Impact Stories: About spaces and the people that give them meaning
RIP il Gusto del Mondo
City sounds & Scooters –
A river that runs like molten grey concrete
Espresso and green hills up high
Fullest moon and Pizza parties
Aperitivo and two kiss hugs
Delights of chocolate drinks and a place to land
A place to make food, meet and be included, perhaps dance a little
Put on an apron and hat, start a task, see what else needs to be done and prepare to share.
Lives witnessed makes such a huge difference, a vital human need and Right.
Add cheese, fresh basil and black pepper for maximum flavour & dont forget to pack leftovers into a takeaway to Remedy tomorrow.
RIP il Gusto Del Mondo
Claire Homewood, Amava Oluntu, South Africa
Occupying Space
One of the things I have kept my eye on in each mobility, is different countries‘ relationship to space and who occupies space and how much it costs to occupy space and the challenge of paying to occupy space in order to offer service to community.
In Italy we were incredibly inspired by Aria Spazi Reali, a youth led community space offering workshops, activities, life orientation and physiological support for the community youth, in a beautiful old building on the edge of Giardini Reali di Torino, an active community public park and space of gathering and socialising. The building is supplied for free, and every 3 years the municipality calls all interested organisations together to collectively decide on the activities within the space, and additional funding is supplied for these activities.
Same with Casa del Quartiere in the San Salvario district – an incredible community run house, well resourced, offering all manner of educational, hygiene, health, cultural, creative and community building activities, active 7 days a week with intergenerational mixed cultural interactions.
In Germany, we spent much time at Altes Volksbad, a 19th century bathhouse converted into a modern launchpad for creative entrepreneurs and community cohesion. In our short time there we witnessed multiple events where city officials, business experts and local residents gathered to talk together about the challenges faced on the ground by young entrepreneurs in the community, and how each of the role players can leverage support in their realm to help ease that journey and increase social entrepreneurial success.
What all these spaces have in common is that they are state supported. The city puts money, resource and mentorship into supporting these youth and community led initiatives to flourish and overcome hurdles and obstacles. The results are astonishing. These spaces experience long term success and sustainability, offering vital services to the surrounding communities, assisting multiple initiatives that spring out of them to flourish.
I know its like comparing apples to oranges to compare European systems to African ones, and I have written much about the social injustices related to the tendency to do so, given what much of Europe’s wealth and social security is built upon, but as South Africans in the group witnessing the effectiveness of these supported collaborations, it amplified our frustrations with our struggles back home where so many community serving initiatives that really do hold power to change trajectories and diminish the wealth divide, crumble under the weight of rentals or lack of support from state structures who’s mandate it is to serve these very communities, all while municipal buildings sit empty and unutilised right alongside us.
Theresa Wigley, Amava Oluntu, South Africa
Language-Bridges
I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a graffiti workshop in Aniane as an accompanying person – together with local young people and a small international team from the project. Claire, a talented artist from South Africa, took on the creative direction, designing the workshop and bringing all the materials with her. She was supported by Sara from Italy, Zaid, also from South Africa, and myself. So we found ourselves in an international group, equipped with paint-cans, sunscreen, our phones, speakers, and a little water—ready to create a work of art at the city’s sports complex together with the young people.
At first, I felt insecurities: I don’t speak French – and I consider language to be an essential means of connecting and really getting in touch with people. When we arrived, some young people were already waiting for us. During the round of introductions, it quickly became clear that most of them spoke very little English – and conversely, our group spoke very little French. Communication therefore presented us with a challenge.
But this is precisely where there is an unexpected layer of beauty. I learned that despite the language barriers, we found many ways to communicate with each other—with a great deal of openness, creativity, and patience. Cell phones quickly became translation aids, gestures gained importance, and facial expressions and body language were used more consciously. This enabled us not only to plan the graffiti project together, but also to have personal conversations and share thoughts on topics that concern us.
It was impressive to see how quickly bridges can be built when the attitude is right. When we treat each other with openness and truly live the desire for understanding, ways can always be found. And that’s exactly how our graffiti came about: as a colorful collaborative work that connects not only walls but also people.
What did I take away from this experience? That understanding goes far beyond words – and that something beautiful can come from a sincere attempt to connect with one another.
Jule Reicherter, Starkmacher e.V., Germany
Diving in, immersing yourself, being inspired
The strength of European project work lies in sharing different areas of expertise, perspectives and working methods. Thanks to international mobility, it is possible to immerse yourself more deeply in the local contexts and working environments of your partners. International mobility in France in particular has shown us what is possible when you engage with local contexts. We had not worked with L’Engrainé before. Despite the intensive exchange during the duration of the project, we were therefore almost completely unfamiliar with the local work. Our participants returned from the meeting all the more enthusiastic and inspired. Our participants were just as impressed by the collaborative work in rural areas and the mutual support in implementing highly professional and high-quality educational programmes as they were by the content-related impulses. The initial black box quickly became a source of inspiration that was carried across national borders into our local context. Although I was unable to participate in the mobility myself, the inspiration reached even me. In addition to great ideas for the project itself, we were able to quickly identify synergies with other topics and projects that we will pursue further. Experience shows that it is worthwhile to immerse oneself intensively in other contexts, that it opens up new perspectives if one is open and engaged, and that international, interdisciplinary and appreciative cooperation is a place for inspiration and thus for one’s own individual and organisational development.
Merci for that!
Nicolas Bosch, Starkmacher e.V., Germany
Individuals Matter
I have asked myself time and time again what are the most useful stepping stones on the entrepreneurial journey to setting up a small business amid a society that largely overlooks you. Whenever I encounter someone who seems to be navigating this pathway well, I spend much time in conversation trying to understand what moments have stood out for them along the way. Very often, it is the encountering of an individual that either inspired them to continue and overcome hurdles that previously seemed impossible, or opened doorways for them that had previously remained closed.
Meeting Jennifer Pohl of Quartiersmanagement Neckarstadt-West in Germany reminded me just how important the individuals within the systems that govern us are. Firstly, her position, as a state paid role, is an important factor, and secondly, how she herself serves in this position holds massive potential to create stepping stones and remove obstacles for lesser heard voices trying to do good in and for their communities and their own lives.
What stood out about her? That she chose to spend the first two years within her position not creating change or developing lofty projects, but simply getting to know the community. Actively going around and meeting people, groups, businesses. Keeping her door open for people to walk into her office. Listening to people’s ideas, concerns, problems. And then, and only then, hosting networking events to bring groups together, to get to know each other, and supporting ideas that grow out of this foundation. Ideas that come out of the community, not ideas she has for the community.
At this point, even if she were to leave her position, the relationships remain and the work can continue without her. Jennifer inspired me and reminded me that when systems seem unapproachable, to aim for the individuals within the system that leave their doors open.
Theresa Wigley, Amava Oluntu, South Africa