SI MONTHLY NEWS February March 2006 Patagonia
From SI Exco News
Servas Youth in Patagonia – Pablo Chufeni.
Hello there everyone. Hope that you are ok. Here we are so happy about the hit that PATAGONIA ’06 was. 60 delegates from 15 countries. The atmosphere was great and the friendship just happened. This meeting was the first international meeting to discuss and to work on the youth situation in Servas and how we can use the potential of this group in profit of the whole network of Servas.
This is a resume of the activities that we did:
Work sessions on Servas issues
- Patagonia Statement Workshops (Three group sessions and two organisation team sessions)
- New programs for Servas Youth (Jobs experiences abroad, Diversity meals, etc.)
- Servas Youth Web Site.
- Servas Youth Languages Exchange (One group session and other of the working team)
- Interviewers workshop
- Conflicts Resolution workshop
Servas Presentations
- Servas South America “Our history” (Roberto)
- Servas India (Anuj)
- Servas Perú (Judith)
- Servas EEUU-Servas Italia (Escuela de las Americas) (Pepe y Soledad)
- Servas models in South America ( Delegates from Argentina, Brasil, México, Perú and Uruguay)
- Servas personal experiences (travelers reports)
Cultural exchange activities
- Introduction to the “mate”
- Curanto Lunch
- Paleontologic Museum
- Regional Historic Museum
- Conference on Ecology
- Tango for beginners
- Salsa for beginners
- Spanish workshop for foreigners (Two sessions)
- Compared Spanish workshop
- Cloth painting workshop
- Plaster masks workshop
- Mexican piñatas
- Kathak Dance (traditional of India)
Tours
- Walking tour to Colonia Suiza
- Walking tour “Moon on the Lake”
- Lantern walk around the SAC
- Walking visit to the Llao Llao woods
- The spirit of the meeting was (is in some way) looking for the combination of hard work and goods discussions and presentations with tours and social interaction. We can say now that that was what happened.
PATAGONIA ’06: Building a dream!
It’s so difficult for me to describe the incredible mix of feelings that were stuck in my throat when I first met the 60 people that came to the GET TOGETHER! of SERVAS YOUTH in my hometown Bariloche, Patagonia Argentina, from the 14th to the 21st January.
The idea was born the year before, when we read the news about the last Get Together in Poland. Thinking about the wonderful nature where I grew up, then the question came up: WHY NOT?? A strong organisation team started the hard work, with the conviction that building our “little” Keops pyramid was possible, that’s it, something that would go beyond ourselves and that would remain forever in the hearts of all participants. And now I’m very proud to say that we did it!!!!!
We shared a wonderful week at the SAC camping site, 22 km from Bariloche, sharing our thoughts and dreams, several workshops on Servas experiences around the world, Youth languages exchange and Diversity meals programs, Leadership and conflict resolution. A very hard work was done on the Manifest for the EGA that will be held in April in Italy. All this was beautifully leaded by our International Youth Coordinator, Pablo Chufeni.
Other cultural and recreative workshops included an “introduction to the mate”, Spanish for foreigners and Compared Spanish, tango, salsa, cloth painting, masks, a visit to the Paleontology Museum and of course, a very special place for talking about the environment we were in: a walk through the Llao llao forest and talks with specialised botany guides, who thought us how to recognise the trees using the touch and smell and not the eyes!!
I’d love to transmit the infinity of details of every friend who was there, the infinity of little moments of real “getting in touch” (is that the peace?), of conversation, of hugs, laughs, tears. Little bricks in the pyramid. But how to choose which ones? Impossible.
It’s time to say goodbye, wishing in my heart that very soon, somebody else asks himself again WHY NOT?? We know, we’ll be there once again. Paula Falaschi, Servas Bariloche/La Plata - Argentina P.S: for those who have not seen the web site, please have a look at http://youth.servas.org
Quotations from people with great experience in Servas meetings.
Soledad Pagliuca - has been at Servas Conferences in the Czech Republic and France “people were so kind - the group’ dynamic was spontaneous and very nice. Everybody was always available. Thanks a lot for a magic, beautiful and productive experience!
Jo McIntire - has been to other Servas Conferences “I liked the location and the participants very much. I also like the idea of Servas “Youth””.
