Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme

“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

It was us, the 27 young people that

participated in the Euro-Mediterranean
Intercultural Exchange Programme “Med-
Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-
Future” and gave a common Message
through Art and Dialogue between
Cultures for the Sustainable Future in
the Mediterranean Region.
The meeting was organised by
Mediterranean SOS Network (Greece)
from 20 to 31 July 2006 in Naxos Island
and joined by 7 more partner
organizations from the 2 shores of the
Mediterranean Region, CIVIC
INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS (Turkey),
CESIE ONLUS (Italy), ARABIA Pl
(Poland), FOEME (Jordan), ESIE (Egypt),
IPYL (Palestine), VZW MEISJESHUIS-
JEUGDHUIS KAARDERIJ (Belgium). The
project was co-financed by the Anna
Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for
the Dialogue between Cultures and
supported by the Municipality of Drymalia
and its Cultural Organization.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Our objective was to approach through Art

and Dialogue the term of sustainable
development in the Euro-Mediterranean
Region, to exchange good practices in a
multicultural environment, to highlight the
cultural diversity of the Mediterranean
countries, to discover the natural and
cultural beauty of Naxos and come closer
with the local society.
During the Exchange all of us, participants
from Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Italy,
Belgium, Poland, Jordan and Palestine
attempted to promote the intercultural
dialogue among the countries of the Euro-
Mediterranean Region.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

After having an exciting travel by boat,

where we enjoyed the sun and the sea
of the Aegean, we reached Naxos Island in the
midday on the 21st of July. Full of energy
we were transported to our hostel in Koronida,
in the Municipality of Drymalia.
From the beginning of our stay there,
we noticed the friendliness and hospitality of
the local people of the village.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

We began our workshops early in the

next morning on the 22nd of July in
the Cultural Centre of Koronida,
after playing some useful ice
breaking games. Shortly after that,
we started with the presentation of
the organisations that participated
in the program, as well as the one of
the Anna Lindh Foundation by its
representative Ms. Manal Tabet, who
attended the first days of our
meeting.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

During the Exchange, using creative dialogue,

we tried to approach the term of
sustainable development through the
following aspects:
• Culture
• Environment
• Role of women in our societies.
Through presentations that had been
prepared by the participants from the 8
countries, we exchanged information and
extended our personal knowledge in areas
concerning the three main subjects
mentioned above. Afterwards we were
separated in mixed working groups that
came up with some conclusions.
More specifically:
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Culture

We discovered the interrelation of our

civilizations finding out similarities and
differences in dressing, architecture,
food habits and education in each country.
We also discussed about the role of
religion in our societies and we underlined
the influence of the mass media and
globalization in our cultural customs. We
concluded that architecture is influenced
by demographic trends and special
political circumstances. Despite the
increasing number of women attending
University, the age limit for obligatory
education varies substantially from
country to country.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”
Food Customs
Special attention during our workshop on Food
Customs was paid to the traditional recipes
and local products of our countries. We
were led to the conclusion that food is an
important element that links people from
the Euro-Mediterranean Area. We were
excited finding out that many recipes and
dishes are common in our countries. The
Greek team realised, that “imam bayldi” the
name of a common dish in Turkey and
Greece, means that “the imam tasted it and
fell down unconscious” in Turkish. Turkish
and Polish realised, that the “cherry”
sounds the same in both languages. “Greek”,
“Turkish” or “Arabic” coffee? Different
words for the same taste. Baklavas and
locums can be found in many countries. The
Italian team showed us how the original
Italian pasta has to be made. Many
comparisons, recipes, references that
finally … triggered our appetite.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Environment
After presenting a general view of
the environmental situation in our
countries, we focused our
discussions on the issues of water
management, recycling, renewable
sources of energy and sustainable
development of coastal areas. Waste
in water consumption, insufficient
environmental education and absence
of a suitable legal framework in
environmental protection are
common phenomena in most of the
countries. In this framework, we
proposed good practices that
individuals can follow, non
governmental organisations could
promote and respective governments
should adapt for the protection of
our environment.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Women
The role and participation of women in
our societies was one of the subjects
where we focused. We discussed about
the professional and educational
opportunities offered to the women of
our countries and for the difficulties
that they face as mothers, wives and
working persons. The role of the
religion and the social status were also
analyzed as factors which formulate
the fortune of these women. Moreover
we discussed about the divorcing rates
and the violence within the family. All
together we proposed some ideas in
order to enhance the role of women in
our societies.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Besides our workshops, there was

some time to relax and have fun
through dance lessons and ice
breaking games.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Artistic Activities
In parallel with the workshops, we organized and realized our artistic activities.
Our aim was, beside the Intercultural Dialogue, to use Art as a tool for the
better understanding of our cultures. All together we proposed our artistic ideas
and put them into action. Having concentrated all the necessary materials for our
activities, the only thing left for us was to be inspired and start with our
creative work that in a few days would be presented through a common Art
Exhibition at local level.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Wooden Birds from Poland

