The 30th of April is an important date for  lovers of culture because on this day we celebrate jazz music with International Jazz Day. The goal of this special day to redound the jazz education in schools besides it plays important role in creating equality, developing society.
The jazz is a unique music style which originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans so it has African roots and preserves European traditions. This kind of music create values, Jazzbands were always examples to tolerance, cooperation, mutual understandind and improvisation. Jazz music was one of the first forum for freedom of expressions and gender empowerment. The music is that language what everyone understand, has an important message, blurring the boundaries between countries. The jazz music helps to fight for women rights and create equality.This genre was the propelling force in the Women’s Liberation Movement in the United States. Before the years 1920's almost all popular music was performed exclusively by male musicians.In the begining Storyville, the red light ditrict of New Orleans provided an opportunity for action for jazz musicians. Famous musicians are Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, louis Armstrong. Jazz was the first music style which gave space to women. We have many famous jazz musicians. Famous women in this music genre are Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Ethel Waters. First time in the music history women are not only singers, they are composers and  bandleaders as well. Most often used intsruments inn jazz music are atride piano, trumpet, four-string banjo and saxophone. World known represents of this style these days are Norah Jones, Jamie Cullum, Kendrick Lamar.
Resources used:
http://www.un.org/en/events/jazzday/index.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz
Written by: Ágnes Illés

At the end of April We celebrate the World Bicycle Day . The goal if this UN event to create communities, save the nature, prevent the climate change.
Bicycle is a popular way of transport. Doesn't harm the environment and builds comminuty. There is nothing better than riding a bicycle with your friends.  You can discover wonderful new places and at the end of the day you can get a well-deserved reward, a fresh lemonade or a delicious meal.
Improved facts: If you chooce bicycle instead of car you can spare the environment from 250 g of CO, which is responsible for the greenhause effect. Did you know that bicycle manufactures provides 3 times more jobs than car manufacrures and boost the steel industry?
“The evidence of cycling delivering on the Global Goals is there. With this momentum we hope to get greater acknowledgement of cycling by governments and international institutions worldwide. The observance by the UN of a World Bicycle Day would be strong support towards better awareness of the potential the use of the bicycle has for the achievement of the Global Goals." professed by Bernhard Ensink, secreatary general of European Cycling Alliance and UN World Bicycle Day.
Bicycle is that kind of transport wich is good for everyone, the old and the young, women and men. It is a tool for create the gender equality, moreover a safe way of transport.
The global twitter campaign is under construction which helps to create bicycle community and encourage people to grab a bicycle on the 28th of April. Use #WorldBicycleDay hashtag in your posts.
If you would like to participate in a bike test join to the competitor of the Athens Bike Weekend on 6 and 7 May in the city center which include the 24th Athens Bicycle Round and the st Athens International Criterium. The 24th Athens Bicycle Round will be organised on Sunday, May 7. It stars at 10 am at central Syntagma square, this is a 13 km route. At 10.15 another race starts for children  and persons with disabilities at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Amalias Avenue.
​
Resorces used:
http://www.worldurbancampaign.org/calling-un-designated-world-bicycle-day
https://news.gtp.gr/2017/04/20/grab-bike-join-24th-athens-bicycle-round/
Written by: Ágnes Illés

