Poland Follow Up

ORGANIZATION: OPEN SOUL

Embrace Your Voice (EMYOUVO)

Youth Exchange (16 to 20 years old): 13 till 21 of October 2023

The selection of students for the project Embrace Your Voice began with a conversation of music teacher with students, who have who have musical interests. After students were selected for the project, they were offered to participate and consent was obtained from their parents to participate in the project. 

Students during the project prepared logos:

During Project students and teachers prepared news on school FB.

FOLLOW UP

Mrs Ewelina Dąbrowska presented the project during every morning meeting with students in school hall.. Later, Project participants with Mrs Ewelina talked to school students from Liceum Salezjańskie during classes.

Dissemination Links: 

Article on Web site: https://liceum.salez-wroc.pl/2023/12/17/projekt-muzyczny-na-cyprze/ 

Newspaper SALEZ TIMES: https://liceum.salez-wroc.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/202312_SALEZ_TIMES_BozeNarodzenie.pdf 

Movies: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-b0ju2K9Dg 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4qRwWDM854  

Impressions of the participants:

Agnieszka Stanclik

The project "Embrace your voice"in Cyprus was creative, relaxing and unusual. We could focus on our senses not only because of the topic of the project but also becauseof breathtaking surroundings full of amazing colours and smells. The young people who took part in the project were open and really involved in all the activities. I admired their energy, desire to communicate and express themselves without any barriers. I think they learned not only about their voices but they also realized that teenagers around the world are similar, have similar sense of humour, similar worries, dreams etc. I think it was valuable time for both participants and leaders.

Oskar Pokrywka

It has helped that we were on a beautiful island that is Cyprus, enjoyed the stay at a hotel with friendly stuff and didn't have to worry about survival; but what is most important is how we have changed during this project. I got to experience a union of people from many countries all across Europe, working together, sharing their feelings and laugther. In this place where I had already been fluent at speaking English, I had no troubles becoming friends with my fondly remembered participants. I got to know my voice, who am I, I got to be a leader on many occasions and I have felt great and all my subordinates where happy!

You would be surprised if I told you, I was surprised to see that I actually knew nothing about my classmates from Poland! Even though we had spent over two years in the same classrooms, only during this project have I seen the true colors and natures of many.

Getting to know all of you was a memorable experience, interacting with you, laughing, crying, foolishly joking. I wish we had spent more time together but I'm really happy with what memories we made on this trip. I love you.

Benjamin Jagaczewski

I really love that trip, because of a lot of interesting people, nice place and climate. I learnt many things about myself and others, and I think that is beautiful. After this erasmus i know how to better speak in English and how to improve my speeches. Nice friends, mentality of locals and beautiful landscape made that trip amazing. Now i really wanna go there again and meet again that People.

Kornelia Geremesz

As one of the participants of this project I can happily say that taking part in such an event was one of the greatest experiences for me. I enjoyed every moment being in Cyprus and I was pleased to meet all the people from other groups. What really impressed me were the activities. They were well organised and I can feel that I actually learned a lot from them. Last but not least, Im grateful for a chance of participating in this project, because thanks to it I could develop my english skills, kind of break the language barrier and open up a little.

Malwina Stankiewicz

It was my first Erasmus+ project. It was an amazing experience for me. I met new people, their culture and discovered my new skills. I could practice my English during conversations and creative tasks.

I am grateful for this project and the occasion to see a beautiful place - Cyprus.

Wiktor Palczynski

For me, Cyprus trip was amazing experience. There was so hot, so we can forget polish weather for somedays ;). Main subject of this project was really inspiring, I learned a lot of new things and behaviorus. I found out a lot about culture of different countries. I realy enjoy Cyprus food, it was delicious! To sum up, the trip was one of the best in my life and i hope that i will come back to Cyprus:)

Orest Oleksyn

Hi, I'm Orest and this was my first ERASMUS project. So, I haven't got any previous experience to compare with. Every one told me that it's could be my best Erasmus and I will agree. I was appreciate of organization and kindness of strangers people on street. Even they meet you in first time. Sometimes I felt tired of activities, but it was ok. That was nice opportunity to get to know another cultures, traditions and histories from other experienced ones and not. It's always new acquaintances and experience, curious situations and a lot of fun. Personally, I tried a lot of things that I afraid to do in my ordinary and mundane life. So, I started to learn playing on bass guitar to make my life interesting and really enjoying it. Thank's all of you a lot…

Ewelina Dąbrowska

The main topic and goal of the "Embrace Your Voice" project was to work on your own voice - not only the spoken and sung one, but also the voice of your heart, expressing your opinion with respect for others and for yourself. Since March 1, the Salesian Secondary School, in cooperation with the OPEN SOUL Association, has been running the EMBRACE YOUR VOICE project. 6 students, Mrs. Ewelina Dąbrowska and Mrs. Agnieszka Stanclik participate in the project. Kornelia Geremesz and Malwina Stankiewicz prepared the logo proposals that won. The international meeting of participants was in Cyprus, in Pissouri.

The aim of the project was: ● Empowering students to be more confident and honest in every social interaction

• Promote authentic, non-violent self-expression and tolerance as a contribution to a healthy society
• Understanding the differences between nations, creating them more united by meeting different cultures
• Development of creativity, cooperation and social skills
• Improving participants' mental health through better understanding of their own abilities and art therapy.

Thanks to the wonderful author of the project - Katerina Kulina, as well as the co-leaders... all the assumptions were perfectly implemented: exercises, workshops, energizers that give us strength - for some as germinating seeds, for others as another experience in deeper self-discovery. All project participants presented a great diversity of cultures: language, music, traditions and customs, and dishes, which is a great wealth for us. Every evening, during which representatives of individual countries presented their heritage, we could feel that the most important values for all of us were respect, tolerance, unity, peace, joy and friendship.

What the project gave me: That is why the value of the "Embrace Your Voice" project is so important - it gave or reminded us about the tools worth using to take care of our voice - including the internal one. When we listen to it and are able to express it, unexpected and surprisingly good things happen. For me - one of the leaders and at the same time a mature woman, wife, mother of two sons, musician, teacher and educator at the Salesian Secondary School DON BOSCO in Wrocław, participation in this project was yet another proof that a person learns throughout his life.

In addition to the unquestionable value of the opportunity to communicate in English, various classes and activities related to discovering one's strengths, overcoming fears, watching other participants become familiar with previously unknown ways of expressing their emotions and carrying out tasks that they would never have thought of before were invaluable. take. This was facilitated by the good time and place - the summer weather, which is wonderful at this time of year in Cyprus, and a charming hotel in the beautiful seaside village of Pissouri, but above all, an accepting group of young people and their leaders.

Personally, I also value this time because I could spend it with my students - talking over shared meals, going for walks and traveling; time that would be difficult for me to find in a school environment, where there is very little between lessons. One of the fruits that happened to me was a joint performance with Katerina Kulina at a concert that we organize every year at our school - the DON BOSCO Salesian School Complex in Wrocław. On October 23, 2023, at the Evening of Sung Poetry, Katerina, among other performers, presented her favorite Polish song by Lady Punk, "Always there where you". The time spent rehearsing together helped remind us that... work on the voice never ends and the VOICE, like the eyes, is a mirror of the soul... Let the music express it best.