Open blog

It’s been exactly two years since the beginning of this adventure.

Yes, CaBuReRa was an adventure for me!

When I was informed that I was going to coordinate an ENPI project about youth mobility with Mediterranean countries, I thought that surely it would have been a demanding path, full of unpredictable challenges, but I never expected it to be primarily an opportunity to meet new people, refresh my knowledge of Arabic and, above all, a way to get in contact with a world and a culture, the Arab one, that increasingly scares and causes distrust.

During these two years I have learned new things related to project management, both from the financial and administrative point of view. I have been able to confront myself with new ways of work and time management. But mostly I learned what it means to live in Lebanon, where a young girl does not have the freedom to choose whom to marry, I discovered the situation of Syrian refugees in Jordan, and I saw with my own eyes how a young Palestinian lives and what it means to live under a continuous control and, above all, deprived of the freedom of movement and of thought.

These two years have been very intense, full of surprises, unexpected events and new, generous and interesting people.

And that is why I will not forget any of them!

I will always thank all of them for having shared with me their stories, their thoughts and their “craziness”, that were also instilled in me!

So THANK YOU Nairouz, Muna, Mohammad, Valentina V., Luisa, Anna, Valentina A., Sara, Federica N, Alice, Federica M., Aurora, Antea, Giorgio, Mario, Alessia , Marta, Sofia, Dario, Caterina, Rosa, Ghaida, Olivia, Suha, Natali, Baraah, Noor, Dalia, Hassan, Wisam, Asil, Saja, Haya, Ibrahim, Yazeed, Georgia, Katerina, Konstantinos, Nicky, Stamatia, Konstantinos, Giorgos, Eftychia, Giorgos T., Katerina, Haris Rose, Hussein, Abbass, Batoul, Zahraa, Hamza, Hussein, Yousef, Reem, Sara R., Sara M., Antonio, Ana, Helga, Daniel, Marisa, Monica, Osvaldo, Ana Catarina, Deema, Ragheb, Zaid, Husein, Esra’a, Al Ali, Dyaa, Zaid K., Nidal, Nahar, Ahmad, Bayan, Sereene, Sara Q., Nardeen, Amro.

Rita Quisillo

What the CaBuReRa project means to us?

In every day of our life, it has never been that easy to appreciate the value of something, while you are still living it. More or less, this is what happened during the CaBuReRa experience.

The reason is that we were so focused on our mobility abroad, with all those sensitive issues related to it, that we almost forgot the importance of the second part of the project in our homeland.

But, to be honest, the local internship in Palermo trained me more than what I expected and, from my perspective, that occurred not just because I improved some skills I already acquired before.

Me and my colleagues, we have had the chance to work in a non-competitive and friendly space. This allowed us be the most confident and creative we could. CESIE became our daily track, the place we spent more than half of our time, working and then hanging around with our colleagues, organising dinners, parties or events. It suddenly became difficult to understand when work finished and life started. And this happens when you like your job and you are devoted to it.

With other participants, I even had the opportunity to propose my own project, to design it, to discuss about it and finally to implement it. Project cycle management became interesting, stimulating, fulfilling and funny. Our ideas started to have an impact on our city, in our country. Full management of this project allowed us develop new skills, and improve those we had already acquired; most importantly, it taught us how to deal with young people from our city (as target group of the project) and helped us realise how fun, interesting and exciting Palermo can be.

And the funniest thing is that we were born and we have been living in Palermo in the same city, and we never met before. But luckily, we employed this last year to know more about each other, to retrieve the time we missed, turning ourselves into incredibly good working partners and friends.

Recalling this experience with all the moments we spent together, it is clear that it was more than a friendship: we grew together. It was an important moment of our life, the end of university and the beginning of work. We faced this strange changeover together, it was as we shared it.

Exactly one year ago, our experience as TG2 started: we then reached many and different places, we lived so many different lives, and we met again in Palermo, where everything started.

Now here we are, together in difference, close in distance, a great team at work, great friends everywhere else.

Federica, Marta & Sofia

On 12th of December some element of the Lebanese CaBuReRa Team went together with the trainer to the Municipality of Khraybeh. After taking one Van and Taxi, we arrive to one of most far the Municipalities, situated just for 4Km away from Syria (See photo 1). Apparently we found a calm place, having in attention all the tough and problematic times that Syria is passing through (and curiously we could even see a car with this hoping statement , contrasting with the current living situation – “Live Well, Love Much…Laugh Often” – See photo 2).

