Seminar in Weimar

ESK Seminar is a good time to start to think another way about your project, great time to solve your problem, good opportunity to meet another volunteers and have a great week with a great company, interesting trainers and free food!

I had my first seminar in Weimar. Weimar is a city in the federal state of Thuringia, Germany. It's a motherland of Goethe. If you are in this city you will feel it.

So, before seminar a lot of volunteers who was also in Weimar said us that we will have really great time, that is the best time of your project. But no! Don't believe them. Yes it was cool, but it wasn't my the best part of the project!

•  First day

Eight volunteers and me went from Leipzig to Weimar. Organization bought tickets for us, it was also good. National Agency cover everything on this seminar - transport, accommodation and food.

We came to Weimar and then we found this center where was our seminar (approximately 20 min from the bus station). And we were pleasantly surprised. There were 8-10 buildings on the territory, looks like a park. And everything was new and it's remind me a little bit camp. Who was there you can understand me.

Then our trainers met us, we ate a little and then at 14.00 our seminar was official started. There were 20 people, nine of them I've  already knew, because they were from Leipzig.

What was the topic of seminar?

The main topic of the seminar as I think was try volunteers to help to solve their problems on the project. Also to tell new information about ESK, about rules and rights. And it's really important, especially on the beginning. But if you are on the project only 2-3 weeks, don't go to the seminar, ask your organization make another dates for you if it's possible. I'll tel you why.

If you are less than 5-6 weeks on the project.

You've already don't know what you need to do, your organization and your working place are the best. You're still with the pink glasses. Everybody is good in the beginning. Waiting a little bit and you can understand, what you really want to know, what you really can to change and what you are really want to solve.

If you are on the project more than 3 month.

It's interesting, because you've already feel the project and now you are without pink glasses. You clearly know what you want to know. But! On the seminar a lot of information, really useful, you can use it on your project. But you understand, that after three month you can't change everything.

• Second day

For it was best day. We didn't know each other well. We had interesting topic about our ESK project. What our expectations, which problems do we have. What we want to change. A lot of questions. But after, we had Spielabend. Our trainers, really thank =s them for it. They allowed us to spend evening, even night in the Gelbe Villa and do everything.

We were playing, we were talking, and after we organized movie night.

• Third day

Important day. We met one man from National Agency. It was really so important for everybody. Because everybody had their own questions. It was so intensive. We had a lot of questions. One advise. Collect really important questions for you. Of course if something happened you can write an email, but still live talking is more useful. But, if you don't have any problems, good for you, enjoy your time!

• Fourth day

Talking, playing, trying to open our mind, to feel what we really need, who we are... I can describe this day like this. Great part of the seminar. You can explore city or go to Buchenwald.

• Fifth day

Zwiebel Fest in Weimar! It was great. A lot of people, a lot of food, handmade things, music (When I heard one Ukrainian song, i was really happy and a little bit confused). Topic of the day Gender. Our trainers were so creative. Do you think that we were just talking about it? NO! NO and one more NO. It's so boring just sitting and discuss this topic, especially now. We were creative. Different station with different topics. I hope your trainers will be also creative.

• Sixth day

Zukunf werkstat. Important topic to discuss with somebody. We did it also in a creative way. Try to it at home. Just make a collage, with photos, pictures from magazine, write what you want. Be creative. realize you thoughts on the paper!

Than we had free time. The weather in Weimar was so great!

So, it's short review of my seminar. I hope you will have also great time. And if you read this and you've already was on the seminar, please, comment this article. Where you were and how it was?