Labour market in Hungary

We have been looking at the rural villages in our own countries this week and the problems they face.
Rita has told the group about the lack of work available for young people in these areas. The lack of jobs and youth opportunities also means the people have a poor access to education. Students move away to study elsewhere and where there are better job prospects. Leaving behind a quiet and ageing village.
This lack of young people means that things aren't improving and soon the villages will die out.

The link to Alonsos video

Here is the link to the video made by Alonso about the river in Bolivia
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VXKDikoSIw

Meeting of the Mayors

Thursday afternoon the group met with the mayors of several local rural villages. To discuss the problems of getting young people in the areas involved activities. To share common problems to find solutions.

This was a fantastic learning experience and well done to our translators during this meeting.

On one of the pictures we have Horacio from Uruguay informing the mayors on the work he does.

A Hungarian perspective

This morning as we walked around the lake I had a very interesting conversation with Marti from Hungary about the history of Hungary particularly around the second world war. Being a history student I enjoyed learning a lot about how Hungary was affected by this and the cold war. Being on these projects always give me a new perspective on things

A quick connection

Finally I have some Internet access for the first time this week I've managed to sneak on to the wifi at fekete sereg. The days have been filled with a lot of interesting discussion and inter cultural learning. I have learned a lot about Latin America from my new friends.

A couple of moments that stand out include Alonso from Bolivia presenting on the plight of the indigenous people who fish on the Pilcomayo river. Engineering projects down stream have meant that the fish can no longer migrate to breed in Bolivia. The livelihood of these people has been completely wiped out. This is a story which as far as I know had no coverage in Europe but is a huge ecological problem in a river that flows through Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina

The tourist in Hungary

Thursday morning the group went on an excursion to a local village Tihany, where we had a beautiful view of lake Balaton, one of the largest lakes in Europe I am told.

Then we moved onto the city of Baltatonfured. Here we had the opportunity to go down and walk by the lake which was a stunning sight. The water was so peaceful and still, a good opportunity to try some panorama work.

We finished off with a visit to a wine store, to purchase some gifts.

Amy and Andres

This is Andres he is from Uruguay and he will be visiting the UK for ten days to partake in an international job shadowing programme. Whilst over he will be working with myself and Paul on several projects including the 2020 Education event in Oxford. Ill talk more about the programme next week.

Andres was telling me about his work around computers. He is a keen on web design and social media. He is currently running and managing several of these. In his spare time he writes news articles and has a website where these are displayed = www.sanduceros.com.uy This one is his own personal website www.aromerocastro.com

Whilst in the UK he wants to see the differences in how we work and learn as much as possible. He is looking forward to seeing as much of London as he can whilst he stays there. He isn't nervous about next week and is just looking forward the experience.

International education

Tuesday evening was spend getting to know more about each others cultures. The group tried sheep cheese from the rural area of Spain, a liquor from Uruguay and the British pork pie with mustard. 

We had some traditional dancing and singing from Bolivia and gifts were exchanged. A lovely evening spent with our new friends.

What better way to finish the evening than with my favourite, Karaoke! 

Our Spanish friends

This morning we were networking with one other and taking some time to find out about each others organisations.

I was working with Luis from Spain. He is from the organisation Ayuntaoiento ole Jaca, in the youth department. At the moment he is in Hungary representing a wide network organisation that focuses their work in rural areas in Spain. This organisation is Jovenes Dinamizadores Rurales Network, the website is www.dinamizomipueblo.es if you want to find more information. 

To be young

The participants worked in small groups to discuss what they thought it meant to be young in the 21st century.
I think my group was pretty creative, looking at the use of social media and how these influences the young people.

This lead to a passionate and informative discussion. With many different opinions about the definition of 'youth'.

Latin dancing

The Latin American group thought that a good way to spend Monday evening was teaching the European group some dance moves to their traditional music.

They even managed to teach me some moves. Whilst Eddie showed them a few dances moves of his own.

Tasks

During the Oceans Divide project people will be working on their own individual tasks during the week. This will then be collected together on Friday to create the framework and outline for the job shadowing and Latin American part of the project.