Personal experiences of the Yezidi New Year Festival Sere Sal
​
On the 18th of April we got invitation from the inhabitants of the refugee camp to celebrate with them their biggest feast, the Yezidi New Year Festival.  After several attempts we were able to enter the camp for the first time. Our friends who often spend their afternoon in the office of Praxis with us were happily welcome us in their homes and they could introduce us their family. The time spent there was longer than we oroginally planned. In the first house we could taste the traditional dishes like dolma, mierr, kibbeh and shilik. Everything was fresh and really delicious, the seasoning of the chicken was perfect. This was the first time in my life when I taste sheep meat. I like the chicken more but it was a new experience and it was really good to try. We have tasted the dolma earlier because the habitants of the camp sometimes give us food as a surprise. This is a tasty combination of rice, spices and traube leaves. Kibbeh is their special pasta what you can eat instead of bread. The fresh kibbeh was made by our host's mother. When we arrived to the house they offered us candys, different fruits like orange, banana. One of the young girl peeled of an orange and gave it to me. The children played with us. The 4 years old boy is a really good athlete, a happy, lively person. It is good to see that the habitants of the camp are really good friends and how they help to each other. To each house belongs only 4 chairs so they always brought from the one flat to the other to have enough seats for us. After the first house we felt  like we can't eat more food but there were still two houses waiting for us with sweets, tea and cola. I have never met with the wives of our friends before, but I was amazed how beautiful they are. They wore pretty clothes, they were fresh and well-groomed even after the all day cooking. We saw red poppy flowers and colored eggs on the table what according to religion bring good luck to the homes and bless young couples with fertility. We played games with boiled colored eggs in every house. We had to knock together the eggs and the winner of the game was that person whose egg didn't crash. We got gifts everywhere, they were happy if we took chocolates and eggs home. As soon as the weather has cooled down the dance started. There was a big football field in the camp which was transformed into a dance floor for this special occasion. All young people participated in the dance and we were pleased to show us. The elderly moved aside to play card games. After the dance the evening was not over yet. Our friend invited us to their house to smoke nargile. We talked, ate, drank beer. It was a great occasion to know each other better and learn something new about the yezidi culture.


The background of Yezidi New Year Festival:

The first wendesday of April is the biggest celebration for Yazidi religion people. They believe that Tawûsê Melek the 'Peacock Angel' who represents God on the face of Earth comes down to the people every year at this time. They hold that it was the day when God created Tawûsê Melek which represents the begining of the new year. This spring day is the symbol of the remembrance, renewal and fertility.
The first wednesday after April 14th is red wednesday. The Peacock angel descented to the earth to calm the lifeless earth, bless with peace and fertility like the dazed colours of the peacock. This is the oldest feast in Mesopotamia. The celebration begins on Tuesday evening with candle ignition which announce the spring.
The coloring of eggs connects to the Easter tradition. These are the symbols of Ishtar who is the most widely worshiped goddess of love, fertility and war in Babylonian and Assyrian religion. The red, blue, green, yellow colored eggs are repsesent the rainbow which appeared when Tawûsê Melek visited the Earth at Lalish. These colored eggs and red poppy flowers brings good luck to the homes and  bless young couples with fertility.
Yezidis believes that on the Red Wednesday the spirits of the dead return to thear graves. On this day they share the food, dance and music with the soul of living and dead. These offerings include oranges, apples and colored eggs. The graves are decorated with eggs, red flowers.The boiling eggs represents how the earth was at first liquid and only then became solidified at Lalish. In this month the marriage is forbidden, the enemies are often shake hands at this time.
Resources used:
http://peacock-angel.org/sere.sal.htm
Written by: Ágnes Illés

The 24th of April is World Day For Animals In Laboratories which is the movement of National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) since 1979. The date marked the birthday of NAVS president, Hugh Dowding.
Despite the hard work of animal protectors, more products are tested on animals. This movement created to terminate the suffering of animals in laboratories. The biggest manifestations were organized in London, Birmingham, Nottingham which goal was to stop the animal cruelty. These organisations deeply condemn animal experiments, not only on the field of the beauty industry also protest the experiments of scientific groups. On 22 April 2009 members of UCLA protested against Prof. David Jentsch who committed biochemical research on animals, this was a significant event where the animal rights activists joined their forces.
Besides many animal die in the experiments these are often unreliable and can couse the death of people because of the various toxic effects. In the BIA 10-2474 Drug Trial experiment one volunteer died, four showed evidence of brain damage, and one lost his fingers and toes.
Although advanced methods are replacing animal research the outdated laws are allow the animal tests before a product enter the market. In every year millions of animals die in these experiments. Researchers at London’s Institute of Neurology have been carrying out invasive brain experiments in monkeys for four decades what is really painful.
You can join this movement if you make a donation and help to stop these experiments, join to the social media campaigns, organise a fundraising event, write to the local newspaper about this problem.

