After a lengthy absence we have a new post for you. The last brigade Voileta Parra is back in Germany and now are only two Interbrigadists left in Venezuela.We are doing mainly two things. On one site we enlisted ourselves in courses of the Channel Avila TV and are now learning all about making films and documentaries.

On the other site we are preparing the following brigade to Bolivia.

In the end of January 20 Venezuelans will go with us to Bolivia. For the two months work we are planning to build up a film-studio in the region “EL Alto” and to give classes for the companeros to empower them to create an own channel.

If you are interested and want to participate give us a shout at interbrigadas@hotmail.de

Nevertheless a lot happened in the last month. We supported the basis campaign of the Barrio 23 de Enero in Caracas. On the 28^th of October different groups initiated a symbolic referendum against the American military bases in Colombia and the coup in Honduras.

This referendum was not carried by a national organisation. About 14.000 people took part on one day and voted clearly against the military bases and the coup.

We also participated in the colourful and vocal demonstration for the survival of the alternative culture project “Tiuna el Fuerte”.

People also demonstrated against the intended building of a shopping centre on a park area in the inner city of Caracas. The people of the Tiuna are demanding to make a cultural meeting point out of the park.

These are the pictures:

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After the two times we have been in this Barrio in April/May and in June and July 2008, this was our third time working there. The brigade provided classes in English, drawing, guitar, maths and felting. In spite of a slow start it was efficient work and our classrooms were crowded.

Especially the English classes were attractive so we had to open 3 different classes during the last weeks, because more and more young people came.

Of course we also took part in the events of the Mision Cultura and the municipal council and worked together with the Plan Vacacional (vacacional program). With the end of the school holidays we ended our classes.

With our Argentinian guest Sergio Condori we got colourful support from Buenos Aires.

The brigade Tamara Bunke got to know Sergio in Boliviva. He showed us a new way of creating a wall painting, which gives much more opportunities to participate.

His painting style is very much like it was in Chile in the 60s and 70s but much more plastic.

The work bases on collaboration, which means he always includes the group into the developing process by planning together and discussing the meaning of the image.

That’s why he usually doesn’t sign the murals because it is a collective project.

TOGETHER we arranged the occupied factory Vivex in Barcelona, a youth centre, different walls in barrios and much more, for example a transparency for a demonstration against the new military bases in Colombia. We also supported the students of the Technical Institute with their work concerning the new educational law.

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In June the Brigade Violeta Parra arrived in Caracas. Before we started giving classes in the Barrio “Setenta” we made a little tour through the city and visited the groups and collectives we are friends with. We also enjoyed a little bit of the Caribbean Sea the music of Venezuela and learned what has changed in almost a year.

Our Brigade is called after a Chilean singer, artist and sculptor and probably the most important figure of Chilean folk music.

She taught Victor Jara and formed his protest music.

Soon you will find out more about Violeta Parra if you click on “International Brigades”

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On the 19^th of July 2009 we opened the biggest wall painting in Berlin. The mural with a size of 600 m² was created in one month on the front of a Hotel at Berlin Gleisdreieck.

It was the largest wall we painted together with the artists.

Altogether 10 artists from Berlin and Latin America took part in painting this image.

The main work was done by the artists from South America, who created an impressive composition of symbols and images from Berlin and Latin America.

With a Hip Hop session and some expressions of thanks we opened the mural.

Our guests were at least as impressed of the picture as the hotel manager of the image of Karl Marx…

This is to thank all artists and supporters who made this project possible, because not only at the Gleisdreieck but also at more than two dozen other events we presented ourselves during the three months.

-Wildemar, Nico, Nadia and Edisson-until the next time….

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Within the scope of our project “Insurrection of Colours” we painted the fronts of two houses of the GEWEBO together with the artists from Latin America.

GEWEBO is a housing cooperative which supports people with drug problems and others by arranging flats, where people are looking after them.

We visited the project “ FrauenBeDacht” for women in Wedding and also a house for men in Schöneweide.

The images were chosen by the people who live there and coordinated with our artists.

As a result we had different pictures of landscape with Latin American elements which seem peaceful and relaxed for viewers.

The residents were impressed by the lively action and the colourful images…

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The “insurrection of colours” settled in Berlin Pankow, to realize two different activities in this district.

During the school function at the Primo Levi High School we designed the pupils club with images of social resistance, which could be chosen by the pupils.

We were electrified by the exuberant mood and took coloured inspirations.

We also painted the front of the youth centre “Bunte Kuh” at night with pictures of characters of European and Latin American resistance.

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Queridas Compañeros

It is a report of the work of the international brigade which helped financing and building up a communal radio in the state La Paz.

We also have news from the village “El Sillar”, where the radio station was built:

The inhabitants told us that you can receive the signal all over the region of “Altobeni” and much broadcasting was made. They also achieved the registration of the radio station.

They told us to send a big THANK YOU to all helpers, brigade members and donators and all of you are very welcome to do more work over there.

Samuel, who grows coffee in the region, can now sell his coffee with a fair price in Europe.

Two containers are coming in September and we are asking the members of the association Interbrigadas, whether they like the idea of selling Fair-trade coffee in Europe.

Have fun watching the video!

The “insurrection of colours” took us to the Märkische Viertel.

At the youth centre Outreach Boxgym Hof 26 we organized a Hip Hop concert and a Graffiti workshop. Of course our artists from Latin America painted canvas, doors and the front of the centre. Far from Wedding came a rap group called Max-14-Kids with a impressive presentation of their project. It was a day of intercultural entertainment in the area.

With the Latin American artists we are supporting different projects of social facilities,which normally don’t have chance to work with committed artists from other countries.

It isn’t important whether it’s in Wedding, at the Märkische Viertel or in the Barrios of Caracas-we support intercultural commitment.

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The “insurrection of colours” left Berlin for a day and moved to Brandenburg.

In Damshöhe near Fürstenberg a Graffiti Workshop with the “Lebenshilfe Berlin e.V.” was planned.

The “Lebenshilfe Berlin e.V.” arranges vacation-activities and holidays for mentally and physically disabled people.

In spite of bad weather it was a nice afternoon for everbody, for all participants and of course for us!!!!

The rain couldn’t keep us from painting at all.

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