Youth, Culture and Dialogue
Strengthening Youth and Cultural Initiatives in the Germian Region
Haukari e.V. strengthens grassroots democratic, non-partisan, and gender-inclusive youth self-organization structures in the Germian region. Spaces for exchange and creative expression aim to offer alternatives to widespread hopelessness and political disillusionment.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Altstadt Kifri, Kurdistan-Irak
Hintergrund
In the face of ongoing conflicts, economic and political crises, a lack of employment opportunities, and persistent uncertainty, frustration and hopelessness are spreading among young people in the Germian region. Many are turning to fundamentalist groups, while others embark on dangerous journeys fleeing to Europe.
Since 2014, HAUKARI e.V. has been supporting young people and artists in the conflict-affected Germian region by creating autonomous spaces for culture and education. These spaces enable them to come together beyond ethnic, religious, and political affiliations, to engage collectively, and to make their perspectives visible.
©Markus Mühlhaus, Attenzione photographers, attenzione-photo.com
Youth and Culture Centre Kifri
It all began in 2014 with an initiative by teachers and students from the Kifri Art School, who renovated an abandoned historical post office building in the town of Kifri. They established a small city museum, art studios, reading and meeting rooms, and organized cultural events and educational courses for local and refugee youth. Since then, the project has steadily grown; the artists have relocated to a larger building provided by the local cultural department, which includes a courtyard and garden. With great attention to detail, it was developed into a vibrant meeting place for young people and artists. Additionally, in 2019, Haukari e.V. began supporting youth and cultural initiatives in the nearby towns of Khanaqin and Rizgary.
Youth and Culture Centre Rizgary
Since 2019, a youth cultural centre has been open in Rizgary, which continuously offers art, cultural and educational programmes. As part of project activities such as festivals and exhibitions, the active young people have built up networks with other artist groups from the region. Joint activities with artist groups from the neighbouring Arab region of Diyala have created spaces in which inter-ethnic, inter-religious encounters can take place. These developments are to be further deepened within the framework of various projects.
Outlook
- In the youth culture centres in Rizgary and Kifri, further spaces are to be created for further education, creative and artistic realisation and the participation of young people in shaping their cities.
- A town twinning programme between the predominantly Arab city of Jalawla and the Kurdish city of Kifri was launched at the end of 2020. The cooperation and partnership is to be strengthened at civil society and administrative level through joint workshops, exhibitions, citizens’ meetings and city festivals.
- With the motto ‘Art Connects’, groups of artists from cities on both sides of the Arab-Kurdish border come together. The exchange between the artists has already begun as part of the activities of the youth cultural centre through joint exhibitions and cultural festivals and is now to be further intensified.
- The civil society network that has emerged in the context of the project has organised numerous emergency aid campaigns during the coronavirus pandemic. For example, the women’s craft groups sewed medical masks and clothing, young people organised public distribution campaigns for hygiene articles and carried out educational work, and there was close cooperation between the staff of the youth cultural centres and the Garmian administration.
Supporters and Partners
The establishment of the youth culture centres was supported by medico international. Since 2018, HAUKARI e.V. has received funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for its youth culture initiatives.