Democracy

Der norwegische Solidaritätsausschuss für Lateinamerika

Agency for International and Intercultural Arts Projects

Our office was founded in 1982 as a department of the "Friends and Sponsors of Intercultural Relationships" association and was located in the international centre of the German adult education centre (VHS) in Duisburg until 1989. In 1990 it moved its headquarters to Essen and since then it has been registered and legally recognized as the non-profit organization "EXILE – Coordination of Cultures".

Our organization wants to present cultures from other parts of the world to the German public, with a particular focus on developing countries and on migrants residing in Germany. We also create, organize and set up exhibitions and other events that are related to intercultural topics.

Music, theater, literature, and the fine arts are especially well suited to providing an insight into other cultural perspectives and life experiences, which raise our sensibility for more conscious contact with both our own cultural environment and other cultures.

Our cooperation partners include the church and trade unions as well as a broad spectrum of individuals and organizations involved in intercultural, sociocultural, and educational domains as well as in development policy issues.

Many projects are carried out in cooperation with organizations such as Terre des Hommes, Amnesty International, TransFair, and institutions like the West German broadcasting service (WDR), the cultural office of North Rhine Westphalia, and the cultural and educational centres of local authorities. Much of our work is financially supported by the government of North Rhine Westphalia within the framework of the One-World-Promoter Program.

We are a publishing house consisting of teachers publishing for teachers with the objective of helping with problems concerning school and youth work, e.g.:

• Implementing curricula into everyday teaching. With concise and well organised material for further education, practical experience and training in methodology, we hope to provide complementary information     that is not covered by traditional school-books
• Excessive workload: By providing school material that can be implemented instantly, we try to make sure teaching and engaging in youth work remains feasible
• Problems affecting schools from the outside, like violence or lack of prospects

We develop feasible concepts for the benefit of all those involved.

The RAA supports young and adult multipliers through further education and training as well as the development and dissemination of information and working materials. The RAA initiates, advises and accompanies projects and processes which

• focus on intercultural and democratic learning and action
• communicating strategies for action against right-wing extremism and xenophobia
• Connecting culturally and structurally separate worlds of young people's lives and experiences and shaping transitions.
• Enable children and young people to participate, strengthen their own initiative, creativity and responsibility and open up spaces for them to develop and implement their own ideas.