The latest

Hi there,

Just to let you know where things are up to...

Firstly, I sent round the latest list again today of email addresses. Those who have agreed they would like to be in contact with others should now have received the most recent list of addresses. If you have not received contact details for participants from other countries, but have given me your permission to use your address, send me an email (to equalopportunitiesforall@gmail.com) and I'll try to help.

I also wanted to show you all the webpage for TCR, the UK group who will be participating. If you would like to see them, go to http://www.myspace.com/tcrtcrtcr I'll also put this in the links section on the right. You can also read a short summary on TCR here.

I have been to the YMCA again today to sort out the room arrangments, so I will be posting them soon. Things are looking good, though.

Another small bit of news. I found out today that you will have access to computers with the internet at the YMCA if you want to use email etc. during the stay.

News

Hello all,

Hope all's going well and that you are in contact with one another lots and learning lots about each other before you arrive. Glad to hear that things are going well for most people and that preparations are well underway.

Firstly, I though you might like to have a look at this document online. It's about Discrimination in the European Union and is a survey that the European Commission has undertaken. It looks quite interesting and covers lots of the topics we will be looking at, so it might be worth having a quick browse.

Secondly, some potentially very exciting news is that we may have a whole new group joining our project! It looks likely that Durham's Russian partners in Kostroma will now be sending a group of young people to our week in February, which we are very excited about. I will send you more information as soon as I have it...

Update

Hi there,

Just to say, I've added a list of links to the bottom of the page now about the week itself and slightly updated the programme.

Hope that you're all doing well and preparations are still going well. I will try to put a list of groups together next week, if I have all the profile forms, so that you know who you will be working with during the week.

Hope to hear from you soon,

Jane

Chloé Simoni

My name is Chloe, I'm French and I'm 16 years old.

I'm very happy to go to Durham on next February to share a friendly week with all of you. I find this European project very interesting because it will allow us to exchange about our countries, our culture, our studies, our hobbies...

I live in the countryside, close to nature and animals (my two dogs are very funny). I enjoy spending freetime in large cities, like Paris or Roma. I find these towns magnificent and I would like to discover many other similar European cities. I also like very much spending holidays in the Alp mountains for skying in winter and walking in summer.I find the mountain landscapes beautiful and I can breathe pure air.There I feel relaxed.

One of my favorite hobby is cooking. I often make cakes for my family and my friends because cooking is for me a way to create and to live moments of sharing with people. I have already been to England 4 times and I am happy to go back again in this lovely country.

Looking forward to join you,
Kind regards.

xxx Chloe

Rita Püsök

Hi Everybody!

My name is Rita Püsök, Im 17 years old, but unfortunately I haven't got any photos on me.:( So I'm a Hungarian girl and I live in Kunmadaras.I was born in Romania (Is there anybody in the big group, who is from Romania???). I like singing in the rain and my favourite singer is Celine
Dion.:)I've got a dog (Picúr) and 3 cats (Maestro, Cók-Mók and Csámpás), they're so funny!
I think that's all for now, I haven't got too much time...

Bye!
Rita

The German Team

Vera Heibert is 15 years old and one of the German students. She likes playing clarinet; music; horse riding; friends; having parties and shopping. Her favourite band is Silbermond, her favourite films are Titanic and Pirates of the Caribean. She lives with her parents and her little sister Linda who is 13 years old and has two pet guinea pigs.


Moritz Ring is 15 and he likes climbing; having parties; guitar; friends; computer and music. His favourite music is House and Rock and his favourite performers are Dire Straits and DiscoBoyz. His favourite film is Forrest Gump and his favourite foods are beef; tortilia and Döner. He has one sister and one brother and they have one pet dog.



Indra van Teulingen is 15 years old and her hobbies are handball; playing saxophon; meeting friends; music; having parties and shopping. Her favourite music is The Fray; Nirvana and The Offspring and her favourite movie is Pirates of the Caribean. She has one brother and two pet dogs.


Dennis Schwabe is 16 and his interests are in-line skating; ice-skating; computer and DJ-ing. His favourite music genres are House, Electro and trance and his favourite artists are David Guetta and DJ Tocadisco. His favourite film is Password Swordfish and his favourite food is "special" chips. He has one sister and one brother.




Lisa-Christin Look is 15 years old and her passtimes include meeting friends; having parties and shopping. Her favourite music is Hip Hop; Funky, RnB and House and her favourite flims are Ju-on and 8 mile.

Emese Tóth

Dear All,

Firstly , I have to tell that I can hardly wait to see you all!

