Week 5

Almost there…

Monday, we had a try-out for an other group. Everybody was nervous for that. With the feedback that this group gave us, we could make the nessecary adjustments to our symposium. The rest of the week, we had to arrange all the practical things like:
- Did we make all the art work?
- Do we have all the material we need?
- Are the workshops ok?
- Did we print everything that we need?
- Are all the documents (powerpoint, movies, audio fragments...) on our computer?

-...

We are all excited to get on the road!
We hope to post some more messages from Romania.

Goodby!!!

Week 4.

Luckily, it wasn’t so shiny and hot anymore this week!On Monday, we worked hard to get everything ready for the meeting with Patrick and Lutgarde on Wednesday. We made some final adjustments to our symposium.

Monday and Tuesday were very stressful days, because we wanted to prove that we had already done a lot of work. Wednesday was the big day for the meeting. Before dinner, we explained everything that we wanted to do during the whole trip. We showed the movies, the pictures, the observation rapports, the audio fragments, the games for the children, …We had to change some of our information, but in general Patrick and Lutgarde were quite pleased about it.

Week three

On Monday we started full of good intentions. However, by the end of the day we lost our courage. We didn't know which direction we wanted to go with our seminar. Fortunately, on Tuesday and Wednesday we found new inspiration.

After having tried some group activities we came back to our classroom to organise the weekend at Bata.

On Wednesday we visited 'de Merode', which is a CIG (this is a centre for integral family care) that especially with teenage mothers. We learned a lot about methods of working with teenage mothers and networking. A very interesting visit!

Thursday was another exiting day. The workshops about intake and support plan had to be finished that day because we had a try-out in the evening. Stress, for it was a lot more work than planned. Fortunately we could end this evening with a good glass and an even better conversation.

The last day of the week we spent on the seminar. We now really know what we want.

Week four will be intensive!

Week two

It was an exciting second week, because we saw Patrick and lutgarde for the first time. We were all a little nervous for this first encounter. A lot of questions were running true our heads: 'Who are Patrick and Lutgarde?', 'How would they react to our concept?', 'Would we make a good first impression?'...


Wednesday was D-day. After having worked and thought hard for the last couple of days to develop a good concept for the seminar about teenage mothers we were finally eye to eye with Patrick and Lutgarde. It was a very pleasant meeting. Patrick told us a lot about Romania and the work of vzw Oradea. We also discussed the contract, the workshops about intake and suport plan, and we gave a powerpoint presentation about the seminar and other activities we have planned. Patrick proposed to give activities for the children of the school in Bata. And that proposal was commonly accepted.

A small summary of what we have done this week:

• Brainstorming about our seminar and other activities
• adjusting workshops about intake and support plan
• Practical affairs, like the press contacts, visits in belgium... were arranged
  
• ...

Up to week three!

Who are we?

Hello, I am Femke Debal. I am 20 years old. I like talking to people and observing things. If I am in the mood, I can be very creative. I love watching movies and listening to music. In my time off I like to go shopping, chatting with friends, going to the sea, … Over weekends, I work in a tearoom to get some pocket money. When I was younger, I was in a youth club. During my work experience, I worked in a home for teenage girls in a problematic home situation. I have also worked with people with a disability. I am very happy that I can go to Romania. It is a unique experience to discover Romanian culture.

I'm Tom, 27 years young. I'm married to Sofie, who is 31. Together we have a five months old baby, called Mare. I had a work placement in a home for children who have a difficult home situation and a work placement with parents who have young children. I also have experience as a volunteer with people with autism.

My name is Nele Deslyper and I am 23 years old. I love to draw pictures and write poems. In my training periods I have worked with people with mental disability’s and youngsters. I also love to travel and love to meet other cultures, that’s why I’m really looking forward to go to Romania.

I am Eef Flo, I will be 23 next August. In the small amount of free time I have, I like to go swimming, dancing, read a book, or just being lazy and watch a movie in a comfortable chair. I already have a variety of different work experiences. Such as: children and adults with mental, social or physical disabilities, people with autism, elderly people, homeless people, a home for abused woman and children, maternal care, kindergarten, … My motivation to join this project is very simple. I would like to broaden my horizon by working in foreign countries after I graduate.

My name is Andy Moerman and I’m 21. In my spare time I try to play the guitar and I really like to play soccer. My work experience involves working with people with learning disabilities, children with psychotic problems and children with autism.

My name is Mieke Santy and I'm 22 years old. My hobbies are: listening to and playing music, I also like dancing and watching movies. My motivation to go to Romania: it's good to meet new people, learn about family support in different country’s and getting to know a new culture.

Hello, my name is Nele Lisabeth and I’m 22. I love to play theatre and I enjoy to watch it. I like to read books, listen to music, work in the pet shop, baby-sit and play with my dog, Athena. During my work experience, I worked in a home for children in a problematic home situation.
I also worked in a kindergarten and a maternal care and I have some experience with children with autism. Did I tell you that I love to travel to meet other cultures? It’s my passion to discover the world and that’s why I am so motivated for this project.