ThessaLeaks Welcome Issue

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Thessaloniki , Greece, 16th Dec 2010

Welcome Issue special

T h e s s a L e a k s

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Editorial Writing an editorial for a welcoming issue sounds like an easy job to do. But usually it is done in the wee hours of the morning; it should provide a short summation of everything that has been mentioned in the featured issue. It is supposed to sound inviting and compel-ling but still provide a general insight on what is going on in the press team. Since the sun is already coming up the hill, we should better give it a go. So dear delegates, here we are! Welcome to the begin-ning of a session that already seems special to us, people be-hind the curtain of the wonder-ful world of EYP. Welcome to Greece, dear foreign officials, and welcome to Thessaloniki!

Welcome to the city where for the next couple of days young people will meet, share their thoughts and discuss various issues in order to fully com-prehend each other. Welcome to a live setting where you’re allowed to be different, where you’re allowed to fail, and most important, allowed to create. Creation is a lodestar of ev-ery EYP session, and there are many ways to fulfill that need. This is your first contact with the European Youth Parliament and we think you’re really close to reaching the right feeling, the right mindset. The concept of the ses-sion’s newspapers is to try and preserve memories and, more-over, to educate by providing

various points of view. Further, as making the newspapers is a challenge and a problem solving game, it gives those responsi-ble an opportunity to challenge themselves and learn as well. Which leads us to the question; who is behind the newspapers? Thessaloniki Press Team con-sists of 9 very carefully selected Journalists from all over Europe and 2 Editors. Another question that may rise is: why ThessaLeaks? We are sure some of you have heard of the web site called Wikileaks, which fights for the freedom of press and thought… Well, that is what we will try to do

here and now, so enjoy! ■

Sandra&Tom


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ContEntO(G)ULCAN TORUN!The president of the 22nd National Selection of EYP Greece wishes a warm welcome to the participants page 3

VICE-PRESIDENTSAlog with the president they make the board page 4

CHAIRS&COSMeet the rest of the Chairs’Team page 5

ORGANIZING? PEACE OF CAKE!Chysanthi Koniou, the Head-orga-nizer page 8

EYP IS FOR...Everything you need to know about European Youth Parliament (EYP) from foundation onl How does it work? page 9

THE PROGRAMME.Not sure what Committee Work or Teambuilding is? Don’t worry, here are the qualifications page 11


O(g)ulcan Torun! Dear Participants,Welcome to Thessaloniki 2010 - 22nd National Selection Conference of EYP Greece! For weeks now, you have waited to arrive in the stunning city of Thessaloniki, to come together with over 100 fellow Greeks from all across the region, discuss and devise innovative solutions to some of the most challenging problems our conti-nent is facing, while getting a chance to meet with participants from differ-ent European countries, share tradi-tions, explore different cultures, and of course, make new friends. The time has come - we are all here now!Ever since its foundation, the Europe-an Youth Parliament has given youth all across Europe a chance to have a

say in the forming of their future so-ciety. The best way to that, is to un-derstand differences, and be able to act as one, by communicating and col-laborating. And Thessaloniki, a city that has been the center of numerous civilisations for centuries, will surely continue to provide the participants a perfect environment for the EYP spirit to come alive. The next three days, with its heavily packed pro-gramme including the basic EYP el-ements, as well as social events will allow for a great learning experience and a lot of fun. Make good use of this won-derful op portunity, seize it, and make sure to enjoy the session to the fullest!■

President of the 22nd national selection of eYP Greece

wishes a warm welcome to the ParticiPants

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Sofia ZAFEIRIOU (GRE), EMPL 1

Favorite quote: “I’m wearing a guyliner, yes.” by Tom PalinicLevel of excitement: 49%

Drazen PUKLAVEC (CRO), FEMM

Favorite quote: “My life has no purpose, no direc-tion, no aim, no meaning, and yet I’m happy. I can’t figure it out. What am I doing right?”Level of excitement: 85%

Jorg KÖRNER (GER), CULT

Favorite quote: ‘You gain strength, courage and

confidence everytime you stop to look fear in the eye.

You must do the thing you think, you cannot do!.’

Level of excitement: 71%

Along with the President they mAke the BoArd

Vice-presidents


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Chairs&Cos

Ingrid PERCHINER (AUT), AFET

Favorite quote: ‘Sail fast, live slow.’

Level of excitement: 93,68%

Marianna GEORGIDI (GRE),CULT

Favorite quote: ‘Have you ever been told you look like a llama?’ - Hurt

Feelings by Flight of the Conchords Level of excitement: 85%

Kubra KUNDAK (TUR), DEVE

Favorite quote: ‘Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.’Level of excitement: 91%

Alexios NOMPILAKIS (GRE), DEVE

Favorite quote: “Music: the great communicator.”

Level of excitement: 72%

meet the rest of the ChAirs’ teAm!

Aspa GEORGAKOPOULOU (GRE), AFET

Favorite quote: ‘I would believe only in a God that knows how to dance.”Level of excitement: 93%


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Stella MERTI (GRE), FEMM

Favorite quote: “I’m a modest genius basically” by Sofia ZafiriouLevel of excitement: 2^6 + 2^4

Sini VENTELA (FIN), AGRI

Favorite quote: “The future be-longs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”- Eleanor Roosevel-Level of excitement: 101%

Evi CHRISTODOULOU (GRE), LIBE 2

Favorite quote: ‘Because the people who are crazy enough to think

they can change the world are the ones who do.”

