Exhibition of the Unheard Stories and panel discussion on the migrant crisis

In my country I didn’t feel safe, not for me, not for my child, I couldn’t work… The place I loved wasn’t safe. It was getting harder to live there. There were times I could not breathe. I felt alone, helpless, sank more and more into depression and it haunted me. I realized I couldn’t live there anymore. I decided to leave my country. We traveled for a year to Serbia. (Mariam, 34 y.o., Afghanistan)

Center for Cultural Decontamination is implementing “Sokak – Project on Diversity and Curiosity“, dedicated to the integration of migrant and local communities along the so-called “Balkan Route” by creating common appropriate narratives and practices that foster dialogue and mutual understanding.

Through activities in the field of culture and art, we are opening a space for dialogue and integration of migrant and local communities, in order to raise the level of awareness in local communities about their new neighbors. Our activities address the direct needs of both communities by giving them the space to express themselves, to give voice to creativity and the right to make decisions in an environment of the “refugee crisis”.

We are inviting you at the opening of the exhibition “Unheard Stories” and at the debate with representatives of the civil society dealing with refugee issues at EUInfo Center, Kralja Milana Street n.7, Belgrade, October 2, 2017, at 5pm.

Zbog ogranicenih kapaciteta, molimo vas da svoj dolazak potvrdite slanjem poruke na mejl info@euinfo.rs

Within the project, we are implementing an online exhibition of digital photographs “Unheard Stories” collected during the field work in refugee camps in 2017, as well as photographs created during the digital photography workshop held in June this year in the Belgrade Youth Center.

The refugees, alongside their scarce luggage, carry the burden of war, genocide, poverty, political and social upheaval, but also and their memories, their cultural heritage. In the past, refugees traveled with suitcases, while today they are carrying mobile phones, like some type of digital luggage. A mobile phone is an irreplaceable means of survival in migration, because it is used for moving between the worlds, for translating languages, for sending messages to families at home, for making plans for the future in the countries of destination. Giving them a voice, enabling them to present their ideas and opinions, together with the citizens of the country in which they live, is crucial in the fight against racist, xenophobic and sclerotic attitudes.

During the debate, we will discuss issues related to integration processes and trust between migrant and local communities through interaction in different formats, on CSO experiences working with migrants and political actors in relation to EU migration policies, the importance of fostering information, knowledge sharing, experiences, influences on changing attitudes on important social issues of the public in Serbia, such as the protection of human and minority rights, gender equality or non-discrimination.

Project partners are Zoukak Theater (Beirut), Symbiosis (Thessaloniki) and Center for peace studies (Zagreb)

The project is financed from the MATRA program of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Embassy.

Photo by Celemence Beugnot, made during the Unheard stories workshop.

Opening the online exhibition of the Unheard Stories
and panel discussion on the migrant crisis

Monday, October 2^nd 2017, from 17:00 to 18:30
EU info center, Kralja Milana 7, Belgrade

17:00 – 17:20 Opening of the online digital photography exhibition Unheard Stories
17:20 – 17:50 Panel discussion – Migrants in Serbia and EU migration policies
Nikolas Bizel, Head of Operations, EU Delegation to the Republic of Serbia
Žarka Radoja, Kontrapress
Lola Joksimović, CZKD, author of the project “Sokak – Project on Diversity and Curiosity”
Jovana Vinčić, Asylum Protection Center

18:00 – 18:30 Panel discussion – Experiences of civil society in working with migrants
Jelena Ilić, ADRA
Irena Stojanović, PIN – Psychosocial Innovation Network
Ana Trifunović, Belgrade Center for Human rights
Gordan Paunović, Info Park
Violeta Marković, JRS – Jesuit Refugee Service Serbia
Moderator: Aleksandar Obradović, CZKD