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 third edition: read what Fabian Brüggemann, Karolina Kubala, Giovanni Cerullo, Spyroula Masiala and Adri López Smith said. Often mentioned: the protests of Turkish AEGEE members this summer (see featured image above) left a huge impression.

Fabian Brüggemann, former Mediation Commissioner, Les Anciens Member

Fabian BrueggemannWhat was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2013?
My personal highlight was my Improve Yourself workshop in Zaragoza. I was so happy to see that the improvisation methods even work with 70 people in one workshop. And then of course the energizer with almost 800 people, fighting against each other in slow motion. But the Youth European Participation event in Cagliari this summer was also amazing, very well organized and a lot of fun, and they took great care of us trainers!
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2013. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
Winning the Charlemagne Youth Price for Europe on Track – seeing Luis on German TV was kind of memorable.
Who were for you the outstanding members in 2013?
Benjamin Feyen for all his work and dedication for AEGEE-Düsseldorf; Anna Gots for her work in the Mediation Commission; same goes for Maurits Korse, also for continuing the good work he did in the Mediation Commission for another term; Luis Alvarado Martinez for being a great president, wanting to learn and improve all the time; Alin-Florin Calin for his work in AEGEE; Alla Resheten for all she did in and for AEGEE and of course Hara Kogkou for the SU25 booklet, Key to Europe and being an amazing person and my princess in the Mediation Commission.
Which one was for you the outstanding antenna in 2013?
AEGEE-Cagliari for organizing the Youth European Participation event in a great way! And AEGEE-Aachen and AEGEE-Köln for hosting a lot of events on a continuous basis.
Which one was for you the outstanding project in 2013?
Health for Youth! I love how dedicated Mayri and her teammates are concerning health and how they are educating us in a very sympathetic and interesting way.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2014?
Definetly Y Vote – and another edition of Europe on Track.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2014?
Supporting AEGEE-Düsseldorf and its new and motivated members in organizing a Summer University I guess. And some more trainings with improvisation – like LTC Torino in March.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
Somewhere in Cambodia on the beach or in Laos in a Buddhist monastery.

Karolina Kubala, Vice President and Public Relations Responsible of AEGEE-Kraków

Karolina KubalaWhat was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2013?
Life-changing moment: in March 2013 I was elected as Vice President and Public Relations Responsible of AEGEE-Kraków. It gave me the huge opportunity to act more and get more information about AEGEE, but what’s more important: I realised AEGEE is already a part of my life and I love it. It was a huge challenge for me – I was only five months in AEGEE, but I went for it and definitely I do not regret it!
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2013. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding? 
For me the most vivid moment was winning the Charlemagne Youth Prize 2013 by Europe on Track.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2013?
All AEGEE members who were protesting in Gezi Park and right now are protesting on Euromaidan. They showed me that being AEGEEan is not only about the projects, new friendships and new policy. Sometimes it means act and be ready to protect our values. I am very proud of them and support them with all my heart. Thanks to them I realised that we are all united in AEGEE to build a peaceful and tolerant Europe and to support each other.
Which one was for you the outstanding antenna in 2013?
For me the most outstanding antenna was AEGEE-Valladolid. They are young, but very motivated and they do a great job! They organised a great Y Vote Convention without any logistic problems and they were sharing AEGEE spirit all around us.
Which one was for you the outstanding project in 2013?
Y Vote, because this topic is very important for me. All conventions, bus tours and local events sound great and I do believe it will encourage young people to participate in the European Parliament elections. I also hope that the bus tours will be successful and bring the European Parliament closer to the citizens.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2014?
We should continue implementing the AEGEE Identity to make sure that all AEGEE members in every country understand what we do and what are our aims. AEGEE has to focus on it to make sure that the voice of young people from Europe is heard in the world.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2014?
In March I am going to be in the Advisory Board of AEGEE-Kraków and then probably I will do my first steps on European level! I am thinking to join one of the working groups, but of course I will act locally in Kraków to make sure that all students around us have an opportunity to participate in our society.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I do believe that it doesn’t matter where you spend your New Year’s night, but with whom. And of course I will spend this night with AEGEE people. I am sure it will be wonderful!

