Marta Lis
About me: 25-year-old Pole. Sociologist. Restless being dreaming about changing the world (for the better) and naively believing it's possible. Interested in grassroot social movements and constantly excited it might work. Back in Poland, human rights and global education trainer, privately fond of bicycle raids and kayak rafting organised at the spur of the moment. Sometimes at the flow of inspiration makes jewellery from easily accessible materials (occasionally referred as "trush"). In Budapest constantly amazed with Hungarians and their way of work. Drinks beer with a straw (what in Hungary, don't know why, evokes peals of laughter) and would drink it even with syrup if it was possible here! At Zöfi organized a Living Library and helps at present projects and takes a good look at Roma community.
Her life motto is 'magis' (the more) and that's why she believes that "it's not difficulties but our dreams that scare us most".
Being in Budapest got inspired by 350.org and joined to help fight the climate change. You should also join!
Her life motto is 'magis' (the more) and that's why she believes that "it's not difficulties but our dreams that scare us most".
Being in Budapest got inspired by 350.org and joined to help fight the climate change. You should also join!
Check out my blog!http://evs-zofi-hungary.blogspot.com
My EVS experience,
It is difficult to put in words my whole experience in Budapest. When I try to close my eyes I see faces. Faces of people with whom our paths crossed here in the heart of central Europe and I still remember emotions it accompanied. People that made me grow. That made me to pacticipate in big things I have never expected to be part of. People who enabled me to feel the unity with other humans in the world. And the final climate action on 24th of October 2009 I participated – Climate Bath in Szechenyifurdo was ... wow ! – the icing of the cake!
I have been a volunteer since I can remember and I wanted to jump up at the chance that EVS offers. When it happened I was at crossroads of life – fresh graduate, not really wanting to have a nine-to-five job, making a living of business English tuition. I was looking for an EVS project before but with no success and then I saw an advertisement on one of the polish NGO websites about a vacancy in Budapest. I decided to go and a month later I was in Hungary.
I remember my first impression when I arrived in Budapest, Keleti railway station. Warm. In the middle of January it was warmer than in Poland or maybe there were just emotions.
The monumental building of Keleti became a reference point to my life in Budapest as me and my French flatmate Amanda lived very close by. You can hear many creepy stories about this location and I was funny to learn that there were bomb alarms several times. Have never noticed.
Budapest – a city where there is still a lot to discover. It was for me a time full of attractions. I had a to play a role in a global climate change grassroot movement 350.org, organize a living library, learn more about Roma issues in Hungary at CEU. It was a great time!
Here are some things I did during my EVS at Zofi in reversed chronological order.
- Klimafurdo, Global Day of Climate Action October 24th, Szechenyifurdo, It was maybe one of the greatest parties one could imagine with 100 volunteers on the spot to ensure the 350 Climate Bath Party in Budapest, Hungary. It was a fantastic atmosphere with 1500 participants in an historical bath of Budapest. We started at 10 PM with a film shooting conducted by a popular film director and than turned to a party - but we measured ppm-level on the spot (552 ppm) and talked about the 350 target and we offset the carbon emission of the party that was 8,5 t which equals 400 dollar. The association who is receiving the money will spend it for a Brazilian biomass power plant in the Amazonas. There were 2 concerts and a DJ. This was really great to be a part of this with All those amazing people. We made a history! More on www.klimafurdo.hu and pictures from all around the world www.350.org.
- Baobab bike climate change tour in Poland with 350.org coordinated by me over 1000 km by bike through Poland, from Cracow to Gdansk is the polish part of the Central European Tour of 'Baobab' - 5,5m high interactive installation. The installation holds an interactive element intertwining with a message on the importance of personal responsibility and the strength of a joint effort: 5 people are needed surround the tree at once placing their hands over the slits/wounds of the trunk, to revive the wilted branches. Similarly we need a common action to solve climate crisis.
The main goal of this tour/campaign was to raise awareness on climate change in Central Europe and highlight the importance of personal responsibility. It also signals the importance of the upcoming United Nations climate change conference this December, where world leaders are scheduled to sign a new agreement to tackle this issue. The decisions made there will determine much of our world’s chances at avoiding the potential for climate catastrophe, including rising sea levels, increased heat waves, droughts, floods, and millions climate refugees. There is also the opportunity for a treaty that will lead the world towards a more safe, just, and sustainable future.
Number 350 written on the trunk is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide – measured in “Parts Per Million” in our atmosphere. 350 PPM – it’s the number humanity needs to get back to as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. Baobab has already visited Czech Republic in June, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. The team who will travel through Poland by bike consisted of 6 people (2 Hungarians, 1 French, 1 Serbian, 2 Poles). The tour was organised with a polish NGO - Polska Zielona Sieć who rafted from Cracow to Gdansk by raft through the Vistula. Both rafting and biking teams met in 5 cities to organize happenings on climate change.
More about the project can be found here www.messzelato.hu/baobab and pictures are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/350org/sets/72157622581251516/?page=7
- Night of museums.
