YEE Newsletter

Can you introduce yourself?

I can. Should I? ;-) Okay: People call me Stefan or Strudel (since my full name is Stefan Rudel). I was born as a pretty big small one in the mid of December 1991, and now I’m sitting here and I’m smiling about myself - I’m happy. That’s enough for introducing myself (there are so many more questions *-*).

Which YEE member organisation do you belong to? What are the main activities of your organisation?

FÖJ-AKTIV e.V. is the organisation I’m coming from. We support young people (mainly in the age between 16-27) who take part in the German program of an ecological volunteer service year (“FÖJ”) - doing their own projects, organising campaigns, buying material for local and regional actions, … - and we are also a network organisation for former eco-volunteers who are interested in staying in touch with each other (there are about 2800 volunteers in this service year every year… so many people to connect to!).

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Turkey is surrounded on three sides by the water. (Mediterranean Sea from south, the Black Sea from north and the Aegean Sea from east) Therefore, the protection of coasts is a significant issue for the country since tourism plays a crucial role in the economy. Particularly Mediterranean and Aegean Coasts are hosting many tourists in the summer seasons. Also, Turkey has been chosen second in the world in 2015 with its 436 blue-flagged beaches, based on the cleanliness of them.

Although the country is well rated based on the coasts, there has been an increase in the sea and coastal pollution in the recent years. Some of the main causes of the pollution are: 1. Factories located on the seafront areas and spilling their waste   2. Oil and natural gas pipelines in the sea 3. Heavy ship traffic in the sea 4. Pollution made by humans’ hands because of lack of environmental awareness.

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"White eggplants, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and other new varieties of vegetables you can taste, if you visit the new inclusive greenhouse in the Bridge of Hope center, Ijevan in June, where we with our friends grow various crops.”

Alla Ohanyan is attending Child Development Center of Bridge of Hope in Ijevan. 

First time, in the frame of "Supporting Community Resilience in the South Caucasus" programme, funded by European Commission under DG European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Programme (DG ECHO), Oxfam in Armenia with OxYGen Foundation created a greenhouse, which is accessible for the children with disabilities and gives opportunity for them to learn the secrets of agriculture production and to grow vegetables with their hands.

66sqm greenhouse is made of metal construction and covered by 8mm polycarbonate. 65% of the greenhouse’s floor is covered by concrete to allow access by people with physical disabilities. Adjusted tables under plant pots allow working access to the plants.

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Energy-efficient stoves, solar cookers and solar lanterns will improve the life of the mountaineers in the upper part of the Bartang valley.

20 of the most vulnerable families (about 140 people) in the mountain villages of Savnob and Roshorv of the Bartang Valley of GBAO (Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast) in Tajikistan received sets of clean energy equipment. Each set consisted of a parabolic solar cooker, one energy-efficient stove for cooking and a portable lamp with a solar panel and charging function for mobile devices.

"Little Earth" distributed sets among twenty women - participants of the project "Clean Energy and Women on the Roof of the World", which was implemented in the above mentioned villages with the support of the US Forest Service and assistance of the NGO "Oyandasoz" (local partner in Bartang Valley).

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It is known that Russia is the largest country in the world. It stretches from east to west and from north to south for 17 million square km. Therefore, to speak about ecological problems we need to remember that it is unique for each region.

What do you know about the Russian Far East? Taiga, bears and tigers? Sure. But, also, the Far East – place I come from - is one of the richest in natural resources region in Russia. Gold, coal, oil, silver, platinum, molybdenum, tungsten, copper, zinc are mined there. Yakutiya, which is the coldest place in the world with constantly living population, is rich in diamonds. Moreover, the Far East, coming alone from the North-West part of Russia, is one of the most biological-rich temperate forest zones in the world. These are: taiga on the north, mixed and deciduous forests on the south. The Far East's territory occupies 40% of Russia's territory but only 6 mln people live here (out of 146 mln of the whole population of Russia). So, it is logical to assume that the ecology of the region did not suffer from much hard. But the ecological situation in the cities, where the majority of the region's population lives, leaves much to be desired.

