Celebration of 25 Stages of Solidarité

Solidarité founder, David Barnes.

His belief in goodness - and his vision, courage and hard work created Solidarité.

‘The best way to inspire our lives and to get love and meaning is to do things for others and to reflect… Solidarité was born to do this.’

These photos are representative of all those who have taken part in Solidarité; those who could not be there, those

who made it happen and those who share in the journey

Of course, Oxfam and fair

trade wine

Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou,

Commissioner for Education,

Culture, Multilingualism

and Youth, buys some Solidarité

calendars from the Winter 2010-11 Solidarité

Coordinator, Ciprian Begu

“Congratulations for this celebration and for the fantastic achievements!”

“I would certainly be very glad to

come and testify on the extremely successful

collaboration and involvement of

Trainees’ Solidarité”

« Solidarité pour moi:

C’est la possibilité de donner une autre envergure à ces Stage,

C’est profiter voire abuser du rôle privilégié de stagiaire pour faire passer des idées,

C’est utiliser les forces vives et les atouts de chacun pour défendre une cause, c'est l'alliance magique de la convivialité et de l'efficacité.»

Donatienne Claeys-

Bouuaert - thank you

Masters of Ceremony:

Kelly Agathos and Ioana Leu

Solidarité Coordinator, Winter 2002/3,

Emmanouil Athanassiou, shares some thoughts

Solidarité supporters from L to R: Klemen Zumer, Donatienne Claeys-Bouuaert,

Evalyne Soetewey, Nathalie Charbonneau and Merete Michelson

Commissioner Vassiliou

Fashion parade supporting women in India

Being active in Solidarité was such an important part of my experience as a trainee of the European Commission.

It represented an opportunity to meet different people from diverse cultural backgrounds across the world who share the same desire to start making a difference through small actions and with the motivation to reach out to those in need. We bonded and the Projects presented by Solidarité that try to raise awareness of humanitarian issues provide a wide variety of activities that can match the interests of everybody… so meaningful and great

Good to hear Solidarité is still going on!

Front row, Joan Scott, former head of the Bureau des Stages; Commissioner

Vassiliou; Solidarité helper, Elena Fernandez-Frontan and Matthieu

Kleinschmager

Europe Tier Monde President, Dominique-Philippe Levieil

“Solidarité - people coming to unity and peace through self-giving for the sake of others.

Amen to that.”

“Solidarité was the best part of my Stage”

“I wish you all the best celebrating this

momentous achievement!”

Solidarité hand painting

‘The best way to inspire our lives and to get love and meaning is to do things for others and to reflect…

Solidarité was born to do this.’ ‘Solidarité is about a spirit of

kindness, courage, creativity and ownership.’

Immediately before his Stage David was in UN refugee camps in Africa, as he left the camps, people said, ‘don’t forget us’… the

Stage is the world’s longest running, largest and most significant traineeship programme, it is a cradle for one of the most unique and continuous leadership and policy making assemblies in the

world - Solidarité was set up to enshrine the legacy and promotion of humanitarian and social consciousness in this group… this

opportunity is without parallel and why we worked hard to make it happen.

“Each new set of trainees are the current

representatives of past generations - Solidarité

places particular importance on the participation of new trainees from each

Traineeship, inviting their ownership of its

structure, information and values.

« …Avec grand plaisir et bravo pour

l'excellent travail de Solidarité! »

“For me it meant to help people who do not have it as easy as

everyone else.”

“First of all I would like to thank you so much for sharing with all of us this special event and for counting on our

participation.

I wish all of you to have a great gathering and big success. It is great as well that David Barnes is in

Brussels at the moment and can enjoy this big celebration.

Again, thanks for keeping Solidarité walking and for sharing with all those for which it means something

special.”

““TThhee SSoolliiddaarriittéé eexxppeerriieennccee mmaaddee mmyy TTrraaiinneeeesshhiipp......iitt

pprroovviiddeedd mmee wwiitthh aa sseennssee ooff eemmppoowweerrmmeenntt aanndd aa ffeeeelliinngg ooff hhooppee aanndd ooppttiimmiissmm,, tthhee iiddeeaa tthhaatt wwee rreeaallllyy ccaann cchhaannggee tthhiinnggss bbootthh aatt ggrraassss rroooottss aanndd aatt ppoolliiccyy lleevveell -- iinn sshhoorrtt iittss pprreettttyy mmiinndd bblloowwiinngg!!””

“Solidarité was an opportunity to get out of our small, protected EU cocoon and get involved with the “real world”, e.g work with refugees

It’s a chance to broaden one's horizons and to learn and gain valuable experience from other people from VERY different backgrounds.

An opportunity to meet other motivated and enthusiastic people (in general) and from the Institutions (in particular), people I wouldn't otherwise have met.”

“Solidarité for me was an outstanding example of people demonstrating that they care about those less well off than themselves.

Solidarité sets a fine example for employees and trainees of the EU Institutions and helps to do some fantastic work in local communities.”

“Solidarité was by far the most meaningful thing on my Stage”

Left to right: Joan Scott, former head of the Bureau Des Stages, Donatienne Claeys-Bouuaert, formerly from ECHO (both of whom made beginning

Solidarité possible), David Barnes and long term supporters Evalyne Soetewey and Maryse Robert.

Solidarité: you are an Inspiration to me as I am sure

you are to others

involved too. I feel

so fortunate

and yet so damn lucky.

And, what it’s all for…