Mimeta invited by foreign minister Brende to join the promotion of human rights

Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende: Norwegian development policy is to contribute to greater democratization, realizing human rights and that people can work themselves out of permanent poverty. To achieve the first two goals is a prerequisite for reaching the third. 

Today he invites civil organizations in Norway and their international networks for providing input to strengthen joint efforts to promote human rights. Happy that Mimeta is considered to be one of these contributing organisations. It is another confirmation the right based culture and development policy of Norway.

Make a step: Apply for Khatwa!

New program for Egypthian youth involvement:
Khatwa aims to strengthen youth involvement in civil society in Egypt through civic education. The program aims to empower social change and tackle regional needs through active citizenship education, by providing capacity building for active young people. 

Through seminars, training with peer-to-peer facilitators, and project design and implementation, participants are motivated with tools and skills to be active citizens. It is implemented in cooperation between El Sadat Association (http://el-sadat.org) and Theodor-Heuss-Kolleg (http://theodor-heuss-kolleg.de).

The program in short:
-   "Kick off" event and orientation meeting on Jan 30th, in Cairo
-   1 Seminar in Dahab, either   “Me, My Community, My World” to take place 16-23 February 2014 or “Identity Every Day” 27 February – 6 March)
-   A project management seminar which will take place in April, location TBD
-   A reflection seminar, location & date TBD
-   Mentoring sessions which will take place online and in person
-   Develop, present, and implement a small-scale, sustainable project

Application:
To apply for the program, please submit your completed application to KhatwaMasr@gmail.com by Friday, 17 January 2014. : dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14960159/CfA-participants-Egypt.docx

Artist residency opportunities at MacDowell. deadline 15th January 2014

In 2013, the Palestinian architect Lana Judeh, the Lebanese composer Joelle Khoury, the Syrian interdisciplinary artist Nabil Maleh and the Egyptian filmmaker Mohammed Shawky Hassan  participated in The MacDowell Colony’s new Voices of Change program.  You can be part of MacDowell’s artist community in 2014.  Artists from the Middle East working in all artistic disciplines are encouraged to apply for residency. The next application deadline is January 15 for the Summer 2014 session.  Those accepted will receive Voices of Change Fellowships covering all costs of a residency of up to two months in Peterborough, New Hampshire, USA, including:

• Exclusive use of one of 32 studio cottages spread across 450 bucolic acres

• All meals and living accommodations, including picnic lunches delivered to studios
• International travel reimbursement and needs-based financial aid
• Immersion in a new cultural environment and peer exchanges with other artists of many different disciplines and backgrounds
• Opportunities to present work to public audiences through the Colony’s community programs

One of the world’s leading artist residency programs, MacDowell serves more than 275 artists each year, many of whom travel internationally to participate.  With the guidance of the Arab Fund for Arts & Culture (AFAC), MacDowell is reaching out to give artists working in regions of political and social change the peace of mind to concentrate fully on their work, to share ideas freely with their peers from other cultures, and to develop new perspectives in their creative practices.

The deadline for Summer 2014 residencies is January 15.  

To Apply, click here