December, 3-6
AUTUMN MEETINGS 2021
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg
Autumn Meetings is an annual public event in St. Petersburg, organized by Bridge It in cooperation with partners, dedicated to the trends and problems of modern Europe which are reflected in the format of discussions and workshops with European experts.
This year's topic — How is Volunteering Changing in Europe?
Why participate?
Communication
Discussions, workshops, public talks focus on active dialogue between participants and experts. Besides, you can listen to inspiring stories of volunteering from former or current volunteers and communicate with experts and participants outside of the main sessions.
Networking
During open spaces, you can meet like-minded people, exchange experiences, share ideas, and even discuss collaboration opportunities. Experts, activists, and NGOs from Russia will exchange their experiences with European experts and make new friends and connections.
Skills
Workshops will provide new volunteers and NGOs with valuable skills that will help them in their future projects.
Knowledge
As a part of the Autumn Meetings, we invite experts from different European countries and from various professional areas. During the discussions and workshops, you can gain more knowledge and understanding on the topic of volunteering.
Schedule
All events will be held Moscow Time (GMT+3/CET+2)
Friday
December, 3
December, 3
Workshops
18:00-19:30 — Public talk: From a one volunteer-buddy project to 1400 active volunteers throughout the organization
Moderators: Marit Postma, manager of De Regenboog Groep, the Netherlands
Vasilisa Moleva, volunteer coordinator, Nochlezhka
Format: offline
Venue: Nochlezhka, Borovaya st., 112B
In this public talk you will hear a story of De Regenboog Groep — an organization that helps homeless people in Amsterdam. Marit Postma, manager of De Regenboog Groep, will share her experiences on how her organization has been developing over the years, its mission, and how it is changing the social field in Amsterdam. Vasilisa Moleva, volunteer coordinator, will present Nochlezhka's mission and how its volunteer work is organized.
17:00-18:30 — Workshop: How can social responsibility of higher education institutions as Third Mission be embedded in the self-image of Higher Education Institutions?
Moderator: Meike Bredendiek, University of Cologne, Germany
Format: online
Next to the two other missions (research and education), a lot has been said about the HEI’s third mission: the social responsibility. However, the majority of initiatives and projects still rely on single person’s engagement and initiation. How can it be institutionalized and which effects would this institutionalizing have? This workshop aims at HEIs and stakeholders.
18:00-19:30 — Public talk: From a one volunteer-buddy project to 1400 active volunteers throughout the organization
Moderators: Marit Postma, manager of De Regenboog Groep, the Netherlands
Vasilisa Moleva, volunteer coordinator, Nochlezhka
Format: offline
Venue: Nochlezhka, Borovaya st., 112B
In this public talk you will hear a story of De Regenboog Groep — an organization that helps homeless people in Amsterdam. Marit Postma, manager of De Regenboog Groep, will share her experiences on how her organization has been developing over the years, its mission, and how it is changing the social field in Amsterdam. Vasilisa Moleva, volunteer coordinator, will present Nochlezhka's mission and how its volunteer work is organized.
17:00-18:30 — Workshop: How can social responsibility of higher education institutions as Third Mission be embedded in the self-image of Higher Education Institutions?
Moderator: Meike Bredendiek, University of Cologne, Germany
Format: online
Next to the two other missions (research and education), a lot has been said about the HEI’s third mission: the social responsibility. However, the majority of initiatives and projects still rely on single person’s engagement and initiation. How can it be institutionalized and which effects would this institutionalizing have? This workshop aims at HEIs and stakeholders.
Saturday
December, 4
December, 4
First conference day | Discussions
14:45-15:00 — Opening
15:00-16:00 — Discussion: Volunteering in Europe: which main trends and new practices are emerging now and for the future?
Moderator: Natalia Kudryavtseva, German-Russian Meetings Centre, St. Petersburg
Experts:
16:00-16:30 — Coffee break / Open Space
16:30-17:30 — Discussion: How is the understanding of volunteering and activism changing in different countries?
Moderator: Ivan Gutorov, Trava
Experts:
17:30-18:00 — Coffee break / Open Space
18:00-19:30 — Fireside conference: “My story of volunteering”
During this session current and former volunteers will talk about their personal experiences and how volunteering has changed their lives.
Format: online & offline
From 19:30 onward — Open space
Venue: Bridge It, Ligovsky prospect, 87, office 300
14:45-15:00 — Opening
15:00-16:00 — Discussion: Volunteering in Europe: which main trends and new practices are emerging now and for the future?
Moderator: Natalia Kudryavtseva, German-Russian Meetings Centre, St. Petersburg
Experts:
- Stian Slotterøy Johnsen, Norway
- Corinna Schüler, Kölner Freiwilligen Agentur, Germany
- Marion Cloarec, France
- Jelena Kamenko Mayer, DKolektiv, Croatia
16:00-16:30 — Coffee break / Open Space
16:30-17:30 — Discussion: How is the understanding of volunteering and activism changing in different countries?
