Who is the AEGEE member of the year 2015? Which antenna, which project was the best? The Golden Times asked more than 50 locally or Europeanly active members. In the sixth edition: read what Pablo Hernández Rodríguez, Suzan Dilara Tokaç, Joanna Pankowska, Florian Hauger, Tessa Speelman and Ana Gancearuc said.
Pablo Hernández Rodríguez, Comité Directeur
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
My personal highlight in 2015 is the approval of the Position Paper in “Transition from Education to Working Life”. It was the second Position Paper that I had the opportunity to write and I hope it contributed to a greater understanding of what do we stand for in the field of youth employment.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
Agorae are always something to be remembered. With no doubt AgorAsturias and Agora Kyiv represent those moments that in some years we will still comment and check the photos with nostalgia.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
Anna Smailikova. I finally had the opportunity to work closely with her and I am really amazed of her qualities and the good organization of the Agora in Kyiv.
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
AEGEE-Kyiv in my opinion has gone a step forward in the development of the association as a such by organizing the Young Ukraine conference introducing the concept of this kind of activities before the Agora, reinforcing the content development in AEGEE. Another antenna that has made a change is AEGEE-Valencia; they managed to organize an incredible Network Meeting and consolidated the base of an incredible generation of AEGEEans. Apart from this, because of my background and personal experiences, I cannot forget to mention AEGEE-Alicante and AEGEE-Thessaloniki that have been carrying out amazing projects and empowering students of their local community – with buddy programme, Local Training Courses and other activities.
What was for you the outstanding European project in 2015?
Well, the Election Observation Project has been to many places, giving the opportunity to many people to participate in their activities. Democracy in Practice has also been developing some materials and renewing its team to perform even cooler ideas in the upcoming year.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
I foresee that the AEGEE Day will be the highlight of the year as it aims at involving the whole network on the same topic. I am also sure that Agora Bergamo and Agora Chisinau will be outstanding moments of 2016.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
My personal plans include implementing and developing all the projects that I am personally managing. I would want to give back to AEGEE what I got from it being one of the hundreds of young Europeans that make this association meaningful and special.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
As my life is not enough full of AEGEE experiences I have decided to apply to the New Year’s event that AEGEE-Zaragoza is organizing, so I will spend the New Year’s night somewhere in Aragon.
Suzan Dilara Tokaç, former SUCT and ACT
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
Obviously and definitely “The Night of Seven Antennae”! When we were online on the live stream with all members of AEGEE-Eskisehir, participants from all over Europe, our mascot Masagor and our dear guests, my heart was almost stopping and everything was totally amazing – the show, the music, the atmosphere and “Tunak Tunak Tun”! Not only in 2015, but it was the highlight in my eight years of AEGEE story! I managed to fit a lot in 2015; SUCT, ACT, Summer University in Heraklio, Night of the Seven Antennae, two Agorae, EPM, LTC, NWM Adana and signing Convention d’Adhesion for Contact Hatay to become an Antenna – which was done in an event rather than in an Agora – and now the Youth Mobility Working Group. It is the most productive and unforgettable year of all times for me.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
The year of 2015 was outstanding itself as it was the anniversary of our beloved AEGEE. Throughout the year, locals and AEGEE-Europe organized different kind of events, conferences and celebrations. Deciding to revive the Night of Seven Antennae, which was done in 1986 for the first time, was a very phenomenal idea. The new reform of Working Groups was a big and very useful move by the CD. I am also extremely glad to be a part of the first implementers of the change by being a member of the Youth Mobility Working Group.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
Kids should always thank their mothers so I want to mention our ACTie Mama Svenja! She was very supportive, helpful and active during our term together, then we paid our debts as her kids by supporting her candidature as CD member, which she is rocking now! I want to name a princess called Reka, as being a member of Anniversary Team she did a good job and she showed great enthusiasm and readiness to become a part of the CD, which she deserved for a long time and achieved! And my beloved friend, team member and brother Antoni! Even is he was usually hidden behind the computer screen – with all that gibberish signs – he did a lot for SUCT, so for the every single member of AEGEE. He never gave up on the crazy website, always worked hard to take it one step further by doing a lot of improvements! He has been always there for the ones who needed help and especially for us by being a Grammar Nazi. Now he still continues as our main Coordinator of the Youth Mobility Working Group to be a mate, support, brother and of course Grammar Nazi to me!
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
If you can remember my answer from the last year, you can see that I made a good choice. The antenna made me proud once again of my decision, that’s why I want to mention them once more: with its great organizers’ team of the Agora, always smiley faces just to spite the cold weather and always helpful and hardworking – AEGEE-Kyiv!
What was for you the outstanding European project in 2015?
