Visa Freedom Working Group wants to participate in the AEGEE and European events as much as possible, and therefore:

 

- Fair: we prepared our table for the AEGEE Fair during Agora again!! Blind maps, flag game, quiz, information, videos, Visa Free Coalition booklet – all of this you could have found at our table !

- Workshop: we prepared a workshop which had a great success - 60 participants! Our special external guest Mrs. Kimberli Jo Lewis, the CEO of ponytaletalk.com was talking about integration, travelling skills and the question of cultural definition in our lives. We learnt a lot about ourselves and how travelling is fun and serious matter at the same time. You can read the article prepared about the workshop soon! 

- Activity Report: of course we presented the report of our past activities and actions.

- Criteria Fulfilled: we managed to fulfill 7 criteria from 10. Thanks to everyone who is active in this working group, as without you we would not be able get here!

- Motion: the VFWG was considering the change of the structure from working group into a comittee, in order to help our members be active more in simple things. In the end we have decided to try to activate the working group again with new activities and projects and deal with this transition question later on.. 

 

 

- Fair: we prepare our table for the AEGEE Fair during again!! Game, quiz, information, maps, videos, poster – all of this you can find at our table !

- WorkShop: we prepared a workshop which had a great success during the Summer University in Budapest - discussion about AEGEE, volunteering, VFWG, visas and their purpose. Schengen zone and wider Europe. Flag game, blind map and a little bit of geography. Therefore the participants will learn about visa issues, visa policies, invitation letters, visa facilitation agreements etc. Leaded by Jana (speaker) with the help of other VFWG members.

- Activity Report of VFWG: of course we present the report of our current activities and actions.

- Video of VFWG: we again will use the greatest opportunity to inspire the members of AEGEE and remind everyone that we care about the borders which divide our countries, not hearts - video!

 

 

VFWG is in 2012 cooperating with 3 locals on 2 Summer universities:

- SU of AEGEE-Paris (8.-21.7.) with 2 workshops about administrative impact on visas (a conference on different types of visas in Europe, workshop on how to ask for a visa and all the administrative work to do in a different country, e.g. Turkish people wanting to come to France, …) and student mobility (collaboration with Erasmus/ESN, how to go abroad and the advantages, how to work at European level, etc.) Read the article about the SU !

- SU of AEGEE-Praha and AEGEE-Budapest (26.7.-8.8.) with 4 workshops about the introduction to the topic of the SU (board game from Belén, floor game developed at NWM Tbilisi), visa issues (for organizers, for participants, Visa Facilitation Agreements, Invitation Letters), flag game (recognition), labyrinth question game, blind map, roleplay „When in consulate“ (game of Burak and Thomas) and freedom of mobility (discussion about the purpose of visas based on the WS from Skopje) - see the video!

- Moreover, VFWG was also working with SUCT on the SU 2012 booklet and filled the important parts with the visa info. Also the SU webpages can be used in order to look for an important info about visas, invitation letters etc.

 

 

- Fair: we prepare our table for the AEGEE Fair during the first day!! Games, information, maps, videos and a very cool poster (made by Burak) – all of this you can find at our table ! Thanks to the members of VFWG who take part in it and prepare the stand - Thomas, Basia, Burak, Tika and many new members!

- WorkShop: we prepared a workshop - more like a game - on the topic “Role play”, when participants from the different countries will change roles when applying for visa and being the visa officer. Therefore the participants will learn about visa issues, visa policies, invitation letters, visa facilitation agreements etc. Led by Thomas (secretary) and Burak (HR responsible).

- "paperplanes": the initiative that will remind the member of the Agora that we should still think about our less-advantaged friends who had to cross a border, in order to come to the Agora. The whole initiative is led by Tika, VFWG’s long-time member. Let’s wait for the surprise!

- Activity Report of VFWG: of course we presented the report of our current activities and actions - check it here!

- Video of VFWG: we again used the greatest opportunity to inspire the members of AEGEE and remind everyone that we care about the borders which divide our countries, not hearts - check here! 

 

 

- AEGEE Fair: We want again to participate in the AEGEE-Fair during EBM Izmir, in order to promote VFWG and inform AEGEE members about our plans and activities ! New cool poster, table with games and interesting and usefull information.

- Action Meetings: all members of the EBM participated in the Action Meetings. So did the members of the Visa Freedom Working Group contributed to the Focus Area "Bridging Europe" and developed the actions and initiatives that directly contribute to the Action Agenda 2012.

 

 

- Presentation: the Progress Report was presented on the stage with some new members of VFWG.

- Fair: we prepared our table for the AEGEE Fair !! Games, information, maps, videos – all of this you could have found at our table ! Thanks to the members of VFWG who took part in it and prepared the stand - Raphael, Thomas, Basia, Burak. Thank you guys, you really did a great job!

- WorkShop: we prepared a workshop that was on the topic “Visa obstacles of young volunteers” about visa issues, visa policies, invitation letters, visa facilitation agreements etc. and was led by Jana (speaker) and Olga.

- Proposals: "Working Groups reform" was approved by Agora, which means that the rules and criteria of the WGs changed a bit and we should be able to read the latest version of it as soon as the CD releases it.

"Voting right of envoys" was not approved by Agora, which means that still the envoys of VFWG will not be able to give an indicative vote during prytania.

- Criteria fulfilled: we managed to fulfill 9 criteria from 10, which is a great progress, if we consider the fact that in Alicante we managed 2 out of 10. Thanks to everyone who is active in this working group, as without you we would not be able get here!

- Video: again we prepared a video for the closing plenary, which had again a great success ! You can watch the video here !!

 

 

- AEGEE Fair: we wanted to promote our working group at past AEGEE Spring Agora Alicante 2011 and we found out that the best way will be to take part in the Agora Fair ! On our table you could have found a lot of interesting and useful information about our working group, you could have taken a look at the pictures of our members or watch a video about the purpose of Visa Freedom.

Those ones who visited our table got our activity plan for upcoming year and a lot of contact details, in case that he/she would like to join us, and could have taken for free Visa Application Forms for countries outside of the EU.

Everybody could have also played a game “On the way to get a visa” with us and learn a lot of new things about visa issues and this whole field and win a small present from us, very practical, which you would find definitely useful in future – a passport cover!

- Video: You can also check the video from Agora Alicante that gave us a standing ovation at the Closing plenary !!

 

We are looking forward to take part in future events of AEGEE and hope to see even more people at our AEGEE Fair tables !! Thanks to all who supported us !! Do you want to contact us or join us ?