During the Night of Museums Zöfi had a stand in the Széchényi National Library at the Buda castle. It mainly focused on promoting the "Budapest Korzo" project and carless weekends in some parts of Budapest. Every visitor could check their knowledge on the bicycle parts (in Hungarian) which turned to be quite difficult a task. Winner got the sticker "One car less" to stick on their bicycles. Kids helped us paint the "Budapest korzo" logo and all the BP inhabitants could contribute to the "BP of our dreams map" and indicate on the city plan what districts and parts should be changed (i.e. more bike routes etc). In the end we had a nice spider net on it.
- Human Rights training.
What are Human Rights for? Do I realize my rights and am I willing to treat other people with dignity? When I browse through the menu of Human Rights can I afford all the dishes? Do I have enough strength and knowledge to equal them? How much does one dish cost? Are they tasty? Can I have a bite of it, please?
14 people from 7 countries (France, Hungary, Germany, United States, Italy, Spain, Poland) gathered in a small village Salföld near lake Balaton to talk about Human Rights including Amanda -as a participant and Marta - as an organiser. We had great time in our little camp in one hungarian family's garden and some brave individuals had even enough courage to swim in Balaton:)
Training was organized with the help of Utilapu Halozat – SCI Hungary www.utilapu.org together with its volunteer Bogi - who is coordinating the Peace Messengers project in this hungarian brach of Service Civil International.
- The Living Library project I realised with Orsi and Tünde we can call a real success! It took place during the Magdi festival on 16/05/2009 between 2-6pm. The methodology of the Living Library was taken from the Living Library Network Association (www.living-library.org) with their acceptance and blessing. We could use legally their logo and all the materials provided on their website. The most difficult part of the project was looking for living books, but eventually, mostly due to personal contacts and huge work of Orsi and Tünde, we managed to have 5 books: feminist, lesbian, ex-priest, ex-druggie and refugee from Afghanistan. It was even more rewarding when it turned out that most of them speak English or French so we could read the books in foreign languages as well. There were more than 20 readings and all the books were borrowed almost all the time!
Living library is a tool to fight prejudice and promote tolerance. It is a unique chance to talk to people we usually do not have a chance to talk and ask them things we have always wanted to ask but never got the chance!
I want to thank all the people who sacrificed their time and heart to this project: Moni for letting me do it; Orsi, Tunde and Ida for finding the books; books and volunteers for arranging the place; Pawel for fixing the copying machine, Amanda and books for hanging the posters; Tunde and Pawel for artistic help in painting the banner; Rony from UK for help and support in my questions; readers for their respect for diversity and simply for coming there and of course books for having courage to talk about their lives. Without you it wouldn't have worked!
- Movement workshop with Roma kids
Every week, on Wednesdays we had a chance to participate in a movement workshop for Roma kids in Kesztyűgyár Közösségi Ház in the 8th district of Budapest. It was a really difficult task because kids sometimes were very aggressive and just wanted to fight between each other. But it happened couple of times it was great.
Fotógaléria/ Photo Gallery
It is difficult to put in words my whole experience in Budapest. When I try to close my eyes I see faces. Faces of people with whom our paths crossed here in the heart of central Europe and I still remember emotions it accompanied. People that made me grow. That made me to pacticipate in big things I have never expected to be part of. People who enabled me to feel the unity with other humans in the world. And the final climate action on 24th of October 2009 I participated – Climate Bath in Szechenyifurdo was ... wow ! – the icing of the cake!
I have been a volunteer since I can remember and I wanted to jump up at the chance that EVS offers. When it happened I was at crossroads of life – fresh graduate, not really wanting to have a nine-to-five job, making a living of business English tuition. I was looking for an EVS project before but with no success and then I saw an advertisement on one of the polish NGO websites about a vacancy in Budapest. I decided to go and a month later I was in Hungary.
I remember my first impression when I arrived in Budapest, Keleti railway station. Warm. In the middle of January it was warmer than in Poland or maybe there were just emotions.
The monumental building of Keleti became a reference point to my life in Budapest as me and my French flatmate Amanda lived very close by. You can hear many creepy stories about this location and I was funny to learn that there were bomb alarms several times. Have never noticed.
Budapest – a city where there is still a lot to discover. It was for me a time full of attractions. I had a to play a role in a global climate change grassroot movement 350.org, organize a living library, learn more about Roma issues in Hungary at CEU. It was a great time!
Here are some things I did during my EVS at Zofi in reversed chronological order.
- Klimafurdo, Global Day of Climate Action October 24th, Szechenyifurdo, It was maybe one of the greatest parties one could imagine with 100 volunteers on the spot to ensure the 350 Climate Bath Party in Budapest, Hungary. It was a fantastic atmosphere with 1500 participants in an historical bath of Budapest. We started at 10 PM with a film shooting conducted by a popular film director and than turned to a party - but we measured ppm-level on the spot (552 ppm) and talked about the 350 target and we offset the carbon emission of the party that was 8,5 t which equals 400 dollar. The association who is receiving the money will spend it for a Brazilian biomass power plant in the Amazonas. There were 2 concerts and a DJ. This was really great to be a part of this with All those amazing people. We made a history! More on www.klimafurdo.hu and pictures from all around the world www.350.org.
