“The city made a monument with all our signatures for us!”
Last year’s Summer University of AEGEE-Izmir had the title “SUncity Vol:5 Wanderlust” and took place from 10 to 25 July 2022. According to main organizer Eren Geckin it was “one of the best Summer Universities in the history of AEGEE.” You missed it? AEGEE-Izmir organizes an SU also this year!
Golden Times: What was your SU about?
Eren Geckin: Our SU was about sustainable future for all of us.
GT: How many participants and organisers did you have?
Eren: We had 30 participants, 10 organisers and a few helpers from our local.
GT: What were the greatest thematic programme highlights?
Eren: This part is important. We created a project inside our SU which was an International Student Workshop – we had an official collaboration with the Izmir Bayraklı Municipality. During these days, our SU crew and other students worked together to find solutions for specific problems through Strategic Development Goals. We prepared a resolution paper about every idea that we found and sent it to the parliament. Last but not least, in memory of all the good days we had, all the problems we solved and all the hope that we have for humanity, I am honoured to say that there is our own monument in our city now! A statue with our peace statement and with all of our signatures on it. That was the greatest part!
GT: What were the funniest or most exciting moments?
Eren: We accidentally forgot one of our organisers on the beach because he fell asleep. I think this was hilarious.
GT: How was the group of participants?
Eren: Our participants were the best. During the 15 days there wasn’t any problem at all. Everyone in the Wanderlust had a special bond. The participants loved us organisers as their friends. As a main organiser I would like to say thanks to every one of them, again and again.
GT: How successful was the SU overall?
Eren: I believe that the dedication of our team and the programme that we created deserves at least 8/10 to be honest. Not the most important thing but with our 7/24 shuttles, our restaurants and our hotels we can simply add 2 more points and rise up to 10/10. So in overall I can say that it’s one of the best in the history of AEGEE.
GT: Anything you would like to add?
Eren: We “tried” and actually started to have a European Night in the municipality building somehow, even though we got kicked out and continued on the streets of Bornova. I think it’s one of the craziest things that we have ever done.
