Prespa: the journey…
17 Sep. 2011 in Prespa
We would like to present a report of a youth group from Ces. Sta María de los Angeles.
They realized an international project on Video Activism in May 2011 in Prespa, Greece. This is an activity of Youth in Action, the European Union program for young people between 13 and 30 years.
We left Malaga 5th May at 14:00 pm . After some hours of waiting at the airport and after hours on a plane and finally, we arrived at 1:30 am to Thessaloniki. In this city we met a girl named Athina and she took us to an apartment where we spent the night. We took a rest so, on the next day we set up like a real tourists who want to visit this beautiful city. We were lucky because one teacher from our centre was studying in Thessaloniki for one year. He helped us and gave a map with the key sites in the city. After several hours of walking and we decided to stop and recharge your batteries.
We found a cosy restaurant, where typical country food was served. We went to a great place and we left this site really satisfied. Later we went to the Aristotle’s square where we had to meet with others participants. We started to get ready for a trip in the direction of Laimos. We had dinner at Laimos 20:30 pm. We saw some presentation and after that we were divided into groups. They explained that these groups every day have a task like setting the table, making videos, writing a blog and summarizing the day’s activities …
Then we went to have a rest because the next day began our training.
The first proposed activity was how to use the zoom and how to capture a good photo. After lunch we were divided into groups and we had to tell two stories by means of only five photos. The stories were shown and commented. In the afternoon we were divided into different groups. The goal was show beauty of some place in a short video. After the video was edited commonly and we did a feedback.
The proper use of cameras and the best methods to make and edit video was explained to us in the morning, on the second day of training. On the same day, we went on an excursion to a neighbouring town called Aigos Germanos, where we took a tour of 12km trough the mountains. The groups of three persons had to shoot a video, patronized by Prespa. After dinner we got together and each group showed the video. We commented all our video, things that we liked and disliked and what is going to be a feedback.
We finished the second day and we started the third day full of activities. Early in the morning we met in the workplace. We had to do a project in groups. Previously, were explained the different types of video and how we had to do. The objective of project was clear: the project was consisted of a leader who was elected by all of us. This leader had to choose four persons and form a group. Moreover the leader had to choose the theme of video and in what way want to do it. Each participant had the role: camera, director, actor and screenwriter. The project had to have some hidden message and had something to offer for everyone. So, during these days we spent time preparing our project. The leaders had to organize an event which had to invite all the people and show them that currently in their small town are twenty persons from different countries.
The days were full of nervousness, exhaustion, worry and hard work and of course we did not have a lot of time. The big day arrived, the day of the event, 12th May at 8 pm.
The event did not stat well: the computer and videos were missing, we did not have time, the people ware not there, we could not find any pen drive… We thought that everything had to go wrong… but everything was perfect and our work was paid off!.
The task of the next day was to generally analyze the event and aspects which should be improved. On the last day we organized a small, well-deserved farewell party for our good job. Early, on Saturday we return to Thessaloniki.
We tried revisit the city, but we went to bed early because our flight was in the morning. We went back to Malaga and we finished our adventure. We have learned how work together, to work as leaders, to communicate. We learned that the critics sometimes is good and forms our character.
It is true that the first days were difficult for everyone because we did not have an idea about the project, we did not know what to do and we were afraid it. The first moments were not so good but… the all rest was an unforgettable, unique and unrepeatable experience.
During the project we learned how to use a camera, light, sound, content, zoom and focus. It was a very enriching experience and I can recommend to everyone! Thanks to our colleagues, partnerships and the Association Intercambia, they made this exchange possible. I hope you enjoyed this little summary of our trip to Greece. I hope, this text will transmit all our feelings when you will read it.
The Spanish Team
Asociación Juvenil INTERCAMBIA
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