Janet Schoder - Servas US interviewer “Excellent facilitation of sessions, results-oriented meetings, variety - something for everyone, the LOGO designed by Pablo C. was great!” “We look forward to seeing some of the concrete ideas carried forward.”
Ann Greenhough - SI Youth Coordinator, has organized several meetings “The presentations were well planned, people had taken a lot of care to prepare them.” “It was really good to be out in the country - a very beautiful place.” “Thank you very much for the warm welcome I have received from you all when I have been so far from home and my family. After the difficult time I had at the last International Conference in Barcelona it was good to be reminded what Servas is really about.”
Jean Seymour - has attended a Servas meeting in Poland and the General Conference in Barcelona “Good discussion, deep thinking. No complaints. I appreciated the plentiful hot water for showers” Friendly staff” “I had a lovely time and feel we have done some serious work to move Servas Youth forward on the International level. I am pleased with the outcomes and especially the statement.”
Bruno Manfredi - Servas Italy - attended Servas meetings in Visegrad, Kent, Baerental, Poland and the General Conference in Barcelona - I’m a veteran, he wrote. “Simple, essential, familiar edition, unforgettable!” “Infinite thanks. I do not have another word.”
Carolina Balestra - former NS for Servas Uruguay - was present at the General Assembly in Barcelona. I enjoyed the variety of the activities. There was plenty for everyone. The good mood of the participants, smiles, support, small talks and more. The organization was excellent. “I loved this get together because the focus were not the burocratic details, as it happened in Barcelona”
Lucia Ferrero - Servas Italy - has attended meetings in Baerental, Poland and the General Conference in Barcelona “A present for your heart, I felt just as in my own house, so far away from Torino”
Anita Kalberman - former NS for Servas Uruguay, former AC for South America, attended 3 General Conferences (Guatemala, Thailand and Spain) and other Servas meetings. “I really enjoyed the extracurricular activities also, like the masks workshop and the ecology workshop” “A meeting plenty of good will and tolerance”
Gregory Kehn - Servas US - attended the Servas meeting in San Francisco and regional meeting in Vancouver, Canada. “I appreciated the interpreters to help (us) foreigners.” “For me money is always an issue, because by American (US) standards I have always been poor. So I think by me saying “yes” to the question “was it worth the registration fee?” is a large compliment.” “I think it was at least as successful as San Francisco and maybe better than Canada in some ways”.
Alma Nimis - Servas Italy - attended a Servas meeting in Poland and was present at the General Conference in Barcelona “The meals were so much better then other meetings.” “Is complicated to find a bigger pleasure than the time shared here with the Servas people”
Quotations from people with little or no experience in Servas meetings.
Isabel Peralta Puga - Servas Mexico “Thanks a lot for your work and your invitation, enthusiasm and good will, this meeting was for Servas Mexico a big help and support to our own development.”
Lili Kerekes - Servas Mexico “I will appreciate to have more time to discussions in social actions that Servas could run, like Servas Uruguay have done through their peace secretary”.
Luigi D’Alessio - Servas Italy “The energy, the fantasy, the interactivity.” “For me this is a special occasion to be here in Patagonia 06”
Laura Hernandez - Servas Mexico “Congratulations! I don´t want to go”
Miguel Haller - Servas Mexico “The interaction with the people in the camping that were not Servas members was very interesting, a lot of them got interested in Servas”
Cassandra Chapman - Servas New Zealand “Discussions on future direction for Servas Youth, Curanto and presentations from different countries were great.” “Great that it was far enough from town to feel like you were “away” but close enough to go there easily if need be.” “Thank you for a very special week. I have never met so many kind people in my life. I have felt welcomed to Argentina and it is very appreciated! signed Cass obviously!”
Pablo Hernandez Peralta - Servas Mexico “I love the Tango and Salsa workshops”. “I do hope that the next event like this is going to be soon.”
Daniel Mon Peralta - Servas Mexico “I´m taking with me the excellent work of the discussion groups and the tours to the lake and the museum.”
Marina Maluly Pacheco - Servas Brazil “Mix of team work and “relax” moments. Everybody could express their ideas and thoughts.” “In this low budget get together I’d say everything went extremely well.”
