Who are you as an organization and what do you do?
We are TWENTYTWO, a collective of four women from the WANA diaspora: West Asia, South-West Asia, North Africa, and Swana. We organize events to bring our community together and introduce them to new music and art. We do this through day and club nights, dinners, panel talks, exhibitions, and Arabic-Turkish coffeehouse-themed parties.
If the organization were a story, what chapter would be written at this moment?
The chapter currently being written would be called, “The New Standard.”
What is the core mission of the organization?
To create a safe space for our visitors, one that is not only physically safe but also mentally, where you can fully be yourself and pursue your passions.
What values form the basis of your work?
Inclusivity, creative freedom, support, safety, and authenticity form the basis of our work.
What is the vision of your organization?
To create a space for connection and collective engagement, because together you can achieve much more than alone, knowing you can always help and support each other, collaborate in shared pain that the other person understands. With our organization, we want to encourage self-discovery within our communities, focusing on passion development and collaboration.
What are your organization’s main goals at the moment?
The main goal is to keep going and continue organizing events, ensuring that many people come together and forming new collaborations. Additionally, we hope to work on self-development within our organization.
How do you measure the success of your initiatives?
Recognition, the fact that we see people like us in the audience. We recognize ourselves in the people who attend our events, knowing they have gone through the same experiences. The conversations that arise at the end of the evening and the feelings of the people, knowing that you have created a safe place.
What motivated you to participate in Network festival?
After a turbulent period, this is the perfect moment. We’ve figured out who we are and what we want to do. It was an opportunity for us to highlight an important community that doesn’t get enough attention.
What does the ideal Network festival look like to you?
People who take each other into account but also enjoy themselves, creating space for each other. The fact that people can say, “Finally, my people are here,” and “Wow, this is what I was looking for, what I needed, a place where you can express yourself and consider each other.”
What can we expect from you at Network Festival?
The secret stage, something spicy. We have a theme; it’s spicy, it’s hot, and we are pushing the boundaries a bit.
Final message for the people?
Here to multiply, see you soon.
