Informations for people interested in voluntary service or stage or just work abroad

Some students write me for know how can they do the same experience...I know, go abroad is not easy!I mean, I did the waitress in Spain , Ireland and France and is easy find a job like this.But if you can't or if you want to do an experience in your field there are a lot of opportunity for the youth of the XXI century..You need just to know it!
I feel lucky , so I would like to share every informations about that with other students.
I suggest you for first to take advantage of an erasmus exchange(organized by the university), after you can take part to a Llp erasmus placement and do a stage in Europe.
Here the internet site for voluntary service, international service, works camps, stage
http://www.serviziocivileinternazionale.it/
http://www.cefo.it/
http://www.eurocultura.it/ (leonardo, stage in european insitutions)
http://www.xena.it/
http://www.lunaria.it(or/ .org)
http://www.focsiv.it/
http://www.iboitalia.it/ (south america and africa 1 year service)
http://www.ploteus.it/
http://www.google.it/ (youth in action)
For language course in other country I suggest you

1. Ireland: http://www.google.it/ (Irlandando) rent house per week and english school, (delfin school is the cheapest , but you can also take part to the comunal courses for free). Don't trust in agency who promise you job...they never do that.
2. France Alliance francaise is the best, but is the most expensive. So you can study at campus language.For the appartment,in Paris you hace just a solution...ask for a room in the university city(cite' universitarie) for cheap, but just for the summer
3. spain barcelona cervantes school or other.There are a lot and are not to expensive.For the apartment web site (http://www.idontremeber......sorry/.....)
4. Good luck!!!!!

Leaving the country....

Hi! This is my last post from Costa Rica!I'm in San jose' and My experience by the indigenous community is finish.I' coming back in Italy !The 5th I 'll take the airplane and I will stay two days in Cagliari for take part to the last course and for do the final evaluation.I will arrive in Verona the 8th!!!These 4 months in Costa Rica have been very difficult and sometimes I thougt"Ok, now I came back".I felt really far away aven if I have been living in foreigns countries for 3 years.My nightmare was the food , rice and beans avery day, every breakfast, every luch, every dinner.......The bed where I slept..sometimes without coach, sometimes with a lot of spider..sometimes without bed.I hace overcame all the obstacles and now I' am very satisfaited!Actually I feel ready to take part in others projects maybe a long time voluntary to widen my knowledge in human's rights field. I already apply for an interesting Ltv project in Belfond(Berne Switzerland)for work 3 months in an asilum seekers camp and for do another voluntary service in Africa with immigrants.

I told you, I need travel and discover as much as I can. During these months I learnt about Costa Rica, about indigenous groups, differents lifes way, ancients traditions and I met unforgettable people such as the Alto Guamy's community.My spanish is getting better and I can say few words in Ngobere as well, so wow!

Now it's the time of the thanks!

For first I would like thanks Assonur for choosed me even if they didn't saw me before the course; Thanks to European Union for give us this wonderfull chance to discover another country and work here ; Thanks to Padova University for promote the youth mobility and for his dynamic organization! Thanks to my english teacher , Miss Helm , for give me the possibility to set up this blog and use it as exam's material.I'm sorry but I have to thanks my self as well to hold out!!!see you, maybe in the next blog!alessia

Indigenous territory in Costa Rica

The day Columbus landed on what is today called Isla Uvita in front of Puerto Limon, more than a quarter of a million people and no less then eight different groups were living in the aerea.They are: Bribri, Cabecar,Brunka, Chorotega, Guamy, Heutar, Maleku and Teribe.They represent the 1% of the costarica 's population.

Indigenous traditions

Hi! I already read an interesting book about indigenous traditions and I would like share the contained informations with you. We are going to talk about the meaning behind the traditionals masks and la fiesta de los diablitos in Boruca.

The history of the mask composed the identity of this indigenous people.Because the main method of recording histoz in Boruca is oral ,many variations of how the masks became a part of Borucan culture have envolved. An elder of the town , Don Ismael Gonyalez, National Priye of popular culture 2002, spoke of the culturallz significant strategz in which the Borucans in particular carved masks in the form of diablitos or little devils out of the balsa in order to protect and disguise their faces , but also to frigthen the invaders.The masks vere painted od dzed using natural coloring that came from the plants and minerals such as achiote , carbon and yuca.Others members of the communty consider that the use of the masks in Boruca started after the victory over the spaniards in the form of a yearly festival in which those who died in battle are remembered and the indigenous victory is celebrated.

