Programme

‘Where do you go when they tell you to go back?’ - This is the question that begins one of Elona Beqiraj's poems. In her works, the Kosovan-Albanian poet tirelessly explores the question of where we come from - as individuals, as a collective, as children of the diaspora. As children of a generation that had to migrate or flee from war and persecution. Our parents, carried by the burning desire for a better future for their children - and we, the children, driven by the longing for our parents' homeland.

On 13 February 2025, Elona invites us to talk about belonging, worlds that separate us and this search for ourselves - to build tables, move chairs together so that closeness is not just a word. The meeting point is at 6 pm for the writing workshop and at 8 pm for the reading, which will be followed by a discussion. Both will be held in German.

-> The writing workshop is now full, but you can still register for the reading at 8 pm!

Elona Beqiraj .was born in 1997 in Lower Saxony, where she also grew up. She currently lives in Berlin. In addition to studying political science, she works as a student trainee for the Together in Germany project at Neue Deutsche Medienmacherinnen. As the child of Albanian migrants, she has been exploring the feelings and experiences of people who are torn between different cultures in her poetry since she was very young. In her poetry collection und wir kamen jeden sommer, published by Resonar-Verlag in 2019, she poetically explores the long-term consequences of war and migration while also questioning the concepts of belonging and non-belonging in Germany. She also runs writing workshops that focus on these topics. Between October and December 2021, she led the art and activist project Weil wir nicht vergessen for Gorki X at the Gorki Theatre, which was dedicated to a dignified culture of remembrance around right-wing extremist violence in Germany. This project was linked to the exhibition Open Trial, which is about understanding the NSU complex. With her last project Solange wir erinnern (As long as we remember), which she co-directed with Hiyam Biary, she developed an exhibition and a day of remembrance in two Berlin schools and at the Maxim Gorki Theatre that dealt with the racist attack in Hanau.

FATA Luxembourg asbl is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion, networking and appreciation of women from the Balkan region in Luxembourg and internationally. Founded by Amela Skenderović, Arza Vatovci, Kosovare Sallahu and Medina Imsirović, FATA brings together different perspectives to build a supportive network across borders.

BesaBese asbl is an association dedicated to the inclusion of minority communities, particularly from the Balkans. Its aim is to support the personal development and community engagement of young people by promoting education, diversity, equal opportunities and social cohesion. Through local, regional and transnational initiatives, BesaBese promotes intercultural dialogue, supports marginalised women and children, encourages social entrepreneurship and promotes gender equality. .The organisation also works to improve the quality of life of vulnerable families while promoting Balkan culture and cultural exchange.