Am 17. und 18. September diskutieren unsere Peertrainer*innen als eine von insgesamt fünf On September 17 and 18, our peer trainers will be one of five youth groups at the Federal Youth Congress of the ndo to discuss their demands, wishes and ideas for the future. Moderated by Malcolm Ohanwe, the two days of exciting workshops, talks, open spaces and stages will focus on THE issues that move youth and young adults aged 16 to 25.
On this occasion, project manager Alexander Rönisch talks about the work of the WIR SIND HIER! education project against antiziganism in the current newsletter of neue deutsche organisationen. Click here for the full interview (in German).
Opening on September 16, 2022. New theater project and event series planned.
Berlin, September 2022
This season, the Green Salon will again be run by artists* and activists from Berlin’s Roma* and Sinti* communities: Together with RomaTrial e.V and the Romnja in Power theater collective, WIR SIND HIER! is shaping a vision of a future society in the Grüner Salon – a society in which the lives and perspectives of all people are of equal value. A future in which Roma* and Sinti* are no longer a problem, but the hosts.
Among other things, WIR SIND HIER! will contribute a new youth theater piece to the program of the Green Salon and will recruit new young performers from the Roma communities in Berlin. WIR SIND HIER! fulfills its role as host par excellence with a planned series of events: On October 21 at 9 p.m., the young peer trainers invite you to dance on the red carpet. Further dates will follow.
The Green Salon opens its doors on September 16, 2022 for the 2022 / 2023 theater season with the week-long series of events and exhibition “Germany your children – On continuities of right-wing violence”. They commemorate the 30th and 31st anniversaries of the pogroms of Rostock-Lichtenhagen and Hoyerswerda and draw an arc to the current treatment of people on the run.
In film, radio play, lecture and discussion, those affected – former contract workers from Mozambique and Vietnam as well as Roma – and activists from Sea Watch as well as Afghan and Syrian associations will have their say.
The musician Mal Élevé will kick off the event with an open-air concert. With his open approach to his Manouche identity, Mal Élevé inspires young Roma* and Sinti* in particular. His songs -a mixture of reggae, dancehall, ska, rap and punk- are a declaration of war against fascism, capitalism and sexism and at the same time a call for worldwide solidarity.
More information about the program of the Green Salon here.
WE ARE HERE! is happy to be part of the Green Salon team!
Our Berlin youth group “WIR SIND HIER!” celebrated with and supported with all their might the International Roma* Day on April 8 with moderation, parade and theater.
The time for the preparation was short, because it started already on April 5th. And that was with an interview at radioeins! RBB broadcasted live from Bikini Berlin. Estera, Davis and Ali were on board and we talked about our workshops, role models, theater and many other topics.
This year ROMADAY opened with a vernissage of the exhibition “Still Hope In Paradise?” at ACUD MACHT NEU, continued the same evening with the performance “Newly Forgotten Technologies” by Wesley Goatley and finally celebrated with a set by DJ, artist and author D.R.E.E.A.. It was great to connect with so many people, share ideas, and it made us even more excited for the upcoming parade!
In between, we made banners, thought about demo slogans and, very important, the moderation and formulated our own contributions for the demo. From “WE ARE HERE!” David Paraschiv and Estera Elisa Paraschiv were present on the parade truck as a moderation duo.
The two accompanied their fellow campaigners during the procession from the Memorial to the Sinti and Roma of Europe murdered under National Socialism to the Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz on April 8. The culmination of the powerful, self-confident parade was the performative renaming of the site as Roma-Luxemburg-Platz, which was especially enjoyed by children and young people from various Roma communities.
Arriving at the Volksbühne, we went to the backstage of the Grüner Salon and then onto the stage. This was followed by perhaps the punchiest performance of our youth group with the Forum play of the same name “WIR SIND HIER!” in front of the crowded theater hall.
Hardly had the applause and the sounds of the subsequent jam session dedicated to the Roma* anthem “Djelem Djelem” died down, we went to the Maxim Gorki Theater for the concert of the Romnja rap band from Serbia “Pretty Loud”.
What a day! What an energy! It strengthens us and makes us want to do more! Stay tuned!
The forum theater play of the youth group WIR SIND HIER! has been selected for the Theatertreffen der Jugend. This was announced today by the Berliner Festspiele as organizers of the national competition. WIR SIND HIER! is one of a total of eight productions invited to the Theatertreffen der Jugend from 25.5. – 4.6.2022 in the festival center at the Berliner Festspiele. The young Roma and Romnja of WIR SIND HIER! were able to prevail against about 50 applications. The jury focused on the question of specific youth perspectives and the appropriate development and implementation of the respective material by the entire ensemble. The personality and attitude of the players are decisive for the invitation to the Theatertreffen der Jugend.
Forum Theater Play WE ARE HERE!
