Hello,
Welcome back to the Hudara Newsletter! Between implementing our ongoing projects and drafting proposals to support new initiatives, we’ve been busy, focused and hard at work. There’s lots to catch you up on.
In this edition of our Newsletter, you’ll hear about our project in Iraq, where we are applying textile-art therapeutic methods to facilitate psychological support for women from different social, ethnical and religious backgrounds. This project of healing through collective weaving and embroidering has seen wonderful developments.
Since violence broke out in April, we have been following the events in Sudan with deep concern and Anne shares her perspective on the current situation, reflecting on the role of climate change. You will also hear from Josephine, who is working with us in the field of sustainability. She will introduce herself personally and share about the roots of her passion for promoting sustainable energy and gender equality.
And finally, we’re happy to announce that Hudara will, once again, be hosting an event in Berlin! If you’re looking to reconnect with nature and bring out your creative side this summer, read more below about our upcoming nature walk and workshop.
We appreciate you following, supporting and enabling our journey of healing, community support and adaptation and mitigation of climate change impacts!
In gratitude and solidarity,
Lena and the Hudara team
Voices from the Field
Healing through collective “weaving, embroidering and knitting” a social support network
People in Iraq are still suffering from psychological injuries and the disruption of peaceful life in society. We are working with young women from different social, ethical and religious groups using textile art, an effective and culturally appreciated tool for coping with difficult states of mind. This practice has emotional and physical grounding effects, and promotes psychological fulfilment through creation and social fulfilment through shared work in the group. To learn how textile art is used to support healing, stimulate dialogue between women, and raise awareness of the process of understanding and reconciliation read the article linked below.
Puzzling pieces together
Reflections on the situation in Sudan
While poverty, a long history of oppression, inequality, power struggles, greed of military leaders and poor governance are the main causes of conflict in Sudan, and the mechanisms of the longstanding crisis in Darfur are also lingering, there is in addition an environmental dimension to the war that should not be forgotten. Although the link between climate change and conflict in the current crisis in Sudan is small compared to the main causes, the situation will further weaken particularly vulnerable communities in the country’s periphery, making it difficult for them to adapt to the changing landscape and continue environmentally sensitive economic activities in a harsh climate.
Happenings
Walking in Watercolours: Using creativity to reflect on our connection to nature
As summer arrives in Berlin, and the city begins to open to sunlight, warmth and long days, we at Hudara are ready to appreciate the outdoor spaces that the city has to offer. With access to parks like Templehoffer Feld, Tiergarten and Gleisdreieck, nature plays an undeniable role in life in Berlin. But how connected to the natural environment do we really feel? In a busy city, full of energy and excitement, and during a climate crisis, it can be difficult to slow down and connect with nature in a way that feels meaningful. Our Summer event brings together themes of mindfulness, creativity and nature, inviting you to slow down and reconnect to your natural environment.
More news
This is a bike community on Mayotte in our MAESHA project. While our actions are wide-ranging when it comes to where we implement change, or through what means, at the heart of our approach to each of our projects is community. We view community members as key actors in developing meaningful and effective ways of coping with the difficulties that we aim to improve. Read about our different new and ongoing projects, and see how we centre community throughout our work.
Get to know us!
For many people, interacting with nature is a tourist and adventurous experience, but for those with whom I share a similar background, it is a way of life and a means of livelihood. Growing up in my neighbourhood in a remote area in Kenya, I experienced the challenges of human-wildlife conflict and the depletion of the natural resources we depended on for survival.
We lost our nearest source of water, the rains subsided, resulting in low or no harvests. Drought became rampant and wildlife often moved into areas of human habitat in search of food and water, leading to human-wildlife conflict. As a young girl, I never understood what was happening to our beautiful environment and why children had to skip school to get water for the household…
