By Nicolina Karaolia (Cyprus)
The first day of training at the European Youth Center in Budapest was more than an introduction to our study session. In a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, the participants met each other and, through get-to-know-you activities, talked about our lives and our backgrounds. During coffee breaks, people gathered on the balcony and continued interaction, enjoying a majestic view of Budapest. The participants spent the morning learning about the organisations that combined their expertise to offer this session: the European Youth Press, the Minority Rights Group, Concordia International and the Youth Department of the Council of Europe.
The sun was shining outside so, after lunch, everyone abandoned the cozy conference room and gathered on the patio for a powerful exercise. The activity invited participants to take a stand and express their opinion on controversial issues. They were asked whether they agree with certain statements, such as “Minority groups have the right to express their culture without limits” and “governments should take measures to repatriate legal immigrants in times of economic crisis in the country”, among others. The statements stirred debates and heated discussions, which were always respectful and at the end very enriching.
Back in the conference room the participants got an introduction to logic and its fallacies by Jamil Majid, in the context of the media world. A day in such a context is never complete without reflection, so the final component of the program required that the participants were split in smaller groups and discussed feedback and reflections on the day. Although this was the first day, there was already a spirit of trust and willingness to share thoughts and feelings. In the evening, those who craved more information followed one of the facilitators on a presentation on social media and Internet security by Carl Fridh Kleberg.
Somewhere in between all these activities, teams met with their media facilitators: Dobriyana Tropankeva, Rebecca Bengtsson and Carl Fridh Kleberg and began work on their journalism pieces on minorities.
The first day was inspiring and highly energetic. It can only indicate what that the rest of the study session will be like! It will be, without a shade of doubt, a wonderful learning experience with inspiring people from all over Europe and the Mediterranean region.