El juego de los diablitos The dance of the little devils)

For several centuries el juego de los diablitos , a three day long celebration of respect and festivities has taken place in Boruca from December 30th until january 2nd.Some people take the event to be a tzpe of reenactment of the battles fought against the conquistadors , battles in which thez believe that their ancestors worw mask as armor while fighting.This mask represents the indigenous fierce and the triumphant warrior who fought for the lifes of his descendents.Men of the town who wish to partecipate make devil masks and they wear traditionals clothing.For Represent the spaniards of the early 16th century, approximately ten differnet men wear a toro costume.

by line E.Galicki Boruca Ayer y hoy Los Hombres y el significado detras de las mascaras

Volunters and students Alto Guamy

Monkeys in Alto Guamy

Working in Terraba

Amelia.Indigenous women Alto Guamy

Bastimento island (Panama) landscape

Mapache ...National Cahuita Park(Costa Rica)

Children are fishing

Porks on the beach.....Bastimento island..(Panama)

Learning to do chaquaras..(craft bags in natural tissue)

My ninos...(children)

Don Eriberto...93 years old!He has a child.He is 3 years old.The secret of the eternal youth!!

live from Boruca

10 may 2009
Hi! I'm still in the Boruca's community and I have some free time to write my next post.It's the may 10 and in a short time we are going to finish our experience in Costa Rica.The last days are the hardest .Everybody is tired and me especially.I have had some trouble with the food and I contracted a virus .So I went to the hospital for 2 days and now I'm getting better.Anyway the last week we werw in Alto Guamy where we gave the toutist guide course for indigenous peoples.The course was very interesting and somepeople made the effort to walk 2 hours everyday to partecipate.It was quiete difficult at the beginning .We had to teach in spanish and we had to find the best way to mantain their attention . Jockes, group's work , theory and discussion allowed us to give the 40 lesson's hour course without big problems.With this course they won't be tourist guides but it's an opportunity to have a basic introduction in tourism and develop some skills that they will possibly use in the future. The last day the differents families organized a good-bye party for us.We cooked pasta and they prepared the rituals of chouali.What's chouali?ehehe...To discover it you have to drink hot chocolate (without sugar) and if the day after you don't feel well , it means that you had it, the bad spirit and now you are ok because the purpose of the ritual is chase away it.During the ritual we danced around the fire.I was so happy to take part in it.About yhe course we are doing the same here, in Boruca and it's easier because people are used to receive courses and volunter aid for many years.This sunday we will leave for Quitirrisi a community specialized in the production of oragnaic cosmetics like soap for skin care problems and they have a " Rincon cosmico" to treat spiritual ilnesses.I'm so excited and interested in it.There, we will have the possibility to have a course in medical plants and a tamascal (indigenous ritual for the purification).Aot of indigenous communties are losing their traditions , languages, tipical food and natural methods used in the past to care illnesses.This is an incredible chanche for us to discover these and learn about them.With reference to that saving the culture is one of gradea ong's objectives.The last year the volunters collected some ancient stories and with the collaboration of the indigenous the y transalate its in Ngobere and Brunka. Finally this year it was possible to print this book and give copies to the school that can be used by the students.For the moment is everything .See you next week!!!!

Our map!!!

This is the Burica's community map .We draw it and on the back we setted up an information page about the location and the community's history.

Sorry.We will be closed untill the 16 of May...

Sorry.We will be closed untill the 16 of May...
I'm leaving the capital another time , for the last time, this is the last travel.
In alto guaymi's community we have not internet(but now maybe a mobile..yuppi!!!), so I will write my last post when I will go back.Sad and happy.I'm very tired, and I need to eat pasta!!!(rise and beans are my nightmare now)But in any case it will be very difficult say bye-bye them(or adios??).Guamy's community touch our soul , and was not just a job, but a life way.Chevar(do the siesta), exchange with them different opinion , learn about the nature, the culture, and the children.Ok, maybe is better if I stop, I'm going to be too sad!
So guys, have a good month!see you!!!Pura vida!!

Alto guaymi and the volunters

English lessons at the school.

Johanan and me in Alto Guamy.He is learning italian and english.I think he will be a good teacher for his community!

Alto Carona-cheeseeeee...

Bocas del Toro island(Panama Carribean Coast).Easter's holidays

next travel:tourist guide cours for indigenous

Hi everybody!!!I'm sorry I didn't write anything during the last 2 weeks. I were in Boruca's community and after on holiday in the Carribean coast.(Wonderfull place!especially puerto viejo and Bocas de Toro's Island in Panama).So , now I'm working in San jose'.We are organizing an intensive course for indigenas for be a tourist guide and learn how to welcome the tourist .The course (4 hours per day) will includs geography, natural history, tourism, english, firts aid, indigenous law, so very very interested and at the same time very hard to organize.
We have to get interested the people and it's not easy.The don't use to work or study for the afternoon and we will teach to people that sometimes they don't speak spanish very well.
At the same times we are carrying on with the english lessons for child.
They are so good.We jocke with them with the colors, the numbers, the presentation.Ohoh..the spanish teacher is already come, I have to go.Sorry!!!!!!

What do have to do if I want to participate in the European Voluntary service?

web site for informations about the project and the European voluntary service
http://sites.google.com/site/gradeaong
http://www.assonur.org/
http://www.elbarrio.org/
Euopean commission site(looks at youth mobility)
alessiabottone@libero.it for further informations

Everyone can do it(especially in Europe), everyone can enjoy this chance!And don t forget the program 2007-2013 youth in action organize as well seminars in foreign country for 1 week for promote the european citizienship.
Good luck!

