On April 8th 2016, hundreds of young volunteers will have the opportunity to make a difference in Warsaw during the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Annual General Meeting (AGM), the largest student conference of its kind in Europe focusing on the theme of mobility.
As mobility does not only consist of traveling and studying abroad, ESN has been implementing SocialErasmus since 2010: a project that involves young citizens during their mobility experience through volunteering activities that take social action and foster change in the society. SocialErasmus aims to enrich the international experience of young people abroad with volunteering activities that allow them to understand society’s problems and to work on the solutions, and provides an opportunity for international young people to get to know other realities and learn how they can contribute to improve society as citizens of the world.
During the International Infomarket, the most comprehensive study fair organised in Poland that will be held on the campus of Warsaw School of Economics on the 8th of April, SocialErasmus will be manning a stand where it will be possible to not only to learn more about the project and the great opportunities it provides to international students, but where it will be also possible to deliver postcards with words of encouragements that will later be given to hospitalized children.
The objective of this initiative is to provide AGM participants the chance to take part in SocialErasmus in Warsaw, the host city of the event, and to have a positive impact on the local community.
After AGM, on the 20th of April, ESN volunteers will gather Erasmus+ participants living in Warsaw and, with the support of Ronald McDonald House Charities, our partners for this initiative, will visit a local children’s hospital to deliver the postcards and spend some time with the kids. This group of young volunteers will organize cultural visit full of fun, including presentations about countries, colouring books with famous landmarks of their countries and other activities.
Every year, more than 3000 social activities are organised by ESN volunteers all over Europe as part of the SocialErasmus project, engaging more than 20 000 international students. This initiative in Warsaw will enable young people to experience something new and gain an all-encompassing new perspective on internationalisation and its impact on society.
About the Erasmus Student Network:
Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is the biggest student association in Europe. Present in more than 500 Higher Education Institutions from 38 countries, ESN is the key volunteer student organisation in international higher education in Europe and provides opportunities for cultural understanding and self-development under the principle of SHS - Students Helping Students.
You can find more information about ESN and SocialErasmus here:
All the sections of ESN Lithuania join their forces to make experience of exchange students in Lithuania unforgettable with the combination of a festival and a summer camp – Erasmus Student Camp, or, as you will call this from now on – ESCAPE.
All these days will be full of various activities: orienteering game, sports, art workshops, games, brain battle, live music bands, DJ and more. We all know that weather in Lithuania is unpredictable but even that will not be able to make a change on the mood because all of the equipment for the planned activities can be quickly adapted to weather conditions – sun or rain, everybody is provided with the space for having lots of fun.
Not convinced yet? All weekend long nobody has to think about getting to places, finding a bed to sleep or food to eat. Reserved buses go from biggest Lithuanian cities to the place of ESCAPE. There are no luxurious hotels but living conditions are respective with the rooms for various size of people groups so everyone gets their own bed and personal space. For your convenience, breakfast, lunch and dinner are also included.
60 € (Standart housing: rooms with beds, linen, but shared wc, shower.)
70 € (Suites with beds, linen, shower, wc.)
One the 12th-13th of March, 15 sections came together as the 27th National Platform of ESN Lithuania began. Organized cooperatively by ESN KK and ESN VU KHF. With the plenaries and workshops being held in VU Kaunas Faculty of Humanities. Among other things, this NP was focused upon the reports of the National Board members, National Coordinators, National Committees and of the sections themselves.
On the first day of the Platform they saw the reports of Eduk8 Starter participants, "Colours of Lithuania", CNR Jyvaskyla and the National Board.
The day came to a energetic end as ESN ISM and then ESN ŠU presented their candidacies for the OC of NP'28. And finally the evening was a part where all faces began to fade, as the night brought on the Masquarade. An evening part with many games and a wonderful performance by the OC.
On the second day of the Platform. For the second time at a Platform of ESN Lithuania an infomarket was held to present the sections, where everyone got a chance to get up and personal, meet face to face and learn all they could want about other sections and share gadgets with eachother.
The votings decided ESN ŠU as the OC for the next platform and "Go Xtreme" as a National Event.
Written by Tautvydas Utyra
On 25th-26th April ESN Lithuania newbies as well as advanced members enjoyed the sunny spring weather while participating in the national trainings called “Survival KIT Vol.3”. It was organized by the ESN KK and HR Committee and held in Kaunas kolegija/University of Applied Sciences.
We are glad to announce that productive and interactive workshop sessions were conducted by even four ESN international guests who shared their knowledge and experience on leadership, motivation, interculturalism, and creativity. We were excited to welcome IB-elect Communication Manager Gaffar Rampage (ESN Communication Committee, ESN The Netherlands) participating in the 2nd ESN Lithuania national event. He was a facilitator who gave a short theoretical presentation on communication, its means, purpose, and types. Having gone through that, ESN members had an opportunity to apply the theory into practice. Thus, the specific skills and knowledge were gained through the interactive activities.
