A volunteer experience (4th entry)

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Intercâmbio juvenil:
Encontros e descoberta artística da cidade

Depois de uma semana em Lisboa com os outros voluntários chegados como eu em Janeiro no Portugal, tive a oportunidade de participar no Intercâmbio Juvenil organizado por Nuno Ferreira.
O grupo era constituído por 5 portugueses, 5 espanhóis, 3 gregos e 5 checos. O tema do intercâmbio: a dança, o corpo em movimento.

Por isso, tivemos vários workshops para experimentar diferentes formas de “ser” com o nosso corpo, mas também para experimentar a relação do nosso corpo com o dos outros, e a relação do nosso corpo no espaço. O corpo constitui um dos nossos instrumentos para comunicar, já diz algo de nós próprios, sem a necessidade das palavras. E isso foi um tema recorrente da semana.

Youth Exchange "Moving Bodies"

Por exemplo, com a professora Dora Silva, fizemos entre outros exercícios de expressão corporal, um em particular onde só tínhamos de andar frente aos demais, sem actuar, sem representar algo concreto, só andar mostrando um pouco da nossa maneira de mover-nos. É um tipo de exercício bastante difícil porque a tentação é grande de actuar, quando nos quedamos sozinho em frente a um público. Também é difícil saber a boa forma de apresentar-nos, sem exagerarão. Mas era um exercício muito interessante porque cada um interpretava a consigna com a sua forma de pensar, com a sua forma de mover, e sim que dava uma primeira ideia de cada pessoa.

Youth Exchange "Moving Bodies"

Num outro workshop, dirigido por António Oliveira e Julieta Rodrigues da Fábrica da Rua da Alegria, tivemos a oportunidade de perceber a importância do espaço. Porque trabalhar num espaço preciso, concreto, é adaptar-se à suas exigências, é ser capaz de aproveitar de todos os elementos presentes para inclui-los no que queremos apresentar. Efectivamente, uma mesma obra de teatro, uma mesma coreografia não pode ser exactamente igual sobre uma cena de teatro ou num jardim privado. Porque terá de adaptar-se à o seu ambiente.

Também visitámos outros lugares culturais do Porto, como o TNSJ (Teatro Nacional São João), a companhia Napalm (Companhia de Teatro Dança em Conjunto ou Alternadamente), o NEC (Núcleo de Experimentação Coreográfica). Assim, encontrámos profissionais do mundo do teatro e da dança, e pudemos ter uma ideia da rede artística do Porto em essa área artística.

O TNSJ tem uma missão de serviço público, e deve criar e apresentar obras de teatro clássicas e contemporâneas, nacionais e internacionais. Também tem o objectivo de promover a língua portuguesa, por isso tem uma exigência sobre os textos (originais ou traduzidos) que apresenta.

http://www.tnsj.pt/home/index.php

A Napalm é uma companhia de actores e dançarinos profissionais. Cria espectáculos de teatro e de dança, mas sem esquecer outros materiais, como a musica, o vídeo, … Também dá aulas de teatro e de dança (contemporânea, hip-hop), pelas crianças e pelos adultos, abertos à todos.

http://www.napalm.pt/paginas/pag_1.html

O NEC é uma associação cultural formada desde 1997 e que tem como missão principal a criação coreográfica, vinculada com o espaço publico e as pessoas que moram no bairro. Assim, O NEC quer propor um trabalho de proximidade, ligado com uma realidade social.

http://www.nec.co.pt/

A associação cultural Radar 360, onde actuam António Oliveira e Julieta Rodrigues, trabalha com o Teatro Físico, os Artes da Rua e o Novo Circo. Ademais da animação dos workshops, também monta espectáculos. Ao final de Fevereiro, apresentara a peça Historias Suspendidas em Astúrias (Espanha), versão moderna, poética e engraçada do conto da Branca-Neve.

http://www.radar360blog.blogspot.com/

Youth Exchange "Moving Bodies"

A volunteer experience (3rd entry)

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Looking back to the first months

I began my voluntary service with an observation of the different activities proposed in the association. During “administrative time”, I was translating to French the Espaço T website, or thinking in a project I could concretize inside the structure.
But, for now, let me introduce yourself to a selection of workshops I’ve participated in.

I saw different kinds of expression, different kinds of art, but still, the important thing for the “students” was to open themselves, to express their feelings in a way to be more peaceful.

