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Berlin museums' refugee guides scheme fosters meeting of minds | Berlin museums' refugee guides scheme fosters meeting of minds |
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When Nadiya Mamo stepped into a room on the fourth floor of the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, memories came flooding back. “I could smell the streets of Aleppo, I remembered the colour of the light in my room at dusk,” said the 46-year-old Syrian. “And I remembered how the city that used to be my home turned into living hell within just 48 hours. I think I am only now beginning to understand what that means.” | When Nadiya Mamo stepped into a room on the fourth floor of the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, memories came flooding back. “I could smell the streets of Aleppo, I remembered the colour of the light in my room at dusk,” said the 46-year-old Syrian. “And I remembered how the city that used to be my home turned into living hell within just 48 hours. I think I am only now beginning to understand what that means.” |
The 17th-century wood-panelled room, carved with Persian miniatures and biblical scenes by an Iranian artist, used to be located inside a mansion in the historic old town in the north-west of Aleppo. Sold in 1912, the panelling was later donated to the Berlin museum. Recent satellite images suggest its original home is now either damaged or destroyed. | The 17th-century wood-panelled room, carved with Persian miniatures and biblical scenes by an Iranian artist, used to be located inside a mansion in the historic old town in the north-west of Aleppo. Sold in 1912, the panelling was later donated to the Berlin museum. Recent satellite images suggest its original home is now either damaged or destroyed. |
Mamo is one of a group of Syrians who are being shown around the museum’s exhibits thanks to a unique initiative sponsored by Germany’s culture ministry. Last October, 19 refugees in Berlin were recruited and trained as museum guides to provide native-language tours for fellow refugees, with the aim of helping newly arrived people foster connections between Germany’s cultural heritage and their own. The project is called Multaqa, an Arabic word meaning “meeting point”. | Mamo is one of a group of Syrians who are being shown around the museum’s exhibits thanks to a unique initiative sponsored by Germany’s culture ministry. Last October, 19 refugees in Berlin were recruited and trained as museum guides to provide native-language tours for fellow refugees, with the aim of helping newly arrived people foster connections between Germany’s cultural heritage and their own. The project is called Multaqa, an Arabic word meaning “meeting point”. |
When German employers want to hire a refugee, they usually have to prove that they are not discriminating against equally qualified candidates from Germany or the EU – a disincentive for many companies. Berlin’s museums have managed to get around that obstacle by paying their new guides in expenses via the Friends of the Museum for Islamic Art, a non-profit organisation. For each one-hour tour, the guides earn €40. | When German employers want to hire a refugee, they usually have to prove that they are not discriminating against equally qualified candidates from Germany or the EU – a disincentive for many companies. Berlin’s museums have managed to get around that obstacle by paying their new guides in expenses via the Friends of the Museum for Islamic Art, a non-profit organisation. For each one-hour tour, the guides earn €40. |
“When people are just waiting around with nothing to do, they can fall into a hole. They feel useless and worthless,” said Stefan Weber, the director of the Museum for Islamic Art, one of the four Berlin institutions collaborating on the project. “But when you give people an important job to do, you also give them a certain status in your society.” | “When people are just waiting around with nothing to do, they can fall into a hole. They feel useless and worthless,” said Stefan Weber, the director of the Museum for Islamic Art, one of the four Berlin institutions collaborating on the project. “But when you give people an important job to do, you also give them a certain status in your society.” |
Tours take place every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon and are advertised on social media and via word of mouth. About 20-50 refugees take up the opportunity every week. Entry is free. | |
“The first question we usually get asked is: how did all this end up in Germany?” said guide Razan Nassreddine, a cultural curator from Damascus who arrived in Germany four years ago. Sometimes the answer can produce awkward moments, such as with the Pergamon Museum’s most famous display, the Ishtar Gate. Since the Babylonian gate was reconstructed in Germany with original bricks in the 1930s, Iraq has repeatedly called for its return. “Some objects have a complicated history,” said Weber. | “The first question we usually get asked is: how did all this end up in Germany?” said guide Razan Nassreddine, a cultural curator from Damascus who arrived in Germany four years ago. Sometimes the answer can produce awkward moments, such as with the Pergamon Museum’s most famous display, the Ishtar Gate. Since the Babylonian gate was reconstructed in Germany with original bricks in the 1930s, Iraq has repeatedly called for its return. “Some objects have a complicated history,” said Weber. |
But most often the experience is positive. Aladdin Haddad, an architecture student from Aleppo, said he had been to the museum every week since arriving in Germany six months ago. “This is my civilisation,” said the 29-year-old. “It’s great to see my heritage here in the heart of Germany.” | But most often the experience is positive. Aladdin Haddad, an architecture student from Aleppo, said he had been to the museum every week since arriving in Germany six months ago. “This is my civilisation,” said the 29-year-old. “It’s great to see my heritage here in the heart of Germany.” |
Sometimes a tour around the Pergamon, which hosts one of the oldest and largest collection of Arab artefacts outside the Arab world, enables a debate that is not easily had inside a crowded refugee shelter. When the group gathered around a 13th-century Anatolian alcove, one man asked: “Is that Sunni?” “They didn’t have Sunnis and Shias back then,” responded an elderly woman. “Yes, they did,” replied another. “But let’s not talk about religion here, we just want to look at the objects.” | Sometimes a tour around the Pergamon, which hosts one of the oldest and largest collection of Arab artefacts outside the Arab world, enables a debate that is not easily had inside a crowded refugee shelter. When the group gathered around a 13th-century Anatolian alcove, one man asked: “Is that Sunni?” “They didn’t have Sunnis and Shias back then,” responded an elderly woman. “Yes, they did,” replied another. “But let’s not talk about religion here, we just want to look at the objects.” |
A 14th-century dome from Granada’s Alhambra reminded one member of the group that the Ottoman empire used to provide refuge to Jews fleeing Catholic Spain. “Syria hasn’t always been the way it is now,” he said. “We used to be tolerant.” | A 14th-century dome from Granada’s Alhambra reminded one member of the group that the Ottoman empire used to provide refuge to Jews fleeing Catholic Spain. “Syria hasn’t always been the way it is now,” he said. “We used to be tolerant.” |
Once continued funding for the project is secured and the new guides have improved their language skills, the organisers say they want to branch out: Syrians and Iraqis can then tell German visitors about the hidden connections between their cultures. | Once continued funding for the project is secured and the new guides have improved their language skills, the organisers say they want to branch out: Syrians and Iraqis can then tell German visitors about the hidden connections between their cultures. |
Many refugees take the opportunity to visit all four museums, and Berlin’s German Historical Museum has proved particularly popular with the 18 guides – 17 Syrians and one Iraqi. “German schoolkids fall asleep when it comes to the history of the 30 years’ war,” said Weber. “But we found that Syrians were often gripped. German history shows them that destruction is not the end of history – new life can come out of the rubble.” | Many refugees take the opportunity to visit all four museums, and Berlin’s German Historical Museum has proved particularly popular with the 18 guides – 17 Syrians and one Iraqi. “German schoolkids fall asleep when it comes to the history of the 30 years’ war,” said Weber. “But we found that Syrians were often gripped. German history shows them that destruction is not the end of history – new life can come out of the rubble.” |
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