Another facilitator Kenny Ho from ESN Ireland shared his experience of five years volunteering with the advanced level members. We held a discussion about self-development taking into consideration our success and failures, strengths and fears. Also, we tried to figure out how to motivate ourselves and others, how to avoid or solve various problems within the local as well as national levels. In addition to that, another workshop provided by Kenny was about job interviews and filling in CV. He engaged students in some discussions and activities that lead to a better understanding how to succeed in applying for a job.
Other two guests, Magda Jarmołowicz from ESN Poland and Thibault Pean from ESN France, were facilitators for the newbies. They dealt with the relevant issues like motivation, interculturalism, and creativity. Magda went deeper into the ESN as a non-profit association that provides plenty of opportunities and volunteering benefits. Also, members participating in her workshop analysed some situations and tried to find the means for enhancing motivation. Thibault emphasised significance of the topics about people differences and stereotypes of cultures. Engaging in creative activities, students made themselves sure once again that we should not judge a book by its cover. We should pay more attention to people’s characters and personalities and should not form an opinion about them from their sexual, religious, or political orientation.
Having worked a lot, students had fun responsibly at the “Responsible Party”. The members who took part in the trainings received a certificate and gained valuable experience which hopefully will be spread throughout the ESN Lithuania sections. The newbies and advanced members improved their knowledge on different topics and they were greatly empowered to seek for more.
ESN LT Survival KIT Vol. 3 is coming back! This year it's going to be held in Kauno kolegija/University of Applied Sciences where it was organised for the first time 3 years ago.
ESN LT Survival KIT is a National training event first initiated in 2013 by Human Resources Coordinator Vydūnas Pakrijauskas. The first event was a great success and next year it grew into something bigger - it was lead by international trainers from ESN Eduk8. From 2015 project is managed by HR Committee of ESN Lithuania.
ESN LT Survival KIT aims to gather ESN Lithuania members and especially newbies to improve their knowlegde in different topics and empower them to perform better in their ESN daily tasks. This project also allows to discuss the main problems and challanges that members have in their sections and find the solutions.
Each section and candidate section have 4 spots. 2 spots for newbies and to for experienced ESNers.
Each Committee has 1 spot. Committee members can chooce the level themselves.
TRACKS
Newbies:
Motivation - facilitator Magda Jarmołowicz from ESN Poland;
Interculturalism and creativity - facilitator Théobald Thb from ESN France.
Advanced:
Leadership - facilitator Kenny Ho, president of ESN Ireland;
Communicating for Excellence - facilitator Gaffar Rampage, Chair of ESN Communication Committee.
Date:
25/04/2015 - 10:00 to 26/04/2015 - 18:00
Place:
Kauno Kolegija/University of Applied Sciences, Pramonės pr. 22A, Kaunas
Price:
Free
What's included:
Coffee breaks
Lunch
Accommodation for participants from other cities
We are extremely happy to announce that our brand new website esnlithuania.org and webshop webshop.esnlithuania.org are officially launched!
On the website you can find all the main and important information about Erasmus Student Network, ESN Lithuania, its sections, projects, partners and more… It is meant to be easily used by external and internal target groups.
The first ever webshop of ESN Lithuania is created in collaboration with our partners Zoop.lt. On the webshop you can find T-shirts and hoodies which can be a perfect gift or memory of your exchange. In the near future you will also be able to get gadgets only for ESN members. We will keep you updated! Check our webshop here.
The weekend of 21st-23rd of November was dedicated to fostering mobility among young volunteers in already third Mentors' Days conference organized by ESN Lithuania and Education Exchange Support Foundation.
First mobility conference in Lithuania, under the Mov'in Europe sign, was attended by more than 100 participants including devoted and prosperous volunteers from the Network and ESN LT Alumni, representatives from Education Exchange Support Foundation as well as a special guest from International Erasmus Student Network, Icelandic Hero, Mr. Patrick Doodt. Set in the largest Lithuanian resort city Druskininkai, within the walls of Grand Spa Lithuania Hotel, the weekend promised comprehensive presentations and fruitful discussions.
Even though the outside grounds were covered with the first snow and frost, inside the participants were turning up the heat from day one in various get-to-know-each-other games and teambuilding activities, concluding the day with international film night.
On the following day, in all day long plenaries, everyone learned more about international exchange learning possibilities, had a glimpse into the lives of International Board of Erasmus Student Network and engaged into discussions of intercultural voluntary possibilities provided by such exchange programmes as European Voluntary Service and always growing Erasmus+. Long anticipated appearance of our international guest Patrick Doodt was more than captivating. Patrick shared the idea of Mov'in Europe Ambassadors and highlighted the importance of this flagship project, as one brand uniting all the mobile people and possibilities. Seemingly, every doubt about us not being mobility generation vanished after this presentation. After all, mobility is a lifestyle.