Level of excitement: 99,9%.

Gio PAN (GRE), AGRI

Favorite quote: ‘People helped me realise i’m nothing, and in my

nothingness I began to live”Level of excitement:

87,065%

Mariela APOSTOLAKI (GRE), LIBE 1

Favorite quote: ‘Grant me the serenty to accept the things I can’t change, the courage to change those that I can and the wisdom to know the difference”Level of excitement: 80%


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Maral SIMONIAN (GRE), ENVI

Favorite quote: ‘If we’re stuck on this ship and it’s sinking, then we might as well have a parade”- Frank TurnerLevel of excitement: 100%

Niklas HERPERTZ (GER), ECON

Favorite quote: ‘Carpe Diem’Level of excitement: 84%

Johan WALLIN (SWE), ENVI

Favorite quote: ‘I intend to live forever-so far so good!.’

Level of excitement: 100%.

Thanasis SAITIS (GRE), ECON

Favorite quote: ‘I love it when some grass or a flower grows through the crack. It is so f***** heroic!’Level of excitement: 100% .

Larissa AKÇETIN (TUR), EMPL 2

Favorite quote: ‘Carpe Noctum’Level of excitement: 90%


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Organizing?Piece of cake!Chrysanthi Koniou, the head-organizer

Being part of the session would not be possible without the hard work of many people. From or-ganizing the GA venue to the small details such as arranging lunches; everything is a result of careful prep-aration. Every team has a leader and for the Organizing Committee that is enthusiastic Chrysanthi Koniou, who described the experience as thrilling. Her life was completely turned around during the last month, which resulted in her making a short break at the University. Neverthe-less, she is very pleased with her role at the session. This 19- year-old Thessa-lonikian is in charge of making sure that everything is going according to the plan. But even if there are sud-den changes, she devotedly sorts any problem. She first started thinking about organizing after she chaired at the National Session in Athens. Although the whole weight of responsibilities is solely on her, she always keeps a smiling face. She is putting her heart and soul into the session, hence we should expect great things both from the event and her in the future.■ V.S.


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EYP is for...Everything you need to know about European Youth Parliament (EYP) since foundation on; How does it work?

Where to begin? Well, the best beginning I can come up with is the very end. Or better yet, the pres-ent situation. After 3 years of EYP, more than a few ses-sions, two new best friends I’ve been rewarded with and hundreds of people I’ve met, the best statement I have to offer is that it’s a life-chang-ing experience. European Youth Par-liament is a non-profit or-ganisation founded in 1987 in Fontainebleau, France by Bettina Carr-Allinson. Main goals of EYP are to pro-mote intercultural dialogue

amongst young people, raise awareness of current issues and to encourage interna-tional cooperation between youth. Based in Berlin, Ger-many, it currently consists of 39 member states who gather under national com-mittees. The number keeps increasing all the time, pro-viding institutional support to every interested country within Europe. EYP organises many types of events but the most frequent ones are national, regional and international sessions. They vary in the number of participants and

some technical details but the basic principle is similar to all aforementioned types. Every session is led by the president of the session and his vice-presidents. Del-egates are the most impor-tant part of the session and the main reason these events are held. They are grouped into committees that cover and discuss various topics. Under the supervision and assistance of chairpersons, their ultimate goal is to come up with a resolution, pres-ent it and defend it on the General Assembly, popularly called GA.


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Press team consists of journalists and their editor(s). The role of every journalist is to cover events that occur and write their own opinion-based articles. With a help from the editors, their articles are presented in the session newspaper. None of this would be possi-ble without the help of organ-isers who provide a backbone of the session and make sure everything is well-prepared and functioning. Apart from writing articles, they contrib-

ute to the overall atmosphere of the session, helping other teams in making the EYP session a truly unique expe-rience for every participant. I remember my first EYP experience. First time being introduced to this con-cept of working might seem confusing, extremely formal and can make you feel a bit insignificant. And it is not far from being true. Everything but feeling insignificant, that is. When you come here, try to be open-minded. Meet

people, get to know them a bit, exchange ideas, make friends, have fun, make some good memories. That is the whole point. Every EYP–er that is here today is doing what he is doing because he went through what you are going to go through, and just wants to make sure that as many people as possible have the same great and life-alter-ing experience.■ I.S.


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Friday, December 17th, 201015:00 Arrival of delegates in Hellenic College (Thermi)15:00-15:30 Registration15:30 - 19:30 Teambuilding19:30-20:00 Committee Presentations20:00 - 21:00 Opening Ceremony

Saturday, December 18th, 201008:15 Arrival of Delegates in Hellenic College08:30- 11:00 Committee work11:00- 11:45 Coffee Break11:45- 12:15 Committee work13:00- 14:00 Lunch Break14:00- 16:00 Committee Work16:00- 16:30 Coffee Break16:30- 19:00 Experts talks19:00- 20:30 GA preparations20:30 Resolution Booklet Hand out

Sunday, December 20th, 201008:00 Arrival of Delegates in Hellenic College08:15 Opening Ceremony of the General Assembly08:30 General Assembly10:30 Coffee Break10:45 General Assembly13:00 Lunch Break14:00 General Assembly16:20 Coffee Break16:35 General Assembly18:00 Closing Ceremony19:00 End of the Session

The Programme.not sure what committee work or teambuildinG is? no worries, here are the clarifications...


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ThessaLeaks Welcome Issue