Resources used:
https://worlddayforlaboratoryanimals.org/
https://worlddayforlaboratoryanimals.org/
​
Written by: Ágnes Illés

For two years nine partner cities all across Europe have been studying various possibilities for the re-use and revive former military assets. In working together the cities of Piacenza, Serres, Varazdin, Szombathley, Telsiai, Koblenz, Longford, Espinho and Cartagena took advantage of good practices in other cities in exchanging experiences and gaining common knowledge in this field.

Today four of our PRAXIS volunteers were able to participate in the programmes final conference during which the results of their work since 2015 have been presented and discussed. In addition to our team and representatives from each city also representatives of the European Union’s URBACT Secretariat have attended the event in the Phillipos Xenia Hotel close to the valley of Serres.
The topic of the presence of former military assets that have slowly turned into abandoned areas after the end of their operation period is in fact a highly current topic that has to be dealt with within the European Union. With the aim of turning a potential problem concerning these areas into an engine that could drive change if using an innovative approach the URBACT network MAPS (Military Assets as Public Spaces) called for participants all over Europe in 2015 and effectively contributed to provide various areas with hopes and options to create new civilian futures.
The conference gave people with all kinds of backgrounds (citizens, local stakeholders, political representatives, municipality representatives) the opportunity to debate with urban professionals and decision makers. Throughout the day there were several speeches and presentations as well as an exhibition and the presentation of a short documentary movie.
​
As also said by some of the organisers of today, the event was filled with a lot of information in a short time, but the way of dissemination of the information and of the presentations contributed to an overall positive experience for everyone involved and led to a great exchange of ideas and opinions. Even as outsiders like our volunteers it was interesting to follow the event and to gain some insights on the topic as it is just as well an issue that some of our home areas are effected by as well.

written by Karo Van

International Mother Earth Day is held every year on April 22 and was established to raise awareness about the Earth's ecosystem and mankind's influence and connection to it.
The UN goes on to say the Day should be treated as an opportunity for people to raise public awareness about the challenges surrounding the well-being of the planet and all the life it sustains.

Starting nearly ten years ago, International Mother Earth Day is a reaffirmation of the United Nation's effort to promote its Harmony with Nature initiative and improve mankind’s effect on our planet. The Day was created in 2009, when the General Assembly wanted to add another dimension to, and way of achieving the balance between economic, social and environmental needs of current and future generations. It is named Mother Earth Day since this term had already been existent in numerous countries around the globe to describe this exact date. Names include Pachamama (Andean culture), Terra (Ancient Rome) and Gaia (Ancient Greece). Gaia has also been used to name a theory (Gaia hypothesis) that life on Earth is organised into a complex a self-regulating system.
Earth Day 2018 is dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to fundamentally
change human attitude and behaviour about plastics in employing the theme: “Earth Day 2018: End Plastic Pollution”.
 
resources:
https://www.gcint.org/blog/2014/04/08/international-mother-earth-day/
http://www.un.org/en/events/motherearthday/

written by: Karolin Van

World Creativity and Innovation Day (WCID) has been celebrated in over 46 countries since 2002. People in businesses, organizations, schools, and communities take part in this day to generate new ideas for a brighter future. It occurs every 21st April ever since that year and is therefore celebrated only shortly after Leonardo Da Vinci’s Birthday – the 21st April 1452.
He in fact, was the man that set the standard for what it meant to be a renaissance man, excelling in both the arts and sciences. World Creativity and Innovation Day was established to encourage everyone to dig deep and find their own inner da Vinci.

