'We enjoyed speaking directly with our trainers and
being able to learn about their culture and doing so creatively instead of just
theoretically.'
This feedback from students of the Otto-Nagel high school in Biesdorf shows not only the excitement that we generally experienced in the participating schools of this year’s Bridging Cultures project. With this project taking place for the fifth consecutive year, the quote also shows that a main goal has been achieved: intercultural exchange, deconstruction of stereotypes created by the media, and an understanding for issues of the so-called developing countries.
Since 8 September 2014 the Bridging Cultures team has yet again visited seven high schools and secondary education institutions in the Berlin area. This year’s participating institutions are: Melanchton in Hellersdorf, Otto-Nagel in Biesdorf, Herder in Charlottenburg, Jüdisches Gymnasium in Mitte, Georg-Herwegh in Hermsdorf, Paulsen in Steglitz, and Max-Planck in Mitte. This is where the two-day workshops have taken place, all making use of the English language as a means of communication. On the one hand, interesting facts were presented through Powerpoint and workshops. On the other hand there was room for discussions in smaller groups and initiatives by the students themselves, who utilized a variety of presentation methods – role plays, Powerpoint, short clips – to present what they learned in the workshops in front of their fellow students.
This year, the work in the workshops was conducted by
trainers from Brazil, Kyrgyzstan, and Ghana. Through this the aim was to create
a platform for cultural exchange and getting to know each other and special cultural
aspects of the respective countries. Also, the trainers offered concrete
examples of issues of their home countries with which the students worked
during the two days of the workshops. Issues dealt with were e.g. the use of
land in the Brazilian rainforest and the consequences of that for the
indigenous peoples. Other issues dealt with in the Ghana workshop were the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) and how they’re progressing in relation to maternal
health and women’s rights. The trainer from Kyrgyzstan dealt with the
problematic tradition of bride kidnapping, the rights of the LGBT community and
corruption.
Working methods utilized in the workshops included so-called 'Silent Discussions' in which students were asked to analyz
e a quote or problematic issue with a 'Mind map'. This 'Mind map' - as can be seen in the picture - served as a base for lively discussions within the whole class. A quote used for this exercise was Roger Baldwin's 'Silence never won rights. They are not handed down from above; they are forced by pressures from below.'. In order to ensure variation
during the workshops, the trainers also implemented 'Icebreakers'. In these, they would float problematic statements such as 'Are stereotypes true? What are they good for?' and ask students for their opinions on such statements. Especially such controversial statements ensured long and interesting discussions. To show the importance of this activity, our trainer from Ghana quotes the English-speaking Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: 'The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.' Another activity was the so-called 'Global Cafe' which is a simulation of a conflict scenario. In this, each group of students represents a party of the conflict, e.g. two sovereign states, the UN, and groups of refugees. The Kyrgyz trainer explains why she thinks such an activity is important: 'In the interconnected world of today it is important for young adults to understand the dynamics of communicating, negotiating and engaging in the political arena of global conflicts. This 'Global Cafe' can be used as a means to gaining new perspectives on global politics.'
As a common extracurricular conclusion to the project we have planned a Global Day which is set to take place on 17 October 2014. Together with interested students we will spend an informal evening including culinary delicacies, dances, games, and short clips from the respective countries. This Global Day shall serve as a means to internalizing what was previously learned during the workshops. Thus, the aim of the event is to recap the acquired knowledge in an informal setting and to detect and discuss any open questions or ambiguities. After the common dinner, the trainers will show short documentaries pertaining to issues dealt with during the workshops, in a personal and interactive atmosphere. The Global Day thus sees itsself as a continuation of Bridging Cultures with the long-term potential to deconstruct perceptions of otherness and stereotypes. Also, the aim is to foster a sensibilisation for so-called developing countries and developmental policies.
We want to extend our gratitude to all those who have supported the Bridging Cultures project. Especially we would like to mention: Berliner Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Technologie und Forschung - Landesstelle für Entwicklungszusammenarbeit; Brot für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst; BMZ – Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung; JFSB - Jugend- und Familienstiftung des Landes Berlin; Katholischer Fonds
Everyone is welcome to follow this project on Facebook! More pictures and general information related to this project can also be found.
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