Paco García - Servas Mexico “We are already thinking in a meeting in Mexico”
William Graves - Servas Mexico “I liked meeting energetic and interesting people from about 15 countries and the high level of cooperation and consideration given to each other. To learn that Servas is related to, and contributing to world peace.”
Argentinians:
Nélida Verdejo - Servas Rosario “I enjoyed the presentations of the different countries, the experiences narrated by the Servas travellers and specially the presentation about Servas India.”
Violeta Viola - Servas Buenos Aires “I really appreciated the cultural exchange, the spirit and the energy of the organisation team”
Soledad Segovia - Servas Rosario “Every workshop was very well prepared” “A different way of interaction in Servas, not the traditional host-traveller”.
Estela Oklander - Servas Bariloche “The interactions between generations and cultures was so great.”
Marta Pilnick - Servas Rosario “I really enjoyed the way that the proposals were made. The topics were interested and I found a good balance between discussions, presentations and workshops.” Congratulations to the organisation team.
Adriana Franco - Servas Buenos Aires “l loved the regional presentations and the one from India.”
M.Paulina Segovia - Servas Rosario “I liked the curanto Lunch and the compared Spanish workshop”.
Francisco Rodriguez Oklander - Servas Bariloche “I liked workshops specially”
Alejandro Cesarini - Servas Rosario “A complete but not tiring agenda. A good spirit and atmosphere. Clear and shared goals.”
Raúl Duek - Servas Buenos Aires “I liked the workshops about the Servas activities and those were we can share our traditions, like Mate and Picada Criolla.”
Catalina Horny - Servas Rosario “Excellent level of discussions when we work on Servas issues.” I personally enjoyed the conflict resolutions workshop
SERVAS YOUTH MEETING PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA JANUARY 2006
Report From Jean Seymour National Secretary Servas Britain
I attended the Servas Youth Meeting, organised by
Pablo Chufeni, Servas International Youth
Coordinator, and the brilliant, energetic and very
efficient Servas Argentina team. It was a very
definite “hit” and an experience we should
definitely learnt from.
I felt very privileged to be among such a vibrant group of people, fully committed to Servas ideals, and incredibly hospitable, welcoming and full of incredible good will.
First, the brilliant logo, the PANGEA, designed by Pablo Colangelo. His idea was to portray the joined up world before the continents divided, together with cave hand paintings and a tent for our camping ground, with lovely, gentle colours. We are hoping to take this design further within Servas International.
There was no sign of negativity at this meeting. It was totally positive, as Servas should be! We did not even need any ground rules – they came naturally!
There was a good agenda, well planned beforehand, which we stuck to. The Servas “Bingo” for icebreaking, worked really well. Serious workshops were interspersed with many fun, craft and physical activities, and lots of time for small group and oneto- one contact.
We worked hard on the Youth Manifesto all week, in many sessions. I am very proud of the document which came out of this meeting. The process was very democratic; everyone’s views were heard and accounted for. The Manifesto will be available at Latina. It is to be commended.
The other serious business included an interviewers’ workshop for young people, a workshop on Conflict Resolution, which was a cascade from the ASKOV meeting, New Programmes for Servas Youth, a presentation on “Our History” by the Servas South America Coordinator, a presentation on “Youth Languages Exchange”, carried out in Rosario, Argentina and well worth copying elsewhere.
The “fun” sessions were many! They included an introduction to the MATE, the herbal tea drunk in Argentina and Uruguay, very good for you, full of antioxidants! I brought some home and have been sipping daily!
We had a wonderful “CURANTO” lunch at the GOYE family establishment. This involved burying lots of meat and vegetables in leaves, soil and hot stones to cook via an ancient cooking tradition. And it was delicious! We then had a walking tour of the Colonia Suiza and the Craft Fair, with Tango for Beginners in the evening. Other highlights were Spanish Language Workshops, a visit to the Palaeontology Museum, a dance presentation from Servas India, a lecture on ecology and local natural resource management, a lantern walk, a walk in the woods and explanation of the Southern Sky Stars, a Mexican Plaster Masks workshop, a Salsa Workshop, a Mexican Pinatas Workshop – wonderful papier-mache balloons, exploded finally by Pablo!
