10 Years of JMJ/WYD Social Media

I didn't have in mind the intention to return back writing in my blog and sharing my experience. 

I just returned last week from my "last" World Youth Day / JMJ. To my surprise, now after my return to Egypt, looking back to the past weeks it has been a remarkable journey. 

It was different from my previous participations and maybe I didn't expect to live and experience some of these moments for some reasons but still, I was caught by the magic. 

While I was there, I was looking to some of the memories and one of the blog posts about my experience in Krakow 2016 popped in my screen. I started to read about it and I felt that writing is always a way to document the feelings that may be forgotten by time. It was a mixed feeling, rediscovering some of these moments, at a moment when I was not feeling the same and I needed a little nudge to think differently.  

I still don't know why I didn't write anything in my blog during the previous one in Panama 2019, maybe I'll discover some notes/writings in some notebook and then maybe I can share some of it here in my blog.

Anyway I decided, one month after starting this journey to try to relive some of these moments, share some thoughts and maybe to surprise my future-self again all the way.

In Rio 2013, I started this journey of working on the social media. Little I know that I'll still be doing it for 10 years, passing by Krakow 2016, Panama 2019 and finally Lisboa 2023.

It has been an incredible journey, learning a lot (evolving with new tools and new platforms), working with international team and making new friendships, meeting friends from one JMJ to another, having the responsibility to share with people who are miles away what's going on the ground so they can feel they are also part of this big gathering.

It has been difficult sometimes, but still fun most of it.

This post is a tribute to all the leaders I had for the social media team, to all the volunteers I have met during this amazing journey.

I have learned a lot from each one of you. We may not still be in touch but I still remember our discussions and chats, or maybe eating lunch or dinner or hanging out or attending one of the main events.. these are memories that will stay forever.

So thank you dear team(s) for being part of this journey and having me part of this big family.

The happy moment of the day is when someone tells me that he/she still remember me after 4 years, 7 years or 10 years and is still keeping the little souvenir from Egypt. 

Tomorrow will be another day and another story to write.

Rio 2013

Krakow 2016

Lisboa 2023

A year after, JMJ Rio, trainings and sightseeing

17/07/2013: General training for all volunteers & visiting Pao Açucar

On the way to the metro station from my accommodation

Yes, that's right. We take our volunteering job so seriously. The 1st training day it was general for all volunteers to know more about the general important information like in case of emergency, the schedule of events.. There were different sessions for the different languages so me and my friends attended the English one. We were gathered in a big auditorium. We had the chance to see some of the volunteers that were communicating with us about the JMJ before travelling.

Australia, North America, Africa and Asia :)

After the session, we decided to go and have lunch. It was a new area so we were just walking till we find a small restaurant. We were just a small group, mainly most of the Arab countries (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt) as well as the only volunteer from Iran. Then other friends were also looking for a place so I tried to explain to them how to reach where we are on whatsapp and sending them our location. Actually, whatsapp was our most important way of communication since we were working with different teams and working in different areas so whenever we try to arrange for something, we just discussed over whatsapp.. of course by now most of us had a Brazilian number to ease the communication. 

After that some went off right after lunch and the rest we just went walking. We found a little church so we went inside to visit it. The priest when he knew we are voluntarios, invited us inside and asked to take a photo with us. He told us that this is the 1st church for Saint Rita outside Italy and it was very old (built in 1722). The style of the church was different than in Europe. I felt like it was bright and with much decorations. He was so kind and offered for us cold water to fill our bottles.

Group photo with the priest at Saint Rita Church

On our way up to Pao de Açucar

We had still all afternoon so we decided to go to Pao de Açucar or Sugar Loaf as called in English. It is a hill where we go up on a teleferic and you can see Rio de Janeiro and the famous Corcovado hill. We arrived just on time to watch the beautiful sunset over Rio. It was an unforgettable scene.

Panorama view of Rio de Janeiro at sunset from Pao de Açucar

18/07/2013: Communication team training & visiting Corcovado

View from the Media Center at Copacabana

This is the 1st day at the Media Center where we had the communication department training. Since all the girls with me in the accommodation are volunteers in communication, we headed up all together to the media center situated at the end of Copacabana beach. We didn't know that the metro ended 1 station earlier than the map so we had to walk a bigger distance to arrive. I didn't have much time to enjoy the walk on the beach as we were already late and we had to move fast to catch up but i managed to take few photos. 

