HOW TO ORGANIZE WORKSHOPS

Creative workshops in ICM was an activity that I really enjoyed during my EVS. I am not an expert in this kind of stuffs but it is something that I´ve always liked.

It was an opportunity for me and the people who came to these workshops to develop the creativity, initiative and spend a nice time. You just need the motivation and it will be fine! Here I write something that I learnt about how to prepare this activity.

1º Step: What to do?

Think about what to do. You can find videos in Youtube, images in Google, have a look in some magazines or just use your imagination. It does not have to be something difficult; think that is an activity that will be for the public in general, people from different ages, and they will like something easy.

Something that can help you to decide is to look if there is an especial day during the days that you will do the workshop. For example, if Christmas is soon, you can do a workshops of Christmas decorations, if the spring is coming, something in connection with flowers or, if it is Eater, something related to painting eggs or baskets for chocolat will be a nice idea.

You will need to think about what to do around five weeks before the event, because you will need time to do the rest of the things that I explain down.

2º Step: The final decision!

Find the materials and try to do it. I would say it is the most important step.

Sometimes you can see that in the videos that everything is very easy and when you try to do it yourself is impossible. (I have some experiences!) So when you see you are able to create what you found, it is the moment that you can decide what it will be the workshop about. Try to find simple materials, not omething very difficult.

3º Step: Promotion

Approximately one month before the workshop, you will need to take a picture of your creation, do the leaflet telling the day, time and place and promote the event in Facebook. Invite everybody that you know in Prostejov, friends of friends, etc.

  

4ºStep: Preparation

Buy the necessary materials and review everything that you need during the week before and the week of the workshop. If you are the kind of person with poor memory it can happen that you forget how to create the craft a few days before the event. In this case, it is useful that you review again the steps, or try again the craft the day before if it is necessary.

5º Step: The day of the workshop

Prepare the place where you will do the workshop, materials, tables, chairs…and just start! Show the people how to create the craft, try to communicate with them during the activity and enjoy it.

SOME TIPS FOR CREATIVE WORKSHOP:

·       Learn the basic words in Czech to communicate with the people as colours, numbers, some verbs and adjectives. Anyway, in workshop the most important thing is to observe how to create the craft, so if people see you creating it, they will understand the way to do it. 

·       Offer them help every time you see they have difficulties. However, there are different kind of people: people who like to work more individually and do not need help and people who prefer to listen to your advices and like when you help them. The environment is good anyway.

·    It is difficult to guess how many people will come to the event, but always it is better to prepare more materials than less!!

Examples of workshops that we created:

 

By Elena from Spain

Events to see in France

If you want to France, you have to choose the best date according to the best events. There are incredible and amazing things to see.

The festival of lights in Lyon :

This event take place on December 6 to December 9 of each year in Lyon. It’s a religious celebration related to Mary. Every night, the city present lot off animations with lights. The festival draws 3 to 4 million people.

I saw it in 2013. It was so magnificent. I never saw as many people in a street before. Everybody were captivated and fascinated. The more beautiful for me, it was an animation in « the Place Des Terreaux ». We saw a projection about the little prince.

I wanted to return there last year but it’s was canceled because of attentats.. I hope to go in december.

         The national day in Paris :

It’s to celebrate the bastille day (storming of the Bastille) during the french revolution on 14 july 1789. This date is the national day and it represents the day of the freedom. Everywhere in France, we can see and hear fireworks in the evening. Sometimes, concerts are organized in the big cities. In Paris, the fireworks are impressive with the Eiffel tower! I just saw in the TV because I live in the south. Also, there is a famous military parade in the Avenue « des Champs-Elisées» in the afternoon.

Even if I live in a small village, I like this day. I can see 3 fireworks from my house and after there is a party outside.

         The festival : « Les vieilles Charrues »

If you want to see concerts in France, you have to go in Bretagne (Carhaix-Plouguer) during 4 days in July. It is the bigger festival of music in France (with 250 000 festival-goer). This year, Pharell Williams, Lana Del Rey and Major Lazer were present.

Unfortunately, I never went in this festival because it’s far and each year I go in Musilac at the same period. Musilac it’s also a big festival in Aix-Les-Bains (around Swiss). It’s my favorite moment of the year !

       

         Lemon festival « fête du citron » in Menton

 It’s not a joke ! The city of Menton organized this festival since 1934 (after the winter) and now, there is 230 000 visitors each year. Before this, It was a famous carnival.

The city is animated during 17 days and it requires 145 tonnes of citrus fruits ! It’s difficult to explain this event because it’s totally unique. This is an international event to see with a lot of animations.

http://www.fete-du-citron.com/

The Cannes festival

Even if you are not passioned by the cinema, this festival is very interesting. International artists are present to hope for have a price : best movie, best artist, best film maker...

During this period (19-31 may), Cannes is transformed to welcome the best actors. The more important price is the « Palme d’Or » which reward the best movie of the year. The opening ceremony is broadcasted everywhere. The red carpet and the 24 steps are a dream for a lot of artists. 

By Marjorie from France