A Place To Be

A project that connects the topic of home and belonging with music and writing
Our international youth exchange "A Place To Be" takes place in the House Across Borders in Lommel, Belgium next to the biggest German war grave cemetery in Western Europe. House Across Borders is an organisation which aims to bring people together to think, work and be critical about war and peace, human rights, Europe and humanity. From 10th until 21st of August 20 young people, age 18-28, from four different European countries will meet in Lommel and discover each other´s values, thoughts, cultures and what they are based on.
Where do we come from and where do we belong? How do our roots and backgrounds influence us? What is our identity based on? Why and when do we call a house, a country, a place our home? How do we act if this place of security is in danger?
In times like these such questions become more and more popular in the society. People consider others as different because they were born in another country. This is what created hate and nationalism in the past and what creates it until today. The German cemetery of the 1st and 2nd world war is an example for horrors caused by this hate and for happenings we have to avoid at all costs in Europe and in the world.
During our international youth exchange the participants will have the chance to learn about and from each other, to get a closer look on the importance of living together in Europe, to explore and answer the questions of home and belonging by creating their own pieces of music and literature and – although they all have different mother tongues – to find a common language to express their thoughts.
We are looking for partners who have already worked with music and/or writing and come with five participants and one teamleader.
For more information, do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail: overgrenzenvzw@gmail.com