“Art Unites Us” is an Erasmus+ international youth project hosted by Harran University in Şanlıurfa, Turkey. The project received the approval of the Turkish National Agency and was funded by the Erasmus+ Youth Workers Exchanges program. During November 22-30, the 35 participants from Italy, Germany, Republic of Moldova, Turkey and Ukraine had the opportunity to become part of the movement for raising awareness among young people and youth workers about migration, migrants, refugees and art.
The Technical University of Moldova was represented by 7 students: Ion GATMAN, Daniel MARANDICI, Ana ȘARAPOVA, Paula POPESCU, Constantin CAZACU, Maksym KALUIAN and Maria SLOBOZIANU, whose mission was to contribute to increasing awareness among students, to gain cultural experience, break stereotypes and better understand the lifestyle of those facing financial difficulties, especially refugees. The participants were encouraged to present the artistic and social aspects of their countries, as cultural pluralism and the reduction of discrimination constitute the core values and foundation on which the entire project was built.
The agenda of the event included various interesting activities, such as: cultural evenings; presentations of the participating countries; Workshop Street Art, led by Mr. Federico Vullo, through which participants attempted to express, through stencil graffiti, the problems of refugee families after the conflict in Syria; a traditional art workshop from Urfa (drawing on water, embroidery, pyrography); as well as exciting games, guided tours in Göbekli Tepe, Balıklıgöl, downtown Sanliurfa, visits and acts of charity for Syrian refugee families, etc. As noted by the project coordinator, Dr. Hakan GÜLERCE – “We are all so different here, but this is exactly what unites us”.
The project was organized by a group of members of the Universal Youth Group, together with Dr. Hakan GÜLERCE, Erasmus+, and the Department of Migration Policy Application and Research of Harran University. The initiative involved 5 organizations: University of Münster in Germany, Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky State Pedagogical University in Ukraine, Ohana Association in Italy, the Technical University of Moldova, and Harran University in Turkey (host of the event).