 

Giovanni Cerullo, former President of AEGEE-Napoli

Giovanni CerulloWhat was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2013?
2013 was the best AEGEE year for me, for several reasons. I have been president last year and we have organized two events, we took back the Summer University to Napoli and people enjoyed a lot, we recorded several videos, we had more than 100 members in our antenna and we had a lot of good times. That’s why I can’t choose just an highlight, but I choose the whole year.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2013. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
About AEGEE-Europe I am sure that the best surprise was when the entire CD was re-elected. But in the end they worked hard, so they deserved that.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2013?
The best member? Let me think. I have no doubt about that and I will mention two people, one man and one girl: Ivan Bielik and Alice Bednarova. They both love what they do and they really put so much effort in what they do. They are the best and I hope they will continue this way!
Which one was for you the outstanding antenna in 2013?
No doubt: AEGEE-Napoli! Come on, we are crazy, we are funny, we make everything in an original way, and we have worked a lot! I think that we deserve this prize!
Which one was for you the outstanding project in 2013?
I have always been sure that Summer University is the best project of our association; it let all the antennae work hard, it allows members to travel around Europe and I think it’s the best way to meet other cultures and other realities.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2014?
For next year I think that EU election will be a very important topic in AEGEE. In every country we’ll do our best to bring our idea of Europe always higher!
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2014?
My plans for 2014 are easy but a bit sad: I am still in the board of my antenna, but I think for the last year. I am very busy with work and I have also won an important election here in Italy that brings me very often to go to Rome. For sure this will be my last year as an active member, but I will never forget what AEGEE gave to me, and how AEGEE changed my life – and improved my English!
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
On New Year’s Eve I will meet my Slovenian friends in Maribor and we’ll get drunk together!

 

Spyroula Masiala, President of AEGEE-Athina

Spyroula MasialaWhat was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2013?
Well, my personal AEGEE highlight in 2013 was during the Agora Rhein-Neckar, when it was announced that the next Spring Agora 2014 will be in Greece, organized by a Greek local. It’s been 12 years, since the Agora was in Greece and I think that it was an unforgettable moment for all the Greek AEGEE members!
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2013?
I think that all the members of CD are the outstanding members in 2013, because they decided to keep the hard work for another year, even if they must be really tired by their term.
Which one was for you the outstanding antenna in 2013?
Personally, I think AEGEE-Ioannina is the outstanding antenna in 2013. It’s a one-year old antenna and they managed so far a lot of great projects, they occupied the 10th place in the Summer Universities evaluation, they organized a successful Network Meeting last September and due to their hard work they were announced as a Local of the Month last September.
Which one was for you the outstanding project in 2013?
Europe on Track of course! An amazing project, which won the National Youth competition in Spain.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2014?
Would it be too predictable if I say Spring Agora Patra 2014?
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2014?
I think I will dedicate my time to my studies for the next four months and after my hard exams in February, I will start thinking what will be my next plans in AEGEE. For sure, I don’t think that AEGEE is over yet!
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
With my family and some great friends from my hometown. Can you think anything better? Except of an amazing New Year’s AEGEE event…

 

Adri López Smith, Human Resources responsible in AEGEE-A Coruña and the Language Working Group

Adri Lopez SmithWhat was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2013?
Contribute to the fact that the Language Working Group is still alive and receiving great feedback from the Network and the change of our antenna’s name. We are not Coruna anymore, but A Coruña!
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2013?
Very difficult question. All AEGEE people I’ve met are very nice! I would say: Nadia Schneider from AEGEE-Berlin, Pauline Letard from AEGEE-Toulouse, Carmen María from AEGEE-Alicante and Alberto Ayora from AEGEE-A Coruña.
Which one was for you the outstanding antenna in 2013?
AEGEE-Bilbao. At the end of 2012, when we meet in a Network Meeting, they were a few disorganized people, but now they are a strong antenna. Also AEGEE-Zaragoza – they manage to involve many people and organised a great Agora!
Which one was for you the outstanding project in 2013?
Summer University and European Day of Languages.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2014?
I want to combine European, regional & local duties. I should admit that right now I am more motivated to work in the Language Working Group rather than on local level, but I am always glad to help my antenna. Moreover, an SU or another AEGEE event is always on my mind…
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I applied for a New Year’s event in The Netherlands, because I wanted to try something new, but I’m still on the waiting list. A Coruña is always a cold but nice place to spend New Year’s Eve and eat some churros!

 

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