Evropska solidarnostna enota ESE (ali European solidarity corps) je del evropskih programov na področju mladine in solidarnosti. Mladim osebam ponuja priložnosti za udejstvovanje v solidarnostnih aktivnostih na različnih področjih, kot so vključevanje migrantov, okoljskih izzivih, preprečevanju naravnih nesreč, mladinskih dejavnostih in humanitarni pomoči. Mladim ponuja izkušnjo, ki zagotavlja navdih in opolnomočenje mladih, ki želijo pomagati, se učiti in razvijati.

V okviru projekta, so se nam za 8 mesecev v KNOF-u, pridružili trije ESE prostovoljci. Zastavili smo jim nekaj vprašanj, da jih bolje spoznamo. Prvi se nam predstavi prostovoljec Asil.

Kako bi se opisal? (od kje prihajaš, tvoji hobiji, interesi) Zaupaj nam kakšno zanimivost o sebi?

Prihajam iz Turčije. Moji hobiji so: tek, plavanje, deskanje na snegu, učenje jezikov in spoznavanje različnih kultur. Pomoč ljudem je tudi moj hobi.

Zakaj si se odločil za prostovoljstvo na KNOF-u?

Vem, da bi odgovor moral bit povezan s KNOFom, vendar je pravi razlog Doroteja in njena odkritost 🙂 Pravzaprav sem vedno varčeval. Ne maram metati stvari, še več, metanje stvari mi gre na živce. Zato se miselnost KNOFa dobro ujema z mojo. In kot rezultat tega, sem si želel biti tukaj.

Česa se želiš naučiti/realizirati v naslednjih 8 mesecih?

Čeprav imam varčevalno miselnost, se mi je zdelo, da sam nisem sposoben ukrepati. S KNOF-om bom lahko prispeval nekaj k tej miselnosti in tako se bom počutil bolj izpopolnjenega. Zanimajo me vse vrste trajnostnega razvoja, zato se že veselim novega znanja. Želel sem le verjeti, da lahko zero waste miselnost doseže večino prebivalstva na svetu.

KNOF deluje na področju trajnosti, krožnega gospodarstva,… katero področje tebe najbolj zanima?

Kolikor vem, krožno gospodarstvo temelji tudi na trajnosti. Zanima me, kako ovrednotiti in narediti uporabno tisto, čemur pravijo odpadki, in iz njih tudi nekaj proizvesti.

Od kod izvira tvoje zanimanje za trajnost, krožno gospodarstvo?

Mislim, da je to posledica moje družinske kulture. Vedno sem verjel, da imamo omejene vire vsega, zato sem vedno težil k temu, da jih porabim manj in prihranim za pozneje.

Kako pa ti prispevaš k bolj trajnostnem načinu življenja?

Odraščal sem tako, da sem nosil oblačila svojih starejših bratov. Raje smo kupili enega (kakršen koli material, hrano itd.) in si ga delili, kot da bi kupili tri, za vsakega svojega. Uporabljal sem javni prevoz, namesto da bi imel vozilo. Ponošena oblačila uporabim za izdelavo krp za prah. Uporabljam okolju prijazne izdelke. Živim preprosto.

Kakšni so tvoji prvi vtisi o KNOFu in življenju v Sloveniji?

Mislim, da je KNOF v Sloveniji našel čudovite zaposlene. Ste tako iskreni, kar pozitivno vpliva na vse, kar tukaj počnete. Ko sem prišla sem, sem bil vesel, ko sem videl, da bom v mali tovarni. Slovenija je majhna država in število prebivalcev je manjše v primerjavi z mesti, kjer živim. V tej državi se lažje osredotočim nase in na svoj notranji mir. Narava je neverjetna, cenim, da lahko povsod vidim zeleno. Ulice so čiste, ljudje so iskreni in navdušeni nad odkrito komunikacijo.

Kakšne razlike opažaš med krajem od koder prihajaš in tu kjer si sedaj?

Odraščal sem v prenatrpanem mestu, zato sem se tam počutil nemirno, kot da ne pripadam. Tu sem našel, kar sem iskal. V moji državi je težko zaščititi osebni prostor in življenjski slog, ki si ga želiš živeti. Ker so ljudje tako zelo vpeti drug v drugega. V moji državi je tako rekoč nemogoče, da bi se dolgočasil, če si del te kulture. Vedno je nekaj, zaradi česar se lahko veseliš, žalostiš, razmišljaš itd.

Bi še kaj dodal?

Hvala za priložnost, ki ste jo ustvarili za nas 🙂

How would you describe yourself (where are you from, your hobbies, interests) Tell us something interesting about yourself?

I am from Turkey.My hobbies are running,swimming, snowboarding learning languages,getting to know cultures. Helping people is also my hobby.

Why did you decide to volunteer at KNOF?

Yes I know the answer should be related to KNOF but the reason is Dorotejas`s sincere characteristics :). Actually I have been always in saving mode. I don’t like waste anything moreover wasting gets on my nerves. So mentality of KNOF fits well with mine. As a result of that I wanted to be here.

What do you want to learn/realise in the next 8 months?

Even if I have saving mentality I have not felt that I am able to take action. With KNOF I will be able to make some contributions to the mentality and it will make me feel more complete. I am interested in every kind of sustainability so learning anything will make me happy. I just wanted to believe that 0 waste mindset is able to reach majority of population in the world.

KNOF works on sustainability, circular economy,… which area of KNOF’s work are you most interested in?

As far as I know circular economy is based on sustainability as well. I am interested in evaluating and make useful what they call waste and also produce something out of them.

Where does your interest in sustainability, circular economy come from?

I guess it comes from my family culture. I have always believed that we had limited sources of anything so I always tend to use them less and save for later.

How do you contribute to a more sustainable way of life?

Personally I have grown by wearing my elder brothers`s old clothes. We have been preferred to buy one(any material,food etc.) and share than to buy 3 for each other. I have been using public transportation than having a vehicle. I make up swab from the worn clothes. I use eco-friendly products. I keep my living simple.

What are your first impressions of KNOF and life in Slovenia?

KNOF has found the lovely employees in Slovenia I guess. You are so sincere which has positive effect on everything you do here. I was happy to see that I will be in a atelier when I arrived here. Slovenia is a small country and population is less in comparison to cities I live. In that country it is easier to focus myself and inner peace of me. Nature is amazing I appreciate that I can see green everywhere. Streets are clean, people are sincere and enthusiastic to have candid communication.

What differences do you notice between where you come from and where you are now?

I have grown crowded city, so actually I felt out of place and peace there. Here I found what I have been looking for. In my country it is hard to protect personal space and the life style that you want to live. Because people are so into each other. In my country it is like impossible to get bored if you are the part of that culture. There is always something to be happy, sad, think etc.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks for the opportunity you created for us 🙂