Storytelling Night with Miljana and Nora
Aug 30, 2021, 2:53 PM | Multimedia
Stories are a powerful driver of emotional value. They create a participatory and immersive experience for the audience, it resonates with the people and connects them on the emotional level. In that spirit, the #RCT through storytelling, initiatives are enabling space for positive reconciliation stories by the individuals from Kosovo Albanian and Kosovo Serb communities, as well as other communities, who found a way to communicate, work together, and bring to life ideas from the shared passion.
This time, our storytellers were Miljana Dunđerin and Nora Prekazi, two passionate female artists from Kosovo Serb and Kosovo Albanian communities. The event was organized in the art gallery Aquarius, On August 25th, 2021.
Both Miljana and Nora shared the loss they had due to the consequences of the ‘99 conflict, as all citizens have one way or another. Both lost their homes but now live in Mitrovica city, divided. “We can choose to live in the past, but I personally don’t want that. I feel sorry for what happened to both me and Nora, but I personally decided to move on, to progress and make a difference in the community I live in through my passion for art” said Miljana.
Nora’s message was not different from Miljana’s. Driven by their passion for art, she values mutual understanding with Kosovo Serb community, and wants to make a difference and contributes to the society she lives in.
Despite the challenges facing, societal tensions, fear of being judged by their surroundings, Miljana and Nora found a way to create. They collaborated on various projects since they met, such as poetry nights, poetry debates, and in 2020 organized “Zana” fest, with a goal to promote females in art. The aim of the festival was to tackle the gender issues and gather poems in Albanian and Serbian that address women's issues and translate them into Serbian, i.e., Albanian language.
“I was surprised by some of the feedback I got from some of my Kosovo Albanian acquaintances from Prishtina, and their worry about having poems translated into Serbian Cyrillic alphabet with my name associated with that. That just shows the challenge we are still facing and disconnection of people within and outside of our communities”, shared Nora. But that didn’t stop these two, now, friends, to pursue their dedication.
26 guests who came to hear more about positive stories were not all from Mitrovica’s both parts of the city. Two ladies from Croatia, excited about finding out about this storytelling event, shared with the rest of the audience their surprise that these types of events are taking place which aims to tell positive reconciliation stories. “I come from Croatia where the reconciliation process is still ongoing after many years after the conflict. Seeing initiatives like this makes me extremely happy and optimistic not only for the situation you live here but for mine too”, said the guest from Croatia.
When asked what the challenge is they face now, Miljana jokingly said “Not having enough time in the world to talk and create”. Both artists said that their cooperation is ongoing, and they communicate on daily basis. The next project is a continuation of “Zana” festival, and gather women poets from Roma, Bosniak, and Gorani communities, celebrate Kosovo women and their unity in diversity.
Their final message to the audience was words of encouragement, supporting divided communities to connect in any aspect they are passionate about, as only with true goals and intentions this can be achieved.
#RCT storytelling activity is an ongoing initiative, with the goal to enable space for generating positive reconciliation messages on an individual level to the wider audience in Kosovo. The activity is gathering individuals who share positive reconciliation examples, thus inspiring a wider audience for connection with neighboring but still divided communities. These stories will be shared with media outlets on the local and national levels, to further reach out to the wider audience and reinforced positive healing and reconciling messages through media and citizen-centered reporting focusing on shared values and trust-building.
#RCT activity is implemented by CBM and partner NSI and YIHRks, and supported by the American people through USAID in Kosovo.