- Baobab bike climate change tour in Poland with 350.org coordinated by me over 1000 km by bike through Poland, from Cracow to Gdansk is the polish part of the Central European Tour of 'Baobab' - 5,5m high interactive installation. The installation holds an interactive element intertwining with a message on the importance of personal responsibility and the strength of a joint effort: 5 people are needed surround the tree at once placing their hands over the slits/wounds of the trunk, to revive the wilted branches. Similarly we need a common action to solve climate crisis.
The main goal of this tour/campaign was to raise awareness on climate change in Central Europe and highlight the importance of personal responsibility. It also signals the importance of the upcoming United Nations climate change conference this December, where world leaders are scheduled to sign a new agreement to tackle this issue. The decisions made there will determine much of our world’s chances at avoiding the potential for climate catastrophe, including rising sea levels, increased heat waves, droughts, floods, and millions climate refugees. There is also the opportunity for a treaty that will lead the world towards a more safe, just, and sustainable future.
Number 350 written on the trunk is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide – measured in “Parts Per Million” in our atmosphere. 350 PPM – it’s the number humanity needs to get back to as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. Baobab has already visited Czech Republic in June, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. The team who will travel through Poland by bike consisted of 6 people (2 Hungarians, 1 French, 1 Serbian, 2 Poles). The tour was organised with a polish NGO - Polska Zielona Sieć who rafted from Cracow to Gdansk by raft through the Vistula. Both rafting and biking teams met in 5 cities to organize happenings on climate change.
More about the project can be found here www.messzelato.hu/baobab and pictures are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/350org/sets/72157622581251516/?page=7
- Night of museums.
During the Night of Museums Zöfi had a stand in the Széchényi National Library at the Buda castle. It mainly focused on promoting the "Budapest Korzo" project and carless weekends in some parts of Budapest. Every visitor could check their knowledge on the bicycle parts (in Hungarian) which turned to be quite difficult a task. Winner got the sticker "One car less" to stick on their bicycles. Kids helped us paint the "Budapest korzo" logo and all the BP inhabitants could contribute to the "BP of our dreams map" and indicate on the city plan what districts and parts should be changed (i.e. more bike routes etc). In the end we had a nice spider net on it.
- Human Rights training.
What are Human Rights for? Do I realize my rights and am I willing to treat other people with dignity? When I browse through the menu of Human Rights can I afford all the dishes? Do I have enough strength and knowledge to equal them? How much does one dish cost? Are they tasty? Can I have a bite of it, please?
14 people from 7 countries (France, Hungary, Germany, United States, Italy, Spain, Poland) gathered in a small village Salföld near lake Balaton to talk about Human Rights including Amanda -as a participant and Marta - as an organiser. We had great time in our little camp in one hungarian family's garden and some brave individuals had even enough courage to swim in Balaton:)
Training was organized with the help of Utilapu Halozat – SCI Hungary www.utilapu.org together with its volunteer Bogi - who is coordinating the Peace Messengers project in this hungarian brach of Service Civil International.
- The Living Library project I realised with Orsi and Tünde we can call a real success! It took place during the Magdi festival on 16/05/2009 between 2-6pm. The methodology of the Living Library was taken from the Living Library Network Association (www.living-library.org) with their acceptance and blessing. We could use legally their logo and all the materials provided on their website. The most difficult part of the project was looking for living books, but eventually, mostly due to personal contacts and huge work of Orsi and Tünde, we managed to have 5 books: feminist, lesbian, ex-priest, ex-druggie and refugee from Afghanistan. It was even more rewarding when it turned out that most of them speak English or French so we could read the books in foreign languages as well. There were more than 20 readings and all the books were borrowed almost all the time!
Living library is a tool to fight prejudice and promote tolerance. It is a unique chance to talk to people we usually do not have a chance to talk and ask them things we have always wanted to ask but never got the chance!
I want to thank all the people who sacrificed their time and heart to this project: Moni for letting me do it; Orsi, Tunde and Ida for finding the books; books and volunteers for arranging the place; Pawel for fixing the copying machine, Amanda and books for hanging the posters; Tunde and Pawel for artistic help in painting the banner; Rony from UK for help and support in my questions; readers for their respect for diversity and simply for coming there and of course books for having courage to talk about their lives. Without you it wouldn't have worked!
- Movement workshop with Roma kids
Every week, on Wednesdays we had a chance to participate in a movement workshop for Roma kids in Kesztyűgyár Közösségi Ház in the 8th district of Budapest. It was a really difficult task because kids sometimes were very aggressive and just wanted to fight between each other. But it happened couple of times it was great.
Fotógaléria/ Photo Gallery