Even though AEGEE-Brescia is considered a small antenna in the Network, having almost fifty members, that doesn’t mean it’s an inactive antenna. Right before the Agora, the antenna organized a successful Network Meeting (NWM), gathering 35 participants in the north of Italy. Next to that, they set up initiatives like European talks and leadership courses, proving that an antenna can be very active with only a small number of (active) members. The AEGEEan thought it was time to find out more about AEGEE-Brescia, and spoke to Mattia Scandella, the current treasurer of the antenna.
The AEGEEan: First of all, tell us a little bit about your local. When were you founded, how many members do you have and how many of them are active?
Mattia: AEGEE-Brescia, born in 1997, was founded by Patrizia Menchiari in a small office of the university of Brescia where it remains active. Through the years it has grown more and more until today, when we have almost 50 members. The current board consists of fifteen active members.
What makes your local unique in the AEGEE Network?
Even though we are a small antenna, we still organize interesting events, both on the local and international level and for our members and all the students in Brescia. From the Summer University, having fifty participants and organizers involved, to the Network Meeting, European talks, leadership courses and other internal activities targeted to reinforce our group.
In October you organized a NWM. How do you look back on the event?
The NWM was good, although we know some things could be organized and managed better (but this is normal for every event, we like to look at our mistakes to make it better for the next time). Our favourite moment was the European Night in which everybody had fun, especially because it was organized in a private area.
What tips do you have for locals who want to organize a NWM too?
Find a way to keep the attention during the sessions (both of participants and of organizers) even in a less serious way if required, but always keeping the right aim at why a NWM is organized.
What are your plans for the upcoming months with AEGEE-Brescia?
Leadership courses, regional and internal meetings, maybe a spring break and the next Summer University.
Is there still a dream you have for the local that you would like to fulfill one day?
To increase the number of members and organize something important like an European Planning Meeting!
Last summer, you organized a Summer Course. Will you be organizing a Summer University/ Course again this year and what will it look like?
Yes, as every year we are planning to organize a SU. It will probably be really similar the previous one, but introducing some changes based on the feedback given by participants of the past three editions. The main change we want to apply is to accommodate participants in a gym instead of the comfortable hostel we used till today, because we would like to get the real AEGEE feeling!
The Rainbow Network is known for being really close. Do you cooperate with other Italian locals?
Not yet, but we have good relations with the antennae close to us. We would like to cooperate with one of them in order to organize an event together, like a Travel Summer University!
Written by Svenja van der Tol, AEGEE-Nijmegen