„Most people cast off their childhood like an old hat. They forget about it
as if it was a telephone number no longer valid. Earlier they were children,
then they grew up, but what are they now?
Only who becomes an adult staying a child, is a human being.”
(Erich Kästner)

Curiosity and enthusiasm are characteristics of children, which many adults leave behind over the years; but interest in the new and unknown is essential for people from different cultures coming together for a fruitful meeting - especially in the context of the Dialogue among Civilizations praised so much these days.

At the same time it is the children and teen-agers, who are going to organize future intercultural relations. Enough reason to stimulate the existing potential from early age on, to encourage and establish contact with the “alien” by enabling exchange in any form. Children and teen-agers won't spend much time reflecting about their actions, and therefore they will go for it with less prejudice than adults.

Literature in general may serve as medium by offering insight into unique or diverse cultural tradition. To the reader or listener it may reveal a whole new world rousing interest and discussion.

Both the European and the Oriental society show a great variety and high quality in the field of children's literature - the immaterial „hidden cultural heritage“. Neither of them has to fear comparison, since they are equivalent but not the same, altogether excellent preconditions for the exchange of ideas.

The „European Children's Literary Festival in Iran“ shall contribute to this cultural exchange. As an easily accessible event it is directed at the young as well as the older, inviting the audience to deal with children's literature from Europe in all kinds of ways.

 Presenting European children's literature in an event
     easily accessible to young Iranian audience from all social classes.

 Promoting young artists and cultural activists

 Initiating the exchange of opinions and experiences between artists and cultural activists
     from different countries; making visible the cultural diversity; searching for common roots.

 Looking for new ways of intercultural dialogue,
     and promoting mutual cultural exchange between the EU and Iran.


look at the activities to attain this goals

1. Children and teenagers from Iran are invited to participate free of charge in the Children’s Literary Festival on location. Following reservation all activities may be attended in groups or privately. At the same time children and teenagers from Europe in their home countries will work with material from Iran placed at their disposal. Since they are an integral part of society, children and teenagers with handicap shall be addressed with special activities.

2. Spread over a period of 18 days all together around 50 artists, cultural activists and scientists from Europe will participate actively in the Children’s Literary Festival (indicative duration of stay of each participant is 7 days). Costs for travelling and accommodation for one week will be covered, but the project-budget does not allow for paying fees.

3. Additionally to European participants cultural activists and scientists from Iran will participate actively in the Children’s Literary Festival.

4. European co-organising institutions take care of project coordination in the home country during preparation. For the Children’s Literary Festival each coorganiser takes to Tehran a group of around 10 cultural activists from his country, consisting of authors, illustrators, members of a children's theatre company, a children's literature historian or scientist of children's literature, a translator (preferably specialised in translating children’s literature from Farsi into the respective native language) , and the project- coordinator. In addition the organiser “X-CHANGE culture-science” will take individual cultural activists from Belgium, The Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia to Tehran.

5. Partner organisations in Iran support the project on location, take care of coordination during preparation, and will be responsible for picking local participants.

6. Partner organisations in Europa assist in project coordination.