The Exposition of Kids Guernica in Vorarlberg July to October 2003
Our project aims on one hand at exposing between 20 to 30 paintings in different communities in Vorarlberg, the most Western part of Austria. The paintings will be combined in a way to make understood the difference in expression of children who live in areas of peace, in areas where the conflict has stopped about 5 to 10 years ago and in areas, where people experience a long periode of peace.

On the other hand, we are organising a programme of activities with and for children at the same time as the exposition takes place (from July 3rd, 2003 till the symposium in October 26th 03). This activity programme is organised in cooperation with a great number of initiatives in Vorarlberg, and will allow, through this cooperation, to raise the awareness of the children and young people, of the broad public and of tourists coming to Vorarlberg in summer.


The main part of the exposition will take place in the capital of the area, Bregenz, where it is integrated in the cultural programme of the festival summer. About 10 paintings will be exposed at the border of the lake of Constance. Other communities who take part are Dornbirn, Egg/Schwarzenberg, Lustenau, Gotzis/Altach and Feldkirch. The president of our region, Dr. Herbert Sausgruber, will be the chairman of the programme.
Vorarlberg - a region of migration

Vorarlberg is a region with about 350.000 habitants, living in 96 communities, amongst them 4 cities of 20 to 30000 habitants. The communities have partly grown together, forming one big urban area over 35 kilometers. People live from industry, trade and from tourism, and in summer, Bregenz is internationally famous for the Opera on the lake and an intense cultural programme. The region always has been deeply marked by migration, as it is in equidistance between Innsbruck (Austria), Munich (Germany), Konstanz, Zurich (Switzerland) and Milan (Italy). Today we have an important part of the population with turkish roots and from Ex-Yugoslavia.
The activity programme

"You call us the future, but we are also the present." On the Summit on Children's Rights organised by the UN in New York in May 02, children from all over the world have worked together, and have told us adults to recognise their needs and wishes. The Activity Programme will be oriented towards the key issues of the Children's Rights.

There are three major lines in the Activity Programme:

A Child's world: Children communicate how they experience their world and what they would like to change for the better.

Children for Children: Projects to improve the understanding for different cultures in our own region and for children in other countries.

A World fit for Children: Projects for to support people who live and work with children.Some examples:

Contribution to Kids Guernica (three further paintings shall be made by children in schools, working throughout one week on the question of living together in peace)

Lomo-Fotografy: Accompanied by adolescents, children will examine their communities and take Lomo-Pictures of what is in accordance to their needs and wishes, what they like, and what should be changed. Later they present their view to the public and the responsibles of the community. These have agreed to answer within 2 weeks, whether there will be changes or why the changes have to be delayed or are not possible.
Painting of flags around Childrens Rights for the Children festival in different communities.
A Radio day from and with Children (together with the governmental radio station)
Children from different cultures present their traditional games, together with their grand-parents.
Working on Childrens Rights in school and fabricating bookmarks, offering these bookmarks to the responsibles in communities and schools, together with the declaration of the Children's Rights, and asking the adults to help putting these rights into practice.
Presenting the services for children and their families in the communities (special days)
Establishing Children's Parliaments in schools and in communities
and many other activities contact:

Carmen Feuchtner, A Child's World, Welt der Kinder, Anton Schneider Str. 28, 6900 Bregenz, Austria, +43 664 222 0131, weltderkinder@vol.at