Guests and ESNers delivered efficient workshops and small sessions on topics such as implementation of Mov'in Europe project in the local level, successful future career opportunities and reenacted an impromptu job interviews with employers of desirable positions. All these activities were highly appreciated by the participants and with lifted spirits and motivation boost everyone went to enjoy the refreshing pleasures of SPA and waterworld without having to leave the building. Saturday closed up with first National Responsible Party this semester.
After nutritious breakfast, Sunday morning kicked off with more personal interactions. ESN Lithuania members were invited to have small sessions with the National Board to discuss the future of the Network as well as engage in the further shaping of already highly acknowledged communication committee PuRe Committee.
They worked hard and moved like Bernies taking back home knowledge and experience which will improve the new generation of mobility ambassadors.
Written by Karolis Kriuka, proud member of PuRe Committee
Over the weekend of 12-13th of April, delegates from all 12 ESN Lithuania sections, as well as representatives from ESN Alumni, gathered within the welcoming walls of Mykolas Romeris University in the capital Vilnius to attend already the second edition of ESN Lithuania’s National training programme – Survival KIT Vol. 2.
ESN is all about improving, motivating and aiming higher. That is why the second piece of training cake had to be bigger, better and with an international taste. ESN Lithuania HRC Tomas, who was nurturing the idea of National trainings for quite some time, remarks: “I was very happy to see such activeness among the sections: the number of applicants was increasing each day and every spot was taken”. Four ESN Eduk8 trainers from Austria, Switzerland, Poland and Czech Republic shared their knowledge on time planning, leadership, constructive feedback and conflict management. Let’s take a short look back over the things that inspired members of ESN Lithuania this past weekend.
Day 1, Saturday
After a short opening word, trainers took the initiative into their hands leading a series of vibrant and dynamic energizers and teambuilding activities that allowed us learn a thing or two about each other and feel more comfortable working together. Later on, for workshops to be more effective and productive, participants were divided into three smaller teams and from that very moment members of ESN Lithuania are better known as cherries, strawberries and watermelons. Three out of four fields were covered during the first day of trainings, involving a lot of practical assignments, role playing and discussion.
In leadership and time planning workshop, instructed by Ludo “the Lazy Lizard” Coudray from ESN Switzerland, participants learned how to recognize different types of leaders, what strategies to apply in order to ensure effective section-work and progress; how to prioritize and plan your schedule. Communication expert Robert Banet from ESN Poland performed valuable workshop on delivering and receiving constructive feedback, which is an essential part in maintaining an operative ESN work from local to international levels. Members were taught some methods of positively delivering criticism. At the end, everyone were only left craving for more.
The day was not over yet as OC from Mykolas Romeris University had prepared a challenging surprise. ESN’ers and trainers participated in a scavenger hunt and discovered the secrets of Vilnius. Afterwards everyone met up to have some refreshments.
Day 2, Sunday
Starting off the last day with some powerful energizers, participants headed to their last workshops. Working side by side, Lukas Oppermann from ESN Austria and Stanislav Stanek from ESN Czech Republic delivered crucially beneficial session on conflict management. Before starting, participants were asked to share their expectations on the upcoming workshop. Two hours of strategic actions, performances and analysis of real-life conflict situations both in daily and ESN life caused great discussions in the room. For most, expectations raised at the beginning were fulfilled or even exceeded as from now on everyone will keep in mind that avoiding conflicts is not an option.
It did not take long for the trainings to prove being worthy as towards the end of day 2, motivated, eager and fruitful with fresh ideas, ESNers brainstormed about the future projects of ESN Lithuania. Hoping that planted ideas will soon harvest into prosperous and large projects participants reviewed this notably productive weekend after which Eduk8 trainer Stanislav Stanek had this to say: “It was very inspiring to see how motivated the participants are after the Survival Kit training. As a trainer it is a best reward you can get. I hope that we encouraged them to be hungry for new knowledge and they will spread their enthusiasm in every section!”
And spread they will. There are already some new ideas pursued throughout the network. It is safe to say that everyone left with bigger baggage than they came with: knowledge of new fields, motivation, inspiration and promising new acquaintances once again ignited the spirit of ESN!
Huge thanks on behalf of ESN Lithuania to Živilė and the whole MRU team who courageously stepped up in organizing and hosting the Survival KIT Vol.2 National trainings!
P.S. People say, all of them took a good selfie...
by Karolis Kriuka, proud member of ESN LT PuRe Committee, [email protected]
Yesterday students who are studying in Vilnius were invited to join, not the first time organized, Blood Donation Day. This time it has become a grand event because not only the majority of the ESN sections in Vilnius united for the common purpose but on the same day the action took place in Kaunas and Šiauliai as well.
