When finishing my university degree in Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology at the Faculty of Art in Ljubljana, several things happened in a very short time. I got sucked into the NGO sector and EU projects, became impressed and intrigued with heritage interpretation and was present when Interpret Europe was established in 2010 in Slovenia.
Being familiar with the possibilities of different EU programs (today’s Erasmus +) and having met all the wonderful interpreters, I went on two different exchanges. The first was job-shadowing in Scotland with ARCHnetwork and the second was 12 weeks’ practical work with TellTale in the UK. Those two experiences helped me immensely to see the practical aspects of interpretation and gave me the professional direction that I follow.
Since 2013, I have been the leader of NGO Legends. We research, promote and interpret heritage. We do a lot of different activities for children and youth and educational programmes for professionals in tourism and the heritage sector.
I am also an Interpret Europe trainer for Certified Interpretive Guides (CIG) and Certified Interpretive Hosts (CIH); programmes that are doing very well and have opened several doors for interpretation in Slovenia. From time to time I also help the IE social media team.
Most of my current work is leading different courses, but I still love to work as a guide and deliver pedagogical programmes for youth and children. They are the best of critiques. I enjoy combining heritage interpretation with the methodology of youth work, because they both offer methodology that is so close to my heart. Practice what you preach!
Janja can be contacted at: janja.sivec@interpret-europe.net
