It's the final countdown of Flow4YU -project going on. No more meetings, no more youth events, just DVD under making in Jyvaeskylae + brocuheres + some byrocracy left any more to be completed and send somewhere where the EU -project money exists.
To complete the project the representatives of Partner Municipalities had the last meeting in Croatia, in City of Dubrovnik. I had never visited Croatia before so I was curiouse even because of that.
And what happened: Ravenna never came and they missed a lot I must say. All the rest partners, Fidenza + Cervia from neighbouring Italy, Mjölby from Sweden + Finnish partners Rovaniemi, Jyvaeskylae and Inari were at present.
For me the experience was much more interesting than I could imagine in beforehand.
In a few minutes it was clear what's the reality: Dubrovnik is like Canary Islands or Saariselkae of Croatia. City breaths via tourism. And no wonder: climate is warm, sea is beautiful, mountains are near and something nice to look and maybe to hike too. The Old Town with lots of narrow "streets" is really nice. City is extremely clean, food is good and my feeling is that there's a lot to be seen. Lot more than we could because of the Ceminar... We had just a bit freetime to hang around in city and take a gondol elevator up tp 450 meters and back. But lots of guides, lots of special programs was possible to choose if time.
During our short visit there was, at least it's my opinion, a lot of people, City crowded by tourists. But our hosts told that it was nothing compared to real season in summer. "You have difficulties to walk on streets, and it's really warm and moisty then, better now before or later just after season...". No doubt what they said.
Looking forward to the future...
It was interesting to listen our hosts. Dura is called the Development Agency of Dubrovnik.
We met four fascinating Dura women full of energy trying to improve the future of younger generation.
When listening guided tour and when having discussion came clear the fact that history of area is really coulourful with lots of difficulties, occupations and everything mess. It came clear too that it's not so long ago when they still had a terrible war at Balkan. Maybe it's good to remember... Only 20 years ago, in Europe. We shoud never let it happen again...
Also Dubrovnik had then difficult times. Serbs bombed the city and the Old Town was rebuild later. Some signs are still to be seen. It's shocking, like Kursk monument in Murmansk.
Now I feel that Croatia is getting rapidly better anyway. Younger generation seems to want to leave the shadows of old socialist Tito Jugoslavia and Balkan wars finally and totally backwards. Instead they look to the future. They try to make innovative solutions never heard during old times. We visited an enterprise incubator which is founded to help young people to start their own business. Interesting. When this place started a couple of years ago they got an innovation prize by Financial Times or was it some other big magazine. But anyway: cool.
We visited a youthclub. If I understood it right, there are four of them in Croatia. Club was near the University building and it's runned by young person's voluntary organization. A bit different from Finnish style with possibility to buy beer and smoke inside. I think the target group is for a bit older ones, students maybe. Culture difference again: in Finland we call this kind of place Rock Club or Rock Cave.
But the effort is cool. I think the atmosphere is the same I have seen in Murmansk when doing co-operation with all those marvellous foreign agents friends there. Younger ones want to make a change and they don't wait anymore. And in Dubrovnk as well in Murmansk it has been interesting to see so many young women to do this work for youngsters. Cool. Somebody has to repair the mess the others created earlier. Respect to all those who have the dream and vision...
Flow results and last words
Of cource Flow was the main thing. I've already written something about this project which main aim has been to improve the communication of youngsters and politicians at local level.
I had a bit difficulties at ceminars after the youngsters from project municipalities got their declaration completed in 45 minutes. I thought that after that everything was said and I think that the main issue powered by project was the work between youngsters during Cervia, Inari and Dubrovnik events and on local level between the events and meetings.
Of cource there were quite big culture differences. I think we in Finland have still a long way to go when improving the communication between youngsters and politicians and other structures, it's a neverending path. But at the same time we can be proud about the practices we have created. The gap for instance to Italian similiar is like the Alantic Ocean between Europe and America: tradition missing.
Still they said that it's so difficult... It seems to be a question like question of female priests in Orthodoxian church: no speaking about a thing which never existed.
So. Thinking about best practices from Finnish point of view: there was more to be exported than imported. Anyway: it was cool to hear by Cervia persons about the progress they have made during Flow. Now planning even a center for youth information and projects. Great.
We got progress at local level anyway. Co-operation started with Jyvaeskylae too and will be continued. International level is a bit problematic because of municipal economical issues which are rapidly getting worse in whole Finland. So lots of questionmarks with that.
Whole Flowexperience was finally useful and interesting. Culuture differences and getting to know new persons working in different schedules make people mentally richer. It's just the matter of want to know.
Of cource again differences. I'm not so used to international co-operation. With Russia of cource but wider... In spite of lack of experience I found one really strange moment in Dubrovnik. I think that the final event even in shorter sessions is Part of the process. Big one. It was strange that during last cultural evening our Italian partners were somewhere. Why, nobody knows. Of cource there appeared some various ways to see the things and different opinions during last two years. But it's normal...
Empty chairs was not so pretty especially for our dear marvellous hosts. They showed in a couple of days part of their history, traditions and today. Just those things they have, nothing more...
That was really cool... I mean the hospitality and effort. Lots of thanks to Ena and her Duracollegues. You managed, what happened crossed at least my expectations. I really hope that my first one won't be my last one.
So: Croatia, some day again...
Skoeoe
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