Well, my name is Emese Toth, I'm seventeen years old. I live in
Törökszentmiklós, Hungary and I attend in the local secondary school.
Inn my free time I like drawing, playing basketball, reading, watching
good films, travelling. I also like meeting new people and hanging out
with my friends. My friends mean the world to me !!! Learning and being
with my family play an important role of my life. Otherwise, I'm a talkative, hard-working person, my friends say that I also have a good sense of humour. I love animals and nature too, I have a dog Vackor who is so cute :-). Nowadays I haven't got much free time because the end of the term is coming so I just learn and learn these days... :-( I hope we will have a good time in Durham together.Drop me some lines if you want!

Best wishes ,
Emese

Rastislav Pánis

Hello everybody!

My name is Rasťo and I am 18. I come from Slovakia and I have been studying in Banská Bystrica at grammar school. (By the way the group from England called "One Step Further" is planning a visit to that city in this summer.) I am going to study at university (informatics).

I learned Italian and Latin and I have been still learning English and German. I like languages in general meaning very much. They are for me like a gate, a gate to new unknown world, to new culture, to new meaning, to new life. I am always glad when I can talk with others, because it is like they give me something out of themselves and then I feel more pregnant then before.

I am really very restful, but forever I have to do something. My other hobby is dance. I learned Latin and standard dances. I like sport, especially bicycle. Sometimes I must go for a walk to mountains. And there are really great mountains in Slovakia. In an amount I feel freedom, I feel cleanness, I feel true. It is for me a place of respite.

I am glad I can take part on this project and meet you all. Yong people have many good opportunities and it useful when they avail them.

Have a nice time,

Rasťo from Slovakia

Jakub Bernadič

Hi everybody!

My name is Kubo. I’m 18. My hobbies are traveling in foreign countries and taking photos, and I think Durham is very good place for this activities. I like too knowing other cultures and make friendships with people from abroad. Because I’m enjoy I can be a part of this project.

See you later!

Kubo

Jakub Tokár

Hi my name is Jakub and I am from Slovakia. I like music, sports and many other things. I am looking forward to meet all interesting people in Durhem

Zuzana Borošová

Ahojte! that´s slovak hello!

I´m the only girl, in our slovak group.. so you are going to see just one example of slovak beauty..(:no no just kidding! something about me.. I´m 16 years old, and I live all my life in town called Banska Bystrica. I hope that we´ll show you every important things about the town by a presentasion. Make you clearly understand what makes town and also country special and maybe what not.

I like music theatre and movies and books...things around culture and art. If there was a concert or any performance in Durham at the time of our meeting it would be great to go there. What do you think? Of course if possible, somehow...

Also, I´ve never been to England before, so I wonder how the life is going there..

So see ya amigos in February!!(:

yours... zuzana

David Kapusta and Tomáš Polešenský

Hallo!

My name is David and I am one of the Slovak young people who participate in project European year of Equal Opportunities for All.

I am 17 years old and I consider myself as a little shy boy at first but, I am joyful and always happy person. I like meeting new people and knowing new information about

other countries .I also hope , that it is going to be a good way to improve my English.

See you soon Folks!

David

There is photo of Me and Tomáš (Tomáš is on the left side J )

Hi!

My name is tom and I am 16 years old student from Slovakia. Firstly, I like travelling and this is good opportunitie for visitting England. Also I would like to know new people from different countries, their culture, lifestyle and as the result of that - make new friends. Secondly I like snowboarding, music, travelling and others funny activites. Finally thanks a lot that this kind of project exists. I hope it´s going to be great experience for all of us.

bye... you can write to me.

Zbiskó Nikolett

Hy!

My name’s Niki and I’m from Karcag, Hungary. I just want to introduce myself in a few words. I live in a big family because I’ve got 3 sisters. I’m 17 years old. My parents are music teachers so it’s natural that I’ve participated in musical education as well. I can play the recorder and the flute. So I can tell that music is my life! I attend kung-fu trainings twice a week so sports are close to me, too. I adore pets, I’ve got 2 cats and a dog. In my free time I like reading, writing, hanging around with my friends, playing and listening to music, jogging, baking and sleeping.

Mainly I’m a happy and talkative girl.

I can’t wait to see you all! :) Drop me some lines if you want!

