CULTURLU – Fairy tales as a tool of understanding between refugees and local population

In the recent refugee crisis, cultural differences between the refugees and the local population in Europe are portrayed as a main obstacle for integration and as an element that increases the reluctance of the local population in certain countries to accept positively refugees in their own communities. European countries and the countries of the Middle East (especially Syria) from which most of the refugees are coming from share many cultural characteristics especially related with the popular culture. The highlighting of these shared cultural characteristics could have a crucial role in the promotion of the social inclusion of the refugees and the promotion of mutual understanding of each other’s culture.

The project aims to use fairy tales as a tool in order to increase mutual understanding and acceptance between the refugees and the local population. Three kinds of performances are going to be developed. One performance is going to be based on theatre play with the participation of both refugee and local actors. The second performance is going to be based on fairy tale narration with the support of masks of the popular tradition of the refugee countries. Finally, a performance is going to be prepared for the local population. It is going to be staged twice in each country in theatres.

All the performances are going to be recorded and subtitled in four languages, so they will be available online An online portal is also going to be developed that will focus on the identification and promotion of common cultural elements of the popular cultures in the countries of the refugees and the European countries.