2013 was an eventful year for AEGEE: The Golden Times asked more than 100 active members how they perceived the year – and what they foresee for 2014. In this ninth edition: read what Anne Bakhuizen, Armenak Minasyants, Anna Pykhtina, Koen Berghuis and Magdalena Kortas said. One of the events that left a great impression on them was the European Board’s Meeting in Valletta (see image above).

Anne Bakhuizen, President of AEGEE-Amsterdam

Anne BakhuizenWhat was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2013?
My personal AEGEE highlight in 2013 was our Summer University. AEGEE-Amsterdam organised the SU around the Gaypride and it was very educating and interesting for everyone to share their stories and experiences. There were participants who could be openly gay for the first time in their lives, and there were participants who confessed they did not know anything about homosexuality before they came to Amsterdam. Those ten days really made clear for me that we have to make a change within AEGEE on this topic.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2013. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
I think the enormous support from the network for our members in Turkey during the protests was an outstanding moment in 2013. I get the sense that the same kind of thing is appearing in the network for the protests in Ukraine nowadays. I really support our members in Ukraine and really hope their and our protests will make a difference!
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2013?
I think the most outstanding members of AEGEE in 2013 are the people who were on the streets in Turkey and are right now on the streets in Ukraine.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2014?
I think and I hope that the European elections will be a big topic in AEGEE during the following year.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2014?
My personal AEGEE plans for 2014 will focus on making a difference on the topic of LGBT rights. I think that we, as members of AEGEE, can and therefore must join in the protest for LGBT rights. Therefore I started the initiative to set up an LGBTWG within AEGEE.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I will spend my New Year’s night in the beautiful city of Amsterdam. I love Europe, but sometimes it’s like we say in Holland: “East, West, home best”.

 

Armenak MinasyantsArmenak Minasyants, Policy Officer of AEGEE-Europe

What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2013?
I have had three big personal AEGEE highlights in 2013: the first one was the possibility to visit and talk with more than 20 AEGEE locals all over the continent, thus identifying many challenges which our members face. The second one was the ratification of AEGEE-Europe’s Position Paper on European Neighborhood Policy at the Autumn Agora Zaragoza 2013, as I have worked on this paper for almost a year and it was wonderful to see its ratification. And the third one would go to AEGEE-Yerevan for giving me the possibility to be the main coordinator and organizer of the “Armenia Model EU Conference 2013”, which gathered more than 120 young people from all over Europe in Yerevan and was funded directly by the European Commission.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2013. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
Surely the reelection of the entire CD for the second term was one of the outstanding moments: I always have said that in AEGEE we really need strongly dedicated and hard working people working on the European level and the current CD people are a good example of it. And of course another memorable moment was, when our “Europe on Track” project won the Charlemagne Award of 2013 – it is a good feeling to know that you belong to an association which is awarded with such an important prize.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2013?
I would go straight: Alla Resheten. Already for three years I am simply admiring this lady’s strongest motivation and willingness to work for AEGEE: simply one of the greatest examples of how the real dedicated AEGEEan should look like and inspire the new generations of our members. I would miss a lot her constant support and assistance on any topic related to Eastern Partnership.
Which one was for you the outstanding antenna in 2013?
Of course, AEGEE-Yerevan! But, if I just put aside my positive attitude towards my home local, I would also like to mention the organizing locals of this year’s Agoras. And I would go for two other locals: the first would be AEGEE-Brno. Even though it is not the biggest local in our Network, these guys have some kind of a fantastic AEGEE spirit and great sense of responsibility, which they showed during AEGEE’s Eastern Partnership project’s Youth in Action Conference “EaP Countries on the Way to EU Integration”. Another amazing local is AEGEE-Krakow, whose members and board have such a great AEGEE identity and willingness to learn something new, which is simply admirable. Worth to mention are also the Ukrainian and Turkish locals for their struggle at Euromaidan and Gezi Park: you know, when we were discussing something important about AEGEE sitting in our offices or conference halls, these guys were and are proving on the streets for what values AEGEE stands.
Which one was for you the outstanding project in 2013?
For me generally it was AEGEE’s Eastern Partnership project: lots of high quality events, thematic discussions, conferences, workshops in the various parts of the Network. Thanks to these guys we are one of the leading youth NGOs in the Eastern Partnership dimension.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2014?
I consider that with no doubt the European Parliament’s elections and particularly our Y Vote 2014 project would be one of the biggest highlights of 2014, as it is very ambitious initiative and already we may state a quite successful one. Good luck to Ola Kluczka and the other Y Vote team members for their job!
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2014?
In my life I never exclude anything. Let’s live and see! Frankly talking, I have a strong motivation and desire to contribute to the further strengthening of our network in 2014 and later on.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
Easy question!  As I always did in last 24 years: in Yerevan together with my family, friends, AEGEE-Yerevan members and in a crazy 24/7 New Year mood of Yerevan.