It goes to the Summer University Project! To be honest, by being the most influential and long lasting project of AEGEE, SU will always be the one! The newly launched project “Your Vision for Europe” seems to start with very good motives and subjects, so I guess we will see effective outcomes.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
As it was a big discussion during the last day of Agora Kyiv, the topic of the EPM will get attention a lot. Also what happened afterwards and so far will define the discussion subject. I am really looking forward to it. Besides, this EPM will be the first one after the Working Group reform, so drafting the Action Agenda will be very interesting.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
It is another anniversary year, the 15th birthday of my lovely AEGEE-Eskisehir. We are planning to celebrate it with an elegant, productive and of course awesome party. I also believe Spring Agora Bergamo will be very special to me, but before that I have some prior plans and achievements. So we will need to wait and see!
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I will spend it with a very special person in a very special place, but that s a secret between me and “him”!
Joanna Pankowska, Moderator of Health4Youth Interest Group, Content Manager of EPM Leiden 2016, Advisory Board of AEGEE-Warszawa
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
The European Planning Meeting seems to be the theme for my AEGEE life this year. From EPM Burgos, thought the progress meeting I held during AgorAsturias, proposing the “No topic topic” for the next EPM, losing the battle by few votes and finally getting selected as one of the Content Managers of EPM Leiden.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
I really enjoyed the Brussels conference celebrating 30 years of AEGEE.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
Definitely Andrea Schmelz – I participated in both of her Network Meetings this year and I was very impressed with her work.
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
I will go with my ex-twin antenna: AEGEE-Aachen. They definitely stand out in the network for many reasons. I also have to mention my new local AEGEE-Toruń, because size doesn’t matter and I believe in them!
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
The European Citizens’ Initiative on Civic Education! Also AEGEE Election Observation. They do something legendary and it is a pity that not that many AEGEEans knows about them! The project is definitely outstanding.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
The European Citizens’ Initiative will definitely consume a lot of my energy in 2016. Nevertheless the Civic Education Working Group and the Health4Youth Interest Group will still be my focus. Between those European bodies I still hope to find energy for both supporting my new local AEGEE-Toruń and performing work for the Advisory Board of AEGEE-Warszawa.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I am not sure yet but probably with my good old friends in Toruń.
Florian Hauger, Secretary General of AEGEE-Heidelberg
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
Of course I was very excited about presenting AEGEE Heidelberg’s position paper „Facing the Challenge in Unity – Joint Solutions of Europe’s latest Refugee Crisis“ while attending my very first Agora in Kyiv.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
Personally, my most memorable moment was the long and deeply felt conversation I had with the great girls of AEGEE-Kyiv who did have heartfelt things to say about their participation in the Euromaidan protests two years ago. I have such great respect for those brave people and their vision of an peaceful Ukraine. I belief very strongly in their cause. Supporting Europe by stabilizing the fluid situation in Ukraine is one oft he most pressing issues of our time.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
As I already mentioned the honourable work of the Ukrainian antennae, I want to name AEGEE-Amsterdam’s Romi Cartiere, taking particular account of the refugee crisis‘ successful adoption as topic for EPM Leiden 2016 under the most difficult conditions. Regarding her passionate empathy for people fleeing from religious or political persecution, she‘s already my personal Member of the Year.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
The refugee crisis and the wider topic of migration are clearly very complex and both require multifaceted solutions. Honouring AEGEE‘s humanitarian values, our organization needs to realize its collective responsibility to embrace and protect people fleeing from religious or political persecution, from war, dictatorship and oppression.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
I failed to get our proposal ratified by the Agora, now I want to raise awareness of this pressing topic. Especially antennae focused on Erasmus work do have an ideal infrastructure, involving refugees in language cafés, workshops, parties or other events. Our local work offers the perfect condition for a successful integration. To acquire long-term solutions at the European level, we need to send a strong message from EPM Leiden 2016. AEGEE-Europe could be far more influential by using its access to the decision makers in Brussels! After the horrible and deeply-concerning terrorist attacks in Paris, I started to prepare another position paper about the ISIS terror. As it breaks my heart to see my former Erasmus home suffering, and as the so-called Islamic State negates everything AEGEE stands for, we should declare our antagonism against this uncivilized and evil organization.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I will be in Italy, participating in the awesome New Year’s event of AEGEE-Salerno and AEGEE-Ioannina. I can’t wait for the announced toga party to get started… Gonna make some points for AEGEE Heidelberg!
