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More Mosaic for all – European Opportunities

More Mosaic for all – European Opportunities

European opportunities The experience is almost over. Last days of more mosaic 4 all are knocking at the door! Today we had the opportunity to know more about the European projects and the skills we acquired in the project. We focused on the European solidarity corps, youth exchanges and training courses. We deepened our knowledge of the matter by the mean of the human library. Three of the participants decided to share their experiences and gave all the necessary informations. And later on we deepened our knowledge of Ukrainian culture by exploring Lviv.…Read more
More Mosaic for all – Storytelling!

More Mosaic for all – Storytelling!

Relaxed time learning how to tell a story and our stories Ninth day of activities at More Mosaic 4 All project. Today we kept it cool with lot of breaks to recover from yesterday’s emotional activities. The main topic of the day was storytelling, in his various aspects. First of all, we got to understand that telling a story can be a matter of minutes or hours: you can spend hours talking about a picture and talk about your whole life story in one minute. Actually, we found interesting that keeping the time…Read more
More Mosaic for all – Getting out of the comfort zone

More Mosaic for all – Getting out of the comfort zone

Getting out of the comfort zone through different and various activities Lucas, Nicolas, Felix, Klevi, Olena More Mosaic 4 All project in Lviv continues. Today we tried to overpass our comfort zones by many different activities. Active citizenship, developing opinions, learning to listen to each other’s needs, dealing with stressing situations and conflict were the main topics of the day. First of all, we discovered the active citizenship background each of us have. We were divided into groups and then we presented our experiences in our lives. Afterward, we discussed about the improvement…Read more
More Mosaic for all – Future engineers are growing up

More Mosaic for all – Future engineers are growing up

Turning active citizens into engineers and more… Olena, Lucas, Paulina, Felix, Klevi Another sunny day at More Mosaic 4 All project. Today the European youth worked mostly on team building activities. We started the day by expressing our feelings with the use of Dixit cards. After that we were divided in groups to talk and discuss about active citizenship, finding a definition for it and discussing problems, challenges that we have in each country. Another important focus was on the support and best practices of our own representative countries. We found out that…Read more
More Mosaic for all – Creativity

More Mosaic for all – Creativity

Lucas, Paulina, Victor, Felix, Nicolas, Klevi The aim of the second day was to express our emotions, thoughts through visual art. We were oriented to painting activities, using various colors and techniques to fully awake our expressions. We started the day by meeting a new facilitator. The new facilitator, Alena, introduced us to the world of creativity by painting using only leaves and colors. The activity was perfectly matching with the autumn season and the view behind our windows. We felt relaxed, immersed into the creative process. As the time was flying, we…Read more
More Mosaic for all is on!

More Mosaic for all is on!

Almost 40 people from 8 countries will be together in Lviv for 10 days. More Mosaic For all youth exchange started in the best way. Almost 40 people from 8 different countries met in LVIV, Ukraine. This is the 2nd part of the project. The 1st one was held in Georgia, in June 2019. We had the chance to have indoor and outdoor activities due to very sunny days, something unusually for Ukraine in this period of time.  A lot of activities took place in the very first day, where all the participants…Read more
More Mosaic 4 All – Youth Exchange in Georgia

More Mosaic 4 All – Youth Exchange in Georgia

The experience of Davide, participant in the project "More Mosaic 4 All", coordinated by More Mosaic and held in Kutaisi, Georgia. "This project was amazing, for some of us was the first or second time in an erasmus + project, so we didn't know what to expect from it, and at the end of it we were very satisfied and happy to have partecipated. During the project the main topic was well carried on and analized, it create a lot good discussion, shareing moment, it has allowed us to share a lot about…Read more
Recognize Youth Work!

Recognize Youth Work!

The Erasmus + project of Job Shadowing "Recognize Youth Work" is coming to an end, in this last period we have worked on what was learned during the period spent in Lebanon and on what we are trying to do in Italy to ensure that the undeniable value of mobility experiences and volunteering carried out by young people is perceived and valued first by themselves, then by the people around them, first and foremost their families, schools and universities and then on a wider level in the labor market, we have summarized everything…Read more
Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts “And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”  – Murakami   When something comes to an end, we often struggle to find the meaning of what has just happened. Precisely, how we got into it, what was our motivation and expectations, which…Read more
Beyond Eyes – Reflections after Art Residence

Beyond Eyes – Reflections after Art Residence

Beyond Eyes – Reflections after Art Residence Sometimes on your life path you meet people that don’t care about anyone, other than who is making them feel confident. They seems to soften their heart only in specific situations, with specific people. They rather put out your light than find their own. They don’t see beyond their ability to judge who is trying all his efforts to be kind and compassionate. At See Beyond I finally met some people who gave me the feelings of caring for others. People who accept and are sincere…Read more
Uno per tutti, tutti per uno!

