I would like to use this opportunity to address each and everyone of you that nihilistically question everything around you. Your next thought is probably – why now and why me? Maybe that’s the only way I know how to write a 500 word article. Or maybe because I am a soon to be ex-nihilist that is taking this opportunity as an attempt to at least slightly differ your way of thinking.
I’ve never liked to express my thoughts, opinions or point of view by writing it on paper or into the text editor of my computer, which then implicates that writing articles and essays was never my forte. I always thought – what good will it do me? And coincidentally I get assigned this. Coincidentally? Again that old questioner… Equally unclear was the meaning of non-profit organizations as well as the source of motivation of people who „waste" their time running one. Why should that be of interest to me? Again coincidentally I ended up being a member of one. The one who’s logo you see at the top of the page.
My next question was related to the previous one. Why should I attend conferences, exchanges and trainings? To learn? My dated, inflexible educational system has provided me with all the knowledge I would need in life. Don’t get me wrong. I do not oppose formal education. On the contrary, I was a very respectable student and patron of it. But you must understand that for your complete development school alone is not enough.
With that in mind, coincidentally, I found myself at a leadership training – Empowering Youth – Strengthening Communities. The training took place from October 1st to 11th in the city of Cluj Napoca – the European Youth Capitol of 2015 and was funded by the Erasmus Plus program. 29 leaders from 11 European organizations attended the training. The goal of the training was to provide a safe space, conditions and environment which gave the participants the opportunity to experience real life situations. These experiences enabled each one of us to independently, without the pressure and limitations that formal education forces upon us, to come to conclusions and solutions which will result in easier implementation as well as discovery of new ones (solutions) in different social situations and business environment. The outcome is greater proactiveness, independence and creativity of participants.
On this occasion I would like to inform you that YMCA Serbia plans to realize a similar program. Finally, before you ask yourself – what is YMCA, what is our mission and why we do what we do, do not wait for a coincidence, follow our Facebook page and join us at our next event.
