Exchanging experiences and the dialogue against discrimination and prejudice
The themes of this year's Anti-racism Weeks include a discussion of experiences of exclusion and discrimination together with strategies to counteract these, a dialogue between religions, creating awareness of breaches of the human rights of Sinti and Roma, the reasons why people worldwide become refugees and how to deal with racist prejudices and clichés.
Writing in his foreword to the programme Mayor Burkhard Jung, who is also the patron of the event, states: "The necessity of organising the International Anti-racism Weeks has probably never been so great in both our country and in our city", adding: "More urgently than ever we need an open dialogue in which everyone, both natives of the city and those who have migrated here, can play an active part. The programme of the International Anti-racism Weeks in Leipzig offers a wide spectrum of opportunities for this purpose."
A diversity of events
On the occasion of the Anti-racism Weeks the GRASSI Museum has organised a series of "Religions in Dialogue" thematic guided tours, in which the public can get to know Buddhist, Moslem, Hindu and Jewish life in Leipzig through direct encounters with representatives of these religions.
An analysis of the background to and reasons for migration to Europe forms the focal point of an evening on the theme of "Democracy today, Asylum and Responsibility", which is being held by the Leipzig Women's Cultural Organisation at 19 hrs on 17 March.
At the Plagwitz Family Centre the German-Spanish Friendship Association is organising a story-telling afternoon for children on the subject of "Being different" (17 March, 16 hrs) and is also offering a discussion for Spanish-speaking immigrants on experiences with racism (25 March, 19 hrs, Haus Steinstraße).
Those interested in obtaining an insight into the language of the Roma and Sinti will have an opportunity to do so at a workshop on Romani, which is taking place at Leipzig University (Beethovenstraße) from 13 to 18 hrs on 19 March.
In a play entitled "Free Syrian Fear" a group of Syrian refugees present the way they are torn between their home country and foreign countries, between the flight towards the future and looking back to the past. In its previous performances the play was regularly sold out, but in a special performance for the "Weeks" it can be seen once more at naTo at 20 hrs on 20 March.
With the title "Leipziger Allerlei - colourful in the pot, colourful in ideas" there will be a shared cooking session at the premises of the Leipzig branch of ASG Sachsen mbH in Markkleeberg on 23 March. As with all the other events people with and without an immigration background are invited to participate.
The Ahmadiyya Community will be presenting a talk about tolerance in Islam with Imam Said Ahmed Arif. This will be followed by a discussion and refreshments (24 March, 18:30 hrs, Prayer Centre in the Eisenbahnstraße). Because of the restricted capacity of the premises the number of participants will be limited. For those wishing to participate, the relevant contact data can be found in the programme.
For the first time this year residents of Leipzig are invited to participate in an attempt to set a world record, or at least to cheer the participants on. On 29 March people from as many different nations as possible are to slide one by one down a slide in the Johannapark within one hour. In order to break the existing world record, which was set in Hamburg, at least 12 different nations need to participate. The event is being organised by Leipzig Recordia IG.
Together with the City's Youth Ring and Pupils' Council the City of Leipzig's Migrant Advisory Council is inviting young people from 14 to 18 years of age to a forum entitled "Colourful classes - a wealth of opportunities?!". From 16 to 18 hrs on 20 March the Neues Rathaus will be the venue for a discussion of ideas on how the potential provided by pupils, both with or without an immigrant background, can be exploited even better in the intercultural classroom of the future.
Together with other organisers a total of 45 associations, young people's cultural centres, church communities and religious groups are organising events.
Taking advantage of opportunities for personal information and encounters
"I invite all residents of Leipzig to experience a change in their outlook during the Anti-racism Weeks because this year, too, many immigrants from different countries will be playing an active part in many events", stresses Stojan Gugutschkow, Head of the Department for Migration and Integration, which is coordinating the International Anti-racism Weeks in Leipzig. He calls on everyone "to take advantage of the opportunities for direct and personal information and encounters, together with the chance of learning at first hand how people with and without a background of immigration can live together".
Programme
Please visit Internationalen Wochen gegen Rassismus in Leipzig (in German language)