Who is the AEGEE member of the year 2020? Which antenna, which project was the best? What were the highlights of the year? And what will 2021 bring? The Golden Times asked more than 50 active AEGEE members. Over the next week you can see what they answered. This fourth edition presents the people who created the “Where Does Europe End 2.0” project: Timo Haarman, Ilse Driessen, Teodora Panuș, Calvin Breakwell and Marijana Asprovska.

 

 

Timo Haarman, IT Responsible of the Chair Team, Project Manager of WDEE 2.0, AEGEE-Enschede

Golden Times: What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2020?

As every year, I cannot really state one personal highlight, as there are way too many things happening in one year, even in 2020. But for me one of the highlights was to see how the network adapted to a global health crisis which made organizing events in big groups basically impossible. It just took a few days for members to come up with the idea to gather in an online group, “AEGEEans in quarantine”, and more and more new initiatives were popping up. You could say many things about the Covid-19 situation, but it certainly showed how AEGEEans still kept looking for intercultural exchange and managed to achieve it, even when not “offline”.

Which moments of AEGEE-Europe in general in 2020 do you remember most vividly or as outstanding?

I still remember attending the first Online Agora ever very vividly. Even while taking place online, this event still managed to make us feel like AEGEEans again. It motivated me, and I think many others with me, to stay active in AEGEE and not to lose faith in the association.

Who was for you the outstanding member in 2020?

So, while we have so many great, active members within AEGEE, many of them doing outstanding work, I will just state two here. I think in general, Hicham Zahri, the Network Commissioner for the Boomerang Area, is doing an exceptional job. Almost every second of free time he has from his regular job he dedicates to taking care for his locals and to ensure the highest possible quality. Besides him, I would also like to mention Heiko Kirchner, the president of the Juridical Commission, who is doing a great job in representing the JC and always manages to keep track of difficult juridical situations even while under the pressure from the whole Agora.

Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2020?

In my opinion, the most outstanding antennae of 2020 are the organizing locals for the statutory events that unfortunately had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 situation, so AEGEE-Yerevan, AEGEE-Moskva and AEGEE-Tartu. We have all seen how these locals fought for their events to take place and how they spent so much of their time in trying to continue during this constantly changing situation. I am looking forward to still see those events take place in the near future.

What was for you the outstanding European project, working group or interest group in 2020?

I am going to do some shameless self-promotion here. I think the revival of the Where Does Europe End project has been a great example of a members’ initiative. In just a few months, a small idea that popped up in a group of AEGEE friends, managed to grow to a full blown project with many big plans for 2021. Stay tuned on our social media!

What is the biggest opportunity for AEGEE in 2021?

2020 really fuelled the desire of many young Europeans to travel, while also making them more aware of our exceptional situation in Europe. As AEGEE we can use this desire to explore our continent to organise more and easy to access events throughout the network, and to attract new members with those.

The Corona crisis hit AEGEE hard in 2020. What measures should AEGEE take to overcome the crisis? Maybe you also see some positive examples in the network that you can name?

The most important thing for AEGEE is to keep the members connected. I think this is already done in a very good way, so I would mostly say, keep up organising great events and keep coming up with new initiatives!

What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2021?

In 2021 I will continue my work as IT responsible of the Chair Team for Spring Agora Yerevan. 2021 also means that we reached the executive phase of the Where Does Europe End project, where I will still be the Project Manager. I will also continue being one of the SubCommies for the Boomerang area, which I greatly enjoy. Besides this, once it’s possible again, I would really love to attend as many events as possible again. Attending a physical Training New Trainers (TNT) is very high on my list as well.

 

 

Ilse Driessen, President of AEGEE-Nijmegen, Culture IG Moderator and PR of WDEE 2.0

Golden Times: What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2020?