Moderator: Ivan Gutorov, Trava
Experts:
- Adriana Bascone, European Youth Energy Network, Austria
- Julia Perić, University of Osijek, Croatia
- Cedric Lecat, freelance trainer, Germany
- Dario Planert, former kulturweit-volunteer, Germany
17:30-18:00 — Coffee break / Open Space
18:00-19:30 — Fireside conference: “My story of volunteering”
During this session current and former volunteers will talk about their personal experiences and how volunteering has changed their lives.
Format: online & offline
From 19:30 onward — Open space
Venue: Bridge It, Ligovsky prospect, 87, office 300
Sunday
December, 5
Workshops
11:00-12:30 - Workshop: Volunteering abroad – only for rich kids?
Speakers: Dario Planert, Nele Harder, kulturweit, Germany
Format: online
During the workshop experts will take a look into the obstacles volunteers can face, especially when coming from low-income families. They will discuss about their specific experience and how they are trying to make the volunteering program they participated in more inclusive. And finally, experts would like to enter into an interactive discussion with participants, learning about your experiences and exchanging ideas for possible solutions.
15:00-16:30 — Workshop: Measuring the impact of volunteering on personal well-being and social inclusion.
Moderator: Jelena Kamenko Mayer, DKolektiv, Croatia
Format: offline
Venue: Ogurtsi, Fontanka river, 96
The Making it matter - the impact of volunteering on social inclusion manual presents a simple tool for regular monitoring and evaluation of impact of volunteering on social inclusion that is evidence based, linking volunteer experience and its benefits with the impact on overall people’s well-being. This tool is designed for volunteer involving organizations to demonstrate the impact that volunteering can have on different categories of disadvantaged young people, while at the same time supporting volunteers in reflecting on their personal achievements.
15:00-16:30 — Workshop: 1:1 Buddy Teams in the field of volunteering: experience of Kölner Freiwilligen Agentur, case of supporting volunteers who support refugees.
Moderator: Corinna Schüler, Kölner Freiwilligen Agentur, Germany
Format: online
Based on the experiences of the projects "Mentorships for Refugee Families", "Sponsorships for Refugee Children" and "Welcome Walk" the workshop will look at the most important aspects of these concepts and discuss the questions that arise when planning and implementing tandem projects such as "How can sponsorship projects succeed?", "How do you bring the people involved together?", "What are the challenges?". The workshop is aimed at volunteer coordinators of tandem projects and those who want to become one.
15:00-16:30 — Workshop: The power of effective communication: about building your brand, art, storytelling, strategy & other superpowers for activism/volunteering/NGOs
Moderator: Adriana Bascone, European Youth Energy Network, Austria
Format: offline
Venue: Bridge It, Ligovsky prospect, 87, office 300
Communication leads to social change. But do you think that you are already using the best available tools to boost social change through your NGOs, activism and volunteering? In this workshop participants will map out some of the superpowers of communication: strategic communications and memes, Ganz storytelling & the power of stories for campaigning; the golden circle, archetypes, brand voices & moodboards; cognitive theory and breaking our mind's habits, brandalism, the connection between journalism and science-fiction as well as framing, culture jamming and how to make the invisible visible. You will take home new creative tools from across the world, and learn from EYEN, the brand-new network of energy-focused youth organizations.
Second conference day | Discussions
17:00-18:00 — Discussion: How are the practices of engaging and motivating new volunteers changing in European NGOs?
Moderator: Elena Belokurova, Bridge It
Experts:
18:00-18:30 — Expert's Exchange Session: European experts give their feedback and share what they learned from Russian experts
18:30-19:00 — Closing
From 19:00 onward — Open space / communication
Venue: Bridge It, Ligovsky prospect, 87, office 300
11:00-12:30 - Workshop: Volunteering abroad – only for rich kids?
Speakers: Dario Planert, Nele Harder, kulturweit, Germany
Format: online
During the workshop experts will take a look into the obstacles volunteers can face, especially when coming from low-income families. They will discuss about their specific experience and how they are trying to make the volunteering program they participated in more inclusive. And finally, experts would like to enter into an interactive discussion with participants, learning about your experiences and exchanging ideas for possible solutions.
15:00-16:30 — Workshop: Measuring the impact of volunteering on personal well-being and social inclusion.
Moderator: Jelena Kamenko Mayer, DKolektiv, Croatia
Format: offline
Venue: Ogurtsi, Fontanka river, 96
The Making it matter - the impact of volunteering on social inclusion manual presents a simple tool for regular monitoring and evaluation of impact of volunteering on social inclusion that is evidence based, linking volunteer experience and its benefits with the impact on overall people’s well-being. This tool is designed for volunteer involving organizations to demonstrate the impact that volunteering can have on different categories of disadvantaged young people, while at the same time supporting volunteers in reflecting on their personal achievements.