Love,

Niki

Programme Summary

Here is a summary of the activities we will be doing during your week in UK. Hope it looks interesting to you! There will be a few extras which don't yet appear here yet too, but this is the outline:

18th
-- Groups arrive at Consett YMCA (go to 'facilities' section of the site to see the hostel)
-- Social Evening and Icebreakers

19th
-- Presentations about our home areas and a marginalised group from our home region
-- Lunch at YMCA
-- Language games
-- Teambuilding activities
-- International food evening – all bring own specialities to share
-- Free Time

20th
-- Creative workshop – benefits of EU diversity through cartoon workshop with Suzy Varty
-- Lunch at YMCA
-- Visit to Cathedral
-- Free time in Durham city
-- Dinner in city at Italian Restaurant
-- Ten Pin Bowling

21st
-- Preparation for international women’s visit
-- International Women from Keenan House – discussion and crafts from other countries, e.g. cards, dance, music in groups
-- Lunch at YMCA
-- UN Millennium Development Goals – world poverty workshop with Pam Barmby from EWE Centre
-- Free Time
-- Dinner at YMCA
-- Karaoke and/or films we’ll provide

22nd
-- Edinburgh day trip
-- Visit to Edinburgh Castle
-- Packed Lunch/Money in Edinburgh
-- Free time in suggested museums, shopping
-- Dinner in Edinburgh

23rd
-- Drama Workshop with ‘One Step Further’, young people from Bishop
Auckland, Durham on ‘Inequality: Bullying, Crime and Restoring Justice’
-- Lunch at YMCA
-- Sexual Orientation workshop with GAD, Mesmac Northeast and Liz Kippax
-- Visit to Wet ‘n’ Wild swimming centre
-- Fish and Chips

24th
-- Theatre activity workshop with SNUG/MFA
-- Lunch at YMCA
-- Free time and evaluation
-- Buffet
-- Disco and performance of bands

25th
-- Groups Depart

Email Contact Lists

Just to let you know, I have today emailed the first list of contact addresses out. All those of you who agreed that you wanted your email address to be shared amongst the participants should now have received a first list of addresses. I still hope that more of you will be eager to join in this exchange of information, so if you would like to email other people participating, write to me at equalopportunitiesforall@googlemail.com and I will add your address to the list and send you the other contact details.

Tősér Melinda

Hi everybody!

My name is Melinda Tösér. I'm from Jászárokszállás, Hungary.I also will take part in this program in Durham. I think that week will be unforgetable and a great experiece for everybody.

Let me say some words about me. I'm 17 years old and a school leaver in the local secondary grammar school. I love travelling, so later I would like to
be a travel guide. I am talkative, always optimistic and cheerful. I love having fun, making friends and getting to know new people, places and cultures. That's why I'm really looking forward to meeting you all and I hope that many fiendships will be born there! My hobby is dancing,especially belly-dancing, reading and listening to music, but of course I like spending my spare time with my friends as well. In short, that's all about me.

See you in Ferbruary!!
xxx,
Melinda

Chat Forum

Hello,

I would like to let you all know that Jorge, one of the Spanish participants (see his post below in December) has very kindly created a chat forum for us. It could be really useful. It is very easy to register (I just did it). Go to http://durhamequality.createforum.net
Click on 'I Agree to these terms and am over or exactly 13 years of age'.
Fill in your username, email addres and password and then click 'submit. Do not fill in any other information. If you want to add more information to your profile, you can do that later when you are registered.

I am really grateful to Jorge for doing this for us and hope that you will find it a good place to chat and meet one another.

See you in the forum...

Best,

Jane

Sophie Thibauville

hello !

My name is Sophie and I 'm from France, in fact I am from Picardie. I am 16 years old and I am going to present myself: firstly, I am a very sociable person that's the reason why i like meeting new person, what is more , I think it is very interesting. I like dance, photos, travels ,music and I love talking whith other persons. Moreover, thanks to this project we can learn new thing about other countries which participing , so, as for me it is a very good experience ! :) I am very happy to take part in this event and besides it's the occasion to improve my english.

I look forward to meeting everybody,
see you soon,
xxx

Sophie.

Update

Hello Everyone,

Firstly, I wanted to wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR! All Best Wishes for 2007, and hope you had a good Christmas.

Secondly, I wanted to say thank you to all the people who have sent messages to the blog, they have been brilliant. Please do send more, they are great and I love hearing from you.

Thirdly, as you can see I have added some more links recently, and have tried to put some in languages other than English, where possible, so I hope they are useful as you are preparing your presentations etc. I will add some more that I have found this afternoon too. If anybody finds anything they would like to appear as a link, just send it to me and I will add it to the list.

Fourthly, I wanted to thank One Step Further for posting (below). This group is going to be coming to work with us in Consett on 23rd February and they are currently working to prepare the activites for that morning. As their message explains, they are also (independently) going to Slovakia in the summer, so they are very keen to learn from the experience too.

I hope that you have all had good holidays and that you are looking forward to the project now. It's not that far away, so I am busy making preparations for it now. Do keep on writing, it's wonderful, just email equalopportunitiesforall@googlemail.com.

