Fun Corner at the Border

In March 2016, as humanitarian response to the devastatingly sad situation with the refugees at the Macedonian camp borders, ARNO delivered a short-term project for the children refugees. Along with the theater group “Shadows and Clouds”, ARNO organized several workshops for the migrant children at the Tabanovce border in North Macedonia.

Throughout the project, refugee children were encouraged to take part in the tailored programs. The photos and the workshop outcomes were presented to the public and received great attention. The Shadow Theater, as a tool, is very appealing and when used for promotion of peace and bridging cultures, it is immediately recognized by the citizens. Thanks to the reaction of the general audience and media, social pressure was put on the national approach toward the refugee crises. People overcame the xenophobic beliefs by seeing children’s faces, smiles and tears on the project photos.

The project was carried out in partnership with the “SOS Children’s Village Macedonia”, supported by the Rutgers Church NY (USA).

Highlights: The making-of process of the Shadow Theatre performances included consolations with experts on intercultural communication in order to ensure that the messages are effective and powerful. The development of the creative outputs was a learning process itself (bright colors only, avoidance of city landscapes contours, etc.).