Rights and Raki: Thoughts on Youth Work and Youth

Until you are working intimately in programming sponsored by the EU, you cannot grasp the money that flows into the efforts to fashion multicultural, European, "different but equal" youth. The mission: create a unified, culturally rich Europe. The implementation: Trainings, conferences, social work. The process: Hmmmm

Working both on the funding/policy side and the project/implementation side in an NGO can inform you about both dynamic ends of the EU's project in multicultural Europe--by latching onto youth. However, when it comes to some of these projects, its really hit or miss. 

PEMBE EV ADVENTURE

Instead of going to the office and working on a report on European Youth Policy, Friday I went to the "Pembe Ev" or Youth House of TOG (my NGO) in order to start fashioning an international cultural summer camp for 16-23 or so year olds. (Yes, big age difference I know). Though I got lost after a metro, a funikuler, a ferry, and a bus, I eventually found myself on the Asian side at the Pink House or Pembe Ev. Once there, I was confronted by youth workers from around Europe and Turkish Youth, just hanging on an ungodly hot day. 

Planning these camps is no easy task. The goals are usually for a sense of participation (does this equate to Turkish or European participation and citizenship? Thinking about this...) and cultural exposure. Planning the games, workshops, events, and classes is harder than you would think. Keeping the attention of a 19 year old is hard. I speak from experience. There has to be some sort of net worth to the whole experience. Sometimes that means just chilling out and talking. (To be honest, I don't know the efficacy of the games and after reading papers about them and critical studies. I'm still learning.) 

Keeping goals in sight is important, but the whole process involves improvisation and keen observation... I knew this would have to be done differently...

TRANSPORT TO THE BLACK SIDE

After an afternoon there, I knew that my lovely AEGEE friends (plus Ivy EME alum Dimitrije!) were in Kilyos on the Black Sea for a conference. They invited me along that week so I decided to delay my visit to the Aegean Sea coast to go the opposite direction. I missed the Ferry, so I, with an unworking cellphone (for some reason it realized it was illegal...? i.e. Not turkish) I took a Dolmus (or minibus) to Sariyer then another to Kilyos. Problem. I was supposed to take another bus, which I later found out. To avoid further detail and to save this for a good dinner party story (much like my lost in the Sahara story), I will just say I eventually got where I needed to be. 

I entered on International Night of the participants (Armenians, Slovaks, Belgians, Turks, Serbian, American--me--and a few Dutch/German people). This means that everyone brings their own food and alcohol from their country to share. End Story. 

OPPRESSION IN THEATER OF THE OPPRESSED

Considering I was acting as an "Observer," I didn't feel much of a need to participate fully in the "Peace Leaders of the Future" conference... ahem. When I went to one of the workshops on "Theater of the Oppressed" (A. Boal's theory of using theater to examine the oppressor/oppressed dilemma), I grew even a little less engaged. When a trainer is trying to use "Theater of the Oppressed" on a group of students who don't live in such an obvious war zone of "oppressors" and "oppressed" trying to separate the "oppressors" from the "oppressed" and acting their roles is even more frustrating. Its not that simple. Please. Don't water down the issue. Okay for the 16 year olds, it was fine, but 24 year old students with Master's Degrees in European Studies? Hmmmm. 

I said, screw this "oppressor/oppressed" obviousness. I wanted to consider something maybe more close to home: That feeling of "self-oppression" about not being able to do enough in a world of problems (there are only so many UNICEF checks I can send), and therefore falling into apathy. When it came time to present, we were refused (we had a good skit too) because we didn't want to use the "oppressor/oppressed" thing. Call it invisible theater. I felt oppressed.

Afterwards, I kinda called the lady out on it and noted a good number of things.

1) The conference was originally for the Armenian/Turkish conflict, but due to scheduling and leaders dropping out prematurely, it became this: i.e. shit happens.

2) Don't have an age range between 15-24. Its patronizing. Why the EU groups youth like this is worrying. 

3) Value the fact that these kids are just together. 

4) Remember this is about non-formal learning. Not top-down. 

5) Sometimes some good old fashioned recreation is the best way to do Youth Work. I.e. netWORKing. 

RAKI, SAND, SUN: HOW YOUTH WORK IS ABOUT FUN

You know me. I am horrible at recreation. I bring my laptop to bars in Brussels to do work. I don't watch any TV. I am addicted to my gmail. My idea of fun is reading the BBC online. Let's face it. I am bad at sitting still and I'm bad at just "having fun." Something about this youth work business though that I've noticed is that there is nothing like a beach, some music, and a meal can do for inspiring conversation. I had much better conversations over my Starbucks at the end of the conference than I did during workshops. The intimacy that you gain at conferences is the impetus for continued dialogue. Simply put, my weekend simply solidified my bond with these amazing European students (TTYN!) and BAM! there is soft diplomacy for you. 

Though I didn't learn about who was the oppressor and who was the oppressed (though I deconstructed Boal's theory while I was bored during the workshop), I learned how to have a little fun. I also learned that it is okay to be 19 sometimes.  (Sometimes doing Youth Work on the policy end in an NGO for people my own age seems a little bizarre--I feel patronizing...) 

After saying goodbye to my AEGEE lovers as they flew back to Brussels, I went to have the biggest dinner ever with Murat, the Political Advisor and his friend and his wife at their apartment. OH!! BEST HOMECOOKED FOOD EVER. I learned more about fish, red grape raki, Mezze, and the art of cooking in one evening than I ever have. You just wait mom.... 

After 3 hours prep and 3 hours eating, I had the itis and I was so stuffed. Monday night now. I still am. 

Nothing does more for cultural understanding than food. :) Okay, maybe not.... but I like to think so. 

UPDATE ON HEALTH FOR MY WHITFIELD FAMILY: 

I realized that you all love to know how I am doing health wise. Normally I don't put this in my blogs for all of the world to see, but I'll let you know that I am FINALLY seeing a dermatologist tomorrow for my rash. That will be a whole different post... DANIELLE DOES TURKISH HEALTH CARE.