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Our 2011 Youth exchange
is a collaboration
between Refocus, 198
Contemporary Arts and
Learning, London and
UNICEF Damascus, Syria.
The exchange is funded
as part of the British
Council Youth in Action
programme; our
objectives are to
develop solidarity and
promote tolerance among
young people whilst
fostering mutual
understanding between
young people in
different countries.
Sixteen people aged
18-25 are participating
in the 7 day exchange
which uses Art and
Culture to investigate
themes of migration,
minority communities and
cultural diversity.
Participants are from
diverse backgrounds.
Those visiting from
Syria are from Iraqi,
Palestinian and Syrian
backgrounds and are
previous Refocus
students from 2008, 2009
and 2010 projects. The
UK host group includes
young people from
Afro-Caribbean and mixed
heritage backgrounds.
During the exchange
participants explore how
London functions as a
culturally diverse city,
looking at the history
of migration in respect
to London's different
communities and
reflecting on the issues
which emerge as a
result, especially in
the contemporary globalised world and in
relation to the
participant's lives.
Through a varied programme using
photography, film,
discussion and
interaction with
professional visual
artist's participants
explore the themes of
the exchange and develop
a creative response
which will be used to
disseminate their
experiences both during
and following the
exchange itself. |
