International Computer Camp 2010 -Athens, Greece

ICC –MAGAZINE

International Computer Camp 2010 -Athens, Greece

Ballroom Dancing-Zoological Garden-Balloon Shaping-Acropolis-Athens-Tactile Museum-and much more

Editorial

ICC in Greece

Text: Georgios Kouroupetroglou, Joachim Klaus

ICC a place to be

1 – 2 – 3

Athens!

This rap sounds through the auditorium of ATExcelixi, opening the plenary session every morning and after lunch. 70 youngsters – blind or partially sighted from 17 to 20 years old – together with their 37 trainers, the local staff and the orange clad volunteers: 137 people from 17 different European countries including Japan and the USA. The 16th International Camp on Communications & Computers (ICC) brings them together here in Athens. What a symbolic place – where communication and discussion, mutual listening and understanding were developed and democratic structures were born and based on this – the ICC’s mission of an inclusive society offering to everybody the chance to develop his / her potentials, skills and intellectual capacities.

Latest computer technology, hard- and software, communication and interaction skills as well as intercultural exchange programs build the foundation of ICC. Everybody knows how information and communication technology (ICT) revolutionizes the life of every one of us in our daily, personal, educational and professional work. More than for any other group ICT impacts on persons with disabilities. Assistive technologies provide access to mainstream ICT applications – a fundamental basis for inclusion.

But to make inclusion happen persons with disabilities have to get ready and prepared to use those hard- and software tools. But it’s not only the technology itself, it is training and social skills and the intercultural being together which allows young people to learn from one another, to discuss, to understand and to accept their own situation and thus to learn how to work and how to advocate for their future.

Each year about hundred students in both ICC weeks have taken part, adding up over 16 years of ICC to a community of more than 1500 blind and partially sighted participants coming from more than 25 different countries. This is the unique history of ICC!

We had a wonderful time here in Athens building new connection and friendship. All this was possible due to the outstanding work of our host - the University of Athens, their staff and volunteers and - like every year - the experienced ICC Team.

We are deeply thankful for all this personal engagement and efforts which made this camp again an exceptional event.

May the ICC 2010 contribute to a fulfilled and prosperous future for all of us. If you have enjoyed it, please act as an ambassador of this ICC mission and transfer the message to everybody to improve inclusion – ensomatosi – where ever in the world!

On behalf of the University of Athens Georgios Kouroupetroglou / Greece On behalf of the ICC Board Joachim Klaus / Germany

Table of Content

Editorial 1

Table of Content 2

ICC: The Unique Opportunity for Blind & Partially Sighted Youth 2

Leisure Time 6

Excursion 8

Workshops & Activities 9

Greek Language & Culture 10

Fun & Facts 12

List of Participants 12

ICC2010 Sponsors 15

Imprint: 16

ICC: The Unique Opportunity for Blind & Partially Sighted Youth

The Idea of ICC

The idea of ICC is simple – and this simplicity seems to be its power: Support Centres at Linz University, Austria, and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany offer support to blind and partially sighted students in their inclusion into mainstream study. The usage of computers has been a prerequisite from the beginning in the late 80s. Like wheelchairs – enhancing the physical mobility of the physically disabled – the computer enhances the “literal“mobility of the print disabled. It opens a door to the “digital universe“ to be accessed through computers adapted to their needs. Having high skills in ICT is a must for this target group, much more than for the average population.

Additionally, the process of making a profound decision of what and where to study, finding out how to structure and set up study or where to get support asks for counselling and supply with information. The high complexity of this process for blind and partially sighted people in terms of technical, pedagogical, as well as social aspects requires early reparation.

To be able to get in touch with possible students at an early stage, to show up higher education as possible career path, to give counselling for studying, to introduce modern

ICT as a mean for successful studying and to motivate them for international and intercultural exchange is the core idea of ICC.

Of course the ICT focus changes rapidly but this core idea to accompany young students to higher education paths stays the same.

Facts about ICC

The International Camp on Communication and Computers:

Makes visually impaired students aware of technology and their advantages, necessary computer skills, needed efforts to enhance their technical skills and the level of flexibility / mobility as well as their social skills.

Supports the students in making a decision for their educational and vocational future and motivates them for an early and profound preparation before starting their career

in higher education. Is an excellent opportunity to make contact with partially sighted and blind peers from other countries and to exchange interests and experience. ICC should be seen as a starter for this process, giving an incentive to students to do their best to graduate

at secondary school and to prepare themselves well for the entrance into Higher Education and the labour market.

The Concept of ICC:

Internationality: From local minorities to an international interest group

Motivation: Workshops from “Introducing ICT“ to “Computers & Communication”

Self–Experience: Challenging leisure time activities

Personal Support: Without “overprotection“

Co–operation & Networking: With and by recognized experts

Awareness Raising: By, with and for the designated “target group“

Impact

It is clear that a single “Camp on Computers and Communication“ is not able to solve all the issues related to the inclusion of visually impaired people – in social, political, economical, ethical, pedagogical or technical dimensions – but every change and evolution needs a starter and the necessity for such a start is obvious. ICC is proud to be motivator and enabler. Besides this, ICC provides a broad field for experts taking part to learn – hands on, from each other, to get to know concepts and methods applied in other countries. Teachers and specialists from all over Europe accompanying the groups of students and preparing workshops have a unique opportunity to learn from other colleagues, other cultures and form a very rich network concerning their professional working area.

