Democratic Republic of Congo comes through the third phase of large-scale civil war and genocide mainly in Goma area (North Kivu). We have contacted local organization ADECOP, engaged forthe maintenance of peace, development of awareness and education, fighting against violent crime and sexual violence. Within the newly created Project Poetry Helps to Needs in the Congo a public literary reading and discussion Is poetry solidar? was introduced, and this way we will continue with further public events at the turn of March and April. Contacting civic associations and organizations in the Czech Republic operating in the African environment in the future we may provide support for this project, which aims to not only get money for humanitarian aid from voluntary admission to literary reading and discussion (in the spirit of Poesia e solidarietà, central motta of Trieste Youth Forum 2008). We encourage local citizens and young people through media, radio, periodicals, we prepare student exchange, workshops and working in the territory of both countries.
The main way how we support the cultural diversity and yet the similarity, is provided by a magazine platform in which response is discovered by citizens (not only) of both countries. We would also organize an international literary competition and promote education through czech project Talnet, running in the Czech Republic for more than 6 years. Crucial role in this project a grant policy, the promotion of cultural objects and cooperation with other organizations such as Platform2 or Friends of the Congo play.
Our main area of work, Lacadalet Magazine, has started to run in March of this year (the readings were held in December 2008 for the first time), and now our growing readership also introduces itself by our sites because we believe not only Czech-Congo relationships could be mirrored by our platform. We host every issue international young writer, whose works are connected to some problem in one or the other coutry introduced in the current issue.
Firstly, our magazine hadn't stable internet form, but the last weeks magazine is fully electronized (it was more like correspondence before) and the selection blog is running where redactors choose the works published in the issue. But no work is lost and anybody could read anything we get, because awareness isn't bordered by "quality" or "topic". We would like to encourage readers to write also, to think about the meanings of authors published and we would like to support also electronical discussion.
We have wide readership around the globe - Brazil, Australia, Russia, Tanzania, Germany, Bulgaria, Albania, Spain,... our magazine provides connection and learning from each other. We can show how the literature bring us to one ship and how we become friend unless we have the same social background, life experience and language. Language is typically czech and French, translated into english and texts are always published in the original language with translation.
Not only literature - we speak out also about our language in the general, about our culture in the general (we share songs, news, spirit) - not only poetry, but mainly poetry connects us. We are displaced friends who believe in each other.
I'm student of highschool and this project I started on my own half year ago. I know that people are needed to success and I know that my goal - student exchange and competition - is too far for me now. But; I never let something gone unless doing my best. Now I think the number involved in the program I started as one person, is great. Please visit our sites at least. I hope that this competition will inform at least about our action and that we are there for you.
