I am very thrilled to be among the winners of “See the Girl” film festival by being the writer and director of one of the winning short films and get an opportunity for cultural study visit to Sweden.
It has been a great eye opener and I have learned a lot during my stay. On my way I have been able to visit Denmark (Copenhagen and Helsingor specifically) and was also able to visit Stockholm and Helsingborg in Sweden.
During my stay I have participated in a Human Rights Forum twice (I gave a brief introduction about our project with ProQvi team and other team members), presented in the PechaKucha presentation, visited different museums and art galleries In Helsingborg Sweden, presented my culture in our cultural coffee ceremony and met amazing people and even amazing friends.
Above all thanks to all mighty God and I am thank ful to the whole ProQvi team for giving me such an opportunity.
Our time exploring the coffee culture in “See the Girl” Film Festival in Ethiopia was amazing, and now we’re bringing that experience to Sweden.
Join us for a special event where you can chat with guests from Ethiopia. We’ll be talking about the cultural importance of coffee in Ethiopia, all while enjoying a cup together. Don’t miss out on this unique and cozy get-together – we can’t wait to share it with you!
Please fill in the form on the link to participate.
Proqvi held its additional annual meeting, where important issues were discussed and decisions were taken. Please stay tuned to our website for new announcements.
The memory of the expression on my mother’s face when I shared my decision to travel to Ethiopia is still vivid in my mind. It wasn’t just her reaction that struck me, but also the reactions of everyone I confided in about my upcoming journey. I’m sure they all had a burning question in their thoughts: “How did you end up in a situation where you had to go to Ethiopia?”
What I can say is that this adventure had its roots long before I set foot in Ethiopia.
It all began while I was working on a short informational video for ProQvi’s Uganda project. The project’s mission intrigued me to such an extent that I started yearning for a similar experience myself. When Tania introduced me to the opportunity in Ethiopia, my mind immediately drew parallels to my previous volunteer work in the aftermath of the Turkey-Syria earthquake. I realized that getting involved in this project had the potential to teach me about my own limits and enable me to discover uncharted facets of myself in entirely new environments and challenging conditions.
Following extensive project planning and trip preparations, our journey to Ethiopia began. Despite having read extensively about Ethiopia in advance, this voyage marked my first-ever visit to Africa, casting me into the realm of the unknown.
Upon our arrival at Addis Ababa airport after a lengthy flight, I couldn’t help but notice the vibrant posters and decorations celebrating the Ethiopian New Year “2016.” In that moment, I couldn’t help but think about myself as Time Traveler, the enigmatic protagonist of H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine,” a book I had read.
It was nearly dawn when we left the airport. A gentle breeze carried a sweet scent, while the first rays of the sun eagerly awaited their emergence from behind the cloud cover. The birds sang more jubilantly than I had ever heard before. In those initial moments, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had entered a realm entirely distinct from all my prior life experiences. We continued to relish this serene atmosphere while waiting for our shuttle, surrounded by bustling crowds eagerly anticipating their own shuttles or drivers, and for a moment, it felt as if we had stepped into another world altogether.
As the sun gradually ascended in the sky, our exploration of the city commenced. Despite the early hour, the streets teemed with people, and the city’s lights shone even more brightly than the day itself. It was as though the city was a masterpiece of collective art, where every detail stood alone, unique, and yet somehow harmoniously out of place with one another.
As we drove into the city, the sun’s soft emergence marked the beginning of our day’s adventure. Remarkably, even in the early hours, the streets were bustling with people, and the city’s lights outshone the natural daylight. It was as though the city itself were a living masterpiece, where no detail adhered to a specific pattern or harmonized with another.
In the evening, we ventured from our hotel to dine at a traditional restaurant. The dining room’s ceiling was adorned with paintings that narrated the story of Queen of Sheba, creating an enchanting ambiance. Seated at a neighboring table, we encountered a family of young women and their mother. As our conversation unfolded, a deep connection formed between us. Through our interaction with these women, I gained my initial insights into the life of Ethiopian women. Their responsibilities and choices, from a young age, operated on a vastly different scale compared to the women I had encountered in my previous experiences, including myself. To them, these aspects were an inherent and accepted part of life’s journey.
Following our dinner, we ventured together to a performance hall to witness a mesmerizing dance and music show. This experience left me contemplating the vivid and expressive nature of Ethiopian art, mirroring the colorful and vibrant spirit of the culture.
September 17
It was my inaugural experience of savoring a breakfast infused with a tantalizing blend of spiciness, alongside the refreshing sweetness of watermelon and a soothing cup of tea. If I were ever tasked with encapsulating my journey in Ethiopia using just one of my senses, I would unquestionably opt for the sense of taste.
Later in the day, following our breakfast, we had a meeting with the local organization ELİDA to strategize for the kick off event of the “See the Girl” film festival. The question loomed large: What could captivate people’s attention and unite them for this event? The answer? Tango!
