Nina Soloshenko from Sumy just started her volunteer programme in German Frankfurt (Oder). The 10 month long European Voluntary Sevice project is a partnership  between Center for European Initiatives and Jugendhilfe und Sozialarbeit e.V. Follow the volunteer's diary in her blog!

From the 25th to the 27th of December near Sumy in the forest resort "Rovesnyk" pupils from Sumy and Sumy region were immersed into the incredibly bright fairy-tale - SMART New Year. Participants were merged in the festive atmosphere which consisted of workshops, English classes with foreign volunteers, explorations of Christmas traditions, etc.

On the 23th of December Santa's New Year Express started its trip from Sumy Local Scientific Library. During the journey its passengers visited the most interesting and creative workshops, hand-made studios and presentations of the European countries.

Centre for European Initiatives in the partnership with German organization FAIRbund e.v. (www.verein-fairbund.de) brought together youth from 8 countries within the training course “Conflict Resolution through Negotiations”. The training took place on 30 August – 5 September 2015 in the picturesque village Slavsko, Lviv region.

From the 8th to the 22nd of August, 2015 a group of young, dedicated and initiative Ukrainians took part in the youth exchange of twin-towns "One Country, One World", which was held in Eurocamp Helenesee in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany. The camp was organized by the NGO Frankfurt pewobe g GmbH. Center for European Initiatives acted as a partner of the project from Ukrainian side.

On June, 31, in a picturesque area near Sumy, 40 active students from the I-st and II-d level educational establishments of Sumy region (aged from 15 to 19) took part in the training program “Teamwork and Situational Leadership”.

From the 19th to the 27th of July near the city Lublin (Poland) “The Academy of Citizen” for 20 youth activists from Sumy and Sumy area took place. The event was organized by Sumy NGO “Center for European Initiatives” and Foundation “SEMPRE A FRENTE”.

From June 27th to July 4th active volunteers of NGO “Center for European Initiatives” became the participants of international youth exchange «Youth in Europe – Action for Sustainable Development» which united the representatives of four countries: Germany, Poland, Belorus and Ukraine in Eurocamp (Helenesee, Germany). The project was organized by NGO SODI! Solidaritaetsdienst-international e.V., and supported by pewobe gGmbH.

During March 30-April 9 2015 6 young people from the NGO "Center For European Initiatives" took part in the international youth exchange program "Talk Democracy, Walk Democracy" in Georgia (International Scout Center Rustavi) funded by "Erasmus+" program. Participants from 6 countries (Georgia, Sweden, Spain, Croatia, Estonia and Ukraine) learnt about democratic institutes and mechanisms as well as youth policy in the participating countries of the exchange.

Belgium has always been synonymous with bureaucracy since the decision – in the aftermath of the Second War World – to install the whole apparatus of an emerging continent in its capital. Long and detailed talks between the leaders of the six countries (France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy and Belgium) that suffered more from the destructions of what seemed to be a never-ending war finally agreed to allow to the small Belgian enclave his role de prestige.