Last but not least ICC offers a unique chance to the local organizers to make the public aware of their work and the need for inclusion. The camps always get big audience – as „sensational events“ with technical, social and international highlights in local, national and international press, radio and TV – supporting the local organizer‘s PR work. The refreshing and creative international atmosphere away from the well known everyday (working) life, the freedom in contents and methods to concentrate on the student‘s necessities and abilities bring our goals into grasp.

Locations and Numbers

In the last 15 years, ICC brought together 1305 youth from all over the world and 1033 experts accompanying and tutoring them. 15 ICCs were hosted in 11 different countries (in alphabetical order):

It is the 16th ICC here in Athens:

ICC’93, Graz,A

ICC’94, Linz,A

ICC’95, Linz/Graz,A

ICC’96, Linz/Graz,A

ICC’97, Zeist, NL

ICC’98, Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, F

ICC’99, Stockholm, S

ICC’00, Stuttgart, D

ICC’01, Skofia Loka, S

ICC’02, Loughborough, GB

ICC’03, Zollikofen, CH

ICC’04, Budapest, H

ICC’05, Brno, CZ

ICC’06, Konigs Wusterhausen, D

ICC’07, Espoo, FIN

ICC’09,Vienna,A

ICC’10,Athens, GR

2 Weeks – 2 Different Foci

For our two different age groups, we provide activities and workshops with different foci (beneath specific ICT and AT) and subject areas:

For the younger group from 15 – 17 years:

Daily life skills and independent living

Communication and Networking

Integration–paths towards higher education

For the older group from 17 – 20 years:

Integration into higher education

Job application, assessment

Labour market integration and

Going / studying abroad & independent living

The Camp Location

Athens

Source: wikipedia / wikitravel

Athens is one of the world‘s oldest cities, its recorded history spans around 3,400 years.

It is the capital city of Greece with a metropolitan population of 3.7 million inhabitants. It is in many ways the birthplace of Classical Greece, and therefore of Western civilization.

Classical Athens was a powerful city-state. A centre for the arts, learning and philosophy, home of Plato‘s Academy and Aristotle‘s Lyceum, it is widely referred to as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, largely due to the impact of its cultural and political achievements during the 5th and 4th centuries BC on the rest of the then known European continent. The city of Athens contains a variety of different architectural styles, ranging from Greco-Roman, Neo-Classical, to modern.

They are often to be found in the same areas, as Athens is not marked by a uniformity of architectural style.

The heritage of the classical era is still evident in the city, represented by a number of ancient monuments and works of art, the most famous of all being the Parthenon, widely considered a key landmark of early Western civilization.

The city also retains a vast variety of Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a smaller number of remaining Ottoman monuments projecting the city‘s long history across the centuries. Landmarks of the modern era are also present, dating back to 1830 (the establishment of the independent Greek state), and taking in the Hellenic Parliament (19th century) and the Athens Trilogy consisting of the National Library of Greece, the Athens University and the Academy of Athens.

Athens was the host city of the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896, and 108 years later it welcomed home the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Leisure Time

The Tactile Museum

Text: Pavel Ondra, Klara Marsalkova

On friday the 30th July we visited the tactile museum in Athens. It was the museum where we could touch the copies of the exhibits from the Acropolys museum and others. We went there by bus and it took one hour. When we got off, we sat down and started to eat our cold supper. A few minutes later we devided into several small groups and each group went through the museum by itself. The first exhibit we appreciated being there was a perfectly working air conditioner at the doorway. Other exhibits were although more interesting but none of them provided us such comfort! Most of the statues were worked out into perfect details. For example we could touch the muscles of Zeus and really all his body. There was Hermes who carried Dioneesos as a small child. There were amphoras, too, and a model of Acropolys temple. They had braille labels with descriptions, but unfortunately only in Greek. Some of the statues were damaged, there were missing hands and a half of a head and a half of a nose etc. The grave stones were also interesting, for example: The horse rider who stamped on the lying men hurting him. The last room contained the christian monuments of Greece.

We could touch crucifixes, incense burners and pictures of the saints. The most impressive was the clothes with relief of Jesus‘ s body with a monumental tabernacle. The visit to the museum was a very great experience and we appreciate that the exhibits of the museum which we can‘t touch are remade into models accessible for blind.

Visiting the Acropolis Museum

Text: Katrin Hippesroither

On a nice sunny evening we went to the acropolis museum. The yellow buses brought us to the unforgettable historical place. It took us 45 minutes to get to the centre of Athens. This is not a long trip but the greek streets have a lot of pothole. So it was really funny, especially if you have to go to the Toilets.

But now back to the museum.

After entrance in the museum a guide accompanied us for showing us around and giving us important information about the history, the statues and things like that.

All this historical stuff makes us very noisy and we tried to get closer to the statues. Yes we only tried it. Because in the museum are a lot of securities and they forbid us to get a little closer to the statue and the columns. Although we don’t tried to touch or destroy the historical monuments. Of course they reminded us all the time that we are not aloud to take any pictures of the statues.

The security guys were strong dressed in a black suit and some of them with an unfriendly face.

On the fourth floor we get a fantastic view on the acropolis rock and the Parthenon. There we were allowed to take pictures of the great emblem of Athens.

Before we leave the museum we got some cake and coffee in the cafeteria. This was a nice refreshment for our way back to our accommodation.

All in all it was a nice and interesting trip to acropolis museum.