Uno per tutti, tutti per uno!

Lviv Eco Club: a story of friendship Often I have spoken about how is it difficult to make friends in Ukraine. This, like many other things in the world,  is partly true. Today, in this article, I want to tell you about a true story of friendship. Here in Ukraine, I have met a young girl who has been fundamental to help me to deal with different kind of situations and challenges I experienced during my EVS in Ukraine: my friend Lidia, or better said Chom Chom. Lidia was the example that people…Read more
YEP: Your Voice Against Human Trafficking

YEP: Your Voice Against Human Trafficking

YEP: Your Voice Against Human Trafficking In this article, I want to speak about my personal project, something I am really attached to since it was my purpose since I came here in Ukraine and I made a lot of effort to realize it. Indeed, through my work here in Ukraine,  I wanted to address a problem that is commonly ignored by many local people: the phenomenon of Human Trafficking that affect young people as well. According to IOM, Forty (40%) per cent of vulnerable minors from 13 to 17 are ready to accept at…Read more
EqUalize: Youth Peace and Security

EqUalize: Youth Peace and Security

The epxeirence of Valentina, EVS volunteer of the project "EqUalize" in Lviv, Ukraine, hosted by SII and coordinate by Nous “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.” (Preamble of UNESCO Constitution, 1945) This was the first thing that came to my mind when I decided to design a project on the role of young people in the peacebuilding processes. Everything begins in our minds and our thoughts create the reality we are living in. When people ask me…Read more
Kiev: the voiceless city

Kiev: the voiceless city

Kiev: the voiceless city Last week-end,  I had the opportunity to go to Kiev to visit my aunty from Ukraine, newest member of my big and crazy Italian family. Soon after starting our reunion with a delicious pizza, we went to the city center for a walk, making slowly our way under a quick and unexpected rain. As soon as I reached the heart of the city, I have been conquered by the majesty and beauty of its buildings and churches. Rus-Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture, colorful frescoes and mosaics, baroque churches, terraced gardens, my…Read more
What a beautiful experience -More Mosaic Everywhere for Everyone Always-Ukraine 2018

What a beautiful experience -More Mosaic Everywhere for Everyone Always-Ukraine 2018

The experience of Rosa Cascone and the italian team during the Erasmus + project  "More Mosaic Everywhere for Everyone Always" in Lviv, Ukraine, organized by More Mosaic and Stella A group of youngsters from five different countries: Ukraine, Italy, Georgia, Sweden and Greece took part a Youth Exchange in Pustomyty where the aim of the project was to be creative in different forms in particular drawing and theatre and provide us with methods of delivering messages and implementing own ideas though creativity and art. The project takes 12days of working with different activities and energizer where…Read more
Hand Made Yourself – Nonformal Methods

Hand Made Yourself – Nonformal Methods

The project of the contact making seminar ‘HAND MADE YOURSELF’ was prepared by a group of people dealing with handicrafts, traditional crafts and folk art. These cultural activities, previously considered as disappearing, have been preserved thanks to small communities of hobbyists focused in local organizations and communities. Thanks to the social work and modern technologies, handmade traditions have now been implanted in the younger generation. Young people in times of fast life, plastic and temporariness have found values under the new name of DIY (Do It Yourself). The project responds to the need…Read more
Photography: a new way of looking at reality

Photography: a new way of looking at reality

Photography: a new way of looking at reality   “A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense and is, thereby, a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety”. Ansel Adams Some weeks ago Anna, our coordinator, came up with the idea of providing us with a Media Workshop. A series of interactive meetings on photography techniques, videomaking strategies and composition basic skills. When I heard this, at first I was perplexed, I am sincere. I like art…Read more
FORUM UNOY “Shaping the narratives”: from Theory to Practice.

FORUM UNOY “Shaping the narratives”: from Theory to Practice.

