The project was dedicated to the topic of forced labour, which was analysed from a historic and present-day per- spective in study sessions. Volunteers were encouraged to research the local situation as regards forced labour in the past and present. The Documentation Centre provided any assistance that was needed. Volunteers were also given professional input on photographic techniques. They were thus able to share their insights about and stories from their home countries and collate content and photographs for an exhibition on the traces of forced labour in their own surrounding environment. According to SCI, the photo project format was a par- ticularly good way to tap into the strengths inherent in decentralised online settings and to overcome some of the difficulties that arise in long-distance exchanges. The visual aspect of the project created a connection be- tween participants and provided insights into different lifeworlds. However, according to the organisers, the strong focus on putting together a digital exhibition also put pressure on the volunteers and sometimes stood in the way of a more relaxed form of cooperation. The exhibition dis- play tool was made available and administered by an external provider (the German Digital Library), which produced a professional result but with comparatively little personal involvement of the group in putting to- gether the exhibition. Despite these challenges, SCI and the Documentation Centre feel that a virtual camp is a meaningful addition to in-person activities. The virtual camp “Searching for Traces of Forced Labour” was or- ganised a second time in July 2021.
of Forced Labour (SCI)
Overview
Project term and location August 2020; 11 online sessions within the space of two weeks; two hours each day. Countries and participants Twelve volunteers (aged 18 to 50) from Mexico, China, South Korea, Bangladesh, Spain, Italy, Serbia, Ukraine and Germany. Educational team Supervision/support provided by two organisers from the Nazi Forced Labour Documentation Centre in Berlin-Schöneweide, one photographer and one volunteer group leader.
Digital tools Zoom, Trello, Riseup Pad
Brief project description The German branch of Service Civil International (SCI) has cooperated with the Nazi Forced Labour Documen- tation Centre in Berlin-Schöneweide for many years. In- ternational workcamps have regularly been held in and with the Documentation Centre. In August 2020 SCI, in cooperation with the Documentation Centre, organised the virtual workcamp on Searching for Traces of Forced Labour.
The digital photo exhibition is available at: https://ausstellungen.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek. de/searchingfortraces/
“Besides Trello there are a few other online platforms (such as Padlet or Slack) that can be used for group exchanges. They can all contribute in their own way to communicating organisational matters so that everyone can access them and provide ideas for the getting-to-know- you phase. But they cannot replace an in-person exchange – nothing really can. The opportunity provided for people to get to know each other during the joint video sessions was the most valuable aspect for everyone.“ Leonardo Pape (group leader)
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