the community and the culture that surrounds me and also to be able to contribute to society. This adventure is just beginning and I am very excited!

Elodie Sallard

Hello everyone, my name is Elodie, I'm 23 years old and I'm French. I studied management and marketing. As a result, I joined a company and have been working there for 3 years. After 3 fantastic years, I decided to suspend my contract for 10 months and join the Praxis project in Greece. This project will allow me to discover other aspects of communication, but also to discover a culture that is not my own and meet new people. Finally, the main reason I decided to leave France was to learn English, because yes, we need it more than we think 😉

Olwen Delsart

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

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

Axel Benaben

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

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! 😃

Sandra Diaferia

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!

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.