FORUM UNOY “Shaping the narratives”: from Theory to Practice. Last September, I had the pleasure to participate in the FORUM UNOY Shaping the Narrative that was held in the Hague and organized by the United Network of Young Peace-builders. Indeed, the atmosphere was extremely enriching and positive. The main theme and purpose of the FORUM was to exchange experiences and cooperate on actions to foster peace-building in the world and counter hateful narratives. We, young peace-builders, were gathering together coming from different areas of the world with our unique approach to peace-building. It…Read more
Burkinabè Rising @ RomAfrica Film Festival

Burkinabè Rising @ RomAfrica Film Festival

Burkinabè Rising Here we are, full of pure energy, more human and more sensitive towards certain topics: all these positive feelings are the result of the fourth edition of the RomAfrica film festival held in Rome from 18 to 22 July. Thanks to the screenings of the films both in the rooms of Casa del Cinema in Villa Borghese and evening screenings under the starry sky we had the opportunity to get closer to the African culture, to discover the difficulties and challenges present in the continent and the strength to find that pure energy that…Read more
Being multicultural: barriers and challenges

Being multicultural: barriers and challenges

Being multicultural: barriers and challenges In this article, I would like to talk about linguistic and cultural barriers. As you might know, living in a country where you have little or no-knowledge of the local language can be a real challenge. And that it’s definitely my case, as my expertise in Ukrainian language is not enough to understand informal conversations and discussions about complex topics. This very often results for me in feeling excluded from the external environment. Your perceptions of reality change a lot, as you don’t understand things as they really…Read more
Erasmus+ Project “Youth Employment Toolbox”, Napoli 21-25/04/2018

Erasmus+ Project “Youth Employment Toolbox”, Napoli 21-25/04/2018

From 21st to 25th of April we hosted the participants of the "Youth Employment Toolbox" project in Naples, supported by the Erasmus+ program through Agence Erasmus + France. During the project the participants of the associations Nous (Italy), Asso Odyssee (France), Nauksenu region municipality (Latvia) and NOTARS (Hungary) had the opportunity to discuss the problems related to employment in Italy, especially regarding the youth and with a comparison between the situation in the North and in the South of Italy. During the following days we visited some of the realities of Naples that…Read more
Euromediators

Euromediators

Here is the video story of our Erasmus+ PBA "Euromediators", held in Rome from the 28/10/2017 to the 4/11/2017. During the PBA the participants from Italy, Spain, Romania, Portugal, Lebanon, Palestine, Morocco and Tunisia discussed about the migration reality perceived in their own countries according on the picture offered by the national media, sharing also the real counterpart of the described situation. In the following days the focus moved on how volunteering and especially Erasmus+ projects can give a contribution to target the migration issues in the countries that are the beginning or…Read more
Italy vs. Sweden – Let’s talk about music!

Italy vs. Sweden – Let’s talk about music!

We are finally talking about music! It took me some time to write this article, both because it deals with a very important theme that required deep research and hard work and because I’ve been a bit lazy with this blog lately. Or I should probably say “I’ve been very busy lately and couldn’t find the right amount of time to dedicate to this project”. Sweden is definitely a “musical nation”, one of the most musical countries in Europe. Not to mention ABBA and the like, this country is the 3rd exporter of…Read more
My 10 favorite food places in Stockholm (and more) – A non-posh guide for foodies

My 10 favorite food places in Stockholm (and more) – A non-posh guide for foodies

Aren’t you fed up with travel guides suggesting you the pub near the station or the tourist-crowded pizzeria? Eating out can be a quite expensive and stressful activity in Sthlm, so in this list you’re not going to find hip fancy places where they steal your money without really serving you food …Yes, the headline says “food places” because some of them are not exactly restaurants: you’ll find delivery places, kiosks, a fast food stall and a bakery. Here comes the list! Cafè Eldkvarn – ph: Wikipedia Coffee My favorite coffee place in…Read more
LAGOM, not just Hygge

LAGOM, not just Hygge

Lagom, is this untranslatable Swedish word the new Scandinavian trend? In a similar way as hygge, it is a word that describes an important part of the “Scandinavian way of life”.  The Danish hygge, the feeling of well-being that derives from coziness and little pleasures in life, became one of the most popular words last year. So, what does Lagom mean? It can be described as “not too little, not too much, just right”. And it can be used to describe everything: from coffee to apartments, from food to clothes. Some say the…Read more
6 Museums I Love In Stockholm. And 2 I don’t

