Art as a means of advocating for women under abuse
How important is it to engage women’s cause in the realm of dance generally and in Misahat Noon’s Project particularly? A question that we touched upon in Misahat Podcast with our guest, the American dance choreographer “Heather Harrington” whose experience included valuable collaborations with choreographers from the MENA region to raise awareness towards violence against women. Misahat Noon is a project implemented by DCS and supported by the US Embassy in Tunisia. It maily seeks to fight for the rights of women under abuse. Our guest asserted that her contribution was inspired by the American modern dance teacher “Martha Graham” who managed to revolutionize the world of dance with her innovative and individualistic techniques and sought to empower females. In January 2023, our guest had closely assisted a group of dancers in the context of an Art Bootcamp in Tataouine aimed at uncovering social discriminatory and violent practices. During the workshops, Heather highlighted the importance of engaging dancers in stimulating discussions and debates that delved into thought-provoking topics such as violence, gender, religion, and power. These conversations provided an opportunity for participants coming from different backgrounds to explore and analyze the complex dynamics of these issues both locally and internationally. By opening up such
The role of art in fostering civic engagement
Art is widely recognized as a powerful tool for promoting civic participation and fostering social cohesion, a principle that lies at the core of the "Misahat Mushtaraka" program implemented by « Dancers Citizens South » organization. This project aims to create a safe space built on collaboration among different components of civil society and seeks to consolidate individual rights and freedoms. In the same context, this podcast features Mr. Houssin Rhili, a specialist in development and resource management at the Faculty of Science in Tunis, and Mr. Ahmed Guerfel, a professional artist and Executive Director of DCS organization. This dialogue addressed the role of art in raising awareness about contemporary social, economic, and cultural issues, as well as the importance of networking a large number of associations to integrate the youth in public affairs. Mr. Houssin Rhili highlighted the outcomes of « Misahat Mushtaka » project during the period from June 2022 to June 2023 which included a series of initiatives. The most significant among them were invading public spaces through street art performances in five southeastern regions and panel discussions in cafés, with a strong focus on Art Bootcamps. For years, our guest has been committed to solidifying the principle of
EVALUATION FORUM OF “MISAHAT MUSHTARAKA” PROGRAM’S FIRST YEAR
In the realm of fostering social change and sustainable development, partnerships between (CSOs) and artists play a crucial role. That's why in our Program Misahat Mushtaraka we tend to strenghthen these alliances to get the power to bring about innovative solutions and inspire community engagement. Between 16 & 18 of June 2023, the Evaluation Forum held in Southeast Tunisia took place, involving 15 NGOs who worked with us during the whole year (in the regions of Sfax, Gabes, Medenine, Djerba & Tataouine) with nine artists, aimed to assess the outcomes of the program and create a platform for reflection, discussion, and the generation of innovative ideas for future initiatives. The workshop objectives were established, paving the way for an engaging exploration of the project's process and main outcomes. A critical focus of the session revolved around the current state of CSOs in Tunisia, particularly in the southern region. The discussions shed light on the challenges faced by these organizations in engaging with their local communities. Notably, the session also provided a platform for artists to share their experiences from the artistic bootcamp held during the year. Presenting an opportunity to foster collaboration between CSOs and artists. Through brainstorming sessions, participants