Schedule of shifts

Arriving at the center, they gave us special tags so that we can move freely inside and outside. I was impressed by the media center. It was very crowded in the auditorium and we had to sit on the floor to attend the presentations. We had a quick tour after finishing the presentation and met the team of social media. We were divided by languages and for each language there were official accounts on facebook and twitter and our role was to manage them. for the Arabic language, we were 4, 2 from Syria and 2 from Egypt. We were luckier than others who were alone for their language so they had to work all the time.

Posing with my friends at Corcovado

After staying for a while in the media center and getting everything set for the work, i went to Corcovado. I had already reserved a ticket the day before to go by train as my friends advised me that it's very crowded and if i just show off i could wait for long time before finding an empty seat. 

It was very crowded and very difficult to take photos cos this is what everybody is doing. I tried to look for someone who seems to know about photography to take me a nice shot with the Redeemer. The place was full of volunteers, pilgrims and others with flags from all nations. Luckily, i found some of my friends up there and we took some photos together. The view from the top was amazing. I never imagined Rio to be that beautiful.

The view of Rio from Corcovado

Cristo Redentor, Corcovado

Cristo Redentor at night

I stayed there till the night. On my way back by train, i met a French freelance photographer who was there to cover the JMJ. It's so amazing how you can meet people everywhere and you can start any conversation. It's like a one big family and it doesn't matter from where you come from or what language you can speak.

A year after, JMJ Rio, Ready, Steady & Go

16/07/2013: The long awaited gathering

The first morning in my new accommodation at the nun's convent of Saint Joseph. We went early most of the volunteers staying there to the Cathedral for the 2nd time to get our volunteer kit. It was the 1st time to walk from the convent to the metro station, a descending road taking about 15 to 20 minutes. It was easy and the view was a nice as you can see from far away Corcovado and El Redentor (Redeemer). It was a lovely walk.

Meeting Chiara from Italy,
just before getting my badge

We arrived at the Cathedral and there were lot of volunteers as well but everything was going on smoothly.. at some point i was near the end but didn't reach it and they were calling for those in countries with few volunteers since it won't much time to find the badge and then go and collect all the stuff and of course Egypt was among those countries with small representation.

After i fetched my kit and was waiting on the outside, i met the 6th Egyptian volunteer which turned up a girl I've met the year before. It's a small small world! 
I also met the 3 musketeers, a.k.a the 3 Jordanians I already knew from facebook and whatsapp and 2 from Palestine.
For once we could speak in Arabic without the need to translate from one language to another.

4 Egyptians, 3 Jordanians, 2 Palestinians and others

After picking up the kits, i went to meet the rest of my friends. Long before we travel we have decided to gather all for lunch and our Brazilian friends have reserved in a restaurant not far away from the Cathedral. We ended up a bunch of 40 people walking in the streets going out for lunch. I was following my GPS, i gave my Egyptian flag which was now mounted on a big stick to a friend so the rest can see and follow us. We literally charged in the restaurant. Imagine like 40 people in a restaurant. This was the best restaurant ever, Kilograma. The food is served as open buffet, you pick up whatever you want but you pay according to the weight. I later on discovered that this concept was in many restaurants in Rio but it was totally new to me. I ended up paying a bill of around 36 Reals, i was fearing i would surpass the 40 Reals limit of the day with the food card.

After the restaurant, some went for a walk before going to the Cathedral for the mass for volunteers, me and others went straight to the Cathedral. On our way, i tried my first açai. It is a sort of fruit like berries with dark purple color but crushed and iced and you just eat it like ice cream or use a straw and drink the melting liquid.

At the Volunteer mass

At the cathedral we attended the 1st mass of the JMJ. It was for all volunteers. It was so crowded, full of volunteers from all around the world. Although most of the mass was in Portuguese, i enjoyed it, specially the hymns that were sung.

After the mass, when i was outside, a reporter saw me with the Egyptian flag, taking a photo with other people. He asked me if i can make an interview. It was much fun, he was a Brazilian reporter and speaking little Spanish and I tried to answer his questions in Spanish although it has been ages since i spoke Spanish and I had to work hard to find the right vocabulary. Of course, his questions were about Egypt, how it is to live there, if there are any problems for Christians and so on... later on in other interviews it was the same subject, same questions because Egypt was on the news.

On my way back to the accommodation, i lost my way because it was dark, i didn't remember the exact street and I was on my own. I found out that the area is all residential, no shops, no one to ask about the way. Even when i found a doorman in a building, he didn't know about the convent then a passing guy, came with me and we walked till we found it. Many Brazilians speak only Portuguese, especially the elder. Thank God I arrived safely but it was already late and raining and the nun in charge was kind of worried because i was late. I make a mental note to save the location on GPS, to know the name of the street and to return earlier.