In Sara Leguisamo’s class, the students paint, or draw. This is quite an open class, with open theme, to let the user paint about what he wants and feels, about what he is. So, in a first period, people are expressing themselves with paintings, crayons, colours and pencils…
In a second period, they all put their draws in the floor, showing their work to the others. It could be something difficult, because it represents a way to open yourself (by this personal work) to the others. So, it is a way of communicating about what you really are, about your personal way to be, to think. But people do not seem to have any problem with this. Maybe it is because they are used to, or maybe because they knew where they were going, what was expecting from them. But no matter, they all accept.
And then, people talk about their own work and what the others did. First, one student say what he feels, looking at one of the other’s painting. Then, the owner of the painting talks about it, about what he felt doing it, and what it represents for him.
Finally, the animator of the workshop also gives her own feelings when she looks at the work done.
In her interpretation, there is some psychology analyse and maybe it is with this phase of the workshop that you can really see how much this kind of work is here to help people to better understand what they feel, and maybe to support it better.
It helps to concretize, with shapes, forms and colours what you experiment. And so, if you can draw it, so you also can put words on it, and understand.
More, understanding is the first step for acceptance and, if you need it, for changing and evolution.

I also participated in the Tai-Chi workshop, which one is really relaxing and which permits a focus on ourselves, on our energy. During this class, you are only concentrated on the movement you are doing, on what you ask to your body. So it permits to work on your respiration, on your body’s reaction, on your body’s sensations. Things that are often forgotten in our society. So, it is self concentration and self-listening.

We can find quite the same qualities in the Corporal Expression workshop. The one I saw was taking place outside, in the Parque do Palacio de Cristal, just in front of the association. During this class, the student have the opportunity to work on their concentration, on what they feel when they do this precise movement,… But it is also a question of being aware with what surround us. Because the environment really had an impact, here, on what people choose to do with their body.
So, corporal expression could be defined by doing some movements, some positions, which are in harmony with the space you are in, and the way you feel inside. It is, once again, a question of listening and so, a way to be more open-minded.
Maybe because it will be when you really understand yourself, that you can pretend to understand the others…?

Intercâmbio Juvenil / Youth Exchange: Moving Bodies

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Entre os dias 6 e 12 de Fevereiro de 2012, o Espaço T acolheu o intercâmbio juvenil “Moving Bodies”.

Summary of the project

With this project, “Moving Bodies”, an youth exchange organized by Espaço T and hosted in Porto – Portugal, we want to present to the participants the use of dance and corporal expression as an inclusion tool and also propose new ways on using it on their lives and cultural / occupational activities. We also want to work on new concepts like “site specific” or dance-therapy. By this way, we want to increase the European awareness between the young participants and present them to other cultures and traditions and the importance of discovering them and the many ways to apply that knowledge to their daily life. We will have 4 countries represented, Portugal (the host country), Spain, Greece and Germany. Each country will send 4 participants and 1 group leader in a total of 16 participants plus 4 group leaders. The activities will consist of daily workshops and work sessions, meetings with the community and partner organizations, debates and daily evaluation sessions with group leaders.

 Objectivos

“Moving Bodies” surge da necessidade de abordar novas ferramentas de trabalho. Em contacto com alguns dos nossos parceiros, a questão da utilização da dança como ferramenta em contexto de trabalho com jovens era sistematicamente repetida. Como utilizar esta forma de arte ao trabalhar com jovens, em especial destaque jovens com deficiências (físicas e/ou mentais) ou oriundos/as de meios desfavorecidos. Desde o início do ano 2007 temos vindo a desenvolver actividades com grupos de jovens ao abrigo do Programa Escolhas e estas questões são cada vez mais prementes, em especial para os/as jovens oriundos/as de diferentes etnias.

 

Primeiro dia / First day

  • Espaço T and its working model
  • Debate 1: Dance in an inclusion model at Europe today
  • Moment for groups presentation and mixing

Segundo dia / Second day

  • Workshop 1: Dance use in a therapeutic context
  • Workshop 2: Dance Europe – Corporal Expression Techniques and Practical Exercises
  • Meeting 1: RADAR 360º – Open rehearsal and project presentation

 Terceiro dia / Third day

  • Meeting 2: S. João National Theatre – National Theatre and educational activities presentation.

