PATH
November 2016 - January 2018
The idea
The project “PATH: Peace Activism Through lessons from History of forced migration” proposed a concept for defining and understanding current tendencies of forced migration. The participants looked at lessons from the past and worked with remembrance as an inspiration for present and future peace activism.
The project aimed to:
1
Achieve remembrance of historical events such as the aftermath of WWI, Spanish Civil War and Yugoslav war.
2
Draw parallels between past and current conflicts focused on the reasons, specifics and consequences of forced migration.
3
Raise awareness within local communities on the topic.
4
Provide space for networking for future development on actions for peace building and conflict and forced migration prevention.
5
Promote peace, anti-militarism and non-violence and encouraging active participation at European Level.
The activities
The project was divided into seven activities:
A Preparatory Meeting
Budapest (Hungary), 18 – 21 November 2016
Organised with the support of the Building Bridges and No More War working groups of SCI, the meeting allowed the project team to meet in person and shape the direction of its future work, identifying and delegating key tasks. They used the opportunity to discuss best practices and challenges of previous projects, sharing expectations and experiences. There was also the chance to visit “Open Doors”, a project by SCI’s Hungarian branch Utilapu, which works with young refugees and asylum seekers.
‘Learn and Get Inspired from the Past’ seminar
Alt Empordà (Catalonia, Spain), 10 – 15 March 2017
Participants had the opportunity to explore the history of the Spanish civil war and to revisit the topic of forced migration. The participants followed the refugee route and got introduced to great historical spots: Elna Maternity Hospital, the venue of the concentration camp Argeles, Exile Memorial Museum etc. Local witnesses, experts and activists were invited to share their knowledge. Participants were encouraged to create a short video which contributed to the project’s final video: PATH stories behind borders.
Seminar: One Step Forward, One Step Back
Novi Sad (Serbia), 8 – 14 May 2017
The seminar explored the history of the wars in ex-Yugoslavia while drawing parallels between the situation in the region then and the ongoing situation where the Balkan Peninsula. Experts and associations from Novi Sad (NSHC, CK13) and grassroots activists and organizations in Subotica, the northernmost city in Serbia, shared with the group. Causes and consequences of the conflicts in the Balkans were discussed, including the resulting peace movements (Women in Black, SCI) and Europe’s response to the current humanitarian crisis, exploring concrete examples in Serbia.
No Border Fest
Rome (Italy), 12 – 21 June 2017
It was organised to stimulate debate on forced migration then and now, labour exploitation and related contradictions. Initially, the camp was organised around a migrant camp in Foggia in cooperation with Radio Ghetto Voci Libere, a community radio amplifying minority voices, and Laboratorio 53. Unfortunately, the migrant camp was closed before the camp could take place. Instead, the camp joined the No Border Fest in Rome, actively involving over 400 people including refugees and asylum seekers in discussions on issues such as social inclusion, freedom of movement and self-determination.
REcapturing the History
Thessaloniki (Greece), 10 – 20 July 2017
The camp was dedicated to collecting stories of refugees and victims of war, beginning with the first wave of refugees arriving to Greece in 1922 and ending with the asylum seekers reaching Greece in the 21st Century.
Solidarity with Refugees
Friedland (Germany), 12 – 26 August 2017
The camp used Friedland, the site of the biggest camp for German refugees after WWII (and home of SCI’s German branch) as a base to analyse and deconstruct political, social and psychological borders set between refugees and Germans today. The group worked in a community garden with refugees and local community members, participated in creative workshops with migrant theatre group Boat People Projekt, and put on an exhibition on the theme of borders.
Visibility event & Evaluation meeting
Sofia (Bulgaria), 25 – 30 January 2018
It was organised by CVS Bulgaria in cooperation with many local stakeholders and turned into a dynamic 3 days long No More War Festival focusing on peace, with aspects including forced migration, radicalisation prevention, non-violence and peaceful protests. More than 70 visitors joined various discussions, workshops and screenings that took place during this festival, among others the premiere of SCI’s documentary PATH stories behind borders that was created during the PATH project. Additionally, the visitors could follow the steps of an art installation that traversed the parallel between the history of forced migration in various conflicts of our past and present. In parallel, the team evaluated the projects’ many dimensions and impacts. Read more about the PATH final exhibition here.
