Focus: Paris
Fidelity and Brotherhood—these two words perfectly define the 2024 Beit Project in Paris!
Fidelity, because the team consists of dedicated artists who have been guiding young people through the Beit Project’s pedagogy for several years with passion and commitment.
Fidelity, because Transfo-Emmaüs has been the partner location for Parisian urban sessions for several years. Housed in a building from the industrial revolution, it stands as a symbol of the fight against poor housing, serving as a shelter and support center for homeless men. It’s also a space for artistic creation and public exhibitions. Their loyalty to the project has allowed for a deeper understanding of the neighborhood and a more concrete exchange with this partner location. This year, a resident from the shelter will even join the facilitation team!
Brotherhood, because the “Beits” will take place at the crossroads between the Belleville neighborhood (a hub of successive migrations), Place de la République, and the nearby Saint-Louis Hospital (the first quarantine site during plague epidemics), close to the site of the 2015 attacks.
Brotherhood, because for the second year, students from an IME (a school for children with psychological disorders) will participate, and for the first time, a Parisian class will share their Beit Project with students from Skopje, North Macedonia.
The 2024 Beit Project in Paris is set to be deeply rooted in the values of living together and encountering the Other!
Focus Nantes
For the fifth consecutive year, The Beit Project returns to Nantes, setting up once again in the heart of Île de Nantes. This year, the project will take place within Studio 11/15, a vibrant meeting space for youth, providing the perfect setting for interactions between students from different schools.
Students will have the opportunity to explore diverse and meaningful topics such as the city’s slave-trading history, highlighted by the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery, its industrial heritage represented by the remnants of the shipyards, and the traces of World War II like the Blockhaus. These historical elements serve as starting points for discussions on memory, resistance, and gender equality throughout the program.
Nantes’ rich cultural fabric is also a central focus of the Beit Project. Sessions unfold in an environment infused with art and innovation, reflecting the city’s creative identity. This experience allows young participants to see how culture can act as a catalyst for social transformation and dialogue.
For this edition, the facilitation team has partially renewed, welcoming three new members. This infusion of fresh perspectives ensures both the continuity of the project and the introduction of new ideas, all while maintaining the core values of the Beit Project—creating an atmosphere of listening and kindness.