A year after, JMJ Rio, the beginning

14/07/2013: Meeting with the group

I arrived in Rio on the 14th of July 2013. It was a long trip, Cairo to Amsterdam then Amsterdam to Rio. I started to feel the mood and the ambiance just before going on board of the 2nd flight as there was a group of pilgrims having fun and waiting to board. I couldn't tell from which country they were but it was obvious they were going for the JMJ.
I had a nice trip sitting next to a person from Madagascar working in the Netherlands and a lady who is half French half Brazilian. we had long discussions about many things, and of course about what was happening in Egypt as it was right after the famous June 30th.

Finally I arrived to Rio at night and went straight to the Che Lagarto hostel where i was supposed to meet some of my friends for the 1st time. We knew each other from whatsapp months before the JMJ. This is one of the great things about JMJ, is that you get to know people from all around the world and with the new technologies like whatsapp and facebook, and distances and time zones are no longer a barrier.

Caipirinha com Maracuja

We decided to go out for the night.  We ended up a bigger group as others from the hostel joined us. We went to a club we heard there was a party there to join but it was already raining heavily and when we arrived there we found it closed. So we headed to another place where we can have a drink and eat something and i tried my 1st caipirinha, but it was with maracuja!!



15/07/2013: Volunteer kit retrieval, 1st trial

Our group (9) moving from Che Lagarto to the Cathedral

We moved early morning to go to the Cathedral where we were supposed to get our volunteer kits, with the cards for food and transportation then to go to our respective accommodation. No one of my friends was assigned with me in the same accommodation as no one was with me in the team of communication department except one Egyptian guy but he was assigned to another place.

Inside Catedral Metropolitana
de Sao Sebastiao

It seems we were not early enough as there were already long queues of volunteers inside the church, all with their luggage. We met the rest of our friends who arrived earlier in the morning to Rio so more or less, all the gang was complete. In order to pass the time, people started to talk together, taking photos with flags, singing... I couldn't find my big stick inside the bag to put my flag but it didn't really matter cos we met the most craziest and loudest Egyptian in the whole Brazil :). I knew before travelling that we were 6 Egyptian volunteers, 2 of them were already my friends and i was wondering if i would meet the rest. I met 2 that day and the 3rd one the day after and it turned out to be someone i know also.
So our dear friend, who can considered as the most famous volunteer after Antonio Mateo (the manager of international volunteers) in no time made people singing Egito Egito... we can say that Egypt's name was even louder with the echo of many others from around the world.



The queues were moving slowly and slowly.. people started to help each other, like someone going
It was kind of a problem because we didn't receive our cards for food and transportation and we had to manage. Volunteers arranged with each other, so some would go out to get anything to eat for the rest of the group while others wait to save the turn... till maybe at the afternoon where we heard that there are no more kits and we have to leave and return the next day.

Photos with volunteers from Nicaragua & my friends from
Egypt and Singapore

Meeting with Paula who turned to be my colleague in
social media team and Jamil, 1 of the 3 Jordanians volunteers

They tried to organize people by accommodation so the group goes to the place together but i couldn't find anyone staying in the same place as me.. so i went on my own. I didn't have the exact address as i was supposed to first to report to a church and they would show us later on the place we should go to. I arrived finally to the church, it was only few stops by metro from the cathedral. It was a little bit an adventure moving around with my luggage but i made it. At the church, we were a small group and we stayed for a while before taking us to a nearby place. While waiting, we had small talks, getting to know each other. I was happy cos they were from many countries and they were all assigned to the social media team.
They took us in cars to a convent of nuns. We tried to settle, we were more than the number of available beds so we got mattresses to sleep on...

A year after, JMJ Rio 2013 still in the heart

The countdown for the one year celebration of JMJ Rio 2013 has already started. I can't believe that a year has already passed. I feel it was just like yesterday. I still remember these days and the great time I had.

In order to remember and share the experiences i had, I decided to write about these days, day by day, to relive the events and keep the memory alive.