Blood donation campaign’s goal is to draw public attention to the lack of blood donors in Lithuania and encourage young people to become more involved in this voluntary activity.
The best thing was that not only compatriots participated in the event, but also foreign students who are studying in Lithuania actively involved themselves too. They were extremely active as wanted to encourage other by showing their example of becoming donors in Lithuania. When asked do they are afraid to give blood for the first time, almost everyone answered that they are not afraid to do this and event they are doing this not for the first. Students encouraged and supported each other, so the results was amazing: in 6 hours 40 students donated blood - most of them – foreigners.
The event was divided into two parts and the students had the opportunity to choose the convenient time of arrival to Blood Centre by the bus. The first group came at 12 AM (there were over 50 students) and the second – 15 PM.
Visitors were greeted by not only the organizers but also had a chance to take part in well prepared an interesting program, were invited to have some refreshments. Participants had the opportunity to play table football, various table and movement games, join guided tours of the blood center, contributed to the picture painting, which later was left as the memory in Blood center. They even watched the movie "Blood Road"! Also, each participant was awarded not only with the gifts of the sponsors but got some presents from their universities.
Vilnius must be proud of this success of the event when vast majority of the sections contributed to the project: ESN VGTU, ESN VU, ESN MRU Vilnius, LEU ESN , ESN VDA, ESN ISLB.
After the event, everyone was invited to come to the Responsible party which was organized by the ESN members in University's pub and urged young people to have responsible celebrations.
We hope that this will become an annual event and more ESN sections in Lithuania will join this beautiful idea in the future!
by Viktorija Mažonaitė, ESN LEU
Thousands of liters of blood per year are used for people to recover after surgeons (23%), internal diseases (15%), accidents (8%) and various different reasons, which cause blood loss. Only volunteers can bring back those people to life. It takes only 15 min of time and 450 ml of blood to do so and to become a hero.
This is the reason why ESN Lithuania together with 11 sections representing different higher education institutions of Lithuania have united for one common purpose – organizing national Blood Donation Day. March the 6th is the day, which will encourage local and international students join the action in 3 biggest Lithuanian cities – Vilnius, Kaunas and Šiauliai. Vilnius event will show you how to donate in a very pleasant way. If you will not be able to donate blood you are still invited to come to Blood center, join organized activities and spend some time with other students. Activities as excursion in Blood center, watching the movies, listening to lecture ,,Why blood donation is important'' or listening to the memories of the person who survived only because of donors blood along with various health tests, lunch and fun activities will be waiting for you.
ESN VMU, ESN KTU and ESN KK together with LSMU Blood Clinic have prepared lovely activities, which will be revealed on Thursday, and grants cozy morning/afternoon for all determined to become a hero in Kaunas.
ESN ŠU will be waiting for all interested in Šiauliai University. All students are i nvited to join the national Blood Donation Day, meet new people there and spend some nice time together. After the event all are more than welcome to enjoy some tea and share their blood donation experiences.
Donate blood and save a life already on Thursday!
MORE INFORMATION
Vilnius Organized by: ESN VGTU, ESN VU, ESN ISM, ESN MRU Vilnius, ESN SMK, ESN VDA, ESN LEU; Where? Blood center (Santariškių st. 2), Vilnius; When? 12 am - 6 pm; Attending? Official event.
Kaunas
Organized by: ESN KTU, ESN VMU, ESN KK; Where? Kaunas University's of Technology IIIrd palace (Laisvės al. 13); When? 10 am - 3 pm; Attending?Official event.
Šiauliai
Organized by: ESN ŠU; Where? Social Welfare and Disability Studies of Šiauliai University (P. Višinskio g. 25); When? 10 am - 2 pm; Attending? Official event.
After a short opening word, trainers took the initiative into their hands leading a series of vibrant and dynamic energizers and teambuilding activities that allowed us learn a thing or two about each other and feel more comfortable working together. Later on, for workshops to be more effective and productive, participants were divided into three smaller teams and from that very moment members of ESN Lithuania are better known as cherries, strawberries and watermelons. Three out of four fields were covered during the first day of trainings, involving a lot of practical assignments, role playing and discussion.
Starting off the last day with some powerful energizers, participants headed to their last workshops. Working side by side, Lukas Oppermann from ESN Austria and Stanislav Stanek from ESN Czech Republic delivered crucially beneficial session on conflict management. Before starting, participants were asked to share their expectations on the upcoming workshop. Two hours of strategic actions, performances and analysis of real-life conflict situations both in daily and ESN life caused great discussions in the room. For most, expectations raised at the beginning were fulfilled or even exceeded as from now on everyone will keep in mind that avoiding conflicts is not an option.
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