i-florence

Here is the interview with Donatella Casale, President of AEGEE, which we will discuss the benefits and objectives of the association.

First of all, what is Aegee?

Aegee (Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l’Europe / European Students’ Forum) is a student organisation that promotes co-operation, communication and integration amongst young people in Europe.
As a non-governmental, politically independent and non-profit organisation AEGEE is open to students and young professionals from all faculties and disciplines – today it counts 15.000 members, active in more than 240 university cities in 43 European countries, making it the biggest interdisciplinary student association in Europe.

What does it offer to italians and erasmus students?
It offers the chance to meet a lot of students like him/her , both italians as foreigners, have fun, travel around europe in a really cheap and funny way and first of all open their minds.

Does it offers chances to live Firenze in a different way?
Of course,at local level we organize language tandems like meetings every thursday in order to meet others students and make a language exchange, we organize also local trainings to involve young people to know Europe, European Insitutions and to be active citizens  in the society.
And of course we never forget to have fun , in fact we organize also international parties and trips.

…So AEGEE gives the chance to attend events all around Europe?
Yes, ’cause AEGEE is also European Level.
The association is in 240 European university cities, it means that AEGEE is a big network and our members can always apply for events that take place around Europe, like meetings, trips,trainings and projects.
Some projects are paid by the Europen Commition that is one of Institutional AEGEE’s  partners, so it means that we can travel and attend really interesting training courses around Europe having tha partial remboursement by Institutions.
The most important project is the Summer University, during the summer hundreds of young european students have the chance to make a cultural exchange of 2 weeks hosted by a local of AEGEE just paying 180 euros !
Locals are in all Europe, from Portugal to Azerbaijan and Turkey, Finland, Cyprus, Greece and so on …

What have I to do to become a member ?
Become a member is really easy, you can write us on our e-mail: info@aegeefirenze.it or come to our weekly meeting every thursday at the Casa dlla Creatività (vicolo Santa Maria Maggiore, 1 ) from 19,00 and ask for AEGEE-Firenze or come to Naima Bar (Via dell’Anguillara , 58) every thurday from 22,30. Fee is 15 Euros and is for 1 year.

And you, how did you decided to become a member?
I decided to become a member when I came back from a wonderful Erasmus period in Spain.
I came back home and I felt that Firenze was too small , florentines too close, too self assured…I needed to continue to feel the European and International breath  that just a period abroad can give, so I looked for AEGEE and I still feel like an Erasmus even if I’m in my home town, but the better thing is the chance to travel around Europe.
So what are you waiting for?? Europe is waiting for you!

Donatella Casale
AEGEE-Firenze-President
www.aegeefirenze.it

Article by Chiara Ermini