Jordan 2009

 Background

C:NTACT's project in Jordan was developed as a response to the deep social crisis and lack of opportunities for Palestinian and Iraqi refugee children and youth in Jordan. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees have entered Jordan since the beginning of the war in Iraq in 2003. Many of these refugees have either returned home to Iraq or have been resettled in a third country. However, there are still large numbers of Iraqi refugees living in vulnerable circumstances in Jordan. Many refugees are living on margins of society because they are unable to work or set up permanent residence due to their status as "guests" in Jordan. Most of these refugees rely on financial support from NGOs and UNHCR to meet their basic needs.

Consequently, Iraqi refugees have migrated to the poorest regions of Jordan where, sharing a common plight and economic status with most residents, they are better able to integrate. The two areas where the greatest numbers of Iraqi refugees are concentrated are also considered to be the poorest areas of Jordan: East Amman and Zarqa. The socio-economic status of these communities is already low and is characterised by poverty, unemployment, high rates of violence, poor access to water and sanitation, drug use, absence of recreational areas, and high density living. Iraqi refugees often have experiences of trauma, disempowerment, and displacement that are not dissimilar to Palestinian refugees living in Jordan.

The project was developed as a joint initiative of three Danish partners: the Danish Center for Culture and Development (DCCD), Danish MS Action Aid, and C:NTACT - along with the Jordanian partner, CDC Zarqa. The project is based on C:NTACT's successful model for integration and education through storytelling and theatre performances. The aim is to empower the young people - develop their skills through active involvement in creative performances and give them a voice to express their feelings, needs, concerns, etc. - as well as presenting a high quality theatre production to a large audience. The youngsters get the opportunity to work with rap, dance, music, and acting on a highly professional scale.

Youth performance in Zarqa, the Hakaya Festival, 2008

In the Middle East there is a long tradition for storytelling placing a lot of weight on the oral cultural tradition as a source of identity formation, community building, and, hence, dialogue. It a means to strengthen and consolidate mutual understanding and dialogue between cultures. The story is a tool in liberating people's imagination, understanding, and expression. However, storytelling conventionally involves traditional and fictive stories and has often left out youth and marginalised groups. This project aimed to build on this tradition - but to additionally introduce the personal stories which traditionally belong to the private sphere into the public domain and to use the method of storytelling and alternative media as tools to create dialogue between youth from different cultures and backgrounds.

The partnership between CDC Zarqa and C:NTACT was initiated when C:NTACT, supported financially by MS Action Aid, staged a performance in the city's refugee camp as part of the storytelling festival, Hakaya, in 2008.

Phase 1

A joint plan of action was subsequently designed with CDC Zarqa as the prime collaboration partner in Jordan and the Al Balad Theater serving as a resource base. The first phase of the collaboration resulted in a youth project mainly targeting Palestinian refugees in the Zarqa area. The project was formulated and approved by DCCD and MS. The project, titled "Youth Voices through Alternative Media", was launched in July 2009 with a series of workshops in the Zarqa governorate consisting of: two theater groups, stand up comedy, rap music and singing, expression dance and break dance groups for more than 75 participants, film making training with 20 participants, and radio production with 12 participants.

The workshops were conducted by Danish and Jordanian specialists and monitored by the MS staff on the ground. The conclusion was that the workshops were highly successful - monitoring of the process showed that the workshop leaders were aware of the overall purpose of the project and very skilled and committed. One Jordanian workshop leader stated: "I have always dreamt of teaching what I love to young people. This project has made my dream come true." Likewise, the young participants were very committed and engaged in the workshops they had chosen to attend. An 18-year old participant attending the rap workshop said: "Now I know better how to write about myself, my society and my problems. I know how to act on a stage and how to make beats."

Based on the workshops, a large performance was developed with 35 participants. Showcases were staged in November, and the show went on tour in December 2009 to schools, community centers, refugee camps, and other venues in Jordan.

Jordanian magazine, JO, published a 3-page feature story on the performance.

Phase 2

For phase 2, the core approach of series of workshops leading to a large performance at the end was replicated to build further capacity with CDC to take the approach forward on their own beyond 2010. This part of the project was targeted mainly at Iraqi youth. The experience from phase 1 clearly showed that the youth theater project is also highly relevant for Iraqi refugees - their need for empowerment and breaking of taboos and stigmas being equally strong.

This time, the recruitment basis was widened and activities doubled to include more than 100 Iraqi youth aged 15-18. As part of the cultural exchange, young Danes who are part of C:NTACT Taskforce will come to Jordan to work with the young participants there. Some of the Danes have Middle Eastern background themselves and speak Arabic which will help facilitate the collaboration process. In this way, C:NTACT not only brings the Danish Taskforce team to Jordan to perform - but also to share their expertise with young professionals in the field of theater, film, radio, and storytelling in the country while working on bringing young people's stories into the light.

This part of the project is currently taking flight with major workshops and rehearsals taking place in Zarqa under the leadership of the CDC, theater directors, film makers, and radio production trainers - and with a multitude of workshops and shows planned for the remainder of 2010. The Danish C:NTACT team is set to join the project in June.

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