I will be working on the media aspect of the project. Looking how we can work through social media and a website. Also working towards creating a film and information pack. I will be working with Marci from Hungary, Muna from Paraguay, Andres from Uruguay and Alonzo from Bolivia.
This looks to be an exciting project with many different elements combined.

Learning from others

Learning from others

There are 16 participants in the project this week. Whilst the course is being held in Hungary, in the beautiful rural area of Tagyon, the course is being ran in the English language. Although when you consider all the participants, the dominant language this week is Spanish, with over 10 people speaking this as their first language or fluently.

Therefore a difficulty of this kind of project will always be language. The translation from English to Spanish and back again, as well as learning as many Hungarian phrases as possible. All the participants are respectful to one another and are supporting one another to overcome these problems. This example of patience, friendship and understanding is what helps make these projects enjoyable for all involved.

This leads me onto the activity we undertook this afternoon (Monday). Our trainer split us into two groups, European and Latin American. He then asked us how much we knew about the other group. Both groups began to have individual discussions, listing facts, fiction and stereotypes of each nation. The European group drew an interesting collage of images and the Latin American group a map.

Overview of the project aims

This week the group will be learning about the differences in culture and language from the partner countries. We have partners from Spain, Hungary, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Momentum from the UK.
We will be planning a local activity to run in our home countries on our return. This will be to inform the local community about the project and how they can get involved. Focussing mainly on young people from rural areas.

After the week long seminar in Hungary each European country will host two young people from a Latin American country, on a job shadowing programme. The UK will host Roberto and Andres from Paraguay and Uruguay. Whilst in the UK they will be working in Rotherham with Paul and myself. During the week I will post some more information about these two and their expectations for the week ahead.

Later this year the second part of the project will be held in Uruguay, a five day seminar. In which two young people from the UK and other European counties will then complete a ten day job shadowing in a Latin American country. The young people will be keeping a blog during this time in order to help in the overall evaluation, plus its a great record.

The cultural learning throughout the whole of this project should be a great opportunity to learn about our differences and also the similarities that unites us. Allowing our network and net to grow.

Videki Haz

Breakfast eaten we are ready to start our first day. Even some of the towns residents came out to welcome us.

Beautiful morning

Waking up this morning to the sun shinning through the window, and the beautiful setting of the training. I have great expectations for the week after our brilliant start last night.

First night!

After picking everyone up from the airport. We headed to a typical Hungarian restaurant. Mmm goulash soup for start followed by grilled pork with pork belly for main. Delicious! The group have spent the evening chatting and exchanging stories. Mine and Eddies Spanish is already beginning to improve. Hopefully we will take a lot from this week including a variety of languages.

Message for Andres & Roberto

Hi Amy & Eddie

Good to hear you arrived safely.

I've got a message for Roberto & Andres

------------------------------------------------------

Hi Guys welcome to Europe, it is Paul here from the Momentum team, looking forward to your visit to the UK. Would be great for us to find out more before you arrive. Will you let Amy interview you so we can get some information about your hopes, fears, interests and expectatations of the UK

Have a great time in Hungary - see you on the 10th/11th

Send my regards to Rita - Paul

Eventful day so far

When my alarm didn't go off this morning, my race to the airport was probably the most exercise I'd done for a month. Little did I know that a delayed flight would mean me and Amy would have another mad dash to make our connection in 10 minutes!

Crisis averted we've now met most of the group over a few drinks in the airport cafe and awaiting the arrival of the people from Bolivia and Uruguay to complete the group before a lovely dinner in Budapest

Arrived on Hungarian soil

So we set off in the early hours of this morning, finally arriving at Budapest.
We have met the participants from Spain and Paraguay. Good opportunity to have a chat whilst we wait for the remaining countries.

It is always exciting when a new project starts.

On Sunday Amy & Eddie from Momentum will be travelling to Hungary for a week before returning with Roberto and Andres (from Latin America) who will have 10 days job shadowing with the team in the UK.

We have a very busy programme lined up and hopefully it will give our friends from South America a chance to understand the work of a UK based NGO.

HAVE A SAFE FLIGHT EVERYONE!!!