6 Museums I Love In Stockholm. And 2 I don’t

Since I lived in this city for some 9 months now, I visited many museums and places in Stockholm and its surroundings. It’s worth noticing that many of them are free, or have free entrance days. Enjoy my list! Moderna museet. Some people turn their noses up when it comes to modern art. Well, they could use a visit to Moderna Museet. Its collection includes many different artists and styles, from impressionism and expressionism (19th-20th centuries) to the latest avant-gardes and conceptual art. My three favourite rooms are the one dedicated to Russian…Read more
The end of a beautiful experience

The end of a beautiful experience

My EVS project has reached the finish line. While I look back on these six months, I think there are not enough words to describe the emotions I felt. It is not my first experience abroad, but it is certainly the first experience in which I find myself for such a long period away from home, from relatives and friends, from everyday life. The EVS project was the perfect opportunity to break the mold, and an experience where you put yourself on the line and you can (re)discover yourself.During the last English lesson,…Read more
My trip to UPPSALA – Vikings vs. Reality

My trip to UPPSALA – Vikings vs. Reality

I used to be a big fan of the tv series Vikings (History channel). With time, my appreciation of the show changed very much: I loved the first two seasons, didn’t particularly like the third and literally hated the fourth. Then I stopped watching it. But the fascination with Viking history and culture is still alive in me. So I would like to tell you about a day I spent in Uppsala last month. How are these two things related? In the series -as in real history- Uppsala is depicted as an important religious,…Read more
How Much Are You Swedified?

How Much Are You Swedified?

Stockholm, Sweden: come for the city, stay for the syndrome. Although on Wikipedia, the word Swedification “refers to the spread of Swedish language, people and culture or policies which introduced these changes”, it has also another meaning to anyone who came to this country and spent some time working and living here. You have been swedified when you accustomed to usages and locals’ ways of life. This doesn’t apply to tourists and “travellers” in general because they usually don’t have time to sink into the Swedish culture, to be influenced by society and…Read more
My Semla Obsession

My Semla Obsession

Tomorrow will be Fat Tuesday (or Shrove Tuesday) and that means you must do two things: 1. Have a semla! 2. Have more semlor (plural form). Semla is a Swedish cream-filled bun traditionally consumed in January-February, around Carnival period. In Finnish is called laskiaispulla and it is popular all over Scandinavia and Baltic region. The bun has its top cut off, and is then filled with almond paste and topped with whipped cream. Here is a video (in Swedish) about the best places to have a semla in Stockholm. Although I am personally one…Read more
An Unexpected Statue

An Unexpected Statue

Last week I went to Nizhnij Novgorod for a training course for the EVS project (training which involved several volunteers, where we discussed various issues relating to the project and the volunteer’s integration in the society of the host Country from many points of view). Coming back from “hot” Nizhnij Novgorod, I found myself again in Krasnoyarsk with an average temperature of -26°. It’s not the only surprise. On the contrary, should not even be. “Federica, you’re in Siberia. What do you expect?”Sure, I did not expect to return to work the following…Read more
Cultural Differences: Italy VS Russia

Cultural Differences: Italy VS Russia

It has been more than three months that I live in Krasnoyarsk and, in the past time, I have been twice in St. Petersburg and once in Moscow. Take what follows as a personal observation, due to a variety of trips and daily life spent in the greatest Country in the world. The first question they asked me when arrived in Krasnoyarsk: have you felt any kind of cultural shock? My answer, in general, is no. Maybe because I already lived in Russia, I know the traditions, and I know exactly what to…Read more
My first months in Krasnoyarsk

My first months in Krasnoyarsk

It is two months I am in Krasnoyarsk, and I am enjoying the city, people and my work so much! At the beginning of July, I have been with my host Aygul and her family to dacha. That was a great experience! For those who do not know, dacha is not a simple country house. Russian people go there both to escape the city, both to work. The culture of dachas is a kind of compensation to a city dweller for the cramped living conditions… There, in the embrace of nature, people enjoy…Read more
Siberia, here I am!

Siberia, here I am!

Hello everyone! My name is Federica and I am the new EVS volunteer at Interra NGO in Krasnoyarsk. I am from Valenza Po, a small town in Piedmont, in the North of Italy. Valenza is an international goldsmith centre, specialized in jewellery production, cradle of the secular handcraft tradition I studied Foreign Languages at the University of Pavia, a town in Lombardy, not so far from Milan. I am specialized in English, French and Russian. I have always been interested in Russian culture, which is why I chose to study that language. This…Read more
LVIV Model UN