This international day was recognized by the UN in 2002 only after Marci Segal, a creativity specialist, came up with the idea for World Creativity and Innovation Day. After reading a newspaper headline, “Canada in Creativity Crisis,” Segal decided to do something about it. With the help of her colleagues, she organized the first World Creativity Day to encourage people to use creativity to make the world a better place. In 2006, #WCID became a week (#WCIW 15-21 April) to give people more time to explore together diverse points of view.

World Creativity and Innovation Day provides us an excuse to try to solve old problems in new ways with the potential of finding better and more effective ways to accomplish our goals!
As a matter of fact, creativity and also innovation are topics we as European volunteers talk about quite a lot during our days here. Many of us, no matter where we come from, came to this project to take some time off in order to think about the next steps in our lives. Some already have some rather vague thoughts about what it should look like, while others seem to have created a completely new business plan after a time.
We saw how people initially struggled with their future and in the end had a great idea or were lucky to become part of something that totally amazed them.
Some created their own business after leaving Greece other became part of an uprising start-up company while again others now exactly they wish to establish their own company with time, but don’t have a concrete idea just yet.
But no matter which of us, we are all being more or less creative the whole time of our EVS period. On the one hand, because we are coming up with all kinds of activity or event plans, on the other because we are finding new and innovative ways to live through all kinds of issues, communication problems or plans that are not working out as they should have done.

On a more personal note I have to say that creativity is a character trait that a value a lot in other people. It is something that I grew up with, loving all kinds of areas that are affected by it.
Being a little child I always loved reading books and poems. We were singing a lot of songs and learned a ton of theatres and poems by heart and if I am being honest, I can still remember some of the most memorable and important of them now that I haven’t read them for ages. Creativity education can be among the most important and helpful for children as it allows them to broaden their horizon and helps to grow their capability to find new and different ways of problem solving. Creative people often (of course not always) find new strategies to question things are in this respect frequently more likely to evaluate some happenings in a for others unusual manner.
With tons of new developments to face in day to day work, topics such as programming and robotics for example are only but a few to name in the amount of things that people nowadays have to be creative working with if they have never been in touch with these before. And for sure there are a lot of discussions about whether or not all new developments are truly as innovative and aso helpful as they or their innovators are promising. Often enough people raised up against newly intended things because they were scared and, of course, not everything that is invented stays and becomes part of everyone’s life. Yet, things like the internet, the telephone, the fridge, the radio and whatsoever did not only have a huge impact on all our lives but also paved the way for people with other great ideas to gain the necessary strength and braveness to make their ideas and dreams become a reality.

From my point of view, it is not even necessary for all inventions to become as successful as their inventors want them to be. I believe that, as harsh as it may eventually sound, even good ideas that failed on their way to the top can be a sign and a lesson at the same time. They show us that people are not giving up. It shows that the human species has always and will always be striving for more and wants to create more. Humans are creative. Human are innovative. And that not only because someone came and told them to be – no, but because it is their nature, it is what they have done in the stone age and it will continue like this whether or not some of us appreciate it or not.
World Creativity and Innovation Day is not only abut the big ideas. Much more it is about the changes little things that could come up to anyone’s mind can provide to the society. So for this special day here are some brainteasers of what you could do in order to participate and to use your creativity for the better.
Start the day out by brainstorming, sit down and think of all the things you do during the day and how you might change them for the better. Throughout your day keep a notepad handy for ideas that occur to you, whether they are for your own use, or ways that other people can do things better. Even you may not recognise or believe your ideas could be in fact helpful for many people they eventually are so take the advice and just start and try letting others benefit from whatever comes to your mind. Set it in motion and see where your creativity gets you. World Creativity and Innovation Day could be the day that set your life on a whole new path!
​
Especially, in a time where the world is suffering from a lot of issues who knows what people could achieve when putting their heads together using all the creativity they got. Eventually you and your friends or other likeminded people can develop a plan that will have the ability to create new jobs that have been desperately needed. Maybe you will find a solution for problems such as poverty eradication and the elimination of hunger.

