NEWSLETTER
Working Group Netherlands-Srebrenica
December 2002 Number 18
In this Newsletter we focus on two issues: our circus activities in Srebrenica and the present state of affairs regarding the Music Bus for Srebrenica.
A Happy New Year to you all!
Circus Dambo in Srebrenica
There is a constant humming and buzzing in the bitterly cold, dilapidated hall of Dom Kulture, the cultural centre of Srebrenica. The audience, dressed in thick winter coats, hats and gloves, anxiously watches the entrance to the ring of Circus Dambo. Upstairs in the dressing rooms stress, excitement and impatience fight for priority. Azemina is swiftly putting on the make-up of the little ones who are wearing tiger costumes. A Dutch volunteer hastily zips up the last clown costume, while Nesho is already taking down the first group of children to the stage.
There is a proper circus atmosphere, just the way it should be: full of excitement, magic and beautiful costumes…
Marenne Jansen and I have been working with some 35 children towards this performance for the last two months. More often than not we just played or cuddled, rather than prepare in a serious way. But our circus classes unquestionably satisfied a huge demand for after school care and entertainment.
Circus classes also proved to be a perfect means to work on movement of the body. Most of "our" children were born during or just after the war. Their parents’ main concern has been how to survive, and not much time has been spent on the children’s kinetic development, through play or games.
Marko, a ten-year-old boy, could hardly throw or catch a ball, when he came to the first open circus session. He is now part of the juggling act, after training stubbornly for two months. The same applies to Dragana, a shy and quiet little girl, with little idea of suppleness or balance. Day and night she spent on her "rola rola" (a balancing plank on a cylinder). And now, as leader of our team of equilibrium artists, she opens the circus show. Her make-up looks fabulous. She is positively beaming, great!
Another objective of our circus project was to provide a safe and relaxed setting for Serbian and Muslim children to meet. This still proved difficult to achieve, as only a few Bosniak children have returned to Srebrenica so far, and they are carefully considering the first contacts. But…
After the break a big group of girls is getting onto the stage. They are Muslim girls from the refugee camps near Tuzla. We worked with them for two weekends, trying to recreate something of the same circus atmosphere over there, by giving them circus workshops and painting, make-up and dancing sessions. The circumstances in the camps are really difficult. There we noticed even more how extremely necessary it is to do something for and with these kids.
They are now in Srebrenica for the first time since the war, and they are on stage, nervously. But they perform wonderfully well, and they get a resounding applause, which wipes out the feeble jeering that can also be heard here and there.
After a sparkling show with trapeze artists, clowns, a fakir, mono-wheels, and of course our little tigers, the final curtain comes down on Circus Dambo. But only for the time being! For in April the children will start practising once more, and we hope and dream to take them on a tour, the children from the refugee camps and the children from Srebrenica, together …
You will find more information on this project on:
Marjon Reffeltrath
A Music Bus for Srebrenica
We have decided to buy a bus, and fit it with musical instruments. It will enable us to bring music not only to Srebrenica, but also to the surrounding villages and the refugee camps in Tuzla. Marijke Smedema will work together with Bosnian professionals in this field, and with volunteers. In this project we are cooperating with Musicians without borders. They will support Marijke with ideas and actively contribute to activities. Music can nurse people back to health, it creates memorable moments, and can be useful in bringing young people together. We hope for Marijke to leave for Srebrenica early February. The whole project, including bus, instruments, salaries and the organization of events has been budgeted to 142,000 Euro. With another big effort, we should be able to manage that. ICCO (a development organization) and Wilde Ganzen (Wild Geese) are quintupling all your contributions!!!
In order for your contributions to the Music Bus to be quintupled they should be made to the POSTBANK account of Wilde Ganzen in Hilversum, account No 40.000
Benefit Concerts
Some benefit concerts took place in recent weeks in support of the Music Bus Project.
22 December, in Bergen op Zoom, Kletzmer concert, Agge Nebbisj
5 January 2003, in Amersfoort, "Wintertales" and drama for children
11 January 2002, in Amsterdam, lute and guitar by Dingeman Coumou
18 January 2003, in Heeze, Celtic music, singing, dance, sax, flute and guitar
Civil Foreign Presence in Srebrenica
There have been volunteers in Srebrenica since February 2001, on a continuous basis. Our main objective is to contribute to a lessening of tension during the period of return of Bosniak refugees. Our volunteers contribute in the areas of health and teaching (English and computing), they have repaired the park, they visit returnees at home and help with a multitude of technical chores. They are supported by two coordinators: Bob Janssen and Kathleen Gabriels. We need many more volunteers!!!
Best wishes from
Abel Hertzberger
Magda van der Ende
Hans Huikeshoven
Ineke Meintjens-Ooteman
[Translation: Rita Verbelen]