Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg o Brave Kids...

We Wrocławiu trwa właśnie pierwsza edycja Brave Kids - inicjatywy, która została objęta patronatem Poseł Lidii Geringer de Oedenberg, przewodniczącego Rady Europejskiej - Hermana Van Rompuya - i komisarz ds. międzynarodowej współpracy, pomocy humanitarnej i spraw sytuacji kryzysowych - Kristaliny Georgievej. Poseł Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg wystosowała list do uczestników festiwalu:

I am very proud that my home town - Wrocław - welcomes so many children from: Nepal, Rwanda, Chechnya, Uganda and Zimbabwe. In their respective societies life is sometimes difficult and tragic. Wars, extreme poverty, natural catastrophes hinder the good development of children. That is why we should help these innocent victims. The Brave Kids initiative is a very ambitious answer to the misfortunes connected with disadvantaged regions of the world.

Participation of people from different continents is a marvellous opportunity to discover other cultures. When they make art together, children discover it can help them. Art brings them new skills and it facilitates their lives when they come back to their home countries. Tolerance, respect, teamwork, and self-esteem are incredibly improved during the artistic workshops. We must not forget that art is a great instrument for eliminating divisions between people. It is also a unique experience for Polish children who are able to work with their counterparts from other states. Whereas, news on TV or radio focuses on cultural diversity, here we highlight a common artistic project.

This project is the ideal moment to present the world's cultures to Wrocław and Poland. Thanks to the patronage of the President of the European Council, Mr Herman Van Rompuy, and of the Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Ms Kristalina Georgieva, this edition of Brave Kids Project may be better known all over Poland, as well as in Europe. It is true the European Union cares about culture, which is an essential part of the EU common foreign policy. Protecting our heritage, promoting our cultures is a clear contribution to a world based on peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. The 'Culture Programme 2007-2013' - the EU's main cultural instrument - has a budget of 400 million euros for artistic projects. On the websites of the DG Education and Culture, it is possible to find some grant opportunities. The next call for interest will be published soon. Among other priorities of the programme, the EU wants to promote: mobility of artists, transnational circulation and dialogue between cultures.

Brave Kids festival may be seen as an element of this wider policy. Values advocated by the Festival are: respect, dialogue and, of course, pleasure in helping children. I hope they will enjoy their time, find friends and discover many interesting things in Poland. I am sure this experience in Wrocław will be unforgettable. After all, John Paul II once said: 'Wrocław is the meeting place'.