You could change the world. Even if just a little.
But if you never try, who will know 

http://www.un.org/en/events/creativityday/index.shtml

written by Karolin VR

Who initiated World Voice Day (WVD)?As the name suggests, International Voice Day is a worldwide day of action which, since 1999, has been celebrating the phenomenon and the ability of the voice on 16 April. This day of action was initiated by American and European ENT doctors and speech therapists, here under the leading role of the American Academy for Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) and the Portuguese physician Mario André, with the aim of highlighting the central role and importance of the voice in everyday life. That idea was developed further and adopted in different nations. In 2012, Dr Filipa Lã from Portugal, Prof. Tecumseh Fitch from Austria and Prof. Johan Sundberg from Sweden, who were all voice researchers, invited voice experts from several nations to form a global group for the World Voice Day celebration. Currently, the group has 66 members; these members initiate, as well as help, coordinate the World Voice Day events in their respective nations. In 2016, over 700 events were held.
Only why the initiators decided on today's date of April 16 of all things could not be found out in the course of the research.

An international day of action in honour of the voiceWorld Voice Day was established as a special day of awareness, recognition, and celebration of the human voice. Voice is an important aspect of healthy and effective communication. The WVD brings worldwide awareness of the necessity of preventing voice issues, training the artistic voice, rehabilitating the sick or deviant voice as well as researching the application and function of the voice.
After all, the human voice is an extremely diverse organ which, as a communication tool, instrument and research object (of physics, psychology, art and medicine), represents an essential element of human expressiveness. In this respect, anyone who has lost their voice for several days due to hoarseness will understand their important role. Would you like more facts to prove this central role?
No problem. In addition to communication in the private sector, around 30 percent of all professional activities in the industrial nations fall into the so-called speaking professions. In addition, approximately 60 percent of all job descriptions in this frame of reference emphasize the necessity of communicative skills. In the truest sense of the word, everyone knows what we are talking about here.
The voice is more important than ever-in school, on the job, and for social interaction. But many abuse their voice by smoking, shouting, drinking, or poor speaking technique. When problems occur, treatment is often ignored, leading to more significant problems.
The World Voice Day goal is to encourage people using their voice for pleasure or business to learn how they can take care of their voice plus know how they can seek help as well as training and also support research that is carried on the voice. The production of voice is normally studied and applied in lots of disciplines like biology, art, phonetics, psychology, physics, music, speech-language pathology and medicine.

The power of voiceAs already mentioned throughout this blogpost the voice is part of what makes us humans unique. Not only because it is different from person to person, but moreover since it is delivering all kinds of hidden messages and emotions that we – even if we don’t intend to or simply don’t want to – are sending with each word we say. The same applies also if we don’t say anything at all. Being speechless can be just as informative about what is going on in a persons’ mind or heart as 1,000 words.
Working as an European volunteer you get to know about the power that voices can have more than you may have ever before. Not only because you intend to keep raising it for some relevant issue, of course, but also you get to experience first-hand how it can be used to create trust and connection, how it can unite but in the same way part people and how people can overcome their trauma and struggles by just following one single voice.
​
Even if it might not be understandable what another one is trying to tell us this persons’ voice can show you the way to find out what is meant or what the conversation is aiming at. This strength of power is something almost unique that can provide great assistance in building up bridges in multinational environments where most of the people do in deed not speak the same language.  
This effect parallels with the situation of a mother and/or a father singing a song to their new-born child when it is not able (or willing) to fall asleep. This child does not yet understand the meaning of their words and still is able to find comfort and trust in them. Probably because of this widespread act, which is by far known by more than just a few cultural groups, we know have the chance to rely on this exact ability during our work.

More information on International Voice DayIn any case, it can be said that since its foundation in 1999, this day of action has been celebrated with numerous events, symposia, concerts, workshops, etc. all over the world. An overview can be found on the following websites:

• world-voice-day.org
• WVD 

 
Resources used
http://www.entnet.org/WorldVoiceDay
http://world-voice-day.org

written by Karolin VR