Talking headz
www.talkingheadz.nl
The initiator and organizer of Talkingheadz is Stedelijk
Jongerenwerk Amsterdam (“Urban Youth Work Amsterdam”). Michelle Jacobs of SJA
wanted to give attention to the headscarf in a positive manner, because the
theme is too often in a negative and one-dimensional way in the news. Normally
only the experts can have their say about the headscarf in the media and
political arena. There is not a lot of attention for the experience of the girls
themselves and their environment. Talkingheadz allows the youths to illustrate
their motives and ideas. In this way the pros and cons get a chance, as well as
the doubts, the freedom a headscarf can give, and the role of the headscarf
within family relationships. Together with Butterflyworks the SJA wanted to
develop a tool that could be launched in various countries on a European level.
In this way the cultural differences and similarities of the European countries
are being mapped out. With the help of Digitale Pioniers the speechbubble tool
was developed, with which the youths can express their opinion about the
headscarf
Final products
By way of a kick-off a big Talkingheadz debate took place in
the Meervaart. The debate was opened by alderman Aboutaleb. About 350 youths,
professionals, politicians, and journalists discussed about the headscarf, made
cartoons and enjoyed the rap music.
www.talkingheadz.nl is an interactive magazine and its first edition is about the headscarf, the
hijab. The headscarf is being brought up for discussion via the speechbubble
tool. This is an application with which visitors can make a cartoon strip all by
themselves. They can choose from different backgrounds, characters, and items
that are all one by one nicely designed. This way Talkingheadz offers a forum
for personal stories to people who wear headscarves or don’t. This tool is
developed as an open source.
On the website teachers can also find educative material,
with short descriptions of lessons in which the cartoon tool is used as a method
and the discussion about the hijab is carried on from different points of
view.
Impact
There were a lot of visitors on the website, thanks to the
live event and the many reactions on the project on other sites. In total 8,036
persons visited the site between the launch at the end of November and the
beginning of March 2005. The tool is now being promoted on a European level.
It’s easy to apply on other themes and can so help making other forums a success.
This project was executed between February 2004 and May
2005.
Contactgegevens
Stedelijk jongerenwerk Amsterdam
Michelle Jacobs
www.talkingheadz.nl
