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ABOUT US
MIFOC
is an international federation of independent socio-cultural organizations
registered as a citizens association in 2001. Currently it consists of 7
members organizations Mladi Most,
?kart Art and Alternativni Institut
from Mostar, Drugi Most/Grenoble, and Guernica/Toulouse from France,
RAI/Barcelona from Spain and CRAMS/Monticello from Italy
as well as many individuals from all sides of the world. It's
in 1997 that Drugi Most and Guernica, two French citizens associations came to
Mostar and BiH with the aim of building cooperation and projects in the
socio-cultural fields and step by step, with the involvement of youth and various
organizations from Mostar, a "collective" was formed and gradually
grew into a federation.
MIFOC
is an original and unique project in post-war Bosnia Herzegovina which creates
the possibility for youth to find its place in this post war society, building
their future with their tools and knowledge while being supported by an European
network of independent organizations. While growing up, more and more NGOs and
volunteers are taking part in forming and strengthening reflexions,
actions and trying to achieve a bigger impact on national and European
level. The activities of
MIFOC can be divided in two orientations :
-
Socio-cultural engagement
is
reflected through setting up different cultural and artistic events in
Mostar as well as all over BiH (Mostar Intercultural Festival- 6 editions,
Du Monde Aux Balkans- 2 editions, "How do you sleep?" first BiH
live dub festival, exhibitions and presentations...). These actions are
realized with the aim of opening up the space and initiatives which will
contribute to the reunification of socially still divided Mostar and BiH,
and offer more connections with other cultures, on political, socials well
as cultural levels. In this way the young people can get the opportunity to
learn and accept themselves as active participants of the creation of their
future, in order to be able to contribute to overcome the imposed ideologies
and to construct new ones. In this country too many projects try to build up
a wonder wand in order to protect the youth from the state of apathy, lack of
motivation, massively accepted "coffee, bar culture", the constant
brain wash, the problem of drugs and violence. in this way they will never
escape from the infinite circle of pressure and disagreements. But what we
can and have to do is to give an opportunity to young people to take on
initiative and responsibility for themselves as well as for the society and
the community
in which they live and act.
-
Development of civil
society initiatives is
reflected in confronting the burning issues of
today's society (ecology, human rights and citizenship responsibilities,
role and responsibility of the government, discrimination on all levels,
exiting possibilities for youth). MIFOC activities are implemented through
public campaigns, medias, conferences as well as through informal educational
work with children and teenagers. What is being attempted is the
creation of a long tern frame for cooperation with different networks and
organizations which meet and work on similar problems across Europe. Instead
of being submitted to the "machinery of he system" one's creation
can be based on respect of independence, working together, exchange of
experiences and abilities through solidarity systems respecting the rights
and duties of all of us.
WHY
MIFOC ?
Culture is the heritage of one generation passed on the ones coming after it. it is an instrument
which influences our behavior, thinking, values, understanding what is around us and what is expected from us. In post war Bosnia
Herzegovina, society which is only on the way to its rehabilitation, culture remains
insignificant in front of the complex issues the people are facing.
On the other hand it becomes a perfect tool in the hands of national political structures in whose interest it remains to maintain the division and mistrust between the different cultures and discourage the new influences. the youth in this country is especially affected by this
reality, as they learn to accept he atmosphere of tensions and division which was imposed on them. still, on these firmly defined and established social scale, there lives a new form of activism which builds and expresses itself through the dynamic of change and learning through experience.
MIFOC is a new initiative based on aspiration, active participation as a manifest of a person's striving for pragmatism, interculturality, independence, democracy, self-criticism, self-initiative, knowledge of human rights and the existence of a choice. It depends on each individual which foundations the society will laid on, as well as on
which foundations will the cultural life and exchange take place. Which mentality will be build, which culture, way of life and thinking will we pass on ? In today's authoritative, consuming, (non)humane reality of the world, another answer can be found. It lies in
recognizing and accepting a new approach to the world, society, progress, humankind and the environment.
Another world is possible, we just have to live
it...
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