Waves of Migration Training Course - INTERVIEW WITH YASIN AND DAJANA

Name of the project: Wave of Migration

Date: 17^th to 24^th October 2017

Country/City: Seinäjoki/ Finland

What was the main topic of the event?

Yasin Lossini - Waves of Migration

Dajana Vukajlovic - The main topic of the project was migration.  We had a great opportunity to learn a lot about this topic.  Not only did we learn about influences of the big refugee crisis that has broke in Europe in 2014, but the general idea of migration.  We learned other important concepts such Emigration, Immigration, Immigrant, refugee, asylum seeker, Geneva convention, Frontex and many other important concepts that relate to the migration topic.

What was the biggest learning moments on the event for you?

Yasin Lossini - The final day where we needed to combine everything we have learned during the week. Develop a game related to Migration in a positive way and shared it with youngsters in the local school in Seinäjoki.

Dajana Vukajlovic - My biggest learning moments were when we had to do a presentation about certain concepts such as Schengen, Frontex, Geneva convention and etc.  I was happy to learn more and also present it from my point of view.  I also had the opportunity to learn a lot from others. Almost all concepts were new to me and I had a great opportunity to grasp them. 

Another big learning moment was the stimulation, when participants including me, had to sit in the room.  We had to remain the silent, we had to fill in asylum application forms which were presented in totally different languages.  We were also interviewed by immigration service that spoke Portuguese, so nobody could understand.  That was one of the best stimulations, where participants could step inside the shoe of a refugee.  Refugees come to a country where nothing is explained to them, nor is their language spoken there.  Authorities do not have any patience for newcomers and they are not willing to help them.  I was happy we had an opportunity to step in their shoes and see that the way of a refugee is extremely difficult.  

Besides, I was glad that all participants had task to create a game and present it in the middle school for students from Finland.  That was another big moment, where both Finish high school student, and we ourselves, learned a lot from each other.

Do you have any plans to continue active in the field? If yes, what?

Yasin Lossini - Yes, I'm working in the Creative industry so I trying to figure out a way to continue this topic of migration and keep spreading awareness on it's challenges and opportunities among the youth and also the adults, So we as a society we can move towards an inclusive society. And also I will continue to keep an eye for future projects related to this topic and try to be part of it.

Dajana Vukajlovic - Yes, I would like to eventually try the game that participants created, in Estonia and the Netherlands.  I am a person who changes its place of living often, and I am involved in the volunteer work ever since I was in high school.  Therefore, I would like to do a comparison between a couple of countries.  One of the countries where I would like to introduce this game is, in one of the high schools in the Netherlands.  The Netherlands is a very culturally and immigration diverse place, for many years.  It would be nice to see how high school kids think of migration there. 

In Tartu, where I live, I could also do the same game in a high school   My plan is to join a youth club and purpose this initiative and see if it would work out.  

I would like to compare the reaction of high school student in Tartu, Estonia and the Netherlands.  Estonia is less culturally diverse than the Netherlands.  And therefore, it would be nice to see differences and it would be nice for high school student to gain an opportunity to learn more in a fun and informal way.

Would you recommend it to your friends? I yes, why? If not, why not?

Yasin Lossini - I would recommend this to friends because I feel it's an important topic for everybody to know what migration is and what are the challenges and opportunities it brings. The more the society is aware and have a deeper knowledge the more we can erase issues like Racism and Xenophobia in our societies.

Dajana Vukajlovic - Yes, I would recommend this training course.  I would recommend any opportunity that Erasmus plus program offers.  It is one of the most unique programs where young people meet, exchange and discuss about issues that we face in our changing and diverse world. 

More comments or anything else you would like to share? You can add here in your own language, if you want!

Dajana Vukajlovic - This project was an extremely great opportunity for me, I had an opportunity to learn a lot about topic migration and also exchange different standpoints with different young people from all over Europe.  The organizers, the trainers and the participants made a great effort to make this project a valuable experience for each of us.

This Project was financed by European Commission's Erasmus + Programme