United Nations Of Maltepe: Cultural Integration of the 22 Nations in Maltepe through Music, Dance, Literature and Gastronomy Oriented Activities

This project was developed and coordinated by Dr. Köksal Banoğlu, former Director-General of the Maltepe District Governorship, supported by the UNHCR with US$112,070 (HK$875,266), in partnership with Maltepe University, Yeditepe University, Maltepe District Directorate of National Education, and the Artists and Art Lovers Foundation. Titled “United Nations Of Maltepe: Cultural Integration of the 22 Nations in Maltepe through Music, Dance, Literature and Gastronomy Oriented Activities”. It aims to strengthen intercultural communication among 345 foreign children aged 8-17 from 22 different nations through music, dance, literature, and gastronomy, promoting awareness of migration and cultural integration while fostering communication between Turkish and refugee/migrant families in Maltepe. We established an International Children’s Choir with 100 Syrian refugee/migrant and 100 Turkish children in October 2018, performing songs in five languages. We developed a new repertoire of childhood songs, lullabies, and oral play rituals from elderly refugees and migrants, translating them into five languages and incorporating them into the choir's performances. We created the International Folk Dance Group, including 50 Syrian refugee/migrant and 50 Turkish children from 10 secondary schools, forming Istanbul’s first “Multi-national Student Folk Dance Group.” This group was trained by the Artists and Art Lovers Association (SASAV). We organized Multinational Literature Days for 20 Syrian refugee/migrant families and their children in 5 primary schools. Parents read stories in their native languages and Turkish to highlight common values across cultures and raise language awareness. Regarding gastronomy activities, 40 people from 22 nationalities participated in 28 “Multinational Culinary Workshops,” introducing Turkish cuisine with support from Yeditepe University’s Faculty of Fine Arts. The project concluded in December 2019 with a final show featuring the “Multinational Children’s Choir” and “Multinational Folk Dance Ensemble,” along with an exhibition of international delicacies at Maltepe Square. UNHCR News: https://m.facebook.com/TURKIYEUNHCR/posts/2036049126476756 https://web.archive.org/web/20220705203609/https://projemaltepe.gov.tr/united-nations-of-maltepe-cultural-integration-of-the-22-nations-in-maltepe-through-music-dance-literature-and-gastronomy-oriented-activities-launched/

Funding Source: Non-HK - Others^^