01 Aug. History behind walls

Posted at 14:24h in General information byTeam

Old history/stories, new approaches - a day of action by pupils

The so-called Tanzania Park is a place hidden behind bushes, a wall and a gate. It is hidden from view between the federal police and a kebab store. As an outsider, you can only find it if it hasn't been removed from Google Maps. People walk past it every day without knowing what it means, what pain it symbolizes and what deeds it embellishes. It's almost as if it doesn't exist.
But it does. And the story it tells is real. Unfortunately very real.

Salon International has set itself the goal of making people aware of the history of Tanzania Park and not letting it fall into oblivion.

When I entered the park for the first time, I was fresh out of high school. Thirteen years of school, but I was taught nothing about German colonialism in Africa. This is not the case for everyone, but instead I was "lucky" enough to learn how to interpret "A Midsummer Night's Dream" or on which exact dates which German states ended. In class, I didn't feel the oppressive, deeply sad but important atmosphere that I experienced when reading the blackboards in the park.

The young people that Salon International works with are lucky enough to really come into contact with such issues at an early age. By visiting the park and engaging with the subject matter, they learn to understand history and how to shape the future so that such exploitation and oppression is not repeated. They are taught how to make others aware of German colonial history and how to share important knowledge about inequalities. In this way, they are not just passive listeners, but become independent.

"However, no one was unaware of the basis of the topic: Discrimination and racism."

Their experiences, opinions and views are also included in the workshops. The ultimate goal of the workshops: a self-organized day of action with a guided tour of the park, which not only tells of the history between Tanzania and Germany, but also expresses wishes for the future. The young people decide how they want to organize the day of action and are actively supported by Salon International. The participants become artistically active, come up with creative ways to pass on their knowledge, work together and learn self-expression. They also learn how to treat memorials and sensitive topics, such as the exploitation of African countries, with respect.

I had the honor of documenting this process photographically. I was able to observe the curiosity and openness of the young people. For some of the participants, it was their first direct contact with such a story, and for others, like the Tanzanian group of young people who came to visit, it was their own historical oppression. However, none of them were unfamiliar with the basis of the topic; discrimination and racism. The young people from the Nelson Mandela School talked about everyday situations in which they experienced discrimination and racism. On the train, on the bus, at school or on the street. When the young people talked about their experiences, they showed a contrast to their usual interactions with each other. The normally relaxed, fun and easy-going faces now appeared serious and vulnerable. The participants of the workshop show that anyone, regardless of age, can notice discrimination and racism. This is why Salon International's efforts to empower children and young people to name social inequalities are so important.

I also realized the importance of these workshops when I sat in on some interviews between the participants. Some Tanzanian youth talked about the positive impacts of colonialism, such as infrastructure or medical advances, but few mentioned negative impacts. This is not because there are so few negative impacts, but because they often lack knowledge and access to informative resources. An ignorance of history leads to repetition and makes the following generations easily exploitable.

Salon International aims to get children and young people actively thinking, to inform, sensitize and support them, but does so in a way that is appropriate for young people. The children and young people can occasionally play and romp together normally, make new friends and also take a quiet break. The result is an atmosphere that is informative but not oppressive.

This atmosphere anchors history as an important part of everyday life and promotes interpersonal relationships. I was able to experience this atmosphere when I saw how the participants exchanged views and experiences at a large table, then voluntarily gave each other gifts and then ate kebabs together before going back to the park to continue preparing for the day of action.

Salon International and the workshops on the Tanzania Park for young students conveyed important knowledge about the history of German colonialism in Tanzania in a youth-friendly medium and enabled the students to apply the knowledge to shape a fair future for everyone.