Football in Alto Guami....supporting the team!!

Tipic indigenous womens's dress (Alto Carona)

School in Alto Carona( Playa la Palma, 1 hour walk to Alto Guaymi)

Interwiewing the museum workers.

Terraba experience

I m really glad to explain what the Terraba experience was for me.
This community is not included in our project, but the leader Mr Paoliño Najera, gave us the possibility to stay with him for 3 days and investigate his plan.
This man is the first indigena who obteined a bank loan and now he is the leader of "The rincon ecologico".It 's a place where he is sowing planning trees and producing fruits and vegetables without fertilizer.Here you can also find fishing fam and a mountain hut where wery often a lot of volunters come for take advantage of Paoliño's teachings.
If I have to be honest, it was quite difficult staying there, because of the very hard work, but talk with him is one of the best souvenir that I have.
The world is fighting against cancer, here one man cured himself with plants recommended by Mr.Paoliño Najera.

About me and the project

Hi everybody, my name is Alessia and I would like to introduce my self.I'm 23 years old, I'm studying political science and human rights in Padova .I'm living ....uhm..in the word.I have been working and studying for 3 years in Spain, Ireland and France..and now in Costa Rica.When I came back in Italy one years ago for my thesis, I promised to my self that I will not travel for a bit, but after a while I understood that was not possible for me to stop. So I' m carrying on with my studies and working for something in I belive: Equal possiblities for everybody!

So, now I m' in Costa Rica.The european voluntary service is giving us the possibility to know another culture, travel in the other part of the word and help in main activities like the promotion of a responsible tourism in harmony with the nature, learn the language of the indigenous, ngobe and brunka and, of course, improve our spanish.In particular this project intends to give to us the opportunity to contribute with indigenous communities in their cultural and environmental strengthening and diffusion, promoting cultural exchange, involvement of cultural minorities, rural development, international cooperation and Youth in Action.The present project will take place in Heredia, Costa Rica, next to the capital city San José and mainly in Southern Costa Rica, in direct collaboration with the Ngäbe indigenous communities of Punta Burica and Osa Peninsula, living in one of the most preserved and biodiverse regions of the country and of the world, but at the same time with social, economic and geographical obstacles, as well as educational difficulties and important cultural differences.The main activities of this voluntary project are related to the promotion of educative, cultural and community-based ecotourism in indigenous territories. These include: to undertake a systematization of ecotouristic activities in the indigenous territories, strengthening pre-existing activities that contribute to cultural and environmental rescue, thru workshops, defining for each activity, possible promotion mechanisms and designing and carrying out the training in the territories. In addition, new cultural and environmental ecotouristic activities will be identified and designed to incorporate them to the community tourism program.

The activities will also give us the possibility to discover, know and understand other cultures and other ways of life, by better understanding different existing realities in the world and taking some action, as well as to better recognize themselves as a mutual understanding between people from different countries and cultures.

For fulfill that we will give english lesson to the child of the school, and we will offer to the adults cours for be able to be a guide of them territory and we will draw a touristic map of the territory.

In the next intervention I will explain what about the indigenous , the protagonist of this wonderfull experience!

What about the organizations involved and the project's objectives

The involved organizations are: Associazione Interculturale Nur (sending org.)and Gradea Ong(host organization).

Assonur is a non profit asociation active in the field of intercultural integration promoting and realizing cultural events, training experiences and informative seminars for the youth of Sardinia.
Its main fields of activity are the promotion of exchanges between cultures, the fight against all forms of racism and xenophobia, international youth mobility.

Gradea Ong (acronym for Granito de Arena or Little Grain of Sand) is a non governamental organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of the enviroment and their inhabitants.
Most of its work has been developed in Costa Rica in colaboration with Ngobe and Brunka indigenous communities

What about the project's objectives?
Our main activities are related to the promotion of the ecotourism in indigenous territories.
We draw a map of the communities and we interview different families to investigate about their needs and availability to recive tourists.
We are doing some craft activities like learning to make sombreros , belts, coconut's oil, tour in the forest to discover differents kinds of animals and plants.

What is European Voluntary service?

European Voluntary Service offers young people the opportunity to volunteer abroad for a period of two to twelve months. It provides young Europeans with the possibility to express them-selves through unpaid and full-time voluntary activities in a foreign country inside or outside the EU. The objective of the programme is develop solidarity, mutual understanding and tolerance among young people and it contribute to reinforcing social cohesion in the European Union and to promoting young people's active citizenship.

EVS is a true ‘learning service’. Beyond benefiting the local communities, by participating in voluntary activities, young volunteers can develop new skills and improve their personal aptitudes. Volunteers can benefit from specific training through out the activity and agree on their expected learning outcomes, processes and methods in advance. Their learning experience is formally recognised through a Youthpass. Participation is free.