A World In A Suitcase
A World in a Suitcase - AWIASC |
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A World in a Suitcase (www.aworldinasuitcase.weebly.com) - (AWIASC), an innovative mixed media visual storytelling project, conceived and developed by myself and Timuchin Dindjer, inspires people from diverse communities to take a fresh look at their 'Worlds' through sharing stories, art, photography, paper collage & film.
The aim of the project is to foster closer relations, understanding, empathy and tolerance between communities.
The aim of the project is to foster closer relations, understanding, empathy and tolerance between communities.
Timuchin Dindjer Myrna Shoa
We had a Eureka moment when we coined the concept of a Suitcase containing a World as it made sense to us, being a container as a way of bringing to life different aspects of our worlds, as well as the wider world.
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We met by chance on a filmmaking course and made a film about Portobello, discovering in the process our passion for stories and storytelling, recognising that it is through our shared stories that we all connect to one other, to a community and to the wider world. We found out that both of us before we met had lived our lives through creative media, art, film, TV and writing. We both developed and ran many training sessions aimed at professionals and felt we could use those models to develop and create something more universal that can resonate with diverse communities. On September 16 2016. The Wellcome Trust invited us to run and test out our concept as part of an Open Platform event in the Reading Room.
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Our entrepreneurial spirit gave birth to A World in a Suitcase.
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In our sessions every person goes through the same process of exploring their past and present identities. They may bring in objects of personal meaning to add to their suitcase - their World, and/or they create a paper collage or a montage via Brushes Redux App on an iPad that tells their stories in words and images.
A Suitcase as a container represents a 'World'. that can be full of emotions and stories from home, childhood or other times and places in ones life. We have worked with people originally from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iraq, Morocco, Nigeria, Portugal, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Syria and Russia. We enable people to create a visual record of their story and take a fresh look at their lives.
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Together Timuchin Dindjer and myself have a wealth of skills between us which enables us to creatively tailor A World in a Suitcase project to suit varied groups with a range of outcomes. We have had tremendous responses from people who otherwise would not have had a voice. We have worked with some 'hard to reach groups.' Clients include WAES at Church Street Library and Queen's Park Library, Penfold Community Hub, Open Age, The Wellcome Trust, Gateway Academy, The Pepper Pot , ETAT at Thamesbank Centres, SHAK, Glastonbury House, Conway House and Paddington Development Trust.
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Our World in Lockdown. In this VIDEO COLLAGE 9 people from diverse communities from London share their response to isolation/lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic 2020. (C) 2020
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You can have a chance to open your suitcase which can be filled with objects of personal meaning and take a fresh look at those 'Worlds'.
A World in a Suitcase
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A World in a Suitcase SHAK
Community, Childhood, Home, Dreams! A wonderful and creative session this morning with Myrna and Tim. Still places available! 'A World in a Suitcase'- every Monday morning at the SHELL Centre (10.30 to 12.30). Drop by to find out more. Wisdom to your younger self.. Groups created an image and story Via the iPad and also via pens, crayons and paper.
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Woman with a Suitcase
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Church Street Market Traders - Worlds Within a Worlds
I am happy to tell you that our film 'Church Street Market Traders' was nominated for a Golden Heart Trellick prize at the Portobello Film Festival 2017, London.
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Timuchin Dindjer and Myrna Shoa explore the 'Worlds' and 'Dreams' of the market traders, in Church Street Market, London. Mark Conroy, the presenter interviews and brings out the stories from the many people in this film.
This project as well as Gateway Academy's was funded by Create Church Street. |
Journey To Your Future World - Gateway Academy
Run over eight week Year four students became explorers and kept a log of their journey. They were encouraged to use their imagination, fly on a magic carpet, overcome obstacles, plan what to take with them on their journey until they glimpsed their Future World. They captured their thoughts and feelings using drawing and stories. All their work has been collated into individual books for each student and will be showcased in an exhibition in the Autumn 2017. (Also see our other site for more info about the project.
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We ran 'A World in a Suitcase' project at Penfold Community Hub.
Everyone went on a journey with their suitcase exploring Happy Moments of Home and Childhood.
They filled their suitcase with stories, artwork and objects with meaning for them. Funded by WAES.
Everyone went on a journey with their suitcase exploring Happy Moments of Home and Childhood.
They filled their suitcase with stories, artwork and objects with meaning for them. Funded by WAES.
Take a look at some of the photos from A World in a Suitcase - AWIASC
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