 

Anna Pykhtina, PR responsible of AEGEE-Kyiv, PR responsible of the SUCT

Anna PykhtinaWhat was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2013?
The day when my life changed was the beginning of January when I decided to apply for the position of main coordinator of AEGEE-Kyiv’s Summer University “The Big Kyiv Theory”. The following seven months with preparations and then two weeks of crazy travelling through five Ukrainian cities changed my attitude towards many important things. It helped me to understand what I like and want to do in my future. Without any exaggerations, “The Big Kyiv Theory” gave me very important experience and people who I can call real friends and even more.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2013. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
I would name the CD recandidating. It was my first Agora and I think everything was like in a dream – so new and inspiring. So when the whole team was reelected for me it was the moment when I realized how much AEGEE could mean if you work on European level and you want to change the future. Another touching thing is the support that Turkey and Ukraine received from different locals. It is very important to know that you have foreign friends and even people who you never meet before, but who believe that what you fight for is right.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2013?
Before I was elected as Public Relations responsible in the SUCT, I was not so active on European level, more on local. And my personal outstanding member in 2013 is Olia Yuschenko, former president of AEGEE-Kyiv. She was great Network Commissioner, dedicated many years on creating strong and friendly antennae, contributed to many local and European events! The funny thing is that we grew up in one district and live in one street. I remember her from being 14 years old as we have common friends, but I first talked to her when I became AEGEE-Kyiv member in 2012 and she was holding an interview with me. Now she is one of my closest friends and I am really lucky because of that! One more person, who I admire is of course Alla Resheten, who did so many amazing things for our local and for AEGEE-Europe. For us she is an example to follow and I was proud to say every time at both Agoras: “See that girl on the stage, in the Chair Team. It’s Alla and she is from my antenna!”
Which one was for you the outstanding antenna in 2013?
I was absolutely inspired and astonished by the job that the organizers of both Agoras made! Agora Rhein-Neckar was my first one and seeing the way AEGEE works was something unforgettable. The way all the organizers could manage their tasks is the way it should be. Agora Zaragoza was another example how such a big and important statutory event could be planned and organized by a great team. I am sure that everyone agrees about how friendly and positive the atmosphere between organizers was.
Which one was for you the outstanding project in 2013?
For me the most outstanding one was the Europe on Track and its success with winning the Charlemagne Award of 2013. I was following the news about this project and was really happy to read that AEGEE won it! And it was great to make an interview with Mathieu Soete, when he was elected as Member of Month by The AEGEEan. And of course the Eastern Partnership project.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2014?
For sure the European Parliament elections will be an extremely important topic. Living in Ukraine we also have to change the attitude towards voting among the young generation. Right now we live in a very difficult time for our country and it is caused because of the lack of conscious votes during the election. So I hope that AEGEE will contribute to this and make an impact.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2014?
Being elected as PR responsible of my local and the amazing SUCT, I’ll do my best to work on promotion! I have a lot of motivation and feel a lot of responsibility. In AEGEE-Kyiv we also have a trick in our sleeve with our plan to organize something great, but I won’t give away any spoiler. I really adore my board and the guys from SUCT, so it will be an amazing year!
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
We are going to the Carpathian mountains in the west of Ukraine with my friends – all of them are AEGEEans at the moment. We wanted to avoid a typical celebration with cooking a lot of dishes that it is impossible to eat in one night, watching TV and listening to the president’s speech – which is typical in many Ukrainian families. Instead of this we will be snowboarding and drinking mulled wine!

