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projects uncategorized

diaspora women

Summary:

The term diaspora women refers to women who have migrated or are descendants of those who have migrated from their country of origin to a different host country.

They often navigate complex intersections of identity, encompassing their cultural heritage, gender roles, and experiences as migrants or members of diaspora communities.

The goal of this project is to create a supportive environment that honours their rich cultural backgrounds while promoting financial and cultural empowerment, equality, and a sense of belonging in their adopted countries.

Our Mission:

In the tapestry of our diverse society, diaspora women stand as vibrant threads weaving stories of resilience, creativity, and strength. Our mission is to illuminate and amplify these voices, creating a dynamic cultural, social and economic space that celebrates the rich intersectionality of diaspora experiences among women.

Our Vision:

A world where diaspora women are recognised as pillars of strength, where their stories, cultures, and talents are not only acknowledged but embraced as essential threads in the fabric of our shared humanity.

Our Values:

  1. Intersectional Empowerment:

Acknowledge and empower diaspora women at the crossings of gender, culture, and migration, recognising the unique strengths that arise from these intersections. Advancing intersectional empowerment through financial and cultural inclusion and fostering entrepreneurial spirit to reach agency and independency.

2. Cultural Appreciation:

Encourage appreciation and understanding of diverse cultures, languages, and traditions. Fostering an environment of mutual respect and collaboration.

3. Inclusivity in Leadership:

Promote and support diaspora women in leadership roles across various sectors, ensuring their voices contribute to shaping policies, institutions, and cultural narratives.

4. Global Solidarity:

Foster connections and collaborations with diaspora women globally, recognising the universal aspects of their experiences and leveraging collective strength for positive change.

Join us in the celebration of diaspora women — where diversity is not just acknowledged but celebrated, and where the collective strength of these women becomes a source of inspiration and empowerment for generations to come.

For our SDGs: click here.

Photo by Luwadlin Bosman
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about uncategorized

about

At Otherness Project, we embark on a transformative journey that transcends borders and disciplines, seamlessly blending art, science, and society.

Our mission is to design sub-projects to deliver high-quality performances, workshops, and research initiatives that not only captivate audiences but also serve as catalysts for education, individual growth, and social healing.

We are dedicated to pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and creating experiences that resonate with the complexity of our interconnected world. We believe in the transformative power of art to bridge gaps, foster understanding, and ignite the spark of curiosity that fuels both individual growth and societal progress.

We cooperate in various artistic and research environments internationally. Our partners reside in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, the UK, Montenegro, and the spectrum is getting larger every year.

Join us on this global exploration where art becomes a powerful force for change, education becomes a journey of discovery, and society is enriched through the diverse narratives we weave together.

CONTACT: othernessproject@gmail.com

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OUR STORY:

Otherness Project was initiated as a third sector organisation in Helsingør, Denmark, in 2014, with a core group of artists and researchers residing in Eastern European and Nordic countries.

In Denmark, between 2014 and 2019, Otherness Project:

  • participated in 11 EU projects,
  • developed and disseminated among 8 partners organisations the social research-based Sideways Storytelling method,
  • developed 4 participatory performances with/for/by local audiences, using relational art, dialogical art, performing arts, installation art, gamification, art-and-science methods,
  • raised 2 million EUR for its sub-projects,
  • delegated 15 young professionals to participate pan-European exchange and training programmes,
  • was endorsed by the Danish Ministry of Culture for its excellence in socially engaged arts projects.

In the UK, between 2019 and 2023, Otherness Project continued its work as a grassroots organisation with global team members from the UK, Scotland, China, Italy, the US, Hungary, Romania, the Check Republic, and Colombia.

  • initiated a global object-storytelling project during the pandemic,
  • created a trilingual hybrid performance tackling both gender equity and the role of AI in human life,
  • was endorsed by the National Centre for Writing and the International PEN,
  • created a platform for intersectional voices,
  • has become a member of the prestigious publib directory: https://www.publib.co.uk/othernessproject.

An example of one of our gamified action-research performances is ‘IF’, which took part in several international artistic and research events and platforms, its methodology was published by De Gruyere and was represented in the volume Global Perspectives on Youth Art Programs, by Bristol University Press.

Our installation-performance, IF, developed with the action research methodology, invited to several festivals across Europe: Bådteatret, CPH / Actor Training in a Globalised World, CPH /Altofest, Naples (IT) / International Time Perspective Conference, Nantes (FR) / Passage Festival, Helsingor-Helsingborg (DK-SE) / Bridges Festival, Cluj-Napoca (RO) / Rahvusvahekine A-Festival (ET).

TEAM in DENMARK (2014-2019)

artistic director: Rita Sebestyen (RO/HU/DK/UK)

performer: Minni Katina Mertens (NO/DK)

performer: Sara Vilardo (IT/BE/DK)

light- and sound designer: Ivan Wahren (SE)

EU-project manager: Stine Ebbesen (DK)

dramaturge: Mira Nadina Mertens (NO/DK)

social media editor: Nora Ugron (RO/FI)

Categories
projects

refugee integration lab 2018

“Creativity in Human Rights and Solidarity”

Thessaloniki: 1-9 July 2018.

