Diaspora Zoo

Thu 15 October

16:00 Doors open and exhibition

20:00 Film screening of “Fremdzeit”
followed by a panel discussion with the protagonists

Fri 16 October

16:00 Doors open and exhibition

20:00 Film screening: “Hinterm Schrank liegt Bauschtu”
followed by a panel discussion with the protagonists

“Der Zoo der Diaspora” is a participatory project developed as part of the open youth work programme run by toj – the association for open youth work in the City of Bern. The main participants are teenagers and young adults from Bern West. Through this project, we aim to explore together the complex interrelationships between migration history, work, identity, responsibility, family and a sense of belonging.

By using the image of a zoo, we aim to draw attention, in an ironic way, to the way in which young migrants and their families in Bern West are often subjected to being ‘collected’, ‘exhibited’ and ‘exoticised’.

Through a writing workshop and studios focusing on music, film, photography and design, the young people reflect on their own experiences within the diaspora. We deepen this exploration through a variety of inputs as well as educational and cultural trips.

The aim is to make different ways of life visible, to give young people a voice and to empower them to counteract discriminatory, divisive and racist processes. In this way, the project promotes solidarity across cultural, linguistic and religious boundaries.

Azad Süsem is responsible for the educational and artistic management of the project; he has been working within the framework of toj for 20 years to explore and highlight the lived experiences of young people in Bern West. This work also gave rise to the idea for the ZOO DER DIASPORA. Lauritz Mori acts as a youth worker and Thomas Krause as a freelance dramaturgy and multimedia consultant.

Overall responsibility for the project lies with the toj and the City of Bern.