One hundred wooden birds were painted in a creative way. Some of them were
placed in a branch of an olive tree aiming to symbolize peace, the importance of
the protection of environment and biodiversity. They were also used to decorate
other works and paintings.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Turkish Kaftans
After drawing kaftans on cardboards, we
painted them with vivid colours. Each of us
used special techniques, and decorated
them with magnificent garments, spangles
and beads.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

We also made some jewels, bracelets,

necklaces, key rings, chaplets
combining beads from Turkey and
our Mediterranean imagination.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Cycladic Statues
We cut cardboards giving them the form of Cycladic Statues (small marble
statues) and afterwards we painted and decorated them in a creative manner.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Women
On big cardboards we drew some women figures.
We gave them “life” by imprinting in them
elements from our cultures and our everyday live.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Our Portraits in Nylon

We painted our portraits and multi-cultural characteristics on a
piece of nylon. Through its transparency, we impressed our
movement, our figure, our presence in this Intercultural
Exchange. We stood in front of the nylon and we painted each
other in pairs. Also some face – to – face surprises weren’t
missing from our artistic time…
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Puppets from Sicily

Once again, we used cardboards to
give birth to our ideas. We made
some traditional puppets from Sicily
and we painted them. The result was
to create multicoloured, happy –
almost animated – puppets.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Crowns
We made crowns from flowers guided by our Polish friends.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Wiktor from Poland showed the others

how traditional Polish paper embroidery (‘wycinanki’) is made.
Then we cut coloured cardboards and we created
beautiful abstract figures and birds.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Finally, we were also inspired by

the environment, man and woman and
we created a plethora of artistic
works about them. Some of them
were painted in embossed schemes
made by salt.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

The Polish team formed their flag

combining small pieces of pictures
and photographs which contained
information about their country. As
the visitors were approaching the
flag they could read all of this
useful and valuable information
given.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Preparation of the Exhibition

When finished with our artistic workshops we directly set up our Artistic
Exhibition on the 28th July. Apart from the artistic works that we created
during our Exchange, we had also brought with us traditional objects from our
home countries, like:
•Photographs
•Pictures
•Popular art (ceramics, garments etc)
•Music instruments
•Books about the nature and the culture of the Mediterranean
•Books with recipes of cooking
•Decorative objects, cooking stuff, book markers made by papyrus etc.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Inauguration of the Art Exhibition

28 / 07 / 06
The opening ceremony of the Art
Exhibition took place on the 28th
July at 20.00, in the Eco-Museum of
Koronos. The opening of the
Exhibition was attended by the
Mayor of Municipality of Drymalia,
Mr Tzouannis, the President of the
Cultural Organisation of Koronos, Mr
Manolas and the President of
Mediterranean SOS Network, Mr.
Chrysoyelos. After welcoming our
effort on the promotion of
Intercultural dialogue and the
support of Anna Lindh Foundation,
they wished peace and prosperity
for the entire Mediterranean
Region.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

For some minutes the visitors could be

“lost” in a multicultural environment
having the impression of travelling
among the Euro-Mediterranean
countries. During the opening they
were given the opportunity to taste
some traditional food of our
countries and hear music from the
Mediterranean.
The exhibition lasted for 2 more
days (29-30 of July) and it was
visited by the local people, Greek
and foreign tourists. The public was
excited by our artistic creations,
the objects and the photographs of
our exhibition. We were also very
satisfied with the effort that we
had made.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Cultural Visits
Part of our cultural routes were the
beaches of Apollo, Moutsouna and Lionas.
We swam, played games and enjoyed the
sun and the sea.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Damalas
An interesting visit was that of the
traditional olive press of Damala
where we were informed about the
olive oil production techniques and
provided with some pure olive oil. We
also discussed about similar
techniques that are being used in
the Mediterranean Region
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”»

Damalas-Damarionas
In the renewed pottery of Damalas, we
were informed about the local tradition
of pottery in the region. The more bold
participants tried to use of the
machines. After that we visited the
Exhibition in Damarionas, where someone
could admire for hours the handmade
objects and ceramics.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Traditional Wedding in Koronida

