Are You Ready for Tolerance?

When she returned from the U.S., A-SMYLE alumna Daniela Kurfis (2009) saw a lot of intolerance around her. Inspired by her experiences while on the program and a desire to promote tolerance in her hometown, Daniela organized a street performance: Are You Ready for Tolerance? (Because I Am!).

The performance took place in Backa Topola, a town in Vojvodina, a region of Serbia known for its multiethnic population. Fifteen people participated, including the president of the Assembly of Vojvodina, Sandor Egeresi. Daniela advertised the performance before it occurred, but kept the actual content secret. Therefore, when the volunteers began to sing and read portions of the Serbian constitution and the Universal Declarations of Human Rights, and talk about tolerance and discrimination, this content was a surprise to the onlookers. About 2,000 people watched the performance, exceeding all expectations of the organizers.

Are You Ready For Tolerance? was funded by an alumni small grant from American Councils. One local television station and one regional television station covered the event. Daniela plans a repeat performance in another town in September, and she hopes to inspire a movement for tolerance in her region.