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Faces of 21st Century: Draw your own future!
Faces of 21st Century: Draw your own future!
Start date: Aug 1, 2014,
End date: Dec 31, 2014
PROJECT
FINISHED
Youth exchange „Faces of the 21st Century: Draw your own future!“ organized by Mostar Friedensprojekt e.V. was held from 31st October until 9th of November 2014 in Potsdam, Germany. 40 participants from Bosnia and Herzegowina, Germany, Greece, Rumania, Serbia, Spain, Czech Republic und Turkey took part in this youth exchange. The participants were hosted and the activities were held in the seminar-house „Hoch3“. Two experienced facilitators and eight group leaders have lead and coordinated this youth exchange.
The main questions of the YE, participants have sealed with during the activities, were -
“What is the European Community?“, “Who builds it?“ and “How do I become a part of it?“. Together they have reflected about the phenomena of communities on a local, regional, a national and a European level. Participants have analyzed and discussed their roles as members in each of these communities. Through the simulations, games and creative drawing process, participants have exchanged their experiences, opinions and have analyzed such an important issues as: What does this mean for us as individuals and as European citizens? We imagine a peaceful European community based on the foundations of a democratic order and human rights, with active citizenship and solidarity among each other, with a lively intercultural dialogue? But what do these terms mean in reality for each of us? As a result of discussions and their thoughts, participants have created their self-portraits, which have reflected their own role in the European Community.
Self-portraits are not simply the depiction of persons nor the reflection of the inner world of the artist. They also contain the image of the actual society and the conviction that artists their representatives have formed about it. By using the tool of self-portraits facilitators and the group leaders wanted to direct the attention of the participants to the most important part of the community - the individual – ourselves. Participants of this YE were introduced with the development of this genre on the basis of the works of famous artists within different historical contexts of our European history. In the groups they have become familiar with drawing techniques of self-portraits, with the importance of the composition of details.
This YE has empowered the participants to take an active part in the community. They have learned to define that role and to express their hopes and expectations but also their fears as citizens of a united Europe. In order to create an inspirational atmosphere and to catch the muse, participants have visited ateliers, met different alternative artists and street art performers in Potsdam and Berlin.