After discussing the needs of Khraybeh Municipality with the Mayor, we reach to a point about continuing the school building they were constructing before with the help of a Lebanese Party from the Government (See photo 3).

There was no doubt that this Municipality is not having so much support because of the location. I felt that is possible to work on the Municipality and individuals (mainly NGOS or INGOs) are just afraid to go in such place (See photo 4), were people are working in agriculture (See photo 5), selling products (ex. Bread) door by door, and where there is the willing to do much more on a daily basis, starting for example for the Education of the Khraybeh children.

We know that in a near future it is possible to help the Khraybeh Municipality with some project that will bring life and development to the population, because there is not such a war or threat that can be stronger that the determination to do!

António Oliveira

Everyone tells the same story in a different way; depending on their own experiences and on their own lives. If I have to share my story, I would say that I’ve recently discovered that the essence to fully living your life is to be able to travel and discover different parts of the world, you will learn how to get out of your comfort zone because whatever scares you will teach you and once you learn how to face it, you will  become a stronger and a more open minded person. In addition, you will have the chance to discover new places in which you will forever fall in love with.

Natalie Esmail

“Can we make this quick? My friends are leaving Portugal soon…”
#International_Friends
Sometimes I find little pieces of paper that give me clues that am really enjoying my time .
Friendship is the soul’s heaven .
#Faro #Portugal

Pouvon-nous faire vite ? Mes amis vont bientot partir du Portugal ”
#International_Friends
Parfois, je trouve de petits morceaux de papier qui me prouve que je profite de moment présente .
L’amitié est le paradis de l’âme.
#Faro #Portugal

!خلينا نحكيها سريعا لنو أصحابي مسافرين قريبا من البرتغال 
مرات بكون ابعبش باغراضي ف بلاقي هيك شوية اوراق بيذكروني قديش انا مبسوط بكل لحظة من حياتي
.الصداقة جنة الروح
#Faro #Portugal

Wisam Jabarin

Although I have traveled a lot, when I came to Portugal, I didn’t know what to expect. Since I came here my experience has been amazing, starting from the professional life, ending with the personal one.

Every day in Faro I meet new people, I learn different values, and language. It’s amazing how my experience could also match and affect others. A few days ago I was walking in the old part of the city of Faro (Cidade Velha), I found a kid playing football, I couldn’t just pass and not play with him, that look on his face just remind me of my childhood in the refugee camp, it was awesome how we don’t even speak the same language but we just played football for almost half an hour, I could manage to know his name by body language “Ricardo”.

My journey in Portugal started almost a month ago, but I already feel like home, I was amazed how quickly I adapted to this place, especially the old part of the city.

I’m truly looking forward to live and add more memories to the beautiful ones that I already have.

Baraah Owdeh

It wouldn’t be weird if I said that this place changes a lot of things in me, I mean in my personality and my way of seeing things around me, having the chance to be in this amazing place with a group of amazing people which I can call them now my Family, also getting friends from other Countries and cultures telling them about Jordan and how beautiful my country is was a whole new experience I hope I can do it more and more again.

As a student of archaeology I was attracted to “Faro” this old quite beautiful city that takes your breath away, I Couldn’t feel bored or getting tired of walking for hours and hours every day through a maze of cobbled streets, watching the incredible Ancient archaeological buildings also decorating the streets with the Ceramic tiles I think it provide a fascinating insight into the history and culture of the city.

The smell of the sea, the waves , the sunset and the sounds of the birds every day is something I Will Always Remember 🙂

Through my tourism tour in Lagos I got a fantastic view of the sweeping sands of Lagos bay with the towering hills and swimming in the Ocean between the Rocks and hills was no one can imagine how i feel after doing that!

I have also visited some of Lisbon’s famous squares, explore vibrant, multicultural neighborhoods, watched a spectacular view of the city, saw the street artists and I was so in love with the electric trams in the Chiado.

It´s going to take me more pages and lines to talk about my life in Portugal, so I will only say that am glad and so lucky to have this amazing experience to work with CRIA Association and be part of CaBuReRa Project.

Much love to ANJE and to all the great team who works there 🙂

Love,

Nardeen Al Sunna´

When we flew over the city the night was still deep black, a puzzle of little orange luminous dots unravelling in intricate lines and circles over the dark hills. Numb from discontinuous and troubled sleep, we landed in the almost deserted Amman airport. One person was waiting for us, dizzier and sleepier than us because of the early waking, with his coffee in one hand, and on his face, trying to conceal tiredness, a big smile, a smile that, as we learned soon, would always welcome us in our everyday life in the office and outside.

