European Section – Abgad & Dana
European Section – Activities and projects of Abgad & Dana in the EU, in preparation since 2026
The European section of Abgad & Dana was created to expand the project’s journey from Germany into the European sphere, based on the belief in the importance of the European Union as a space that brings together peoples and countries with different languages, cultures and roots around shared values such as peace, democracy, human rights and cooperation.
Despite their linguistic and cultural differences, the peoples of Europe share a common space that enables encounter, dialogue, exchange and connection. Through European activities, projects and partnerships, Abgad & Dana aim to build bridges between young people and communities, promote cultural diversity, belonging and participation, and discover what connects people despite their differences.
For Abgad & Dana, diversity is not a barrier, but an opportunity to connect, learn from one another and build a shared future.
European Section Coordinator – Dana Kaiser
Dana Kaisar oversees the European Section of Abgad & Dana and contributes to its development and the coordination of its European projects and collaborations, in cooperation with Belal Kaisar, the creator and developer of Abgad & Dana.
Dana has been connected to the project since its founding period and has accompanied different stages of its development. Due to her presence in Syria during the years of war and the difficult circumstances surrounding that period, much of her contribution to Abgad & Dana remained behind the scenes. Despite these circumstances, she continued to support and contribute to the project remotely.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dana played an important role in helping the project remain active, contributing to the development and implementation of several projects and initiatives during that period.
Dana speaks Arabic and English and is distinguished by her creativity, passion, and ability to work and coordinate remotely, as well as her openness to communicating and working with people from different cultural backgrounds. Her long-standing connection to Abgad & Dana and her understanding of its journey, values and development provide a strong foundation for her role in building and developing the European Section.
Today, Dana is moving from a largely behind-the-scenes role to a more visible responsibility. She contributes to communication with European partners and organisations, the coordination of cooperation and partnerships, the preparation and follow-up of European tours, and the further development of Abgad & Dana’s European presence.
For inquiries regarding the European Section, contact Dana Kaisar:
Dana.Kaiser@abgad.de
Project – Abgad & Dana: Different Roots, One Europe
"Abgad & Dana – Different Roots, One Europe” is a European project planned to be implemented through the Interactive Section of the Abgad & Dana project, building on the experience this section has gained since the project was launched in Germany in 2019.
Since 2019, the Interactive Section has been the starting point of Abgad & Dana’s journey through interactive tours and direct encounters with people in public spaces, at events and in different cities. Over the years, this experience has continued to develop through direct and spontaneous interaction with people of different ages, cultures and backgrounds.
Building on this experience, the project will bring Abgad & Dana’s interactive activities from Germany to different countries of the European Union. Through tours in public spaces, Abgad and Dana will meet and interact with people directly and spontaneously.
The aim of the project is to create direct interactive encounters between Abgad, Dana and people in different European cities, providing opportunities for connection and bringing people closer together through a simple and open experience in public spaces.
In this way, the journey that began in Germany in 2019 will continue — this time across Europe.
How the Interactive Tour Works
Cooperation, Partnerships and Funding
Each tour is carried out by the Abgad & Dana Interactive Section team, consisting of six people, including the two people portraying Abgad and Dana. Each tour can last up to two hours.
The tours can take place at train stations, busy streets and public areas with high pedestrian traffic, or near major tourist landmarks in European cities, allowing Abgad and Dana to meet and interact with people directly and spontaneously.
The other team members are responsible for accompanying the two characters, coordinating the route, organizing the tour, and documenting it through photos and video. The resulting media content from each tour is published within the Abgad & Dana Interactive Section, making every city and stop a documented part of the project’s journey across Europe.
The “Abgad & Dana – Different Roots, One Europe” project welcomes cooperation with institutions, municipalities, associations, cultural and youth centres, European organisations, local partners, as well as funding programmes and institutions that can contribute to facilitating and implementing the tours across EU countries.
Depending on the city and country, cooperation may include support in selecting suitable locations and tour routes, local coordination, obtaining necessary permits where required, providing spaces for preparation and changing costumes, connecting with local organisations, and supporting documentation and communication.
The project also welcomes partnerships and funding opportunities that can contribute to covering the costs of travel, local transportation, accommodation, tour implementation and media documentation.
The form of cooperation may vary from one tour to another, allowing each partner to contribute according to their capacities and local role, with the aim of facilitating Abgad & Dana’s journey across different European cities and countries.
Projekt „Abgad & Dana – Eine Frage an Europa“
In Vorbereitung – Kooperations- und Finanzierungspartner gesucht.
„Abgad & Dana – Eine Frage an Europa“ ist ein partizipatives europäisches Jugendprojekt, bei dem vier Jugendliche aus Nordrhein-Westfalen ein gemeinsames Team rund um den arabischen Jungen Abgad und das ukrainische Mädchen Dana bilden.
Nach einer gemeinsamen Vorbereitung und einem Training in NRW reisen die Jugendlichen in ein anderes europäisches Land. Dort führen sie einen interaktiven Rundgang durch den öffentlichen Raum durch, begegnen Menschen unterschiedlicher Herkunft und kultureller Hintergründe und stellen ihnen eine zentrale Frage: „Was bedeutet für dich Zugehörigkeit zu Europa?“
Im Mittelpunkt stehen persönliche Begegnungen, unterschiedliche Perspektiven auf Europa sowie die aktive Beteiligung junger Menschen. Die Reise, die Gespräche und die Erfahrungen der Jugendlichen werden durch eine einfache mediale Dokumentation festgehalten.
Nach ihrer Rückkehr nach Nordrhein-Westfalen präsentieren die Jugendlichen ihre Erlebnisse und die entstandene Dokumentation im Rahmen einer partizipativen Dialogveranstaltung. So werden die gesammelten Erfahrungen zurück in die Gesellschaft getragen und neue Gespräche über kulturelle Vielfalt, europäische Gemeinsamkeiten und Zugehörigkeit angeregt.
Projektziele
Das Projekt „Abgad & Dana – Eine Frage an Europa“ fördert die aktive Beteiligung junger Menschen, den interkulturellen Austausch und das Gefühl gemeinsamer europäischer Zugehörigkeit.
Durch direkte Begegnungen mit Menschen unterschiedlicher Herkunft werden kulturelle Vielfalt, gegenseitiges Verständnis und der gesellschaftliche Dialog gestärkt. Gleichzeitig entwickeln die teilnehmenden Jugendlichen ihre sozialen und kommunikativen Fähigkeiten und übernehmen Verantwortung.
Die gesammelten Erfahrungen werden medial dokumentiert und nach der Rückkehr nach Nordrhein-Westfalen mit der Öffentlichkeit geteilt.
**Im Mittelpunkt steht die Botschaft, dass unterschiedliche kulturelle Wurzeln eine gemeinsame europäische Zugehörigkeit bereichern und stärken können.**
