Edge of Somewhere: World Events

Evening in Antwerp

Last night, I went into Antwerp with John and one of the interns, Cammaria. We were to check out a youth hostel for the upcoming Moslem-Christian exchange. Ironically, the hostel is next to a synagogue in the heart of Antwerp’s large Jewish neighbourhood. John approached an Orthodox man on the street and asked if our group might meet with someone from the synagogue (one day in Antwerp is dedicated to a “faith safari;” the city has an extensive religious history). John first mentioned the youth were coming from Israel; however, when he clarified that the youth are from Jaffa and East Jerusalem, the man looked a bit incredulous. He said he would contact us though; hopefully there is an opening for discussion and some civility in the midst of all that’s going on currently in and around Israel. Unfortunately, conflict is a sticky thing that clings to the feet of those who travel. No matter how far one tries to walk away, there seems to always be some vestige of it left. In 1981, in peaceful Antwerp, the Synagogue was hit by a car bomb; I’m sure the wound of that is not forgotten or completely healed. I wonder how the Jewish people living there will react to a group of Palestinians coming into their midst; I wonder what will go through the minds of the Palestinians as they walk through the middle of the Jewish town, surrounded by Orthodox Jews and billboards in Hebrew, to get to our meeting location.

Antwerp is a place where, in the heat of European wars between Catholics and Protestants, icons and people alike were burned for what they stood for. Massive churches and cathedrals stand beside each other in peace now; the conflicts of long ago remembered now only in pub names and the engravings on grey statues. Can we somehow look forward to such a future after our current conflicts? Last night, outside the church pictured above, a man juggled knives. That seems to be the history of God in the hands of man; it’s an impressive feat to put all those blades in the air, but make one slip and the wound can be fatal.

BI Overseas Programs

I have been involved with BuildaBridge International in Philadelphia for the past two years (I am currently acting as director of communications). Though it is a small organisation, the people involved have a great deal of experience and professionalism; we are now concentrating on doing a few things very well. Since 1997, BI has provided opportunities for artists and socially-minded people to experience other cultures and serve people in great need.

Our overseas programs are greatly expanded this year; I know some of you who may be interested in exploring one or the other of these programs so I’m posting an excerpt from the BI website here:

Arts Relief and Restoration
Arts Relief and Restoration is the advanced volunteer program of BuildaBridge International; it is comprised of arts therapy professionals, artists and community service workers trained in emergency relief through artistic intervention. The mission ARR is to provide, through the arts, a sense of normalcy, bring emotional healing, provide aesthetic nourishment, and to primarily feed the souls of children who have experienced traumatic circumstances as a result of war and catastrophic events around the world.

Requirements for the artists participating are:

Strong motivation,
Ability to deal with difficult environments,
Creativity in working with scarcity of artistic tools, and
Training in therapeutic arts methods and crisis management.

Overseas Institute for Arts and Transformation
The Overseas Institute for Arts and Transformation provides training and workshops to artists abroad. Around the world, BI professionals teach artists how to use their gifts as an instrument for help, education, and aid. Artists trained by BI professionals will implement the skills learned in working for social development in their communities.

Goodwill Tour
Goodwill tours provide overseas concert tour opportunities for US-based performance groups. BuildaBridge International partners with the group to promote and advocate its mission overseas and, at the same time, bring an experience of the arts internationally. ed. BI has previously organised a wide variety of touring groups, from interpretative dancers to gospel choirs.

Cross-Cultural Discovery Tour
The Cross-Cultural Discovery Tours are trips to many areas of the world that offer opportunities for global education. These trips are especially for those who wish to broaden their understanding of other cultures and experience firsthand the lives of people around the world. The Cross-Cultural Discovery Tour enables BI to promote its mission and activities overseas by bringing people from different cultures face to face. Travelling in a Cross-Cultural Discovery Tour means meeting with other cultures, learning new traditions, and discovering how diversity means enrichment.

This year’s scheduled trips:

Arts Relief and Restoration

Dec 2006 Guatemala
Jun 2007 Borneo
Aug 2007 West Kenya

Institute for Arts and Transformation

Jun 2007 Malaysia
Jun 2007 India
Aug 2007 West Kenya
Aug 2007 Ethiopia
Sept 2007 Guatemala

Goodwill Tours

Jul 2007 Europe
Aug 2007 Kenya

Cross Cultural Discovery Tours

Jun 2007 South Africa
Aug 2007 Italy: The Art of Wine

As you can see, It’s quite a docket of activities for the year. Some of these are pre-planned with existing groups. However, for most, there are opportunities to get involved. If you’d like further information either contact me at nicholas[dot]media@mac[dot]com (replace the [dot] with actual dots) or e-mail Elisa Schwab-Clewis, the overseas program co-ordinator at BuildaBridge.

Edge of Somewhere

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Evening in Antwerp

BI Overseas Programs