Migration-Culture-Identity is a small project which has been realized since 15 th to 20th of June 2011 in the Polish-Roma common room in Brochów district of Wrocław. It was funded by Anna Lindth Foundation Euromed, Foundation for Polish – German Co-operation, Municipality of Wrocław, F.V. S. and Axel Springer Stiftung. Project was carried out by Nomada Association, Kreisau – Inititive Berlin e.V. and Marta Dymek and Anna Stec in cooperation with Romani Bacht Society.
The participants of this project were Roma and Polish children, age 8-12, visiting frequently the
common room in Brochów. This is the area where a lot of places are particularly important to identify for children. On the one hand these children and places affect each other, but on the other, these places enable children to integrate with other people in this area.
On the first day of implementing this project, the children will take part in workshops about culture identity connected with the city environment. All of us will try to know how this space affects us and who we are; why the sense of belonging to the place is so important; why should we feel responsible of places that we identify with, why should we take care of them and use them together with people from other social and cultural groups, in a way where everyone can feel good and safely. Finally we’ll answer the question how can we create a multicultural space without prejudice and nasty stereotypes.
During project every kid will get a digital camera to take photos of places which are particularly
important for him or her. Through touch with art the children will notice multiculturalism of the place where they live. Following days the exhibition of taken photos will take place in the common room, as an opportunity for every participant to explain the reason of choosing this place, feelings, closeness.
Although everyone chose various places, the importance is the same. The aim of this project is approximation and explanation for children what the cultural identity is, how can we look for and create it. We want to pay attention on the strong connection between sense of identity with a place and the public area, shared with other people. Our activities are going to make the children aware of a fact, that places they identify with are the common space where everyone has got equal rights – background, social and economic status or cultural roots doesn’t matter.
Photos taken by Marta Jamrog
Photos taken by Katarzyna Pawlik