So stay tuned for the adventures ;)

Reporting from JMJ Rio 2013

So, i have been already 12 days in Rio but already so much to tell. It's difficult to say everything but i will do my best to remember as much as i can.
First, i found out that my name in Brazil is pronounced as 'Mariannie'. It sounds funny but i like it that way. Many brazilian don't know English so lot of time i try to communicate in Spanish. It's funny, as some of them don't even know Spanish but we manage to understand each other.
The spirit in this JMJ is very warm and joyful, specially that it's full of latinos from Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Mexico... they add a certain flavor to the whole event. I wish i can visit all these countries and get to know their culture. They are somehow like Egyptians, maybe that's why i enjoy seeing them everywhere.
My work as volunteer is with the communication team in social media. Basically i work in the social media, updating facebook and twitter for arabic language with the news from the JMJ so that people from around the world can watch what's happening wherever they are.  Today, I was working in the media center in the morning shift, then we were told that the Pope will pass by so they won't let people to come in or go out during a certain period. I hesitated to stay longer or leave and catch the welcoming ceremony itself in copacaban since my shift has finished. I decided to stay and actually it turned out to be better cos i've seen the Pope from a very close distance!! Actually we were asked later on to be human chains, those people who stand up to not let the crowd go beyond it. It was worth it cos i actually saw the Pope from a very short distance, passing through in his papamovel. I couldn't take photo for this moment but i will remember it. The Pope was smiling and he has a pure radiating face that captures you. No wonder, when you know how humble he is, in the little details we here from here and there. For example. he flew to Brazil in an ordinary flight like normal passengers, he met people in poor area, visited hospitals, and even prisons. His speeches are inspiring and I believe he is bringing a lot to the church.
Before yesterday we had the opening ceremony in Copacabana beach. It was very impressive, to have thousands of people all along the beach, first dancing and enjoying music then praying in the opening mass and following it on the big screens although it was raining. I had mixed feelings captured in between. Although i was away from the stage, i was completely taken by the prayers. I actually love the theme of this JMJ and the hymn. Christ invites us to be his missionaries "Go and make disciples of all nations".
Another amazing thing that actually surprised me is how people love Egypt. Whenever they see the flag, they just stop us to take a photo. One day i was carrying a small one as i forgot the big one at my accomodation, and a brazilian lady stopped me just to say how much she loves our country. I really feel proud for being Egyptian and representing my country to the whole world. Despite the problems and the bad habits we have, i feel so much love for Egypt and it will always remain in my heart. I really wish that we build the Egypt we want, the Egypt we are fighting for, and truly to be up the challenge. The world is watching us and many of the people respect us but we have a lot to achieve first.
One of the things i really love about the JMJ is that whenever you see someone carrying a JMJ bag, you can just go and talk to him or her. It's like we are a big family although we don't know each other. One day i was buying a juice to drink and one of the volunteers saw me and invited me to sit with the group. We just talk, sometimes we speak too many languages at the same time, sometimes we don't understand each other but still we enjoy it. Soemtimes, we meet again, in another place, sometimes not.. but this is the beauty of the JMJ. Also, from the traditions of the JMJ is to bring souvenirs to trade with each other.. so i have already some from several countries. I wish i have brought more but i didn't have much time before I travel with all the demonstrations going on in Egypt.
Anyway, this was just a glimpse of what has been going on the past week. I will try to write another post soon. As for Brazil, it's another story. I will write more about Brazil the country later on.

Finally in Rio

I finally arrived in Rio before yesterday. It was a long trip, taking around 20 hours! But as soon as I arrived I felt as if transported to another placed time. I met a group of friends that I already know couple of months ago on whatsapp. It was so great to finally meet face to face.
Yesterday was very tyring because we had to get our volunteer kit. Arrived at the place at 12h30 but it was so crowded that we couldn't get our kits till 6pm as they were out of stock. It was so frustrating to wait all that time for nothing but still it was not that boring cos we were meeting people from all around the world, taking photos, chatting.. so after all that had to look for the place where I will sleep the next 2 weeks. Luckily was not lost and the girls who are with me are so nice.
Today we went back to get our volunteer kit and it was much better than yesterday as we didn't wait a very long time. After that around 30 of us went to a restaurant for lunch. It is unique as you pay according to the weight of the food but it seems that there are other restaurants like that in Brazil. I also tried assai which is kind of fruit.
After lunch we went back to the cathedral to attend the opening mass of volunteers. It was mainly in Portuguese but a friend was helping I translation. It was nice but the one in Germany in 2005 was more impressive as it was in a stadium
Tomorrow we will have our first training. I hope it will be nice and that I will have time to visit a little in Rio

Letters of Joy

A group of JMJ voluntarios (volunteers) decided to create a page on facebook to exchange addresses and each one to pick 5 others (3 international & 2 brazilians) to write them letters. Yes, letters, in the old fashion way.

