Knüpfwerk 2023
THE POWER OF STORIES
Italy 2023
For the third time in a row 55 international participants coming from Austria, Germany, Italy and Jerusalem took part in the interreligious youth camp called “Knüpfwerk”. The heart of this initiative: connecting youth through art. The youngsters aged between 13 and 20 years are a diverse group in terms of religious and economic backgrounds with one common goal: to transform topics that are important to them in creative ways and experience what it means to live as one family beyond all differences.
Accompanied by an international team of 20 animators and artists the youngsters created 30 min short videos called “reels” throughout the week. The camp theme in this year “Con-fusion. The reel tower of Babel” came alive in building a tower of 5 videos by each small group. The theme originates from the biblical story of the Tower of Babel where the common intention of building a solid tower is hindered by the confusion of languages wanted by God. In the Koran, the same story describes instead the creation as a blessing from God of the different languages. From the confusion of cultures, languages, religions of the young participants, the goal is to arrive at the fusion of stories and the construction of their personal tower via media. The videos are shot from different body perspectives, starting from the toes to the eyes. Each day a workshop introduced the topic of the day such as foundation and identity for the feet or Emotions for the gut. These inputs helped to find stories and themes for the videos and were the springboard and inspiration for the artistic creations to be produced during the day. An afternoon at Lake Albano and a day to discover the beauties of Rome enriched the full program.
Many of the young participants come from families who had to leave their countries to seek asylum in Europe, others experience the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and religious discrimination on a daily basis - complex stories and not simple lives that do not always find space to be told and shared. The youth are a living testimony that differences cannot limit the power of love and unity.
A Power that can transform people:
„ I think I returned from this camp at least a little bit another person (…). This summer became one of the best summers ever, because of this camp“ (Sofia, 18 years, participant).
Beyond all expectations was the final product and the towers of stories built by the various groups, which showed the many talents of these young people, allowing them to express themselves at their best with the media that too often are used badly and without a real goal. “Construction sites” that focused on different arts helped them to translate their ideas into music, theater or rap. The songs and lyrics could then be recorded in the camp studio and make a lasting memory of the process that the youngsters went through. Everyday a podcast was recorded where they share about personal experiences not only connecting to the camp and their creative engagement but discuss topics such as stereotypes, coming out of comfort zones or storytelling.
Living together closely in such a way, creating together, competing in a loving way during crazy games and much more contributed to create a feeling of unity and family:
“Although we were from different countries, different religions, and spoke different languages, we all were united by one thing, to bring more beauty to this world, to bring more creativity to this world and people I met here, we all became friends, friends, forever“ (Sofia, 18 years, participant).
The confusion of ideas has become a fusion of intentions and lives. The challenges that life offers us may be less harsh, as the refrain of the camp says, specially composed by two of the animators: "every stone that is thrown at me, I can turn it into a tower, more power, to build the tower in me, the power of stories in me”.
Knüpfwerk is the inter-religious and musical summer camp organized by the three associations from Austria, German and Jerusalem. The Upper Room is the Austrian association that had the idea of embarking on this multi-ethnic and cultural adventure three years ago, involving the Magnificat Institute of Jerusalem and the Faiths in tune association of Berlin. This year, as the camp takes place in Italy, another partner has joined the group: the Passi association of Bologna.
The Podcast can be found on Spotify and Applepodcasts: KNÜPKAST