 

Quarto dia / Fourth day

  • Meeting 3: NEC – Núcleo de Experimentação Coreográfica Project presentation
  • Meeting 4: Guimarães 2012 – European Capital of Culture
  • Intercultural Party

 

Quinto dia / Fifht day

  • Workshop 3: Ethnic Dance Techniques
  • Theatre show “OVO” – Teatro de Marionetas do Porto

Sexto dia / Sixth day

  • Workshop 4: Site-Specific – Improvisation in a non-formal location. “Europe: yesterday, today and tomorrow”
  • Meeting 5: NAPALM – Project presentation

Intercâmbio Juvenil / Youth Exchange: Moving Bodies

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Os grupos já estão a chegar ao Porto. Os espanhois já cá estão e os gregos e checos estão a caminho. Amanhã começa a sério. Fica aqui um pequeno video sobre a nossa cidade.

The groups are arriving to Porto. The spanish are already here and the Greeks and Czech are on their way. Tomorow we will start for real. Here is a small video about our city.

Intercâmbio Juvenil / Youth Exchange: Moving Bodies

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Queres participar num Intercâmbio Juvenil sobre dança?
O Espaço T vai acolher já na próxima semana um Intercâmbio Juvenil dedicado à dança. São 7 dias de actividades, entre encontros, debates e partilha de experiências, entre as quais com a Radar 360º, o TNSJ e o Nec Núcleo Experimentação Coreográfica. Vamos ter diversos workshops tais como o de dança em contexto terapêutico, o de técnicas de danças étnicas e o de site-specific na Fábrica da Rua da Alegria. Procuramos jovens, rapazes e raparigas, entre os 20 e os 25 anos. O almoço e jantar é por nossa conta e as actividades muitas e boas. De 7 a 12 de Fevereiro. Se estiveres interessado/a envia email para dlt@espacot.pt.

A volunteer experience (2nd entry)

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Last week, I began Portuguese lessons. I follow two kinds of classes. One is particular, the other one is a group of conversation.

The first one gives to the professor the occasion of analysing and understanding my level. So she will be able, with time, to give me very adapted lessons, based on grammatical rules, conjugation, pronunciation, exercises and homework,… I think it is an excellent way for me to structuralize what I hear and learn every day, and hope it will help me to improve very fast my Portuguese!

During the conversation lesson I followed, we were four young people, from different countries, more the professor. First, we introduced each other, and then we played a game. Each time it was your turn to play, someone asked you a question. It was a really good way to talk, and to feel comfortable with the others; to learn and have fun.

O Espaço T agradece o apoio da Dr.ª Amélia Queirós e do Centro de Estudos “Sabiamante” no Porto. Podem visitá-lo em: http://www.sabiamente.com.pt/

A volunteer experience (1st entry)

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I’m from France and decided to do an EVS in June 2011. European Voluntary Service is a program for young people (between 18 and 30 years old) opened to all European citizens. So, after a few weeks of research, I obtained a “yes” from an association located in Porto: the Espaço T. It corresponded to all of my willing, as it was a sociocultural structure, opened to all people (people with disabilities, former drug-addicts ones, children, unemployed people,…).

I arrived on Tuesday, the 3rd of January, for an 11 months EVS. And so was starting the adventure.

The first challenge with this program is to arrive in a new country, in which you do not speak the language, and in which one you do not know anybody. As if you were beginning with a new life, erasing all you knew… Or well, maybe “erase” is not the right term. Because what you know, what you already had experimented until now will certainly help. So maybe it would be more exact to say that the EVS aim is to get stronger from all your previous experiences to through you away in a new life.

The Espaço T is an association situated in the center of Porto, just in front of the Crystal Palace Gardens (Jardins do Palacio de Cristal). It offers different kind of activities for all the people who want/need to express themselves in an artistic or corporal way. Indeed, the structure gives possibilities of expression to people who are usually not listened to in the daily life. So, they propose classes of: painting, theater, photography, corporal expression, tai-chi, journalism, music therapy,…

Each one of these classes is given by an Animator, at least once a week. And this fact gives an idea, for the Espaço T, of the importance of the regular links with its students. Indeed, creating this link is a way for the student to get familiarized with the institution, and so, to get more and more confident with it. Then, it will lead to a better implication, and to a possible evolution of the state of mind. Because, of what I saw and thought to understand, the Espaço T wants to have some repercussions on self-esteem, on self-confidence,…

