Paris
Nina, UK
Paris was the last session of the Grundtvig programme and, after two years, we were seasoned travellers. We had formed our friendship groups and were all old friends. We had learned about each others’ families and shared our successes and problems. Now it was time to consolidate what we had learned. I was excited to be in Paris and to see how being in a capital city differed from Marseille (after all, this organization was located only moments away from the iconic Tour d’Eiffel!). I had expected this larger French organization to be more flamboyant than its smaller counterparts but was once again struck by its simple and modest accommodation - this time on the ground floor of an office block. However, once inside the space was beautifully designed and I was surprised to see how big it was.
The weekend was perfectly orchestrated; the food was wonderful and the weekend was well planned out.
We were now at the final stage of the Grundtvig programme and through the training for the Listening Campaign were able to find ways in which we could develop a network for mentoring and supporting the smaller organizations and also discovering how our own organizations could move forward.
I think that the one thing I learned from these final sessions in Paris is that that you can never be too complacent and that networking is of the utmost importance. I have also realized that, even though we live in different countries, often speak a different language, and are bound by the culture and traditions of the country in which we live, we all share a common bond. We have the same ideals, the same problems and, through the successful networking of Masorti Europe, we can use and share some of the same solutions.
It is sad that these weekends have come to end. I have made some long-lasting friendships and will continue my contact with the people I met. But I hope that future lay leaders will have the same opportunities as I have because that is the only way that our organizations will be able to grow and succeed in Europe.
Nina, UK
Paris was the last session of the Grundtvig programme and, after two years, we were seasoned travellers. We had formed our friendship groups and were all old friends. We had learned about each others’ families and shared our successes and problems. Now it was time to consolidate what we had learned. I was excited to be in Paris and to see how being in a capital city differed from Marseille (after all, this organization was located only moments away from the iconic Tour d’Eiffel!). I had expected this larger French organization to be more flamboyant than its smaller counterparts but was once again struck by its simple and modest accommodation - this time on the ground floor of an office block. However, once inside the space was beautifully designed and I was surprised to see how big it was.
The weekend was perfectly orchestrated; the food was wonderful and the weekend was well planned out.
We were now at the final stage of the Grundtvig programme and through the training for the Listening Campaign were able to find ways in which we could develop a network for mentoring and supporting the smaller organizations and also discovering how our own organizations could move forward.
I think that the one thing I learned from these final sessions in Paris is that that you can never be too complacent and that networking is of the utmost importance. I have also realized that, even though we live in different countries, often speak a different language, and are bound by the culture and traditions of the country in which we live, we all share a common bond. We have the same ideals, the same problems and, through the successful networking of Masorti Europe, we can use and share some of the same solutions.
It is sad that these weekends have come to end. I have made some long-lasting friendships and will continue my contact with the people I met. But I hope that future lay leaders will have the same opportunities as I have because that is the only way that our organizations will be able to grow and succeed in Europe.