Resources
PATH stories behind borders
SCI’s documentary was created during the PATH project and premiered during the PATH Final Event in Bulgaria January 2018. The documentary focused on stories of people who were on the move during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Balkan Wars (in 1990’s) and the newest migration wave in Europe (from 2015).
Path Exhibition
Visitors could follow the steps of an art installation that traversed the parallel between the history of forced migration in various conflicts of our past and present. Immerse yourself in the experience here.
Supporters and partners
The team
The PATH team was responsible for implementation of the PATH project. The members of the team took care of organising key activities and ensured the quality of projects outputs. The team also communicated the project to key stakeholders and made efforts to ensure its visibility and impact.
Project partners
The PATH project was realized thanks to the collaboration of all project partners:
- The Association of Service Civil International, Belgium
- SCI – Projets internationaux asbl, Belgium
- Cooperation for Voluntary Service – Bulgaria, Bulgaria
- Service Civil International – Branche française, France
- Service Civil International – Deutscher Zweig e.V, Germany
- Kinisi Ethenonton Service Civil International – Hellas, Greece
- Utilapu Nemzetkozi Epitotabor Halozat, Hungary
- Servizio Civile Internazionale, Italy
- Association Center for Intercultural Dialogue, Macedonia
- Association for Democratic Prosperity – Zid, Montenegro
- Volonterski Centar Vojvodine, Serbia
- Servei Civil Internacional de Catalunya, Spain
- International Voluntary Service, United Kingdom
Supporter
The PATH project was supported by the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union.
Seminar: Learn and Get Inspired from the Past
Alt Empordà (Catalonia, Spain), 10 – 15 March 2017
The seminar “Learn and get inspired from the past” was held in La Jonquera and Girona in Catalonia, Spain, 10 – 15 March 2017. It was the first official seminar of PATH and A Route to Connect projects, which were both part of the Building Bridges campaign of SCI. Participants from 9 different countries gathered to learn about the Spanish Civil War and analyzed its similarities to current conflicts and forced migration nowadays. The seminar was hosted by SCI Catalunya and co-funded by the European Youth Foundation and the Europe for Citizens programme of the European Union.
During the seminar the participants visited the Exile Memorial Museum (MUME), had a day hike through the routes of the end of the Spanish Civil War, organized a human library with a Spanish Civil War veteran Ramon Brugués Serra and Syrian refugees Eyad Ibrahim and Khaled Al-Mousa and participated in different workshops and lectures on the topic. Throughout the seminar the participants were divided into three working groups: video, exhibition and final event. The video group made interviews and filmed events during the seminar and uploaded material online to be edited as part of a larger video by Laura Basta. The exhibition group prepared photos and texts for the final event of the PATH project, which was held in January 2018 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The final event working group prepared speeches for the final event of the seminar, which happened in Girona 14 March 2017.
One of the organizers of the seminar, Marta Palau Alba describes her thoughts during the seminar:
“Looking back at the Spanish Civil War we recognized so many patterns that are being repeated nowadays: the incapability of governments to act efficiently in front of an humanitarian crisis, the misuse of information and the manipulation of the reality, the polarization of societies and the rise of racism… The nonsense of war when those who cause it say it’s done to achieve peace. Sharing thoughts with other participants, we could not help but feel frustrated. But most of all, we felt the urgent need of finding a way to push things in the opposite direction.”
The participants of the seminar described the experience as inspiring and empowering. A common agreement seemed to be that it is time to learn from the past and stop making the same mistakes. The seminar in Spain planted a steady ground for the following activities of PATH and A Route to Connect projects.
Seminar: One Step Forward, One Step Back
Novi Sad (Serbia), 8 – 14 May 2017
When President Tito died in 1980, the union of Yugoslavia began to unravel, with each republic claiming more autonomy. A series of political upheavals and conflicts in early 1990s, ethnic cleansing, forced migration and the intervention of the international community. Nowadays, the Balkans are once again becoming a hotspot for refugees, but this time they are hailing from different geographical and cultural backgrounds.
‘One Step Forward, One Step Back’ was a seminar within the framework of the project PATH, where SCI’s volunteers and activists gathered with an interest in working with refugees. This seminar was hosted by Volunteers’ Center of Vojvodina. Participants from more than 9 countries gathered for 7 days to learn, share, challenge, create and change.
