Dear Region,

here we go with the fourth lesson – so you have something to study during your weekend JJ

 

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Fourth lesson: THEMATICALLY DEFINED BODIES OF AEGEE

 

In this lesson I will talk about the “thematically defined bodies”.

 

I.  The Working Groups are groups of AEGEE-members who are particularly interested in a certain issue and organize events (conferences, workshops..) about those topics. The results of the work done are presented at the Agora.

How are WGs born? Well, they have to sign the Convention d’Adhésion like the Antennae (more about this procedure in the next lesson). The members of the WGs elect the board-members – a Speaker, a Treasurer and a Secretary. Often this happens online.

In AEGEE we have 3 types of WGs: AEGEE, Supporting and Thematic Working Groups.

 

Let’s start with the AEGEE-WGs:

The particularity of those WGs is that they have the same status of the Antennae. They are registered as associations, have their own statutes and delegates at the Agora and consequently voting rights.

Which are those WGs??

 

First of all, we have the Academy, also called Human Resources WG since their task is to motivate and provide training for AEGEE members.

They organize internal education events (European Schools, Training Courses..) and run a database with all the IE materials (lectures, case working) and the trainers (experienced AEGEE-members).

If you wish to become really active in AEGEE and organize many many great events, you should check out the calendar of events for IE events, especially European Schools.

 

The Education WG’s topic is Higher Education and its development. They promote the exchange programs and spread information about them. Just a little curiosity: AEGEE had an important rule for the promotion of the Erasmus/Socrates exchange program!

 

Cultural WG – the name says all! They organize and support cultural events (like the Performing Arts Summer School) and collaborate with the projects which enhance cultural understanding and diversity (like the Euro Islam and Find Europe project).

 

Human Rights WG - Its topics cover Balkan matters, visa issues, immigration, crimes against humanity and more. They organize often conferences (for example about human import).

 

International Politics WG – people sharing passion for interantional politics! Celebrations for the EU Enlargement, conferences about European Identity, diplomatic seminars... a very active WG!

 

 

 

Now let’s come to the Thematic WGs. As the name says, they are a kind of platform for discussion and knowledge on a specific topic.

They do not have the Antenna-Status, thus they do not have voting rights.

 

Dance WG – dicovering the roots and traditions of other cultures by dancing.. DWG organizes events with dance workshops, dance exhibitions (the last one in Torino)... The motto of this WG is “shake it!” – you can imagine why :)  

 

East West WG – they support the development of AEGEE-locals in Central and Eastern Europe and their integration with the ones from Western Europe. Meanwhile AEGEE expanded to the Caucasus – not bad if we consider that 15 years ago it didn’t exist in Eastern Europe..

 

Voyage WG is the youngest one: it exists since the Fall Agora 2003. It deals with… travelling! They set up a database with useful information about how to get to an event and then to the next one ;)

 

 

Last but not least, we have the Supporting WGs:

They support the CD and the locals in a specific task.

 

Bobigosa is the WG with the most curious name. It was created by some experienced AEGEE members  in order to elaborate fruitful proposals and to discuss about their vision of AEGEE and in particular what AEGEE should be but is not. Some examples? They promoted tranparency and the compulsory speed course about AEGEE at every Summer University.

 

Information Technology WG – the WG for computer-maniacs. Of course they manage the IT infrastructure of AEGEE (databases, servers etc) and deal with IT related topics. They have an own IE event which is the IT European School.

 

Public Relations WG – they support the CD and the Network in PR activities and work to improve the image and visibility of AEGEE. Even they have their “own” IE event: PR European School.

 

Visa Freedom Fighters – they are a group who strive for the abolition of visas and obstacles for persons’ mobility in Europe.

If a local organizes an event, they have to care about the visas of participants who need it. Did you ever ask yourself how to ask for a visa (and obtain it)? Just read the online-visa booklet on http://web.aegee.org/visabooklet , published by the VFF.

 

 

Did you find YOUR WG? Then… go to www.aegee.org/wg and get registered to your favourite WG(s)! Just login with your aegee-ID (see second lesson), then click on the WG and “JOIN”. The WGs have their own mailinglists – if you want to subscribe to one, go to http://www.karl.aegee.org/aeg-web.nsf/Full/Office--Mailinglists

So you will be up to date with the activities, elections ecc…

 

 

II.  Projects- a detailed report about the actual projects will be sent by Marino soon.

Meanwhile you can get some info visiting

http://www.karl.aegee.org/aeg-web.nsf/Full/Projects--Projects?OpenDocument

 

 

 

Next lesson about the geographically defined bodies (Antennae..) will follow soon!

Have a nice weekend

 

Anna