Deciding to become moderator of the Culture Interest Group is one of the best quarantine decisions that I have made. I was feeling bored at my parents’ home, after I had to leave my exchange semester abroad two months earlier than planned. This is when I decided I might as well make the best out of the situation by becoming very active online. By organising a bunch of Culture Interest Group activities, I suddenly became friends with AEGEEans that I had never met before in real life, which was a really cool experience for me.

A second highlight that I want to mention is becoming a board member of AEGEE-Nijmegen. It has been a strange year for all AEGEE locals, but meeting both physically and online – depending on the pandemic situation – with my boardies and active members makes me feel lucky to have these people around me!

Which moments of AEGEE-Europe in general in 2020 do you remember most vividly or as outstanding?

Experiencing the first ever online Agora: especially the first online roll call. It was honestly the worst roll call I had ever heard, but the fact that we still tried so hard to make the online Agora fun is amazing!

Who was for you the outstanding member in 2020?

I am going for the four people who worked really hard on initiating the Where Does Europe End 2.0 project with me. Timo Haarman, Teodora Panuș, Marijana Asprovska and Calvin Breakwell, you are amazing!

Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2020?

Firstly, AEGEE-Nijmegen, as I am totally not biased. It is obviously the best antenna ever. Secondly, I would say AEGEE-Tartu, for trying so hard to make the online EPM work!

What was for you the outstanding European project, working group or interest group in 2020?

I have really enjoyed working together with the Climate Emergency Working Group this year! When we were organising a thematic month for our local, they offered to help us out in several workshops and activities and I have seen them do the same for others as well.

What is the biggest opportunity for AEGEE in 2021?

To be able to organise trainings, workshops and events tied to any AEGEE project, WG, committee and more physically again!

The Corona crisis hit AEGEE hard in 2020. What measures should AEGEE take to overcome the crisis? Maybe you also see some positive examples in the network that you can name?

I have noticed that due to the corona crisis, workshops have actually become a lot more accessible. People no longer have to physically travel to a NWM and Working Groups can easily give workshops at any online event. I think for now, this is what AEGEE-Europe should focus on. We should show AEGEEans that we have many opportunities online!

What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2021?

Firstly, I hope the rest of my AEGEE-Nijmegen board year in 2021 will be successful. After all the Covid letdowns I do not have a lot of huge plans or dreams, but if I am able to keep my local members motivated and happy to be a member, I am happy too. Secondly, I am looking forward to organizing case study trips for Where Does Europe End 2.0! Lastly, I am planning to bring more life into the Culture Interest Group in 2021. I would love to gather more members in our Facebook group and see more discussions happen in our social media channels.

 

 

Teodora Panuș, Interim Commissioner of the Juridical Commission, WDEE 2.0, AEGEE-Chișinău.

Golden Times: What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2020?

The March-May period, right at the beginning of the pandemic, to me AEGEEans seemed so united then, there were so many activities and people talking constantly. It was somehow a stressful and confusing period, but so fun and interesting at the same time. It showed that AEGEE is here for the long run, we just need some changes here and there.

Who was for you the outstanding member in 2020?

It is complicated to choose someone concrete knowing how much work everyone put into AEGEE this year. Starting from organizing functional online Agorae, where the Chair Team together with the Juridical Commission and the CD did an amazing job, going to NetCom, Strategy Committee, ITC, and all the European bodies and locals who tried their best to keep the organization running smoothly, and the Financial Task Force of course! Everyone did their best, and I think that this year proved how important it is to work together, help each other and maybe judge a little less because at the end of the day we all have the same goal.

But to not end this on such a blurry note, I will just to name a few people that popped into my mind while writing this – Heiko, Ann Kristin, Ivo, Rik, Jasper, Lisanne, Nico, Hicham, Teddy, Oksana, Daniel, Timo, Marijana, Ilse and Calvin.

Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2020?

Yerevan and Moskva – not Moscow. I think the reasons are obvious, to keep the enthusiasm, take the responsibility and have the courage to prepare to organize huge offline activities for the network in these complicated times. It is just amazing for me. I wish them luck and hopefully, we will see each other soon!

