News from the Middle East and North Africa often paints a picture of a crisis zone dominated by political and economic uncertainties. However, both the overall conditions and the lived realities in the region are far more complex and multifaceted than this stereotype suggests. This becomes evident through the more than 100 projects that the Goethe-Institut, funded by the Federal Foreign Office, has implemented since 2011 under the Ta’ziz Partnership program in Sudan, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt. The contribution varies from country to country, as the contextual factors differ greatly across these nations.
The projects primarily target young people as well as key actors from the cultural and educational sectors. In doing so, the Goethe-Institut creates spaces for discussion, exchange of opinions, and skills development. Furthermore, the projects train and connect cultural actors with relevant partners in Germany and with each other within the region. Because more than implementing fixed concepts, the Ta’ziz Partnership is about envisioning future prospects, encouraging social participation, enabling exchange and self-efficacy, and creating space for creativity and innovation.
