I met with another Peace Corps Volunteer - Bonnie -- to learn more about her work in Tetovo.
Bonnie is working with the NGO Artal on a project that provides opportunities for inter-ethnic cooperation among primary and secondary age youth in Tetovo. Students are attending schools in their native languages (Albanian or Macedonian) - which may help them to better understand the material being covered in class - but it also means that students are segregated by ethnicity. The reality is that there are few opportunities for the students to work and play together.
This NGO is organizing an English Theater production -- they will produce 5 short fairy tales -- that will provide for an inter-ethnic integrated extracurricular experience.
Since views are formed (and solidified) about other ethnicities at a young age (experts believe by ages 10-15), it is important to provide opportunities for inter-ethnic cooperation with young students - to inspire mutual understanding, respect, and tolerance.
UPDATE to the earlier post. Here is a link to an OSCE report - "Age Contact Perceptions: How Schools Shpae Relations between Ethnicities"
http://www.osce.org/skopje/41442?download=true
The report concludes
21
In conclusion, although prejudices are high,
students are aware that they exist and precisely
identify factors which cause them to increase.
Results highlighted the association between
frequent interethnic contact and more positive
perceptions of other ethnicities, as well as
students’ willingness to interact with students
of other ethnicities. Thus school activities that
aim at more frequent interethnic interaction
are not only embraced by students, but they
are also an indispensable tool in eliminating
negative prejudices and overcoming cultural
differences.
I am looking forward to connecting my "Democracy and Civil Society" class with these efforts. And I hope to bring my daughter over to Tetovo to enjoy the Fairy Tale production in May.
Here is more information about Artal - and about this Fairy Tale project -- from their fundraising page:
https://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/five-fairy-tales-for-tetovo
"NGO Artal is fundraising for a children's theater production to be performed in May 2017. We are a small non-profit organization in Tetovo, Macedonia which works to bring arts and culture to the youth and people of our small city. We primarily work to bridge the barriers between individuals in our ethnically segregated community through the arts. In our experience, we have found that actresses and actors are the people with the greatest capacity to empathize. This project aims to build empathy paired with leadership, self-confidence, public speaking, and English language skills.
"With the help of two American volunteers, we will be implementing this 3 month performing arts project. Our NGO, as well as these two volunteers, have previously directed and produced children's theater along with numerous other performing arts events in Tetovo. NGO Artal produced the children theater production The Beauty and the Beast and two American volunteers have assisted in the production and direction of Pippi Longstocking and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The success of these past projects has motivated us to again bring another children's theater production to Tetovo.
"For students, there are few opportunities to engage in extra-curricular activities as public schools are only able to provide basic and traditional education. Extra-curricular programs give youth the opportunity to engage in a team, build leadership, work on improving themselves, and open their eyes to the world beyond their immediate community. These experiences build a solid foundation for our students' futures, as Macedonia struggles to compete on a global scale. As we have witnessed through the past children's performances, we hope that this performance will mold future leaders, increase confidence, promote gender equality, and bridge ethnic barriers.
"With your help this performing arts project will be five short fairy tales, each one being directed by a local high school student. This project will also train a local project manager to make this project an annual event hosted by our organization. The funds raised will go to the purchase of materials, practice and performance spaces, and a small stipend for the local project manager. If we are able to exceed our fundraising goal, those extra funds would be used to kickstart next year's theater production.
"Many know how transformative the theater experience can be. With this project the magic of the theater will be made a reality, if only to "fantasize about a world we aspire to." Please consider giving to our fundraiser to empower the youth of Macedonia with this children's theater production. We thank you for your support."
Check out our organization's Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/ARTAL.CA/
For more about the Peace Corps: https://www.peacecorps.gov/
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