I had always been fascinated by the way Tania conveyed powerful messages through tango. What left me even more astonished this time was that the idea to incorporate tango came from my own imagination. It’s fascinating how spending time with someone can influence your way of thinking and inspire creative ideas to emerge.
Following the meeting, we departed from the hotel and made our way to the monastery of the Franciscan Sisters Missionaries of Christ, where we were to be accommodated for the duration of the project. As we arrived at the monastery, we were welcomed by a grand entrance gate that concealed a garden resembling a piece of paradise. Stepping into this garden felt akin to discovering a small oasis within the desert, offering respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.
As we waited to meet the nuns, they graciously offered us papaya. It was a peculiarly fragrant and incredibly delicious fruit, unlike any I had ever tasted before. Ah, papaya!
One of the highlights of my stay at the monastery was undoubtedly mealtime. The dishes prepared within those sacred walls were some of the most delectable vegetarian offerings I’ve ever had the pleasure of savoring. What made the experience even more special was the shared meals and conversations among the nuns. It truly felt as though we were being embraced and welcomed as honored “guests of God” within the monastery.
For detailed information about the project please click here.
18.09.2023
Meeting with Local NGO ELIDA to Organize the Film Festival Promotional Event
Meeting the Sisters of Franciscan Sisters Missionaries of Christ
Girls’ Talent School First Day
19.09.2023
Visiting Local Partner & Planning On Project Activities
Girls’ Talent School Second Day
20.09.2023
Experience Exchange with Teachers
Meeting with Local Artizans
Girls’ Talent School Final Day
21.09.2023
Local Storytelling: Mount Entoto
Project Kick Off & Tango Night
22.09.2023
Creative Workshop
Filmmaking Experiment
23.09.2023
Meeting With a Local Journalist
24.09.2023
Creative Workshops
Screening of the Contestant Films
25.06.2023
Creative Activites With Visually Impaired Locals
Theater Workshop With Local Artists
26.09.2023
Creative Workshops With University Students
Round Table Discussion on Women’s Issues in Addis Ababa
27.09.2023
Creative Workshops With University Students
28.09.2023
National Holiday
29.09.2023
Creative Activities – Hiking at Mount Entoto
30.09.2023
Closure Ceremony
Thank you for your interest in “See the Girl” Film Festival in Ethiopia. For more information about the continuation of “See the Girl” Film Festival in Sweden, please click here.
Based on the votes of the Midnight Soul Film Festival juries, the winning films of the “See the Girl” Film Festival were announced at the closing ceremony. According to the juries’ votes:
From left to right,
“Visionary”directed by Anguach Merech Teshale
“Gold Daughter” directed by Yeabsira Desalegn Weldeyohanes
“Ethio Woman” directed by Dina Hussen Adem
“It’s not Easy” directed by Ewnet Assasshigne GebreYohanes
“Why is She Silent?” directed by Meti Gebisa Merga
Additional films that qualified to come to Sweden due to their recognition on the subject:
“Sika”directed by Kalkidan Gebreegziabher Yihdego
“My Dream” directed by Yared Mengiste Timketu
“Hangatu” directed by Yohannes Lulye Hasen
For detailed information about the project please click here .
Come to Project Pocket and enjoy some handiwork workshops, sales and food sharing!
This even will collect and show all the fascinating competences that women from other countries have, so don’t miss it!!
It will take place the 17th and 18th of June.
Where? In Project Pocket: Västra Sandgatan 6, 252 25 Helsingborg
It is 2 day camp for the participants, at Project Pocket with sleeping over opportunities in Ekeby. That means we hang out, talk, walk around, cook together, maybe dance in the evenings.
The schedule was refined according to the propositions of the participants:
First day (17th):
-11:00 – Ukrainian brunch!
– Let’s get to know each other with travelling around the area and discussing/planning a creative intervention on the next day!
Second day (18th)
– 11:00-12.00 – Community brunch
– 12.00-15.30 – Workshops (parallel or 1 and 1, 13-14.30 and 14.30-15.30).
– 16.00-17.00 – Light international dinner and then a Walk&Talk in the city.
Participants in the festival +1 friend get free entry, all others pay.
Participating means the person can present a skill in a workshop, and produced items in the exhibition, to show and to sell.
If you want to participate and/or have any questions, there will be an information meeting this Friday (9th) at 15:00, in Project Pocket (https://goo.gl/maps/uDNWRToZG5yWWetX7)
Europe needs more young social entrepreneurs right now who can discard traditional practices to tackle enormous social problems. In this Erasmus+ project exchange, we want to increase the competences of young people from Sweden, Romania and Turkey on social entrepreneurship in a local and intercultural environment, and gain knowledge and motivation to become the engines of social change by initiating social entrepreneurship projects.
The exchange will take place between the 8th and 17th of July in Hästveda, and will bring 36 participants from the 3 countries. As a participant, you will rediscover the meaning of entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, green entrepreneurship and other related entrepreneurship terminology and tools. You will come together with young people from other countries and seek solutions and create new entrepreneurship ideas and projects together.