Refugee Integration LAB (RL) arose from identification of the dangers of xenophobia, intolerance and discrimination arising in Europe, and brings together 9 countries and 10 partners committed to work on Human Rights, Refugee and Integration projects. RL is all about improving the existing non-formal education methods and finding new ways of communicating a message to refugees (and similar vulnerable groups of people) in an inclusive and approaching way with regards to: integration into society, racism, equality, human rights, solidarity, minority groups, cultural indifferences, differences based on religion, membership of particular ethnic groups, gender equality etc. With RL we want to “give additional tools and ideas to other organizations so they can strengthen their work with refugees and help them to get on their way of integration in the new surroundings”. 

Othernessproject was represented by Ayse Tolunay and Simon Fern.

1) AddArt – Thessaloniki, Greece (Organizer)

2) Seiklejate Vennaskond – Tartu, Estonia (2 participants)

3) Institute for Cultural Relations Policy – Budapest, Hungary (2 participants)

4) With the power of humanity Foundation – Pecs, Hungary (2 participants)

5) ÖJAB – Österreichische Jungarbeiterbewegung – Vienna, Austria (3 participants)

6) Stichting CAAT Projects – Utrecht, Holland (3 participants)

7) Comune di Cinisello Balsamo – Cinisello Balsamo, Italy (3 participants)

8) Othernessproject – Helsingør, Denmark (2 participants)

9) Jugend- & Kulturprojekt e.V. – Dresden, Germany (3 participants) 

10) loveLife Generation – London, UK (2 participants).


Main aims:

  • Empower organizations and project managers to convey various purpose messages to refugees and similar groups of people in an appealing way;
  • Indirectly aid and improve the refugee integration process;
  • Insert creativity as a focal point when using non-formal education methods and their work with specific target groups such as refugees- Provide a first-hand experience of the situation in the refugee camps to the participants;
  • Give participating organisations new funding tools and ideas for achieving their goals;

  • Enable and facilitate Networking between organisations working with refugees and human rights.
Categories
uncategorized workshops

gribskov 2018

SOUND!

How can we relate within a short time, how we communicate, if our background is different, and we do not even speak the same language?
Are we curious about each other at all? If yes, how we pose questions, and how we answer them?
How we tell our own stories, and what kind of stories we tell about ourselves?
How do we ask the others about their stories, and what kind of other stories will we be able to process, to understand? Whom can we empathise with and why?
How can we get more empathetic and communicative?

The endless series of questions were not answered, not even asked. This time, we inhabited the space, we moved around, we perceived it and ourselves and each other. Movements, gestures, sound became of high importance in establishing connection.
Sounds, the beat of the drums were able to express a wide range of emotions, feelings, and even could tell simple stories. Owning stories and narratives are the cornerstone of empowerment, self-empowerment and the ability to relate.

This workshop was offered within the framework of a Europe for Citizens programme: You Are Welcome, having 13 partners in 7 countries around Europe.

Participants: unaccompanied refugee minors and students from the Nordsjællands Efterskole.

Time: 7th and 10th March 2018.

Led by: Rita Sebestyen

Lead organizer from Gribskov: Lisbeth Eckhardt-Hansen

Assistant: Marin Hermanssdottir

Othernessproject, Gribskov Center – Red Cross, Nordsjællands Efterskole, You Are Welcome, Europe for Citizens.

Categories
projects uncategorized

urbanartventures 2017

UrbanArtVentures II took place in Volos, Greece, from the 12th-21 th of September 2017. The project is a collaboration between Jugend & Kulturprojekt e. V. (Germany), Urban Act (Greece) and thirty participants – street artists, youth workers and art educators from Denmark, France, Greece, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Serbia and Spain. The UrbanArtVentures II project aims to use street art as a method and learning tool in youth work in European and community projects and to engage young people with fewer opportunities to participate actively in the civil society and be decision makers. The main theme this year was the refugee crisis and the importance of promoting values such as solidarity, understanding, respect to “otherness” and peaceful co-existence.

ARTISTS

APSET/ARTEZ/BIFIDO/BOJAN LACMANOVIC/CEDRIC MAGNIEN/DREYK THE PIRATE/GIACOMO ZORBA (THE OTHER)/IVES.ONE/JAMER/JULIETA.XLF/KEZ/MATTIA CAMPO DALL’ORTO/MILICA DJORDJEVIC/NIKOLA MIHAJLOVIC/OX-ALIEN/PUPET/STAMATIS LASKOS (SIVE)/SOKAR UNO/TAXIS/VOLOTOW.819./WUPER/XOLAKA

Project coordinator Myrto Elena Pertsinidi.

Pictures by Olga Yocheva.

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