All Best Wishes for 2007,

Jane

PS. I hope you got my email about email addresses - if you are happy for your address to be sent to the other participants, just send me an email to say yes.

One Step Further

Hi,

I thought I would send this message to everyone to say hello and hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are looking forward to meeting all the young people from every country.

We are "One Step Further" There are 18 of us young people in the group and we are all aged between 14 and 17 years old. We have been meeting for about a year now and are planning a visit to Banska Bystrica in Slovakia in July. We are looking forward to meeting you all because we are hoping to do a workshop with you whilst you are visiting County Durham. I am now going to TRY to attach a photo of some of us.




Don't forget to pack your scarves and coats!!

Bye for now!!!

Elena Córdoba Carrión

Hi!!!!! I'm Elena Córdoba and I'm from Spain.

Well, in fact I'm from Sevilla. I'm one of the spanish girls that we go to Durham this year.

My personality is very funny, I'm quite talkative and I like make new friends. Had I said that I love to be chatting and chatting for hours? hahahaha. My favourites topics to talk about are sport and politic. I love football (My favourite football team is Sevilla F.C.) and I like play clarinet and read.

Here I am.


Well, goodnight (now I'm going to sleep). Bye!!!

Peter Polgár

ENGLISH
I was born in Mezőtúr, on September 25. of 1990. I haven’t got any brothers or sisters, so I’m an only child. Although I live with my mother, we consider family ties especially important. In 2003 I was accepted at Teleki Blanka Secondary Grammar School, where I’m studing at the moment.

I have always been very interested in languages. In my school I study two languages: English and Russian. And I have had private lessons in German for three years.
In March 2006 I took part in a competition, which was organized by the British Council. Where we came third. I have two classification exams in German, from ninth and tenth year. I’ve already studied russian for two years. I like all these languages very much, and they are my favourite subjects.

This schoolyear I organized and arranged a programme and competition successfully with one of my classmate. It was entitled to Bartók. We paid homage to Béla Bartók, who he was born in 1881, 125 years ago, at the beginning of this school year.
I’m interested in demanding mass media. In the afternoons I work for the local radio station in Mezőtúr, wich called Pont Rádió. I have worked here for more than a year. My programme is called Value, the cultural and public life programme of Mezőtúr. I am co – editor of this show with one of my classmate. In spring we won a competition, organized by the National Organization of Students and Young Journalists. We were judged to be the best in the Carpathian Basin.

I like travelling, and get to know the world, and other cultures. I am interested in international relationships, especially in the European Union. In the future I want to find a job in the area cultur, media or education. In my freetime I like reading and listening to music.









HUNGARIAN

1990. szeptember 25 – én születtem Mezőtúron. Testvérem nincs. Bár édesanyámmal élek, a családi összetartást rendkívül fontos dolognak tartjuk. 2003 – ban sikerrel jelentkeztem a Teleki Blanka Gimnázium és Közgazdasági Szakközépiskola és Kollégium hatosztályos gimnáziumi képzésére, ahol jelenleg is tanulok. Eddig minden tanévet kiváló eredménnyel végeztem.

Mindig nagyon érdekeltek a nyelvek. Iskolámban két nyelvet tanulok: oroszt és angolt. Magántanárnál három éve tanulok németet. 2006 márciusában részt vettem egy British Council által szervezett versenyen, ahol csapatommal harmadik helyen végeztünk. Német nyelvből kilencedik és tizedik osztályból van osztályozóvizsgám, oroszul pedig második éve tanulok. Nagyon szeretem a nyelveket és ezek a kedvenc tantárgyaim.
Ennek a tanévnek az elején egyik osztálytársammal sikeresen megszerveztünk, és levezettünk egy verseny – és programsorozatot, a százhuszonöt évvel ezelőtt született Bartók Béla tiszteletére.

Az igényes média iránt is érdeklődöm. Délutánonként a mezőtúri Pont Rádiónál dolgozom, melynek megalakulása óta tagja vagyok. Műsorom az Érték, Mezőtúr kultúrális, közéleti magazinja, melyet másodmagammal szerkesztek. Ez év tavaszán a Diák – és Ifjúsági Újságírók Országos Egyesülete pályázatán egyik riportunkkal első díjat nyertünk, mellyel a legjobbak lettünk a Kárpát – medencében.

Szeretek utazni, megismerni a világot, és más kultúrákat. Érdekelnek még a nemzetközi kapcsolatok is, különösen az Európai Unió. A jövőben a kultúra, a média, vagy az oktatás területén szeretnék elhelyezkedni.