Yesterday, when back home i discovered 4 letters from Brazil waiting for me. I was so excited to open each one of them. I knew that some had picked my name to write me a letter but to receive all 4 together at the same time was even better. I didn't know the senders in person so it was so cool to read what they have wrote, in English, Portuguese and even one took the trouble to translate a part in arabic just for me!. I felt so special receiving those letters of Joy as i call them. I remembered when i was young, and used to have pen pals from other countries. It is not the same as nowadays where we are almost connected all the time virtually. Reading and writing letters is a different story because it's part of a long process. You actually put effort to write what you have in mind, to choose the paper to write in, to put stamps on the enveloppe and to wait for the answer of your letter. 

I'm happy because i'm making new friends and getting away from the virtual world we are submerged in. At least it's not a fake place where people are just polite enough to write you something on your facebook wall or comment on a status, it's much deeper because it's from the heart.

Well, i think you should all try to write letters and send to your friends the old fashion way, it might be strange but sure it will be somehow exciting!

Just 2 months left!!!

Yes, it's true! the countdown to Rio is approaching. 2 months from now i'll be away in a new adventure. But this time, it's totally different. Along the way, even way before going there, i'm making new friends from all around the world. It is true that with all the new gadgets and technology we use nowadays, it's easier to find each other and build this bond between us.
Some people decided to welcome us in a different way, sending postcards & letters. Yes, the old fashioned way, writing on a piece of paper, putting in an enveloppe and sending it all the way like the old pen pals days. I remember when i used to write to people i haven't seen before and we became sort of friends.
It's super exciting and can't wait to receive my share from those postcards :)

On the Road to JMJ RIO 2013

I lived an amazing experience in 2005, volunteering in World Youth Day (JMJ) in Cologne. I tried to document my experience but i couldn't catch every moment in a picture or a blog. I decided to start earlier for this year and just put all what I live during this whole journey to make it last forever.

There are still couple of months to go before going to Rio in July but this time, it all started much earlier. After 2005, i tried to go back again to the JMJ. In 2008, it was held in Sydney and i was at first excited to go and discover there but i couldn't take vacation at that time and also the flight tickets were so expensive so i decided to skip it. In 2011 it was in Madrid. I was so excited cos Spain was on the top of the countries i would love to visit someday and i actually applied but then, when they asked for a small paper to be signed by a priest saying i'm Catholic, i asked them what if i'm not and they didn't accept me to volunteer. I was so upset but I respected that and i didn't try to push it further. That year, I went though to Paris and Barcelona with my friends and actually i had a great time with them so I think, probably this is what was planned for me. Anyway, when Rio was announced for 2013 I was so excited. It's like wow, it's a great place to visit and unlikely i would have the chance to go as it is already expensive to fly to Brazil. I waited maybe a year till they put the online registration for volunteers, and when I got the email saying i'm accepted and asking me to send the documents i was so excited. From the beginning I asked if it is ok not being Catholic, based on what happened for Madrid and I was told no problem.. So after sending everything and actually seeing the list with my name, i discovered that 2 friends are going too. We tried to arrange for our trip together and we booked the flight tickets. Months later, in mid March, i received an email saying i can't participate. It was a real chock and I was so angry because we are all Christians and at the end, i'm doing a service for people and it doesn't matter in which church I was baptised. My friends even tell me that i'm more Catholic than Orthodox, actually everybody at first thinks i'm Catholic. This time, I tried to send emails, my friends tried to help me and to make my complaint reach but what really touched me was people reacting to my post on faceook in which I said what happened. Volunteers from everywhere in the world decided to make an action  and write a petition to let me back in the list and it really worked. I didn't believe much that it would make any impact but when I saw the email 3 weeks later, that the organization requested my presence, I couldn't believe my eyes. I remembered a friend who actually told me it will be sorted out and that even if not, i should go anyway since i have already my tickets. He was totally right. Also the discussions on facebook and how people, i didn't actually know, showed their support. This was one of the rare moments I felt really the power of people and how caring about others really make a difference, even if my problem was not sorted out. Also, I felt that this year, the experience will be so much different.

Some of the people on facebook decided to make a whatsapp group. We call this group a 24/7 because it is  all the time on due to the different time zones. We are around 50 people from Singapore to Ecuador, almost from all contients, except Australia. it's so amazing how people who don't know each other, have so much to say. We discuss lot of things on the group, regarding the organization for the JMJ, funny stuff, food, music, dance, faith, languages, culture. It's a true melting pot. I didn't imaging when embarking in this adventure that i would get so many friends so soon, before actually going to the JMJ.

I believe that this will be quite a journey, that's why i will try to write about it and hope i will continue till the end...

So stay tuned for the next edition!

Official site: http://www.rio2013.com