The first workshop I had the possibility to assist is called “Writing and Feelings”, and is animated by the psychologist of the association. In this activity, the animator asks his student to write about one subject, and then they share together what they wrote, what they think/feel about it, about the original text,…

So, it is a way for the people to say what they really think and feel about a subject, or a text, without being judged. And with the fulfilling of hearing what the other students have to say. It is not a debate, which is by nature more conflicting because of its way of exchanging ideas. Indeed, during debates, there are people fighting for, or against, an idea, and so: people who are right, people who are wrong (in their way to think). But in this workshop, everybody was right, everybody was listened, because everybody was talking about what they felt.

In this sense, and from what I saw of the Espaço T, this workshop represents well the state of mind of the association, because of the importance it gave to what its students had to express.

Delphine Korwin

Intercâmbio Juvenil / Youth Exchange: Expressions of Multiculturalism

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Ao abrigo do Programa Juventude em Acção, Acção 1 – Youth for Europe, decorreu na delegação da Trofa do Espaço t o Intercâmbio Juvenil “Expressions of Multiculturalism”. O encontro, realizado entre 20 e 27 de Novembro de 2011, contou com a presença de jovens oriundos da Turquia, da Grécia e de Espanha, contando ainda com a participação de jovens portugueses. As organizações representadas foram, respectivamente: Celtas Terrae (Espanha), Civil Protection Volunteers’ of Panorama (Grécia) e AHI Evran Aviation Club (Turquia).Programa de Actividades

Under the Youth in Action Programme Action 1 – Youth for Europe, held in the delegation of Trofa from Espaço T the Youth Exchange “Expressions of Multiculturalism.” The meeting, held 20-27 November, was attended by young people from Turkey, Greece and Spain, counting with the participation of Portuguese youth. The organizations represented were, respectively: Celts Terrae (Spain), Civil Protection Volunteers’ of Panorama (Greece) and AHI Evran Aviation Club (Turkey). Program Activities

1º Dia / 1st Day (21 Nov 2011)

O intercâmbio juvenil iniciou oficialmente na Trofa com a apresentação de todos os participantes e uma breve apresentação do Espaço t, com as sua várias actividades. A parte da tarde foi dedicada à realização de um Workshop de fotografia onde cada grupo, por nacionalidade, procurou registar em fotografia elementos urbanísticos, comportamentos, etc, presentes no ambiente do concelho da Trofa, que fossem distintos das suas culturas. No fim da tarde, foi possível contactar com uma associação juvenil do concelho da Trofa, a Clube Slotcar, onde os jovens tiveram oportunidade conhecer as actividades que aí se realizam e de efectuar competições de Slotcar e de jogar bilhar.

The youth exchange officially started in Trofa with the presentation of all participants and Espaço t, with their various activities. The afternoon was devoted to conducting a photography workshop where each group, by nationality, sought to register in photography urban elements, behaviours, etc., present in the environment of Trofa county, which were distinct from their cultures. In the evening, was able to contact an youth association of Trofa county, the Slotcar Club, where young people had the opportunity to know the activities that take place there and make Slotcar competitions and playing billiards.

Trabalhos dos participantes / Works made by the participants

2º Dia / 2nd Day (22 Nov 2011)

Este dia foi passado na cidade do Porto onde os jovens tiveram a oportunidade de participar num workshop de Danças Europeias com a formadora Diana Azevedo, que decorreu nas instalações do IPJ do Porto. Neste workshop os participantes aprenderam os passos de danças tradicionais de cada país presente. Do “Regadinho” português às “Muiñeiras” galegas, passando pelas danças de roda turcas e gregas. Já durante a tarde, os jovens foram conhecer a sede da organização onde decorreu uma sessão de apresentação de cada uma das organizações presentes no intercâmbio. No resto do dia foi possível conhecer alguns pontos da cidade do Porto.

This day was spent in Porto where young people had the opportunity to participate in a European Dances workshop with the  trainer Diana Azevedo, which took place at  IPJ (Portuguese Youth Institute). In this workshop participants learned the steps of traditional dances of each country present. Since the Portuguese “Regadinho” to the Galician “Muiñeira”, passing through the Turkish and Greek circle dances. Already during the afternoon, young people were to know the organization’s headquarters where he held a session of presentation of each of the organizations present at the exchange. In the rest of the day it was possible to know some parts of the city of Porto.