With great pleasure we witnessed a
traditional wedding in Koronida. The
groom was accompanied by musicians
to the bride’s house where she
greeted him. Happy faces,
traditional music from Naxos,
dancing and a lot of food followed in
the wedding party. And of course all
of us were there ready to take part
in the celebrations and to enjoy
their hospitality.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Halki
In Halki we walked among the narrow streets with the neoclassical
buildings and we visited some Byzantine churches, Venetian
Towers and the traditional stillery of citrus, founded in 1876.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Koronos, Apirathos, Apollonas

Our next station was the emery mines
of Naxos Island. We visited
Sarantara area where the museum
of Smyrida is to be installed. This
museum is one of the venues of the
future Industrial Park that will take
place. We were also informed about
the historic meaning of excavation
and transportation of the emery.
Also visits were made in the Geologic
Museum, the textile association of
Aperathos and the Statue of Kouros
in Apollonas.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

As far as the food is concerned,

it can only be described by the word
“pleasure”.
Veal, lamb and chicken for the Muslims,
fresh vegetables for the vegetarians and
original recipes from Naxos were ready to
satisfy every taste.
While we were waiting for our meals to be
prepared we were continuing in a non –
typical form the conversations of our
workshops.
Dancing was not missing from our dinners.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Cultural Nights
Our cultural nights were full of
entertainment, energy, dancing and
fun. Like small cultural parties we
enjoyed traditional weddings and
customs from each country. It was
the best way to finish our creative
day. Everybody was looking forward
to enjoying the surprises that each
group had prepared especially for its
cultural night.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Palestinian Cultural Night

The Palestinian group presented to us a traditional wedding. The “intercultural
paradox” was that Ali from Egypt married Sandra, who is from Colombia
but she lives in Italy, following the Palestinian customs on a Greek island.
We were so excited by the dimension of Palestinian marriage that for a while
we forgot that it was fake. The marriage was followed by an unforgettable
party with a lot of music and dance from Palestine
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Jordanian Cultural Night

Some of us dressed with traditional uniforms from
Jordan and danced together traditional
Jordanian music, after we had tasted some local
products
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Turkish Cultural Night

We watched a shadow play of Karagiozis prepared by the Turkish participants
and we compared it to its Greek version.
Dressed with traditional clothes the Turkish team danced and shared with us
images from Turkey and their everyday life. They also presented the
preparations of their traditional marriage, where in the previous day of the
ceremony they used to cover the bride’s face in order to draw part of her body
with henna.
We danced “zeibekiko” and belly dancing; we tried “nargileh” and traditional
sweets and products from Turkey.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Italian Cultural Night

We watched a glee from Sicily and we discovered how usual this custom was also in
Greece. We sang in Italian “Bella Ciao”, we saw photographs from Sicily, we
tasted the authentic tasty mozzarella cheese and we had a great time dancing
tarantella, the traditional dance from Southern Italy.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Egyptian Cultural Night

We tasted the authentic falafel that the Egyptian team had prepared for us.
Wearing traditional uniforms we danced Egyptian dances. Our night became even
more magic with the sounds of the folk drums.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Polish Cultural Night

Once again we experienced a theatrical traditional wedding. We danced in pairs the
wedding dance and heard Polish music. We also tried traditional products from
Poland.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

Greek Cultural Night

We began with a philosophical sketch of Platonas and Aristoteles and afterwards we
set up a musical scene of rebetico. In this scene we sang with and without music,
we played the tambourine and we danced a series of Greek dances such as
syrtaki, chasaposerbiko, tsifteteli, ikariotiko, zeimpekiko, syrto and some
traditional ones from Naxos. The repertoire was accompanied by some small
theatrical dancing plays, while explaining to the audience the history and
importance of these songs. Of course ouzo, tambourine and a lot of cheer were
not absent from our table.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”

The days were passing and we

approached the end of our
Intercultural Exchange. We were
separated once again in mixed
working groups and discussed for
future plans, programs and similar
ways of promoting the intercultural
dialogue. We closed the Meeting
with a final evaluation of the
Program and the activities we
realized during these days.
 Intercultural Youth Exchange Programme
“Med-Youth Creating a Sustainable Med-Future”
As you can see we had a great time. The smiles remained on our faces even during the
travel of return when we had to say goodbye to each other. Creative discussions,
creative activities, new ideas and proposals, art exhibition, traditional dance courses,
cultural visits, traditional food of Naxos, pleasant cultural nights, interaction with the
local society. All of the Exchange was an Intercultural Celebration.
Our common message was: “Art and Dialogue between Cultures for the Common
Sustainable Future in the Mediterranean”. We accomplished all of them in 11 days.
Why don’t we try that also in our home countries?

This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue
between Cultures. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of Mediterranean SOS Network and can under no
circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the Anna Lindh Foundation.