END OF THE PROJECT . . . PURSUING PEACE

The 25^th December plays a key role when considering the whole project: it represents the time to reflect on results and efforts of the ten days spent together in Tunisia. The question participants are asking themselves is: what remains after the material end of the project? For answering to this question we have to consider the concrete and human outcomes the group has achieved.  

          
By the end of the project it is possible to realize how all participants has worked and lived in a serene and productive environment, always sharing a common sense of responsibility while pursuing the objectives, facing new challenges and experiencing new ways of life.

          
             Participants enriched themselves by living Tunisia, studying the theme of peace related to nature and connected to the culture of olive trees.  This last, has brought an important message of unity among all participants because of the historical and social role of nature (and olives in particular) among the Mediterranean area.

              All the events organized during the project (including conferences, different workshops, study groups, cultural visits and surprises) introduced all participants to the Tunisian culture, its social services, its political and social features while pointing out the theme of revolution as a source of new bridge and understanding between Europe and North-Africa: revolution must be accompanied at the same time with the concept of evolution among society.              

          From the countryside of Sousse passing by the sunset in Tunis and the energy of nature in Sidi Bou Said: we have been walking through Habib Bourguiba Avenue feeling that a r-evolution happened few time ago; we admired the simplicity and the energy of Tunisian people, appreciated their smile and understood how rewarding is plucking olives all together under the warm Tunisian sun.  

         
          During the first day, all participants were invited to share their own “fears and expectations” about the project: not only an ice-breaker because the game pointed out the perspectives and objectives of each single participant. While approaching to the material end of the Euro Med project “Culture de l’Olivier . . . Culture de la Paix” results are outstanding. “Peace” has continuously been pursued and stressed in each situation. The group actively answered to all the inputs given while sharing common values of consciousness and responsibility.

          But the question is: what will remain to us after we take our way back to our original realities? Fortunately, the answer can be found in the project itself. This relevant opportunity of knowledge will be the key while facing new challenges in our single walk of life. When thinking about Tunisia and its people, when confronting, when approaching to material and spiritual issues, when organizing an event, when spreading peace in talking and acting, when accepting changes and taking our own way for evolving every day, there will always be the energy and the remembering of this ten days spent in Hammam Sousse. 

          This is the time for thanking all the Tunisian organizers and all the Italian, German, French, Tunisian, Algerian and Egyptian participants for this important opportunity of life: let’s continue pursuing peace, in our hearts, in our minds, in our actions!  

Riccardo Zennaro 
Multimedia Workshop

Hammam Sousse, 25th December 2011.

PLUCKING OLIVES . . . SPREADING PEACE

             Wednesday 21^st December has been a key date for the Euro Med project “Culture of Olive Trees . . . Culture of Peace”. Each participant had the possibility to directly understand the general features of Tunisian agronomy and the importance of relevant social activities of the area. 

          “Close your eyes” said Jalel - Tunisian organizer of the project – to all the participants while approaching the end of the day in a dark room surrounded by candles, “and think about what this day has meant to you”. Silence and reflection helped people to realize the important feeling and objective of the day: serenity with a “peaceful” sentiment for people and Nature.   
  

            “We had a great human experience at the SOS Akouda Institut” said Lisa from France adding that entering to Tunisian social services is a key experience for better understanding the way of life and the commitment for volunteering in Tunisia. 

        
       “I really would like to stress the point that today, all of us have been in touch with Nature” added Riccardo from Italy sustaining that plucking olives during the afternoon let us understand why olive trees and the culture of olives represent a holy source of peace among different people and different cultures. Nature in fact is a source of unity: staying in touch with Nature (for example while collecting olives) it is certainly a resource of peaceful sentiments. This should be an important input for facing the social, political and economical challenges of present and future all around the world. 

          Elio from Italy stressed that “The most relevant feeling I had is that today we have been together in a wonderful team and group spirit and to me, this is the first objective for transnational cooperation, human understanding and peaceful attempts: this is not only valid for this project but it should be the basics for each single human being while following his own walk of life”.

Riccardo Zennaro 
Multimedia Workshop

Hammam Sousse, 22nd December 2011. 

CULTURE OF OLIVE TREES . . . CULTURE OF PEACE

           
          “Culture is something that remains in our minds after we forget everything“. Culture of Olive Trees . . . Culture of Peace it is more than a Youth in Action Euro-Med project. It represents an opportunity for creating new bridges among the Mediterranean European and North African countries, cultures, traditions and perspectives of living. The core theme of the ten­­-days youth project – the culture of olive trees linked to the concept of peace – represents a relevant key for interacting and facing the new challenges in the Euro Med contest after the Arab Spring.

          Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Italy, France and Germany share a unique background about the past and current culture and use of olives. As a matter of fact, olive oil has historically been used in several domains: nutrition, medicaments, healing and also for religious and defending purposes. (When boiled, olive oil was as a powerful shield against armies).

        
         The whole Mediterranean area is also known as an olive region due to its geographical and climatic unique characteristics. This means that the way of harvesting and taking care of each individual plant is similar among all the different countries and traditions. In addition to this, the establishment of an International Olive Council represents a source of transnational supervision when producing and selling olive oil paying attention to general rules and standards.

         
          The culture of olive oil and trees carries a meaningful message of unity especially when considering the Mediterranean territory; this message includes a transnational perspective among different ways of live, cultures and religions. Historically, olive oil was considered as a privileged and holy element suitable for heroes (according to Greeks and Romans): at present, the role of olive oil and the culture of olive trees have been changed and evolved but the importance and the peaceful message of its purpose still remains the same among different populations. 

          The project “Culture of Olive Trees . . . Culture of Peace“ turns these perspectives of unity and peace into reality, by encouraging European and North African youth while working, living and sharing their ways of life together in a serene and productive environment.

Riccardo Zennaro
Multimedia Workshop

Hammam Sousse, 20 December 2011.