[Fotos Dança]

Visita ao Espaço t – Porto / Visit to the Espaço t – Porto

 

 Fotos da Cidade do Porto/ Photos of Porto

3º Dia / 3rd Day (23 Nov 2011)

O dia iniciou com uma visita ao Centro Local de Apoio à Integração do Imigrante (CLAII) da Trofa, onde fomos recebidos pelos técnicos do Pelouro Social da Câmara Municipal da Trofa, sendo possível conhecer os vários tipos de apoio prestado neste centro, bem como as actividades que decorrem nas instalações do Centro Comunitário Municipal da Trofa para a população. Posteriormente, a comitiva foi recebida na Casa da Cultura da Trofa, tendo a oportunidade de visitar uma exposição aí patente e ser brindada com um “Porto de Honra”. De tarde decorreu um workshop de Pintura em que os grupos, compostos por jovens de diferentes nacionalidades, foram convidados, por grupo, a elaborar uma tela subordinada ao tema “Multiculturalismo: diversidade e riqueza”. No final da tarde o grupo partiu para Famalicão onde visitou a Casa da Juventude do concelho.

The day began with a visit to the Local Immigrant Integration Support (CLAII) from Trofa, where we were greeted by the technicians of the Social Department from the city council of Trofa, and they can learn about the various types of support provided at this centre, as well as activities that take place on the premises of the Municipal Community Centre of Trofa for the population. Later, the delegation was received in the House of Culture of Trofa, having the opportunity to visit an exhibition and be rewarded with a “Port of Honour.” In the afternoon took place a painting workshop where the groups, composed by people from different nationalities, were invited by group to draw a screen entitled “Multiculturalism: diversity and richness”. At the end of the afternoon the group went to Famalicão where visited the Youth House of the county.

Centro Comunitário Municipal da Trofa / Trofa Municipal Comunity Centre

Casa da Cultura da Trofa / Trofa Culture House

 

Workshop de Pintura / Painting Workshop

4º Dia / 4th Day (24 Nov 2011)

Este dia foi passado na cidade de Braga. De manhã foi realizada uma visita ao IPJ de Braga e à sede da Agência Nacional do Programa “Juventude em Acção”. Ainda neste local foi realizada a dinâmica 2 “Whom would you like to live with?”. Após o almoço, efectuou-se uma curta visita ao centro histórico da cidade e à Universidade do Minho. O jantar contou com a presença de alunos do Programa Erasmus onde se promoveu um momento de partilha sobre as diferenças/semelhanças culturais por eles encontradas no nosso país.

This day was spent in the city of Braga. In the morning a visit was made to the IPJ of Braga and the headquarters of the National Agency of the “Youth in Action” program. Although this site was performed the dynamic nº 2 “Whom would you like to live with?”. After lunch, we made ​​a short visit to the historic city center and the University of Minho. The dinner was attended by students from Erasmus where have been promoted a time of sharing about the differences / cultural similarities that they found in our country.

[fotos IPJ, cidade, jantar]

5º Dia / 5th Day (25 Nov 2011)

Novamente na cidade do Porto e nas instalações do IPJ, realizou-se um workshop de Percussão, com o formador Francisco Beirão, onde os jovens aprenderam e executaram os ritmos tradiconais dos países presentes. Após o almoço, visitaram o Centro Comunitário São Cirílo, podendo tomar conhecimento sobre o tipo de serviço prestado por esta organização a imigrantes no nosso país. O resto da tarde foi dedicado a conhecer o Porto e contactar com ambientes mais característicos desta cidade.

[Fotos]

6º Dia / 6th Day (26 Nov 2011)

European Voluntary Service

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Hi all.

We are glad to announce that Espaço T can now host, send and coordinate European Voluntary Service projects until 2014. We are currently reviewing all the motivation letters and requests for projects that we get since May and we will soon chose a young person for a project starting in January 2012.

See our project HERE.

Until then, we leave you all with a new video (in spanish) about our beautiful country.  You can see more about our city, Porto, at minute 15. Enjoy.

Portugal mostrado pela TVE Espanhola from Luis Oliveira on Vimeo.