What was for you the outstanding European project, working group or interest group in 2020?

There was one project that made me raise a brow, and I think that you might have heard about it – Where Does Europe End 2.0? I don’t know how hypocrite is to name my project, but I genuinely love what we are doing and what we plan to do next, and we are trying to work with everyone interested in our activities, the last two pre-conferences being co-organized with interest groups, and you never know what might pop into our minds next, so if you are a European body that wants to try something new, feel free to contact us! Let’s find out where Europe ends together!

What is the biggest opportunity for AEGEE in 2021?

Once the borders are open to immediately take the opportunity and start organizing activities. Young people everywhere are sleeping with their passports in their hands, waiting for the chance to visit, explore and get to know people outside of the online bubble and get back to the normal way of living, while AEGEE is looking for members. So we might as well use this opportunity. Even if traveling between countries might not be possible, we might as well try to consolidate the locals within the same region and borders, but try to not forget about those sides of Europe which will probably not have the same opportunities and keep the online side active, maybe even consider hybrid events. We have to adapt better to 2021 than we did to 2020.

The Corona crisis hit AEGEE hard in 2020. What measures should AEGEE take to overcome the crisis? Maybe you also see some positive examples in the network that you can name?

We should have a Covid strategy and clear ideas on what do we want to do next, not just hope that the pandemic will disappear, both for locals and European bodies because everyone was hit by the situation. With fewer people applying to become a member and not as high of interest towards the European side, there is a chance that we will end up with no candidates for some positions during the next Agora. What we should focus more on is members’ engagement, trying to motivate and work with the ones we have now while preparing and looking for ways to make online activities more engaging and binding, maybe look for the online AEGEE spirit, or just look at the suggestions in the answer above.

What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2021?

Not so sure if it will change much, I will keep being involved in the teams I am a part of, the Juridical Commission, WDEE 2.0 & AEGEE-Chișinău. 2021 looks like a promising year and I want to give it the best I can! But generally, trying to just go with the flow and see where it gets me sounds like a good plan, 2020 was stressful enough for everyone but it offered a chance to see what we need to change within AEGEE and hopefully we will use that.

 

 

Calvin Breakwell, WDEE 2.0, AEGEE-Chișinău, AEGEE-Sheffield

Golden Times: What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2020?

I think the EPM in Barcelona was my biggest highlight because it was the last event we could physically attend, although I think I would’ve made more of the parties if I had another chance.

Which moments of AEGEE-Europe in general in 2020 do you remember most vividly or as outstanding?

I really remember the EPM – which is spoken about A LOT here! Otherwise, I really took joy in writing and carrying the quiz during April and May.

Who was for you the outstanding member in 2020?

First, I would like to nominate Wouter Boerjan and the rest of SUCT for their amazing work at dealing with the Summer Universities during the Covid crisis and managing to actually set up some SUs. Secondly, in a similar vein, I would like to nominate EoT7 and Elitsa Hadzhieva because of their amazing effort in reorganising the routes for EoT7 and for moving everything online so effectively and efficiently. I even learnt that Elisa sent every email to webinar participants individually. The work was fantastic and really shows that she went above and beyond to do this.

Finally, I would like to nominate all of CD57, who really did have a tough year which sadly lasted up until this December and the Extraordinary Agora. I feel like they didn’t get the praise they deserved due to some financial issues and the pandemic. At the end of the day no one forces us to be here and everyone has their own individual struggles which sometimes can affect their work, through all this CD57 managed to organise an EPM and managed to steer AEGEE through the beginning of the Corona crisis.

Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2020?

I would like to mention AEGEE-Barcelona for their amazing EPM and probably the last event most of us – except Gunnar sadly – would’ve seen each other at. I had such a great time at the EPM and I met so many amazing people like Julian van Loo and Chris van Dijk!

What was for you the outstanding European project, working group or interest group in 2020?

