Meet the Ecofest 2019 Organizational Team
On the 16th of May, 12 volunteers from 9 European countries have arrived in Kazanlak to organize Eko Festival Kazanlak 2019 under the Deep Roots project. Who are they and why they decided to work for free in Bulgaria?
Name: Ana Šimenc
Country: Slovenia
Education and interests:
Where did you finish your education? What did you study?
Medical Faculty, Ljubljana
What do you like doing?
Learning new languages, juggling, hula hoop, taking photos, swing dance, having adventures in nature and small towns, psychology
Why did you decide to come to Bulgaria and be part of the Deep Roots project?
I really liked the idea and all the activities we will take part in.
What do volunteering, ecology, and Bulgaria mean for you in one word?
Volunteering – Connection
Ecology – Life
Bulgaria – Rose
Name: Aurora Juntunen
Country: Finland
Education and interests:
Where did you finish your education? What did you study?
Anthropology, University of Jyräskyla, Finland
What do you like doing?
Arts: music, painting, dancing, etc., sports, nature, volunteering
Why did you decide to come to Bulgaria and be part of the Deep Roots project?
I wanted to do something good and concrete to save the environment. The Deep Roots project seemed to be a possibility to carry on my dreams concerning the environment and traveling. Eastern Europe is a fascinating part of the world and I want to learn more about it.
What do volunteering, ecology, and Bulgaria mean for you in one word?
Volunteering – Sharing
Ecology – Caring
Bulgaria – Adventure
Name: Borys Michalak
Country: Poland
Education and interests:
Where did you finish your education? What did you study?
High school No II Math-physic profile in Lesno, Poland
What do you like doing?
I like painting and drawing. In my free time, I also like to read, watch movies and play video games.
Why did you decide to come to Bulgaria and be part of the Deep Roots project?
I wanted to take part in an EVS project with an ecological topic.
What do volunteering, ecology, and Bulgaria mean for you in one word?
Volunteering – Adventure
Ecology – Important
Bulgaria – Surprising
Name: Clément Breheret
Country: France
Education and interests:
Where did you finish your education? What did you study?
I finished my education after cooking high school
What do you like doing?
Archery, video games, boarding games
Why did you decide to come to Bulgaria and be part of the Deep Roots project?
I’ve chosen to come to Bulgaria for an intercultural experience
What do volunteering, ecology, and Bulgaria mean for you in one word?
Volunteering – Experience
Ecology – Future
Bulgaria – Discovering
Name: Dagmara Leśniak
Country: Poland
Education and interests:
Where did you finish your education? What did you study?
Medical Biotechnology, Gdańsk, Poland
What do you like doing?
Watching movies and discussing them, film festivals, music festivals, playing instruments and singing, sports like swimming, yoga, running, mountain hiking, traveling (solo), organizing events
Why did you decide to come to Bulgaria and be part of the Deep Roots project?
I’ve decided to come to Bulgaria to learn more about the environment and see how to organize a festival from the inside. I also hope that I can be a part of something big and maybe my skills might be helpful. I’m really happy to be here and build a team with such great people.
What do volunteering, ecology, and Bulgaria mean for you in one word?
Volunteering – Opportunity
Ecology – Consciousness
Bulgaria – Nature
Name: Eleonora Tizzano
Country: Italy
Education and interests:
Where did you finish your education? What did you study?
Clinical Psychology in Pisa
What do you like doing?
I like being with other people, doing sport and trying new things. I like reading, drawing, traveling. I like trying to understand other people too.
Why did you decide to come to Bulgaria and be part of the Deep Roots project?
Because I think it’s a great experience, and a chance to grow and try to help other people and nature.
What do volunteering, ecology, and Bulgaria mean for you in one word?
Volunteering – growth
Ecology – life
Bulgaria – discovering
Name: Chloé Bezy
Country: France
Education and interests:
Where did you finish your education? What did you study?