 

Koen Berghuis, former Network Commissioner

Koen BerghuisWhat was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2013?
After being very active in the previous years, 2013 was for me the year to step back and give the space to other people to further develop AEGEE. Even as I didn’t join too many events, for sure the biggest highlights were the agora Rhein-Neckar and the conference about Croatia’s accession to the EU organized by the European Commission in Zagreb. The first one was my favourite Agora of all by far, perfectly organized by a great group of people who didn’t forget the human touch to make people enjoy and smile. At the conference in Zagreb it was great to see AEGEE involved on such a high level, with all AEGEE participants actively contributing and clearly standing apart from other participants! And let’s not forget both events totally succeeded in giving this recovering AEGEE junkie its shot of AEGEE spirit with so many lovely people around me!
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2013. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
Of course Europe on Track winning the Charlemagne Youth Price is an amazing feat on its own. Looking at the bigger picture, in general you can say it was an amazing year for AEGEE in terms of promoting ourselves towards externals and getting involved on high European levels in Brussels.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2013?
I’m very impressed with Antonija Parat, seeing her develop over the last years from someone who wasn’t involved at all in organizational matters or content-wise on European level to her being elected as Netcommie and doing a fantastic job on all fronts, both for her locals and for the Netcom as speaker. The same goes for Silvija Perić and Ana Potočnik, working alongside her with the Balkan locals. Certainly Ana is a person worth watching the next year in AEGEE! Besides them, I also really like the never-ending energy of Alma Mozgovaja and Hara Kogkou and their excellent work on the Key to Europe.
Which one was for you the outstanding antenna in 2013?
AEGEE-Debrecen. For a relatively small local to manage to pull off a lot of great activities, from hosting a European School to organizing human libraries, is simply great work. I’ve got lots of respect to all their members and in particular to Balázs Kovács, who somehow manages to show up at every European event there is to give an amazing contribution.
Which one was for you the outstanding project in 2013?
As I was only observing from a distance, I cannot honestly judge on this.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2014?
Obviously I have to name Y Vote. If conducted properly, it can have a huge impact for AEGEE. I know that a lot of high-up eurocrats in Brussels still talk fondly about the old Y Vote project and the impact it made to them and to youth in Europe. It would be great if the current project team could repeat that success!
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2014?
First of all, to stay out of daily AEGEE life as much as possible like I did last year, as it is to the new generation to further develop AEGEE. That being said, as someone who was always active on organizational level in my local board and the Netcom and always missing out on getting involved in thematics, there might soon be a new European project coming up that I’m interested in contributing to!
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I have no clue at all! As I moved to Romania this year, I will get back home to the Netherlands for Christmas, but I only booked myself a one-way ticket. Probably I will make a spontaneous crazy last minute decision in which European city with which of my European friends I will spend it!

 

Magdalena Kortas, former Secretary of AEGEE-Gdansk

Magdalena KortasWhat was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2013?
It is a difficult question, but probably the last European Board’s Meeting in Malta. It was not only my first Statutory Event, but also my first AEGEE event at all. Thereafter I started being a more active member and participated in many conferences and projects. I just felt the true AEGEE spirit!
Who was for you the outstanding antenna in 2013?
Definitely AEGEE-Eindhoven with their crazy and awesome idea to rent a helicopter to go to the Spring Agora Patra in 2014. Even if the project fell through, they would achieve a goal: big promotion of their antenna within the network. This is called good marketing.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2014?
For sure “nationalism”, the main theme of next European Board’s Meeting. The topic is quite difficult and complex, but I am very satisfied with the voting decision at the last Agora and believe in both well-prepared content and inspiring discussions that will take place in February in Lublin. We should never be afraid of elaborated problematic aspects.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2014?
I would like to get involved more on the European level by joining one of the current projects. On the local level I will probably deal with some exchanges – at this moment we have planned three already – and of course I am looking forward to the European Boards’ Meeting in Lublin and the next Spring Agora in Patra. What is more, I am thinking about launching a cycle of presentations about work possibilities in European organizations and institutions in my part of the network.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I am one of the main organizers of the New Year’s Eve in Gdańsk, so this year I will take part in the biggest New Year’s event in the whole AEGEE network! We have now 120 participants from 50 antennae and there is still the possibility to apply!

 

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