And finally a wonderful Circle Dance on the last morning to bring everything together in harmony and peace, in the true Servas way.
It may seem that we had much more fun than serious. But that is not true. We worked hard to achieve a good outcome from this meeting, which Servas can use for the future.
These young people have a great deal to offer to Servas. And also a great deal to teach us! They are the future of our organisation.
We had so many good moments! And we were all of different ages. Quite a lot of “oldies”, like me! But we were completely at home with the young participants. In fact, at the end, we were thanked for bringing our wisdom to the meeting! What an honour!
We all left the Meeting buoyant and energised with new ideas for Servas Youth.
Patagonia 2006 was a great experience, thanks to the brilliant Argentinean team.
A wonderful experience! Thank you for inviting me!
A beautiful country, wonderful hospitality
I cannot separate the magnificence of the Patagonia, with its sharp snow covered peaks and groaning, sometimes anguishing glaciers from the incredibly hospitable Argentine SERVAS gang. Never have I felt so welcome, so instantly part of a very synergistic family, never have I seen such a facile integration of folks from different countries, diverse cultures and sometimes with severe language limitations. Patagonia Youth organizers went way beyond the norms of hospitality to extend all their energy and good will to us, the visitors. This is a hard number to equal, but we all left the conference energized with new ideas especially with regard to a greater integration of YOUTH into the aging SERVAS. May we not let our hosts down. Soledad (Italia-Usa)
A great experience
Patagonia ´06 was a great experience for all participants, I bet. It was a different meeting for Servas members, used to the host-traveller relationship. In Bariloche, members from different countries & cultures, different ages & interests spent a wonderful week sharing meals, stories, pictures, life experiences , debates and activities for one week in a Camp.
Discussions about Servas Youth issues were very productive because each member thought about what can they do for Servas, and not only expect things from the organization.
Organisers worked hard to make this dream possible, but all participants helped a lot having a positive attitude all the time and creating an excellent atmosphere.
Soledad Segovia, Servas Rosario, Argentina.
What Servas is all about.
Patagonia provided me with the possibility of confirming once more what SERVAS is about. SERVAS means love, friendship, sharing ideas, tolerance, peace and diversity.
SERVAS Argentina did a magnificent job in transmitting this message through several activities, games, discussions and informal talks. A very special atmosphere was constructed through dialogue among people from very different nations, backgrounds, ages, cultures and interests. It was a fantastic week, which filled me with positive energy and joyfulness. Not only was a fun week but also a very positive and constructive week.
The consequence of this excellent organised and planned week was a statement concerning youth in SERVAS which reflects opinions from all of us. Thank you SERVAS Argentina for an unforgettable week!
Carolina Balestra - Uruguay
A first experience
Patagonia ´06 was my very first Servas experience. Far
from home and with almost no knowledge of the Spanish
language I arrived a little nervous of what the week might
hold. My concerns melted away on arrival when I was
wholehearted welcomed to Argentina by her many
representatives. Over the week – through personal
conversations, Servas-oriented discussions, over meals,
during workshops, and while singing, drinking, and
dancing together - I not only gained a better
understanding of Servas and of Argentina, but I also
made many new friends from far flung corners of this
world. Thank you to all the participants, and especially to
the organisers, for making Servas, and South America,
feel like home to me.
Cassandra, New Zealand
And from Brazil....
I am thankful to Brazil and Argentina for providing me this great experience. It was important for Brazil to send someone there. Some young Brazilians were interested in taking part of the Conference but in the last moment we had no money.
Patagonia/2006 was rich and intense. Pablo(s), Cintia, Laura, Paula and Beatriz have done a great job organizing the event and they have fulfilled us many aspects of Argentineans culture. I did enjoy the workshops although some important talks were in a lack of people. The highlights for me were the brainstorming to prepare the Manifesto and Anuj´s speech about Indian culture and ‘the Indian dance’. All the energy is with me and I am trying to return this to Brazil. With Pablo (Argentina) and Lilly (Mexico) we will do the Youth Exchange Program next July. Thank you all! I miss you! It was hard to go back to my routine.
Marina Maluly Pacheco, Brazil.
Some participants join together ......
