AEGEE-Könyv.qx
4/18/05 17:38
Page 114
20 years, 20 people
A touch of spice: Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue
with the start of the American-led military operation in Iraq, and consequently the participants wrote a declaration of peace. The hallmark event was the festival Kayafest, organised in Kayakoy-Levissi by AEGEE-Ankara between 27th July and 3rd August 2003. The host village, on the south coast of Turkey, was subjected to a forced exchange of population in 1922, with its Greek inhabitants driven out of Turkey and resettled in the town of Nea Makri in Greece. The village has great historical value, with its marvellous ancient Greek The Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue project has been one of the rock houses which were never used by Turks. After the largest and longest-running projects of AEGEE, marking our expulsion of the Greek residents, it was often referred field of action “Peace and Stability” for the last three years. Born to as a ghost village. Three thousand young people out of the Peace Academy project of 1999/2000, it started in from Greece and Turkey took part in the festival, join2001 under the guidance of Burcu Becermen from AEGEEing together in cultural workshops on documentary Ankara. Its aim is to establish dialogue and encourage partnermaking, dance, theatre, music, photography and psyship projects between young people in Greece and Turkey. chology. They worked together for six days, creating Contrary to other projects, in which AEGEE actions are often magnificent works of art and performance. The festival over-focused on our existing members, this project tried to also hosted an NGO fair where more than 65 NGOs involve as many youth organisations and other partners as from Turkey and Greece established partnerships. possible – for example, the Foundation of Lausanne Treaty Kayafest was followed by the symposium Compulsory Emigrants. The organisers decided to focus on interactive Exchange of Population, which took place in Istanbul on and cultural events that would encourage future partner7th and 8th November 2003 to mark the 80th anniversary ships, using art and creative work as their primary tools. of the Lausanne Treaty. This was the first international The first event was a conference held from 20th to 23rd conference ever held in Turkey dealing with the forced March 2003 in Sakarya. 80 young people from Greece and transfers of people in the 1920’s. 250 academics, students Turkey gathered and participated in panels discussing and intellectuals participated in the symposium, as well as NGOs, governments and media. There were also workshops several prominent youth organisations from both countries. looking deeper into topics such as the contribution of young The project’s Final Conference took place between 2nd and people to Turkish-Greek dialogue, and the roles played by 4th April 2004 in Ankara. More than 80 participants from education and historical scholarship. The event overlapped diverse Greek and Turkish youth organisations participated in interactive workshops on empathy and sympathy, peace education and role-playing as well as a “theater of the oppressed”. In the workshop (m)ASK yourself, they used dance as a means to express their hopes. The Final Conference also included a training course on project management by the European Commission and ended with a “road map” declaration, giving green light to future activities in the field. In the course of the project, an online database of Turkish and Greek youth organisations was prepared, to provide contact and activity information for all the NGOs. “We have seen that cooperation in arts and culture can be powerful tools in eliminating prejudices,” commented Sophia Kompotiati from AEGEE-Athina. With such outstanding results, more than 5000 participants both from AEGEE and other Turkish and Greek youth organisations, the project has shown the power of young people combined with art and culture. Project participants still come together in Athens for “Kaya meetings” with their slides and memories, and those who cannot come still share their lives on mailing lists. The positive effects of this project will continue for many years into the future. Gökhan Bozkurt
114
AEGEE-Europe