
EVS blog
ESC BLOG: EMRE EDEBALI

V MC Velenje deluje tudi Emre, ESE prostovoljec iz Turčije. Si želite slišati kako se ima pri nas? Spremljajte njegov blog.
‘Always look for the small things’

Since Velenje is small and you can easily run out of things to do, nature is the ultimate refuge. Listen to the forest and the tiny flowers. Appreciate the lake and the scribbled walls.
F: Ornela
Gökberk vlog 3

V MC Velenje deluje tudi Gökberk, EVS prostovoljec iz Turčije. Si želite slišati kako se ima pri nas? Spremljajte njegov vlog. Tukaj je že njegova 3 edicija.
Gökberk vlog 2

Drugi vlog našega ESE prostovoljca Berčija.
Kako se ima v Sloveniji, kakšne kulturne (pa tudi praktične, kot boste slišali :)) kulturne razlike opaža?
Gökberk vlog

V Mladinski center Velenje že vrsto let prihajajo mladi iz različnih koncev sveta in z nami delajo, ustvarjajo, se neformalno izobražujejo, se družijo in spoznavajo naše okolje ter kulturo. Tokrat sta v Velenju na enoletni (pre)izkušnji Gökberk in Emre iz Turčije.
A BORDERLESS EXPERIENCE

Mladinski center Velenje izvaja projekt EVS in gosti prostovoljce že od leta 2009. Naša trenutna prostovoljka Ana se je lotila raziskovanja prejšnjih EVS zgodb iz Velenja in nastala je knjiga European Voluntary Service in Velenje- A BORDERLESS EXPERIENCE
New EVS volunteers in the town!

Dober dan / Laško Noč,
We are two lost children in Neverland (a.k.a. Velenje, Slovenia). In here you’ll find posts about living abroad, being an EVS volunteer, random thoughts and feelings.
Discover this experiences with us!
Ana Proenca
Hello, everyone. I’m a 22-year-old dwarf panda stuck in a human body. I was born and raised in the Azores, Portugal, but have lived for almost four years in Lisbon before moving to Velenje.
A cinema enthusiast, dystopian addict, foodie, music lover and firm believer in the Bare Necessities doctrine.
Gemma Galabert Gonzalo
Zdravo! I’m a biking lover, she is my faithful colleague, and was my company during our travelling around Europe in 2013. She makes me feel real Freedom.
I studied topography, but I like to consider myself an Artivist:
http://gelabertgg.wix.com/recrea
Not in Kansas anymore!
Hello amazing people,
A few weeks ago, I crossed the last farewell before departure off my list: Lisbon. The city which had been my home for the past four years. Even though I fell in love with it, a country mouse such as myself never did quite become a city one. I must admit that I never got used to the capital’s fast pace, for instance.
After traveling from Pico Island, my hometown, to Lisbon, from there to Brussels, spending the night at the airport (while trying to sleep!) I finally entered the last phase of the journey: flight to Ljubljana, Slovenia.
During which I felt an incredibly strong sense of nostalgia. Oh, if only there were a word to describe it. Actually, there is! A very Portuguese one: saudade.
“A vague and constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist, for something other than the present. Not an active discontent or poignant sadness but an indolent dreaming wistfulness” – Audrey Bell, in Portugal.
This feeling is quite present in Portuguese/Brazilian art, but you can find other examples too. Here’s an Arcade Fire song about it (they said it themselves): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHHLISaLe44
I do consider, however, that saudade should only be a friendly reminder of everything that we’ve experienced. It mustn’t keep us from moving forward.
That in mind, it reminds me of a beautiful quote that my classmates inserted in the Valedictorian Speech: Those who pass by us do not go alone and do not leaves us alone. They leave a little bit of themselves, and take a little of us (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry).
A lot has happened ever since I arrived here almost one month ago. Which I’ll make sure to write about in the next post.
Have an incredible day,
Ana
My friend
…these words were heard around the refugee camps in Greece, every day… day after day.
I just lived there for 1 month… and still can’t stop thinking about all my friends who cannot escape from there… and still I’m afraid of forgetting them, when I realize that for a couple of days I haven’t had time to think about all them…
Ludovico’s music can always transmit these feelings… https://youtu.be/0Bvm9yG4cvs
These emotions so hard to express so many times…
When I was flying to Greece, near the Makedonian border, I didn’t know yet if I would get the EVS in Velenje or not. Once there, after experiencing some weeks with all the people and sharing so many things, so many contradictions… I get the answer: yes, dobrodošli!
And again, so many contradictions move inside me…
Moving, being able to move free, while all this amazing people is stuck there when they are running away from war…
Life is a cycle… a circle.
Things come, things go… you close a window for opening another.
Some people share a long way with you. Others just pass by. But the impacts on you sometimes don’t need much time, they are so fast.
After this first weeks in Velenje, I’m happy to be here. I think is a great opportunity. I wish everybody could be able to choose it. I wish all humans were consider for what they are, not for what they have or were they come from…
Open the Borders. Fuck borders.
I’m glad to be knowing all you now. To be living all these projects. I don’t want to forget all the people that is still behind some border… behind fears and injustices…
Freedom should be named always “I’m possible”, instead of “Impossible”.
Mihov blog

