Cultural initiatives that promote intercultural exchanges in Luxembourg

Storytelling workshop

2023

In a collaborative effort between Douri, the Fondation Sommer and Lebanese artist Walid El-Masri, Douri conducted a story-telling workshop that took place between 6-10th October 2023, engaging the participation of 7 children in the refugee centre in Bascharage.

The children learned how to express their emotions in various ways during the sessions. The use of puppets helped them overcome shyness and express themselves confidently in front of others. Additionally, they were able to identify the qualities they liked in their characters and recognize their strengths, both from their perspective and from the viewpoint of others.

They finally wrote their own stories, illustrated them and brought them to life through performance with the assistance of a marionette.

MY VOICE IS MY POWER

MY VOICE IS MY POWER is a choral project organised by Douri non-profit organisation. This project aims to bring together young people from different cultures and languages. In spite of their differences, they are encouraged to communicate. Their common language is music.

Through music, the young people have been introduced to each other’s culture. They identified what they have in common and work to accept diversity. The group was made up of young people from immigrant and local backgrounds. In addition to working on voice, repertoire and choral singing, the group has strengthened its cohesion and acceptance of diversity. The workshops were led by Maestro Shafi Badreddin.

www.douri.lu

LA RODA

“Bringing together, sharing, creating, exchanging, expressing oneself, interacting and dialoguing” : these are the values of capoeira. Between dance, percussion and music, it inculcates humility, allows the surpassing of oneself and the learning of respect for others. Capoeira has always had the vocation to include and bring people together. Throughout the year 2020, Abadá Capoeira Luxembourg celebrates its 20 years of existence and cultural and social action. In this context, the Sommer Foundation is financing the project “La Roda” (the round, as the participants form a circle) which will culminate in a capoeira show performed with the pupils of the primary school of Bonnevoie-Gellé and the children and teenagers of the Abadá Capoeira Luxembourg club. To prepare for this performance at the primary school of Bonnevoie-Gellé, the pupils are taking classes in capoeira, Afro-Brazilian dances and Brazilian percussion. Through these workshops where “music makes the body speak”, young people from all walks of life are introduced to Afro-Brazilian culture and experience a new space for intercultural exchange. Via “La Roda”, the capoerist apprentices develop their self-esteem and creativity, but also their ability to express themselves and exchange.