https://padlet.com/lattakia2222/l3hvdek9uxsd I belong to my Hi/Story en-us 2019-08-18 05:05:49 UTC 2023-03-18 15:43:25 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padletuploads.blob.core.windows.net/prod/82228334/6f6172fec889b71ce930997170c760bd/friedland_June2016_068.jpg lattakia2222 https://padlet.com/lattakia2222/l3hvdek9uxsd/wish/375216296 The story started by a black-white painting done by a refugee at one of Let's Make It project session. The painting of half a face and half a smile is provocative. Luckily, the memory of the woman refugee who painted was still vital in my head. She was really so special! The brainstorming took us to many innovative interpretations and to many stories but we agreed that we can not meet the refugee painter but we can feel her. Or better still, we can feel the conflict inside our hearts and minds. She signed her name but she has already moved to another camp. "As long as, there is no chance to track her, let's wait. Who knows what future might bring! Friedlanders visit the camp  because they feel that it is their New Beginnings." I said - helplessly - just to move on according to the workshop plan. 
The groups are busy forming their collages under the title "No Borders" using the refugees paintings.
One of the SCI group, a German young woman, is staring at the black and white half a face silently. Later, with too much love and understanding, she completed the painting. Her eyes were sparkling when she was saying:"I feel her!"
That workshop was done but the story has started. One day, those two kind ladies might meet and talk. One day, they might look into each others eyes and make the life they both deserve.  ]]> 2019-08-18 05:05:49 UTC https://padlet.com/lattakia2222/l3hvdek9uxsd/wish/375216296 lattakia2222 https://padlet.com/lattakia2222/l3hvdek9uxsd/wish/375216297 "Fleeing to the North" is the hottest issue of our era where a single story of the catastrophe is told. Some stories represent refugees as helpless, powerless manipulating the solidarity system. Other stories show 'waves of refugees' as one passive monolithic group. A few shows refugees as lucky superheroes who rubbed the lantern of Aladeen! 
As a refugee, I would like to whisper that no one gets up in the early morning to cross international borders to become a mere number in immigration statistics and literature due to the free will. No one chooses to deny being a ‘citizen’ to become a ‘suspect or a refugee’ just because Refugee Crisis is a trend in the social media or it is fun to cross the Mediterranean by boat. We flee because to seek refuge is a human reaction. We are here because “Under conditions of tyranny, it is far easier to act than to think.” (Hannah Arendt).
In like manner, no refugee read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Refugee Acts, or Dublin Agreement before reaching Friedland Transit Camp. We all start thinking and using our head to understand what is going on after Anmeldung! Facing the collection of Museum Friedland enhances the process of thinking and reconsidering. Being the conductor of LMI widens my horizon and grants me a voice.
Let's Make It is the culture project where the residents of Friedland Transit Camp join to paint, to share their stories, to talk to understand the camp management system, to take a tour at Museum Friedland, and to dance to celebrate the moment. It is the oasis of freedom where color and dreams are the languages of Let's Paint SalamStan.  
What is SalamStan - the Land of Peace? Frankly speaking, no specific words to describe it! It is an attempt to cross the personal bias and acknowledge our borders.  
Among many other activities, LMI host SCI StudyCamp group from 2016 till the moment. In this publication, we will try to write about the moments we lived and the people we met.
While I am waiting patiently to read your stories, I am sharing some. Please click and add yours!
Best regards
Samah Al Jundi-Pfaff]]> 2019-08-18 05:05:49 UTC https://padlet.com/lattakia2222/l3hvdek9uxsd/wish/375216297 lattakia2222 https://padlet.com/lattakia2222/l3hvdek9uxsd/wish/375216298 Let's Make It hosted SCI StudyCamp 2017 on Saturday 21 August at 12:00 - 4:00. The workshop started by brainstorming about how to show solidarity with refugees. The deep talk created a list of practical small intervention to start a serious friendly rapport with refugees because it is not a 'touch and go game'! 
Then we started to form collages out of the painting of the camp residents. It is worth mentioning that Friedland Transit Camp -GDL- people meet once every month to color and paint together their Arrival and New Beginnings.
At the end of the workshop, there was no road map about how to show solidarity with refugees but an agreement to know and feel them. ]]> 2019-08-18 05:05:49 UTC https://padlet.com/lattakia2222/l3hvdek9uxsd/wish/375216298 lattakia2222 https://padlet.com/lattakia2222/l3hvdek9uxsd/wish/375413029 2019-08-19 14:09:35 UTC https://padlet.com/lattakia2222/l3hvdek9uxsd/wish/375413029 lattakia2222 https://padlet.com/lattakia2222/l3hvdek9uxsd/wish/375413966 2019-08-19 14:12:46 UTC https://padlet.com/lattakia2222/l3hvdek9uxsd/wish/375413966