Rami left us in our apartment in Khalda, a north-western commercial area of the city. We went out on the small balcony for a cigarette before going to bed finally. The sun was rising over the white city, the sky was of a delicate light blue, when the magnetic voice of the muezzin started to inundate the fresh light air of dawn: “I am in Jordan”, that was the first moment I realized — after so much waiting and organizing for tickets and dates and details — that my journey had really started. Perfect scenario, perfect timing.

Amman is not an easy city for a newcomer. It overwhelms you, with its wide streets packed with cars, hard to find a way to walk through them, through the greyish buildings and the neon light signs of hundreds of shops and fast foods, with the noise of horns and of work-in-progresses filling your ears. But then you manage to draw from that chaos a mental map, no matter how precarious, and to find your way through the traffic and buzz, you start to get used to your new daily routine, and the city starts to look familiar. Only then you can start enjoying Amman. When the guy at the “shisha place” recognizes you and welcomes you with his best smile, when you know where to get the best falafel sandwich ever, when you are sure in that place you’re going to find good music. When you just want to escape from Khalda and enjoy a walk in the greener Rainbow street.

From there I Iike to look at the sunset over the Citadel lying on top of the opposite jabal. The yellow light and longer shades give an uncommon depth to the white city, to the white houses crushed on the slopes of its hills. And reminds you that hidden in the mess of the big metropolis, beyond the appearance of the modern city, Amman offers a warm soul that you can appreciate only by living it, by tasting this little pleasures day by day.

Alessia Carnevale

Antea Enna

Mario Paciolla

Excited. Interested, worried and happy are the complicated emotions that I came up when I first signed a three months away of my country.  When I took the first step I didn’t have any doubt of myself exploring another country and I was definitely sure that this will be one of my fascinating and sensational experiences.

The idea of living abroad was very fun but the truth of departing home was fearful and nauseous.  It was a family gathering on the day I left and lots of heart beating were heard.  Hugs, tears, and smiles were in the space where I had to say goodbye and leave them all alone to travel to Jordan.

At this stage I realized my real suffering with my CABURERA friends whom I met in Palestine since we had to wait for a long long time on the Israeli side where we had to explain every single thing we are going to do in Portugal.  We waited for seven hours with lots of fears, disappointment and lack of hope to learn a new experience away of our country.

After passing this frustrating stage we threw all these bad feelings behind us and overcame it easily and continued looking forward to pass our journey.  Then hope started to light our way when we landed on our beloved Portugal we were rewarded to see Faro’s beach without anyone asking us for our ID’s.

My favorite part besides meeting some new friends and learn some new traditions was seeing the beach every day without any suffering.  I just say “Yallah let’s go to the beach” and everything will be prepared within 15 minutes we don’t have to wait for an age to take a permission to go swimming and breath a clear air.

Thanks God I had my chance to explore a new country, to learn some new words, to meet lovely people and above all to understand that my life is valuable.

Training abroad reveals great and amazing opportunities for a better future and it also gives us the strength to have the ability to change our life to a best one and make all our dreams come true.

Olivia Odeh

I am going to tell you a story about a special city that has a special place in my heart… From the moment I arrived here I had faith that this place will change something in me, will give me an opportunity to see life in a different way. That has happened, not only because it’s about traveling and getting to know new people, I believe that it’s all related to the city itself, its people in the first place, its nature and its simplicity too.

Words can’t describe how gentle, kind and generous people are in here and nothing can give you a clear image of the wonderful nature… Beaches, islands, birds singing all day, move and rose flowers near the Marina, people dancing in the streets, cultural festivals, and live music every weekend… All of these small details bring a peaceful feeling inside me and that what makes it a one of a kind city that will be in my heart and mind forever.

Well, working life here is something that can make you love working! The idea that people work together and have a team spirit as they are a family that aims to achieve a goal will make you proud and pleased to be a part of it. You will have that inside courage to prove yourself and do the best you can do in order to add something valuable to this cohesive and successful family. And besides all of that they always try to strengthen this family through interesting team building activities outside the work.

From today, only one month left and I am trying to feel every single moment in this city to make this month a special one… Thanks to every single person who is making this mobility going in a wonderful way this means a lot to me seeing you doing a great effort so that we can get the best from this experience.

Dalia Lubbadeh