Description
Aromanian cultural heritage includes very rich folkloric and remarkable cult literature, as well as exceptional spiritual culture which is unfortunately scarcely known or studied. The main goal of the project is to safeguard the Aromanian minority culture, for example by promoting the teaching of Aromanian as mother language to the Aromanians so they can read and write in this language and have greater access to their cultural heritage. The project specific objective is the conservation and valorisation of the language as intangible heritage with an aim towards strengthening cultural identity of Aromanian minority. The main outcome of the project is the safeguarding of the Aromanian language, as cultural heritage, and revitalising it in daily life. The main outputs are: making the Aromanian language and cultural heritage accessible to the public, firstly to Aromanians but also to people from a range of cultural backgrounds interacting with Aromanians and the strengthening of the cultural identity of the Aromanians.
Summary of project results
Many of the Armân communities encountered across Balkans suffer from lack of institutional/educational support from the states they’re living in to preserve their language; on the other hand, the younger generations are speaking less and less their mother language. On long term, a direct consequence of this sad situation is the loss of access to the intangible heritage of Armân culture. The “picture” described above is valid also for the Arman community living in Romania. The idea of “Anveatsã Armãneashti” project derived as a natural consequence from 2 main needs expressed with different occasions by many members of the applicant NGO: to establish an institutional framework for mother tongue learning, aiming to consolidate the Arman cultural identity; to benefit from modern tools for language learning, thus making the Arman language attractive for the younger generations. Educational materials focused on language learning/teaching for children and adults (over 100 printed workbooks for 3 age categories: 6-8 years, 9-12 years and adults), 12 traditional costumes, more than 280 Arman language classrooms, 20 audio-books with various cultural content (language courses, traditional/modern music, old/new fairy tales, poems, theatre plays) multiplied in 100 copies, e-learning platform for Arman language, cultural events, attendance to educational/cultural contests, cultural evenings in Reykjavik focused on Arman language/culture, “Armãnjlji – figures and facts” book - multiplied in 450 copies, short documentary movie are merely some of the successfully achieved results of the “Anveatsã Armãneashti” project implemented thanks to EEA Grants. All the implemented activities contributed to the achievement of the main project’s objective. The project is reflecting a successful inter-twining of the past and the present, of language/history and culture, and the articulation of ethnic & cultural identity working as an input for the future. Based on the input received from the participants who attended the language courses and accessed the e-learning platform, it can be said the implementation of the project succeeded to enhance the prestige and create a more favourable context for the Arman language practitioners and to stimulate a renewed interest among young people with Arman origins.
Summary of bilateral results
The main achievements of the bilateral cooperation consisted in: - the organization of Armân Evenings in Reykjavik between 12 - 13 February 2016, event which led to a better mutual understanding. Around 50 members of the Icelandic NGO attended this meeting. On this occasion the results of the project were presented, as well as traditional dances, songs and local cuisine. - the creation of a Short Film documenting the stages of the project. The video material captured the essential moments in the implementation of the project: organization of the language courses for children and adults, children's participation in the cultural and educational competitions, the press conferences and the events called "Armân Evenings in Reykjavik". This video synthesis reflects the complexity of the project and the quality of the results. - the dissemination of project results at international level through project presentations on the partner's webpage and Facebook page. As well, the experience of the Icelandic in teaching Catalan language (attractive learning) to children of different ages has been integrated in Armani language courses held in Bucharest (for children from two age categories: 6-8 years, respectively 9- 12 years).