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Report of the Think Tank experience
Date: 23.09.2014
Each year we’re looking for volunteers from the member movements to join the preparation team of the seminar – the Think Tank. The task of the group is to prepare the content of the seminar. The team is also responsible for the facilitation of the activities during the event. Of course – all the work is coordinated and guided by the European Team members. We believe it is a great opportunity for young people to get involved in the process of creating something important for MIJARC Europe and its member movements, to gain the knowledge and skills which can be profitable in the future!
Severin Kessler from KLJB Germany took part in the preparation phase and we was a facilitator during the seminar 2014: “Eating, producing, deciding: our voice and our choice for the future agriculture in Europe” . He described his experiences as a Think Tank member.
My decision to apply for the Think Tank was quite spontaneous. The call for participants convinced me by the topic: “Eating, producing, deciding: our voice and our choice for the future agriculture in Europe” and I decided to apply for it, although I had no contact to MIJARC so far.
For most organisation meetings we used Skype. At the beginning, it was queer to meet on telephone conferences with people I did not know. I had no faces in mind connected to the voices. Nevertheless, every time it was a nice discussing atmosphere. After three months a first physical meeting of the team took place in Brussels. At this weekend, I got to know all the members of the Think Tank the first time. It was a nice weekend and we had a lot of fun additional to the work we had to do for the seminar. Back from the weekend, everyone had some tasks to do until the seminar in 7 weeks. So from now on, the seminar was present in my mind and I looked forward to meet everyone again on the seminar.
As expected, the seminar was the time to see the new mates again but also many new faces – the seminar participants. As facilitator of the seminar, you have to motivate all the participants and care for the group building process. In cause of this task, you get in contact with each person in the group. This was a deep experience. During the seminar week, you get a leak of sleep and sometimes you have to meet when the participants have free time. Nevertheless, I had a lot of fun and I have had many new friends at the end of the week.
In summary, it was a great experience to join the Think Tank and for me it was the right decision. I want to encourage everyone who is thinking about joining the Think Tank team. You get in contact with rural youth from all over Europe, even deeper than you will get as a normal participant of the seminar.
Especially to people who have no contact to the MIJARC Europe so far, I want to say: every time you will feel welcome in the team and it is a valuable international experience.
Language
English