15:00-16:30 — Workshop: 1:1 Buddy Teams in the field of volunteering: experience of Kölner Freiwilligen Agentur, case of supporting volunteers who support refugees.
Moderator: Corinna Schüler, Kölner Freiwilligen Agentur, Germany
Format: online
Based on the experiences of the projects "Mentorships for Refugee Families", "Sponsorships for Refugee Children" and "Welcome Walk" the workshop will look at the most important aspects of these concepts and discuss the questions that arise when planning and implementing tandem projects such as "How can sponsorship projects succeed?", "How do you bring the people involved together?", "What are the challenges?". The workshop is aimed at volunteer coordinators of tandem projects and those who want to become one.
15:00-16:30 — Workshop: The power of effective communication: about building your brand, art, storytelling, strategy & other superpowers for activism/volunteering/NGOs
Moderator: Adriana Bascone, European Youth Energy Network, Austria
Format: offline
Venue: Bridge It, Ligovsky prospect, 87, office 300
Communication leads to social change. But do you think that you are already using the best available tools to boost social change through your NGOs, activism and volunteering? In this workshop participants will map out some of the superpowers of communication: strategic communications and memes, Ganz storytelling & the power of stories for campaigning; the golden circle, archetypes, brand voices & moodboards; cognitive theory and breaking our mind's habits, brandalism, the connection between journalism and science-fiction as well as framing, culture jamming and how to make the invisible visible. You will take home new creative tools from across the world, and learn from EYEN, the brand-new network of energy-focused youth organizations.
Second conference day | Discussions
17:00-18:00 — Discussion: How are the practices of engaging and motivating new volunteers changing in European NGOs?
Moderator: Elena Belokurova, Bridge It
Experts:
- Marit Postma, De Regenboog Groep, Netherlands
- Ewa Romanowska, Borussia, Poland
- Lucas Lerbech, Operation Dagsværk, Denmark
18:00-18:30 — Expert's Exchange Session: European experts give their feedback and share what they learned from Russian experts
18:30-19:00 — Closing
From 19:00 onward — Open space / communication
Venue: Bridge It, Ligovsky prospect, 87, office 300
Monday
December, 6
University section
17:00-18:00 — Discussion: How is student volunteering changing inside and outside universities?
Moderator: Daria Merkurieva, student of Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Experts:
18:00-18:10 — Coffee break / Open Space
18:10-19:30 — Workshop: Service Learning: connecting community with HEI, experience of the University of Osijek
Moderator: Julia Perić, University of Osijek, Croatia
Format: offline
Educational programs, also known as “academic service learning programs“, allow students transfer knowledge and skills gained in the classroom into practical projects within their communities thus becoming more socially aware and active. This workshop is aiming at students who would like to learn more about such programs and how they can initiate something similar in their universities.
Venue: Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Galernaya st., 58-60
17:00-18:00 — Discussion: How is student volunteering changing inside and outside universities?
Moderator: Daria Merkurieva, student of Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Experts:
- Jelena Kamenko Mayer, DKolektiv, Croatia
- Julia Perić, University of Osijek, Croatia
- Meike Bredendiek, University of Cologne, Germany
18:00-18:10 — Coffee break / Open Space
18:10-19:30 — Workshop: Service Learning: connecting community with HEI, experience of the University of Osijek
Moderator: Julia Perić, University of Osijek, Croatia
Format: offline
Educational programs, also known as “academic service learning programs“, allow students transfer knowledge and skills gained in the classroom into practical projects within their communities thus becoming more socially aware and active. This workshop is aiming at students who would like to learn more about such programs and how they can initiate something similar in their universities.
Venue: Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Galernaya st., 58-60
SPEAKERS
Stian Slotterøy Johnsen
Frivillighet Norge, Norway
Julia Perić
University of Osijek, Croatia
Adriana Bascone
European Youth Energy Network, Austria
Meike Bredendiek
University of Cologne, Germany
Jelena Kamenko Mayer
DKolektiv, Croatia
Marit Postma
De Regenboog Groep, the Netherlands
Marion Cloarec
Rempart, France
Corinna Schüler
Kölner Freiwilligen Agentur, Germany
Cedric Lecat
Freelance trainer, YOUTH for Europe, Academy for Voluntary Work, Germany
Ewa Romanowska
Borussia, Poland
Lucas Lerbech
Operation Dagsværk, Denmark
Dario Planert
Former kulturweit-volunteer, Germany
Nele Harder
Former kulturweit-volunteer, Germany
VENUES
Below on the map, you can find 3 guide-marks for the Autumn Meetings-2021.
PARTNERS
Contact Us
autumnmeetings2021spb@gmail.com
autumnmeetings2021spb@gmail.com