Pred vami je povezava do bloga, ki ga piše naš EVS prostovoljec Miha Zorman, ki opravlja prostovoljno službo v mestecu Pesaro na zahodni obali Italije. Se bi mu pridružili?
https://vicolocortini.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/pesaro-molto-bene/
UgUr - Farewell

As every other good things my EVS in Velenje also came to the end and l am writing my last blog!
Balkan Trip - Ugur

We have been planning to have a crazy adventure before we all leave from Slovenia. But, if you ask me l become too lazy to plan anything! Luckily...
Ugur Blog v slovenščini !!! :)
Kot ponavadi, imel sem lep teden v Velenju. Ta teden je bil miren ampak sem se zabaval...
Filipa blog part III.
Last week was spent with EVS people and a week spent with EVS people is for sure a good week!
Filipa blog part II.

I live in Velenje for almost six months now and I had never visited the castle. Till this Sunday!
Ugur blog part II.

Last week in Velenje was quite different than the others as l remember. Well... there are some parts that i do not remmber from weekend!
Ugur blog, 15.2.2014

I have been in some other places before and in some of them l loved the people, city itself was my favourite sometimes and sometimes the things that happens in the city like concerts, festivals etc. But l had not been in any places that l loved them all at the same time untill l have been in Velenje.
I have been living and working as a volunteer in this city for 6 months and there is no one that l do not like or no day that l enjoy less than others. I had no idea about how would it be to live in Velenje before l came here but l can only say that l would not believe if l have been told that l would have such a wonderful time here. Moreover l feel like l am in my home. So this place makes me feel that l am the luckiest person in the world!
Let s give this great place to chance or give this chance to yourself Velenje is a closed book and waiting for you to open it!
Ugur Uslu
EVS Volunteer / Turkey
Hasan blog, 14.2.2014

As a city Velenje is like an iceberg. It can be seen nothing going on in the city. But believe me, you should look more carefully. For why, too much events, concers, exibitions and even big festivals. They are capable of all that things. I know just because i have been there. And the people who live in that iceberg, pretty far away being cold. They all welcome you in any circumstances, treat you nice, want to have a great time together. I know that too with a lot of experience from first hand, they know how to make fun. Lastly: I can say about this iceberg for all, you make good memories in Velenje. Like i did, like ex-volunteers did. So then thank you very much and hvala lepa Velenje
Hasan Baldan
Filipa blog, 13.2.2014

Before I came to Slovenia I was goggling compulsively pictures of Velenje. Maybe because of some crazy web filters there were always pictures of swans. When my friends asked me about the place where I was about to spend a hole year of my life I could only tell them about the white swans.
Ironically the first place I’ve visited in Velenje was the lake.
It was a really good way to start this new chapter of my life, swimming and hanging in the lake in a hot afternoon of September.
So what I can I tell you about Velenje? What I most appreciate in Velenje is the intense cultural activity and also the active spirit of young people.
As an art lover, music enthusiast it’s a shame I’m not attending this events as much as I should, but at the same time I’m trying to “feel Slovenia” as much as I can while I can!
Being a Portuguese, snow it’s like a childhood dream to me. I had loads of fun these past days with the snow. Sliding in a hill with sow with my friends after a party is one of those moments I will never forget from this time.
Filipa Matias