By: Christoph Leucht, David Paraschiv, Estera Elisa Paraschiv, Estera Sara Stan, Naomi Stan | With: Daniel Hromyko, David Paraschiv, Estera Elisa Paraschiv, Estera Sara Stan, Naomi Stan | Directed by: Christoph Leucht | Audio/Video: Christoph Leucht | Premiere date: 17.6.2021, Youth Theater Festival “Festiwalla” in Berlin
Next performance: 8.4.2022, ROMADAY | Duration: 80 minutes
The interactive theater piece about persecution, rejection and oppression of Roma* in Germany was created between March and June 2021 in a rehearsal process using the methods of teatro das opridmidas under the guidance of Christoph Leucht (Theaterwerkstatt KURINGA).
The next opportunity to see the young people of WIR SIND HIER! in action will be at this year’s ROMADAY on April 8, 2022 at 16:00 during the ROMADAY parade through Berlin-Mitte and at 19:00 with a performance of the award-winning play in the Green Salon of the Volksbühne. Admission is free.
Theatertreffen der Jugend – WIR SIND HIER by Jana Kießer-1
Theatertreffen der Jugend – WIR SIND HIER by Jana Kießer-2
Theatertreffen der Jugend – WIR SIND HIER by Jana Kießer-3
Theatertreffen der Jugend – WIR SIND HIER by Jana Kießer-4
Theatertreffen der Jugend – WIR SIND HIER by Jana Kießer-5
Theatertreffen der Jugend – WIR SIND HIER by Jana Kießer-7
Theatertreffen der Jugend – WIR SIND HIER by Jana Kießer-8
Theatertreffen der Jugend – WIR SIND HIER by Jana Kießer-10
The youth group WIR SIND HIER! is composed of young Roma and Romnja from RomaTrial e.V. from Berlin and Kiev, who speak Romani, Romanian, Ukrainian, German, English, Russian and Spanish. The artistic theater work is part of their political commitment within the framework of the “WIR SIND HIER! Education Program against Antigypsyism” and also includes peer training instruction, organizing demos, events, appearances at panel discussions, and producing videos and social media content.
“WE ARE HERE! Bildungsprogramm gegen Antigypsyism” trains young Roma and Romnja, as well as other young people affected by racist and intersectional discrimination, as peer trainers against anti-gypsyismin Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony. Together they develop educational tools to raise awareness about antigypsyism.
In March we, the youth group “WIR SIND HIER!” had two more strong performances. Our interactive play featured performance, dialogue, recitation, music and video projections.
The audience was directly involved in the theatrical action – this was intentional from the beginning. Known as the method “Forum Theater” and made strong by the Theater of the Oppressed, this form of interactive theater is low-threshold: the dialogue with the audience reduces social differences, offers the audience to identify with the issues, and thus contributes to reflection on what is happening and to change social reality. These two performances took place as a guest performance in the sold-out Youth Theater Office of Theater X. Afterwards we were able to further exchange with the audience, answer questions, tell about our workshop activities and make new contacts.
Should we found a Roma* army, do Roma* need their own state or what can we do to stop racism and oppression of Roma* and Sinti*?
Ein Forumtheaterstück der Jugendgruppe WIR SIND HIER! über Verfolgung, Zurückweisung A forum theater play by the youth group WIR SIND HIER! about persecution, rejection and oppression of Roma* in Germany. After a very late recognition of the Holocaust against Roma* and Sinti*, there are racist attacks again and the Holocaust memorial is to be partially destroyed because of a new S-Bahn line. Enough is enough!
The youth group WIR SIND HIER! is composed of young Roma and Romja from RomaTrial e.V. from Berlin and Kiev, who speak Romanes, Romanian, Ukrainian, German, English, Russian and Spanish. The young people have been politicized early on through the youth work of RomaTrial and other Roma organizations and involved in the fight against racism against Roma* and Sinti*. The artistic work in the theater is part of the political engagement, which also includes guiding peer trainings, organizing demos, events, appearances at panel discussions and producing videos and social media content.
By: Christoph Leucht, David Paraschiv, Estera Elisa Paraschiv, Estera Sara Stan, Naomi Stan. With: Daniel Hromyko, David Paraschiv, Estera Elisa Paraschiv, Estera Sara Stan, Naomi Stan Director: Christoph Leucht
What sounds and is written like a tongue twister is a complex, year-round program for our young people, in which they receive comprehensive training as peer trainers. In order for them to be able to offer workshops on the topic of antigypsyism to their peers in schools and youth facilities later on, they have to acquire these skills at such a young age.
The days are short, the weather is too cold. There is a pandemic that complicates this dark season… but after Advent comes Christmas and our team is young and motivated. The youth would like to put on something creative that also provides information. Sounds right up our educational alley!
Out of the group an advent calendar against antigypsyism has been created, which lets open a little door every day – from A to Z. The campaign, which became an Instagram hit in its time, can be viewed at the following link…this time even without having to wait for the next day:
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