Borders and Boundaries in Motion
 
A book project
 
Creative writing competition for children and teenagers from the Ruhr region
Ages 10 to 20
 
Dear children and teens from the Ruhr region,
we live in a time where we often talk about borders – our own and those of others. One of the main reasons we are having this conversation is the current refugee crisis. But borders are about more than that. This conversation is about more than that. It’s about who we are, what we stand for and where we are headed. That applies to you especially, boys and girls from the Revier. Creating borders and setting boundaries can be crucial at times. Without them, everything would become blurred and we would get lost in the shuffle.
 
However, it is just as important to open up from time to time, to take a step towards someone else and to tear down barriers. Our own and those of others. If we don't do that, we're not going to get anywhere. But you can get lost in that process as well if you’re not careful.
And then there are times when our borders and boundaries shift and change. That can happen, too. Deep inside us. Within our family. Among friends. At school. At work. Wherever we live. When we approach each other. When we get to know each other. When we dream. Sometimes they shift one way, other times they move in a completely different direction. One thing is for sure: The subject of borders and boundaries in motion concerns all of us, individually and as a society. Here in the Ruhr area and everywhere else in the world.
 
That is why we are asking you to write something for our new book project! Tell us about your borders and boundaries, about how they change and about what happens when you cross them. It doesn’t matter if you have lived in the Ruhr area your whole life or just moved there recently.
 
Every single one of you is invited to take part!
 
What kind of text should I write?
You are free to choose whatever kind of writing you prefer: a story, a poem, a rap, a fairytale, a satire, a report, a play … anything goes!
 
How many texts can I send in? And how long should they be?
You can send in up to three texts. No text should be longer than three pages.
 
Deadline:
1st August 2016
 
Please send your texts to the following address:
Kulturzentrum Grend
z. Hd. Herr Artur Nickel
Subject line: Grenzen
Westfalenstraße 311
45276 Essen
Or send them via email to arturnickel@web.de.
 
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us:
Artur Nickel
Tel. 02327-974246 / arturnickel@web.de
Geest-Verlag, Alfred Büngen
Tel. 04447/856580 / info@geest-verlag.de
 
By submitting a text for this competition (please don’t forget to include your name, address, email, phone number and age in your entry), the author agrees to have his work published in a Geest-Verlag book.