On the occasion of the « project week Africa » in the Sancta Maria school (Berlin Zehlendorf), 14km had the pleasure to bring a school class closer to the Egyptian society through various stories, activities and information. The teachers Sabrina Rückert and Rosaly Bautzer involved 14km in the conception of the programme and welcomed with their students Anja Gebel, the program manager of 14km, as well as Johanna Kramer, intern at 14km, on the second day of the project week. That day of the project week was about the Arab writing, Egyptian food, the traditional Islamic Feast of Sacrifice (عيد الأضحى), the Egyptian revolution, the lives of children of wealthy families and of children in need (the so-called "street children"), and about the work of social organizations in Egypt and Germany, which stand up among other things for Egyptian children in need. The highlight of the day was a Skype talk with the Children At Risk Center of New Horizon Association for Social Development (NHASD), while the students had the opportunity to communicate with Egyptian young people in the Centre by video, microphone and chat (Omar Sadek, who participates in the 14km internship program and who is currently in Egypt making his internship, translated the conversations). After the students ate together during the break Arabic pita bread with hummus, couscous and vegetables as well as date cookies and drunk Egyptian hibiscus tea, they had the idea to start 2 days later a sale of Egyptian products during the break at school and to donate the revenue to the Children At Risk Center of NHASD in Egypt. They earned € 118.66 and €35 was also donated by an association. NHASD thanks very much the students for the great donation for the Children At Risk Center - 14km thanks the students for the great day and their great interest and commitment !

„Recycle“ (Documentary), 7:30pm at Filmrauschpalast, Lehrter Straße 35, Berlin Moabit We cordially invite you to our film and discussion evening on Jordan, which will take place on 10 October at 7:30pm in the context of our Arab Film and Discussion Series. We will be screening the documentary “Recycle” by film maker Mahmoud al Massad (2007, 82mins, Arabic with English subtitles). The film tells the personal story of an ex jihadist who lives in one of the poorest areas of the Jordanian city Zarqa. He collects waste-paper in order to make a living for himself and his family.  In these difficult circumstances he resorts to religion. But the lack of social and economic prospects and permanent setbacks drive him to the brink of desperation. The borders between “good” and “bad” are getting blurred, not only for the main character but potentially also for certain on-lookers. The film will be followed by a discussion with political scientist Hanna al-Taher, a group of Jordanian exchange students and Jordanian Moabiters, focussing on the situation of Palestinian and Syrian refugees in Jordan as well as on the effects of the so-called “Arab spring” on the country. The evening will take place in English. Attendance is free, donations are welcome. The event will take place at Filmrauschpalast, in the Kulturfabrik Berlin Moabit, Lehrter Str. 35. You can see here where the Kulturfabrik is located.                    

„THE SUFFERING GRASSES“ (documentary and discussion on Syria) on September 18, 2013, at 7:30pm, ZK/U, Siemensstraße 27-49, Berlin Moabit ‚14km – the shortest distance between North Africa and Europe‘ e.V. and the ZK/U cordially invite you to the third event of our Arab Film and Discussion Series. On September 18, 2013, at 7:30pm we will be screening the film „THE SUFFERING GRASSES: when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers” (2012, 52mins, Language: Arabic/English with German subtitles) and look forward to a subsequent discussion on the situation in Syria. The documentary by Lara Lee depicts the current civil war in Syria, reflected in interviews, pictures, animated sequences and reports about the ongoing occurrences. The film focuses on the situation of the civil society which is often forced either to join the violence or to flee the country. The film also addresses the role of other countries such as Russia, China or the US in the conflict. Against the background of the film we invite you to take the opportunity and discuss the Syrian civil war, the tensions inside the Syrian society and the role of external actors with Syrians living in Moabit as well as with Hannah Wettig from “Adopt A Revolution”. Can external actors contribute to solving the conflict or not? How do people in Syria think about an eventual international intervention? How could the conflict be solved otherwise? (Presented by: Anja Gebel, 14km e.V.). Attendance is free, donations are welcome. 14km Arab Film and Discussion Series In regular intervals we screen films which deal with different Arab countries and subsequently discuss the films and current social and political situation in the respective countries with guests from Berlin Moabit as well as with country experts, always trying to make a link to North-South relationships. Our Arab Film and Discussion Series started on 22 August 2013 with an evening on Egypt. Our second event (on 4 September 2013) dealt with displacement and migration in/from Palestine.                      

„Turtle’s rage“ (Biography / Documentary and Discussion) On 4 September 2013 at 7:30pm, ZK/U, Siemensstraße 27-49, Berlin Moabit 14km – the shortest distance between North Africa and Europe e.V. and the ZK/U cordially invite you to the second event of our Arab Film and Discussion Series. On 4 September 2013 at 7:30pm we will be showing “Schildkrötenwut” (or “Turtle’s rage”, 2012, 69mins, language: German/Arabic with German subtitles) and are looking forward to an interesting discussion about Palestine. The documentary by Pary El-Qalqili tells the story of her father, a Palestinian living in German. The author tries to understand why her father left his family in Berlin in order to build a new life in Palestine, but came back years later and since then is living in the basement of the house, withdrawn like a turtle in its shell. Through many questions and a joint trip to Palestine Pary El-Qalqili aims to find out more about her father, and at the same time uncovers his inner forlornness and sheds light on his difficult search for identity. Against the background of the film you have the opportunity to discuss the situation of Palestinian migrants and questions of identity with Moabiters with Palestinian background and Musa El-Qalqili, the director’s father and main character of the film. We would also like to talk about the (actual and potential) German role in this context: What does Germany do to mediate in the Middle East conflict and to improve the situation of Palestinians? What could the German society do in this regard? (The discussion will take place in German. Presenter: Anja Gebel, 14km e.V) Attendance is free, donations are welcome. -- In regular intervals we screen films which deal with different Arab countries and subsequently discuss the films and current social and political situation in the respective countries with guests from Berlin Moabit as well as with country experts, always trying to make a link to North-South relationships. Our first event of this kind dealt with the social dynamics that have led to the revolution in Egypt in 2011.            

  „We Are Egypt – The Story Behind The Revolution“, 22.8.13, at ZK/U Berlin (Siemensstr. 27) (Documentary and Discussion) 14km - the shortest distance between North Africa and Europe e.V. and ZK/U cordially invite you to the first event of our Arab film screenings series. In regular intervals we screen movies dealing with different Arab countries and subsequently discuss the films as well as the social and political situation in the respective country with guests from Moabit as well as with country experts, always making a link to North-South relationships. On August 22, 2013, at 7.30 pm, we start the series with the screening of "We Are Egypt – The Story Behind The Revolution” (2013, 82min, Language: English/Arabic with English subtitles), followed by a discussion. Location is ZK/U, Berlin Moabit, Siemensstr. 27-49. For directions klick here. The documentary by young US American film maker Lillie Paquette documents the 14 months preceding the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. Featuring an impressive number of personal interviews, many recordings in Egypt and detailed background information, it describes the (still relevant) political dynamics, the accumulated grievances of the population and the growing demands for social and political change that finally culminated in the overthrow of the Mubarak dictatorship in January 2011. At the same time, the film highlights the dubious role of the USA in the political affairs of Egypt. After the screening, and against the background of the film, the audience has the opportunity to discuss Egypt’s current situation with Egypt experts from Moabit as well as with Barbara Bishay from Mayadin Al-Tahrir (presented by Anja Gebel, 14km e.V.). Attendance is free, voluntary donations are most welcome.