Youth Voices in Zarqa

Culture can help young people in war-troubled regions. That was the idea behind a grand Danish theatre project in the Jordanian refugee camp Zarqa in the summer of 2010.

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.

In its first phase of 2009, around 240 youngsters were recruited to participate in theater performances, radio and film productions in Zarqa camp. The C:NTACT team came with Directors and Project Managers to initiate this process with the local partners, and make them familiar with the C:NTACT methodology of professionalising personal stories. The participants were between the ages of 13 to 24 and were primarily of Palestinian descent, living in Zarqa camp.

In the second phase of 2010 additional 70 Iraqis were recruited for a new theater project, with workshop in interactive theater, and Personal storytelling. Furthermore CDC and C:NTACT were asked by the National Madrassati initiative under the patronage of Queen Rania to conduct workshops in schools located in Zarqa Governante. 10 workshops were held in Interactive theater, stand-up comedy, rap and music. 270 school students between the ages of 12-16 participated.