LVIV Model UN

LVIV Model UN (MUN) From 13th to 15th of April we had the pleasure to be involved in LVIV Model UN, held at the Ukrainian Catholic University. What is it exactly Model UN about? It is a simulation of the United Nations where delegates take on the roles of diplomats and ambassadors, and discuss how to address some of the world’s most pressing issues. It constitutes a unique opportunity for young people to obtain a multilateral view on world affairs, enhance their conflict resolution capabilities and develop their public speaking skills.   Indeed,…Read more
Caminante, no hay camino

Caminante, no hay camino

Caminante, no hay camino: se hace camino al andar. Walker, there is no path, you make the path as you go. Antonio Machado It has been a week since my first arrival in Lviv and during this time, I have been experiencing a mix of opposing emotions. My flight lasted only two hours, but I felt like I have been thrown into the plot of one of my favorite movies, the lives of others. The district where I am currently living, CИХІV represents my very first approach to this new city. Very old…Read more
Come find me in Stockholm!

Come find me in Stockholm!

Hi! My name is Lorenzo, I am from Italy. I’ve been working in Stockholm at More Mosaic NGO as an EVS volunteer. I studied Languages and International Relations in Turin, my city. Suddenly I felt like I was tired of studying and I wanted to have a learning-by-doing experience before starting a job or any other adventure. So, when a friend told me about this opportunity I seized it immediately. I wanted to work in a multicultural environment and challenge myself. I am interested in European cooperation and most of all… I love…Read more
Hitta mig i Eken!

Hitta mig i Eken!

Over the years, a city gets several different nicknames, such as a person. I was intrigued by Stockholm’s names. Some were just created to attract foreign tourists, such as the Venice of the North. I don't like it because every city is unique. The actual reason for it is that Ragnar Östbergs’ work was influenced by Venice’s buildings such as Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and St. Mark’s Church and he is best known for designing Stockholm City Hall. Stockholm is also called “the Capital of Scandinavia”, but I don’t want to irritate anyone…Read more
Italy vs. Sweden – What do we have in common?

Italy vs. Sweden – What do we have in common?

Let’s get straight to the point: everyone can tell the obviously visible differences between Italy and Sweden. I mean, you don't need my blog to learn how bitter is snus - a deadly combination between a nicotine patch and a tea bag (seriously, how can you become addicted to this?!). But knowing the little similarities …that’s a whole another story. Strangely enough we may have shared a couple of Viking kings when the Normans invaded Southern Italy (but who didn't at that time?) and we have more things in common then you may…Read more
Visiting Stockholms Stadsbibliotek

Visiting Stockholms Stadsbibliotek

I’ve always been kind of an architecture enthusiast and I can assure that this city never disappoints you when it comes to architecture and design. The Stockholm Public Library literally amazed me. It is located near Odenplan metro station, in a very cool and stylish neighbourhood that perfectly fits this architectural jewel. It is called the Stadsbiblioteket and was designed by the mostly reknown representative of Nordic Classicism and Modernism of the 1920s, Erik Gunnar Asplund. If putting together the words Classicism and Modernism might sound strange to your ear, that’s what this…Read more
SWEDEN… let’s talk about holidays!

SWEDEN… let’s talk about holidays!

If you have worked in Sweden or with Swedes for some reasons, from time to time you might have received an automatic response similar to this one: “Hej! I will be on holiday from the 20th of June to the 29th of August. During this time I will not be able to check my email regularly …but if it’s important, you can tweet me using #YOUAREINTERRUPTINGMYVACATION” (or some other comments considered to be funny). Usually it happens when you have just sent a very important email that took you an average of an…Read more
The Path to Integration in Södertälje

The Path to Integration in Södertälje

This interview is part of my research on migration, integration and extremism in Sweden, within the frame of the project SCOPE – ‘Strengthening Youth Capacity for Conflict Management and Peace-Building’, implemented by More Mosaic NGO and co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. I discovered the Syriac Orthodox Church in Sweden by chance: living in and commuting from Södertälje, it’s almost impossible not to see the two big churches of the community and not to meet anyone who has Syrian origins. This lead me to speak with the archbishop – Mor…Read more
Ukraine and Peru : not too far apart

Ukraine and Peru : not too far apart

Ukraine and Peru : not too far apart Ukraine and Peru might suggest complete different countries, as they are at the  opposite side of the world, but they have some similarities. At least from my point of view. Let’s have a look at them! # Ukrainian Mamitas My favorite ones: elderly women selling informally their products on the streets. It’s plenty of Peruvian mamitas here in Ukraine as well. They might have different outfit but same scope and objectives:  taking care of your health and make you wake up with a smile every…Read more