For the second time the 14km team organised a network evening for experts and aficionados of the MENA region. This time it took place at the Restaurant Merhaba in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg. As in the year before the response was great - many interested people came to meet in a relaxed after-work atmosphere and to exchange and discuss ideas, plans and projects regarding the MENA region. On 19 March 2014, around 50 participants from NGOs/associations, academia, social initiatives, the media, administration as well as business and trade found together to chat, inspire and become inspired, discuss ideas and initiate cooperations, whether professional or voluntary. After a short welcome note by Andreas Fricke from 14km, who introduced the guests to some of the projects implemented by 14km in 2014, the participants proceeded to enjoy an evening full of interesting conversations, oriental specialties, photos from the 14km arquive, and atmospheric live music presented by the professional oud player Evren Can Kaman. Among the guests who had registered for the event were representatives of a broad range of different institutions, including for example the following but also quite a number of individual guests: Action Syria – Tamer Alawan & Friends e.V. Brot für die Welt Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik Berliner Missionswerk BMW-Stiftung CRISP – Crisis Simulation for Peace e.V. Democracy Reporting International gGmbH DAFG – Deutsch-Arabische Freundschaftsgesellschaft e.V. Deutsche Welle Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst Eurient e.V. Freie Universität Berlin Ghorfa – Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry e.V. Grüne Jugend Klaus Schwarz Verlag OMRAS – Organisation für Menschenrechte in den Arabischen Staaten e.V. Programmbüro Internationale Klimaschutzinitiative Schoolclash e.V. ZMO – Zentrum Moderner Orient Given that the interest in this year's MENA network event was even greater than the successful last time, it is just a matter of time until we will organise our next MENA network evening. We cordially thank everyone for coming and look forward to seeing you again! Organisation (14km): Andreas Fricke, Anja Gebel, Caroline Bunge, Evin Kücükali, Helena Burgrova, Houssein Ben Amor, Pauline Trueck, Premek Zboncak, Sama Younes und Steffen Benzler. Fotography (14km): Caroline Bunge

INVITATION 14km and closer – MENA Network Evening with Oud Live Performance On March 19 from 6.30pm onwards at Restaurant Merhaba Greifswalder Straße 4, Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg   14km e.V. invites you to an afterwork MENA network evening: in order to get to know other interesting people, exchange experiences and get creative. The event brings together different kinds of people who deal with the North African/Middle Eastern region (in main profession or as volunteers). In a relaxed environment you will have the opportunity to make contacts for your work in and with the region – accompanied by Evren Can Kaman and his oud. Since we would like to provide a network platform for people from many different fields of work, feel free to forward this invitation to other interested persons – for example from science, NGOs/associations, social initiatives, political foundations, media, arts and culture, politics and administration, and business. We look forward to an inspiring exchange! Participation is free, yet due to limited space please RSVP via email to steffen.benzler@14km.org. Tasty Oriental food and drinks can be purchased at the location. We look forward to welcoming you there! The 14km team

The last day: “Don’t cry because it is over, smile because it happened”, Dr.Seuss             After a fun warm up, we had an  introduction to our next task which comprised  a public space tour. We were divided into four groups each invited to reflect and document their impressions about one of the following aspects in public space: gender, religion, art and appropriation of space. Back from the free roaming tour, we first presented the photo essay from Berlin’s public space tour (and though this was not directly discussed, this provided us with an opportunity to juxtapose in our minds Berlin and Cairo’s public spaces). Then, each group shared their impressions and adventures about their morning tours in Cairo.           Later, we proceeded to our last formal session of the program which was a mix of emotional and intellectual reflection. This is since, through a variety of tools and activities, members had the chance to express their thoughts and emotions about the experience not only from a general perspective but also a personal one. All along the activities, we could assume that significant ties have been developed within the group transcending the cultural and religious differences. At the end of the day, we all proceeded for special surprise outing offered and arranged by NHASD which revealed to be a Nile dinner cruise and show. Only few hours were left before the German group would fly back to Berlin. Most of the participants opted to ditch sleep to catch a last chat or laugh with other fellow participants/“friends”. Many accepted the hospitable invitation of “Islam”, one of the Egyptian teamers, to spend a rooftop after-party at his place. Later, back at the hostel there was a scene of packing, chatting, catching some sleep and playing cards/ fun games. Finally, arrived the most emotionally challenging and charged scene: the farewell. After two intense life-changing weeks of discovery and interaction, words fall short to express it, but there were hugs, tears, friendship, intensity, sadness and hope…   A project as part of the German-Egyptian Transformation Partnership The ReliXchange project receives financial support by the German-Egyptian Transformation  Partnership through the German Foreign Office, by funds of the Ecclesiastical Development Services through Bread for the World - Protestant Church Development Service and by the “International Youth Work” Programme of the German Federal Child and Youth Plan through BKJ

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a (wo)man healthy, wealthy and wise. (Benjamin Franklin) A few participants of our group met at 5.30 am in the morning and went  on a spontaneous trip to the Al-Alzhar mosque, which was unfortunately closed. Instead they walked around the area and were invited to see the  making of a Misbaḥa - which is a string of prayer beads for Muslims to memorize the 99 names of Allah. Afterwards they by metro to the al-Qurba quarter of Cairo - a quarter with a lot of buildings with French architecture. After a refreshing and awakening breakfast the official program of the day started. A documentary about Jews in Egypt was shown and passionately discussed afterwards. Since Judaism is not represented by a group member everyone showed genuine interest in the topic. After lunch we started to discuss and develop our own ideas about how to share our exchange experience and how to promote interfaith dialogue in society. These ideas were further evolved and discussed through concrete project ideas and they also received helpful feedback from the teamers and the other participants. Since we were not able to see the Pyramids on Tuesday we postponed it to Friday. A light show at the pyramids told us about the sight's history and its treasures. Some people split up and went to a concert of the Egyptian band Maktoub.   A project as part of the German-Egyptian Transformation Partnership The ReliXchange project receives financial support by the German-Egyptian Transformation  Partnership through the German Foreign Office, by funds of the Ecclesiastical Development Services through Bread for the World - Protestant Church Development Service and by the “International Youth Work” Programme of the German Federal Child and Youth Plan through BKJ

Today started with a very creative exercise . After a quick introduction to the definition of interreligious relationships we shared our personal experiences about this topic. In groups we came up with drawings, a photo story and theaters to present our ideas. The results were very interesting because we heard about problems with interreligious marriage but also about harmony and cooperation between religious communities. In the afternoon we explored Christianity in Egypt. We did so by visiting a Coptic Church, a Greek Orthodox Church and also the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Coptic Cairo. Afterwards we had a discussion with a Coptic Priest about the role of Christianity in the Egyptian state and it's status as a minority. Our day ended with a traditional Egyptian dinner on a Faluka on the River Nile. We were joined by Ramesh de Silva, the cultural attachè of the German embassy in Cairo. Authors: Adrian, Carol, Diva and Svenja     A project as part of the German-Egyptian Transformation Partnership The ReliXchange project receives financial support by the German-Egyptian Transformation  Partnership through the German Foreign Office, by funds of the Ecclesiastical Development Services through Bread for the World - Protestant Church Development Service and by the “International Youth Work” Programme of the German Federal Child and Youth Plan through BKJ