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Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Narek and I am 25 years old. I have been born in Vanadzor - a city located in the northern part of Armenia. I studied Political Science at Yerevan State University. In 2013, I got the master degree and since October 2013 I run for PhD in Political Science. Besides, I am working at "Insight" analytical centre as a political analyst.

Which YEE member organisation do you belong to? What are the main activities of your organisation?

I have got involved in the Federation of Youth clubs of Armenia (FYCA) in 2013. Since July 2014, I am a Board member in our NGO. FYCA unites more than 100 youth professional and regional clubs, centres and organisations throughout Armenia, thus becoming the largest youth organisation. The mission of our organisation is to raise the role of the youth in the country and in the strengthening of civil society, consolidating youth clubs. FYCA’s activity areas are healthy lifestyle, ecology, sustainable development, development and dissemination of clubs, youth work, democracy, civic participation, human rights, etc.

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Can you introduce yourself?

Hello everyone, my name is Ketevan (or Keti). I am a newly elected Board member - my position is Member Organisations Officer.

I graduated Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University,  Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences and have B.A. in Computer Technologies. I am also the Vice President of Georgia Youth Eco Movement - SAEM and Member of Women Techmakers Tbilisi (Google Developers Group). I like to use my technical abilities for developing partnerships on technology innovation and environment and for communications. My first experience of working on environmental topics was in early 2008, when I presented my paperwork at conference and got first Quality Diploma in Chemical Section (Water Topic) from Georgian National Youth Palace. The same year I earned First quality Diploma at Youth Conference in the Ecology and Natural Science Section from Borjomi Children and Youth Federation. I was born and still live in a small resort town called Borjomi, in Georgia. I work here for almost four year in Mineral and Fresh Water Treatment company as a Quality Manager. When I am not working, I like to to travel and get inspired by the beauty of the Mother Earth.

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Can you introduce yourself?

Hey, I’m Raz. I’m 22 years old, come from Armenia and currently study microbiology. I like to hike, travel around Armenia, explore uncommon places and hitchhike.

Which YEE member organisation do you belong to? What are the main activities of your organisation?

I am working in "Young Biologists Association" NGO as Education and Scientific Research Officer. Our organisation works in both scientific and environmental areas. One of the main aims of our organisation is to gather biologists together, develop biology in Armenia and to lead our society to a better environment and environmental way of thinking.

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Can you introduce yourself?       

My name is Jovana Mirjanić, student of Ecology at Belgrade's Faculty of Biology. Passionate about environment, animals (especially birds), books (especially Harry Potter), photography, baking soufflés and cooking; sports lover, traveller and keen on learning new languages; hardworking and devoted person who loves a good laugh and good coffee.

Which YEE member organisation do you belong to? What are the main activities of your organisation?     

I belong to Young Researchers of Serbia, NGO that is dealing with environmental problems, organising and promoting work camps, integrating young people in voluntary work and activism, etc.

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Can you introduce yourself?

Who am I? And what will I look at when I'm older or feel like my life will end soon? I'm asking myself this question from time to time, and since some years and since I'm happy with basically all decisions I make I'm always able to smile - I'm smiling about myself and that's my answer to that question. I see and experience myself as a person who is happy now, who is acting now, and who is living now. I sometimes struggle when other people ask me such questions in a more confronting way, and my ego starts to look at me and says: "But you need to start to do something at some point" - and my suppressed part answers: "Yes, I know. I will - for sure". In lighter days and times I'm reflecting on this inner (is it really an inner, or not more an outer struggle that is going on then?) struggle and my answer to myself is: "I'm already there, deeply and safely. I'm living" - and that's the point. What should I start and what should I begin with, where should it take me? Because I'm already there, and there is: here. Here and now. That's me. (And if this is too confusing: I guess that's part of me introducing me, I'm not always too sure about myself, since I'm still growing and developing... all day long, and all night long, same as Lionel Richie – don't take me too serious ;-))

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Can you introduce yourself?

I am Zara and I am 25 years old․ I have obtained my master's degree in May and am currently working in an International Department of a big governmental organisation in Armenia.

Which YEE member organisation do you belong to? What are the main activities of your organisation?

I am from Khazer NGO which is actively working on awareness raising of environmental issues in different regions of Armenia. However, we also implement environmental projects, such as installation of solar panels in schools, and restoration of river streams.

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