Three-years degree in Art History at University in Tours
What do you like doing?
Walking in nature, all kinds of arts, watch/practice/learn about art and culture.
Why did you decide to come to Bulgaria and be part of the Deep Roots project?
Bulgaria is an unknown country for me and the project of Eco Fest was a chance to discover Bulgaria and its locals. The Eco Fest project creates a meeting point between ecology, art, and culture. All kinds of things I like and I have some knowledge to improve the Eco-Fest.
What do volunteering, ecology, and Bulgaria mean for you in one word?
Volunteering – sharing
Ecology – important
Bulgaria – intriguing
Name: Jenny Wei
Country: Hungary
Education and interests:
Where did you finish your education? What did you study?
I finished secondary school and an American School in Budapest. I will go to University in the U.S.A. this fall.
What do you like doing?
Reading, photography, art, tennis, cooking, writing (short stories, non-fiction), and traveling.
Why did you decide to come to Bulgaria and be part of the Deep Roots project?
I’m deeply interested in how to live and help others live more sustainably. Bulgaria and the Eco-Fest project seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore a new country while helping the environment, and also to improve me.
What do volunteering, ecology, and Bulgaria mean for you in one word?
Volunteering – passion
Ecology – harmony
Bulgaria – adventure
Name: João Rodrigues Bruno
Country: Portugal
Education and interests:
Where did you finish your education? What did you study?
Bachelor of Economics at Iseg Business School, Lisbon.
What do you like doing?
Travel, play football, watch animes, movies and series, hiking
Why did you decide to come to Bulgaria and be part of the Deep Roots project?
I’ve decided I want to be more active in protecting the environment and I came to learn more about it and to turn my words into actions that may change people’s mentalities.
What do volunteering, ecology, and Bulgaria mean for you in one word?
Volunteering – commitment
Ecology – essential
Bulgaria – beautiful
Name: Julia Holewa
Country: Germany
Education and interests:
Where did you finish your education? What did you study?
I’ve just finished my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in Bochum
What do you like doing?
I love dancing (especially Salsa & Bachata), bake, read, meet new people and finding new ways of preventing climate change in everyday life.
Why did you decide to come to Bulgaria and be part of the Deep Roots project?
Because I’m really passionate about our planet and want to contribute however I can to make a change.
What do volunteering, ecology, and Bulgaria mean for you in one word?
Volunteering – growing
Ecology – essential
Bulgaria – exciting
Name: Paula Mazilu
Country: Romania
Education and interests:
Where did you finish your education? What did you study?
Ovidius University of Constanta, Romania. Bachelor of Economical Sciences.
What do you like doing?
Volunteering, traveling
Why did you decide to come to Bulgaria and be part of the Deep Roots project?
I’m interested to learn more about ecology and what I can do to contribute to environmental sustainability for future generations.
What do volunteering, ecology, and Bulgaria mean for you in one word?
Volunteering – evolving
Ecology – responsibility
Bulgaria – roses
Name: Rute Martinho
Country: Portugal
Education and interests:
Where did you finish your education? What did you study?
Bachelor of Design at the University of Aveiro, Portugal
What do you like doing?
Reading, walking around, traveling, staying with friends, sports, movies
Why did you decide to come to Bulgaria and be part of the Deep Roots project?
I was searching for a volunteer project for a very long time and ecology is a topic I am interested in because I want to change my habits to help the planet, so being part of the Eco-Fest project is the perfect opportunity to do it.
What do volunteering, ecology, and Bulgaria mean for you in one word?
Volunteering – sharing
Ecology – caring
Bulgaria – roses
The Deep Roots Project
The Deep Roots Project is EVS (European Voluntary Service) funded by the Erasmus program. Volunteers between 18 and 30 years from the EU or partner countries can participate in such a project lasting from several weeks to 12 months. Volunteers are provided with accommodation, money for food and personal expenses, and reimbursement for travel costs. Find more info about the EU program on europa.eu portal.