During this seminar, participants have learned about the wars in ex-Yugoslavia, forced migrations and challenges during and after the wars, discussed existing initiatives that support refugees and migrants along the “Balkan route” in local communities. They experienced a “living library” (some as readers, some even as books themselves, sharing their personal experiences as refugees or people affected by forced migration) and helped organize a public event – documentary film screening followed by a discussion in CK13 Youth Center in Novi Sad which opened the space for narratives from the margin, and highlighted the importance of these stories in order to encourage, build and live peace in times when conflicts and bigotry seem to be given.
“I think that this seminar was an excellent experience, we have to learn how to face violence and discrimination, but not for now and not just in our local place.” said Sandra, a participant from Catalonia.
No Border Fest
Rome (Italy), 12 – 21 June 2017
No Border Fest is a frame for meeting and debating on the subject of contemporary migrations through workshops, exhibitions, debates, music and theater.
SCI Italy in partnership with Radio Ghetto Voci Libere and Laboratorio 53 among others, organized a PATH study camp together with No border Fest in Rome (Italy) between 12th and 21st June 2017. This study camp was aimed at stimulating debate on forced migration and labor exploitation.
International volunteers from France, Hungary, Italy, UK and Senegal were teamed up with local volunteers (approx. 30) to support the organization of the festival. During this 2-day long festival (16-17th June) different issues were discussed such as social inclusion, freedom of movement and self-determination.
On 17th June, the festival addressed some issues like self-determination, social inclusion and freedom of movement via workshops and audio/visual exhibitions. For examples, ‘Yeppo!’ – a workshop of Ludopedagogy by Liscia and Laboratorio 53, and International Cuisine workshops by La Città dell’Utopia.
This festival gathered more than 400 people to create a society regardless of colors, nationalities, cultures, etc. From this study camp and event, there are No Borders in our hearts because we are all the same.
Study camp: REcapturing the History
Thessaloniki (Greece), 10 – 20 July 2017
From 10th to 20th July, motivated young people from Spain, Catalonia, Denmark, Macedonia, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, and Belgium met in Thessaloniki, Greece, which has a rich history of hosting refugees, hosted by SCI Hellas.
The camp aimed to define and understand the current situation of forced migration by using the lesson from the past. During these 10 days, participants were granted a lot of chances to meet with different NGOs, volunteers who work with refugees and organisations who do projects for refugees. It was a practical and direct way for participants to collect materials and interview relevant people that can be used in the final video creation.
During the last day of the camp, participants got the opportunity to present what they had learnt during the camp to the public. The event contained 3 main parts:
- Pictures presentation – pictures taken during the camp with description.
- Video showing – participants collected stories and materials from the interviewees and presented to the audience what had been done during these days.
- World Presidents – participants were divided into 3 groups and explained what they thought as a Politician and how they can make the world better.
This study brought new insight to the participants from the past to present – from WWII to the refugees crisis today. Through this clear connection between the past and present, it will help in promoting peace and well-being of humans by stimulating debate, reflection and network development.
Study camp: Solidarity with Refugees
Friedland (Germany), 12 – 26 August 2017
The camp was a study camp with a focus on creative and research work, and some practical work. The practical work was conducted in the intercultural community garden FriedlandGarten for refugees, locals and volunteers in the outskirts of Friedland. The goal was to develop the concept of the FriedlandGarten as a space of encounter and safe haven for refugees during their first weeks in Germany. In the future, The FriedlandGarten shall become a part of the Internationale Gärten e.V. that follows a concept of integration and creation of communities for different migrant groups through gardening work.
The Museum Friedland researches and presents the history of the Friedland refugee camp and supplied our group with valuable background information on the project place during a guided tour through the camp and museum as well as in individual visits of participants. The materials from the museum also helped create the German contribution to the final PATH exhibition.
The theatre Boat people project from Göttingen conducted an intercultural theatre workshop around the theme of “borders” with our group in the second week. On three hours from Monday through Thursday, the volunteer group and 7-10 refugees from the camp practiced different creative methods to discover and express their personal borders in relation to others, and prepared a final presentation to be held on a summer celebration on the last day of the studycamp in the FriedlandGarten, organized together with Caritas.
