Research Article

The Role of young People as ‘Agents of Change’ to Prevent Crises and Foster Social Cohesion through Arts and Cultural Funding in Mali

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Abstract

The article examines how the promotion of art and culture can contribute to crisis pre- vention and the strengthening of social cohesion, using the example of the Donko ni Maaya project of the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Mali (01-12/2020). The project focuses on the promotion of young cultural actors and Ma- lian youth, who are focused on in their role as “agents of change”. The methodological approach is based on 27 qualitative interviews. The result of the analysis is 15 quali- tative indicators that show the impact of arts and culture in terms of five categories: (1) creating alternatives to extremist positions, (2) empowering youth as “agents of change”, (3) promoting a positive and active role for youth in countering extremism, (4) strengthening social and political participation, and (5) strengthening social cohesion.

Keywords

2021 (2)
Transformation and Upheavals: The Effects of Crises and Conflicts on the Arts

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