I am a bit biased here but I would like to thank the other guys from “Where does Europe End? 2.0” because they have really done some great things already. The concept of this project came from a conversation I had with Gunnar about ideas of looking for European Identity when he told me that this had already been done. After that, I set about assembling a team of some of the most capable and motivated AEGEEans I know and even though I haven’t been so active recently due to my personal struggles, they have picked up the project and ran with it and I’m really proud of the work we’re doing together and the future looks super bright.

In the same move I would like to say well done to Culture Interest Group for reforming and getting people actively interested in culture and LGBT+IG for organising the first Pride event for the network, which I think is a great way to show people how inclusive AEGEE is.

What is the biggest opportunity for AEGEE in 2021?

I think filling the gap when the pandemic is coming to a close, there will be a lot of students who feel alone and empty after starting university during the pandemic and I think AEGEE could be a great way for them to reconnect with the world and to find friends.

The Corona crisis hit AEGEE hard in 2020. What measures should AEGEE take to overcome the crisis? Maybe you also see some positive examples in the network that you can name?

I don’t think there’s a lot we can do right now, people are sick to death of online calls and it’s impossible to assemble. As someone who made a regular online event during the pandemic, I can definitely say that people responded well at the start and got more and more bored as the course of it went on. I think in 2021 we can see the return of socially distanced, safe events in some countries but I really feel for people like myself who aren’t EU citizens and will have difficulty entering the EU next year.

What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2021?

[laughing] I don’t even have personal plans for my life in 2021. I didn’t think past carrying out my role as Content Manager for WDEE. If anything comes after that, then I will let you know! 

 

Marijana Asprovska, AEGEE-Skopje, WDEE 2.0 project

Golden Times: What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2020?

Other than surviving the lockdown mentally healthy, my personal highlight was starting the new project “Where Does Europe End? 2.0” with a group of amazing AEGEEans who at this point feel like an international family to me. And moving to the Netherlands that is super nice apart from the rain. [laughing]

Which moments of AEGEE-Europe in general in 2020 do you remember most vividly or as outstanding?

The three online Agorae were something I will remember when looking back to 2020 from the future, for sure. Also it will go down generally and in my memory as the first summer with no SUs since the project has started. I hope that will change for the next summer.

Who was for you the outstanding member in 2020?

Timoooooo Haarman, and not just for the energizers haha. He has always seemed as a passionate and dedicated AEGEEan and his involvement in several European Bodies can confirm my observation, but I finally got to know him better due to the “Where Does Europe End? 2.0” project. Apart of being a great project manager, he is also a very kind person and he helped me a lot upon moving to the Netherlands together with Hicham Zahri – another AEGEEan worth mentioning for similar reasons as Timo. I think he is doing remarkably good job as a NetCom and friend! I am happy to be his network consultant for Boomerang area and live two hours away from him now.

Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2020?

AEGEE-Chișinău. It’s a long story why, but great local and president!

What was for you the outstanding European project, working group or interest group in 2020?

Third is a charm, so I will again mention “Where Does Europe End? 2.0”, in this question too.

What is the biggest opportunity for AEGEE in 2021?

Once possible, perhaps physical events of any kind. That is, if we finally learn how to sell AEGEE as an organisation properly, oups.

The Corona crisis hit AEGEE hard in 2020. What measures should AEGEE take to overcome the crisis? Maybe you also see some positive examples in the network that you can name?

It just proved how much we can’t afford to be IT dummies in the 21st century. The good thing that came out of it in my opinion is the fact we started seeing online editions of events not just as a bad and unwanted alternative but also as the primary way to do things within the network. And how can we overcome the financial and human resources we lost? That’s the million dollar question…

What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2021?

Every year as part of my New Year’s Eve resolutions I plan to leave AEGEE and then ironically I become even more involved within the organisation. So, finishing work I have already signed up for is the must, but I somehow feel I might do something more too. I won’t reveal much for now though…