Tessa Speelman, President of AEGEE-Utrecht
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
Being elected as president of my local and starting to work fulltime for AEGEE-Utrecht. It’s very special to be able to invest all your time in AEGEE and so far in the first months I have learned so much! And of course I am very happy that I can do this with a great team of four great girls. Every day I wake up happy and can’t wait to work together in our office.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
That’s a hard question, I think there have been many memorable moments in 2015. If I have to name one I think it’s the acceptance of the new working group format at AgorAsturias, which changed the way how we work on our focus areas drastically. I think it’s a first step which leads to better monitoring the progress we make to achieve our goals and hopefully leads to a better achievement of our goals. I am also very curious about the role of the new working groups during the upcoming EPM, hopefully they can help to write a great Action Agenda.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
I can’t name one member, but I want to thank all members which actively contributed during Agorae and other events last year by asking questions and discussing different topics. Only with all these active people we can really be a forum for students, so I hope we all will continue to be active and raise our voice and aren’t afraid to express our opinions.
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
AEGEE-Kyiv for organizing an amazing Agora in a difficult time. They showed that when your country has to deal with very hard and important issues, you can still achieve great things. They showed us that we should not be afraid and that the youth wants to move forward. I think we can all learn a lot from that and besides that they organised an amazing, well-organized Agora.
What was for you the outstanding European project in 2015?
The Election Observation Project. I think they are doing amazing things and improved a lot during the last year. They show that with a concrete and innovative idea you can motivate a lot of young people to contribute to democracy. The Election Observation Missions teach the participants a lot about how democracy works and contributes to honest elections. Besides that is it a great way to learn more about a region or country, so I hope they continue to do this in 2016 as well.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
I am very much looking forward to the EPM in Leiden in February. First of all to discuss the topic of refugees, which I think is a topic AEGEE definitely should discuss and I am very curious about the outcome. But next to that there will also be strategic planning: of course drafting the new Action Agenda at EPM Leiden, but also because in 2016 we will write our new Strategic Plan, which is I think a great opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved so far and what we want to achieve in the future.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
First of all working very hard as President of AEGEE-Utrecht until August, realising all our great plans. After that I’ll decide what I want to do next. Probably I want to take up some new challenge within AEGEE, but I’ll also have to start studying again so I’ll see what is possible.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I am not sure yet, but probably with friends drinking champagne and playing board games and maybe I will join our New Year’s events’ party at midnight.
Ana Gancearuc, Mediation Commission AEGEE-Europe
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
My personal highlight in 2015 was to candidate for the Mediation Commission and being elected. It was a last minute decision to candidate at Agora Kiev and I hope a correct one, so far enjoying being part of the MedCom team and trying our best to solve all the issues that pop up in our organization.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
The most vivid and outstanding in my point of view was the 30th anniversary of AEGEE and that it was celebrated with great pomp. Even though AEGEE-Chisinau wasn’t one of the seven antennae, we also had our cake and tried to celebrate with many AEGEEans at our pre-event before Agora Kyiv.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
I would like to name two. First, Andrei Dodita, President of AEGEE-Chisinau. Without his enormous work and involvement our antennae wouldn’t have grown so much in a fast way. All his heart and soul is in AEGEE and everything that is related to that. Second, Anna Gumbau. I like how Anna’s career is developing and how good is she at what she is doing. I appreciate her a lot and I thank her for her support and prompt help every time our local needs it.
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
AEGEE-Chisinau – and not because it is my local. AEGEE believes so much in us and gives us the opportunity to stand up and show our best. And that can be explained through the amazing SU and TSU we had last summer, as well the great pre-event before Agora Kiev that we organized and that the AEGEE Academy gave us the opportunity to organize a Human Resources European School in Chisinau, which will take place in summer 2016. And the most important reason is for giving us the possibility to organize Autumn Agora 2016 in our beautiful country. We did not expect so much support from other antennae and how many people believe in us, trusting that we will do a good job. The only antenna Moldova has and with only 40 members, it didn’t stop us from candidating and being elected. We are very proud for that. Dream big and everything comes true.
What was for you the outstanding European project in 2015?
Summer University, Election Observation Project, Eastern Partnership Project.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
The highlight and big topic in AEGEE for 2016 is the migration and the invasion of the refugees in Europe. A topic that will be discussed at the EPM in Leiden as well.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
I would like to be involved in AEGEE as much as possible. Being a member since 2010 and organizing many local events, I think now it is time to do my best as well at the European level. I have been given the chance to be part of MedCom which is a big responsibility and requires much work and dedication. However, having an awesome team composed of Damien, Lisette and Niels it can’t be other way! I am as well looking forward to organize an amazing HRES in summer, it’s going to be something between SU and HRES, it is still a secret, but I hope AEGEEans will be interested in applying. And the last, but not least one is the Agora in Chisinau, in autumn 2016; being part of the core team we need to show our best and I know we can. We have a very strong and determinate team and it will be a success for sure.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
After many years, celebrating it elsewhere than home, this year I have decided to stay home in Chisinau – mainly because I have to work on the 31st of December. Otherwise I would have gone for sure to join the event in Lviv. But I think at home we also can have a great time, most probably with AEGEE-Chisinau. We are already planning something fun for the New Year’s Eve and hopefully it snows soon.
