International Women's University, Project Area Information in Hanover for World EXPO 2000

Florence, Rahel, Emmabet, Sora, Carmen, and Melanie at Hanover

Diva Delight's rincess Tam Tam had the opportunity to participate in a post-graduate fellowship with the Internationale Frauenuniversität (International Women's University) in Germany.  The International Women's University, a first of its kind in Germany, was a collaboration of the World Expo 2000, the DAAD Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service), and five universities throughout Germany: Universitat Hamburg, Kassel, Bremen, Suderburg, and Hanover.

The program brought together over 900 women scientists, media and technology professionals, artists, scholars, and politicians, and community activists who studied, researched and actively engaged themselves in the interdisciplinary areas of body, city, information, migrations, water and work. Visit www.vifu.de for more information.

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Carmen and Melanie at Busum, Germany on the North Sea

Jackie and Carmen on the Reeperbahn in Hamburg

Friends at Bremen, Germany

African Women's Dinner in Hamburg, Germany

Friends in Amsterdam gathering on the canals

Carmen in Amsterdam

Carmen and Irma at the University of Hamburg
 

Lovely Berlin

Relaxing in Berlin

grassroots media divas  :

Media Divas at FSK Studios

Media Divas at FSK Studios

We are a group of women from four continents of the world. We have come together under the umbrella of the International Women's University in the project area of Information at the University of Hamburg, Germany. Our main focus has been the relationship between media and democracy in a global society.

We tried to answer at the journalistic questions: Who?, Where?, When?, Why?, How?, What? regarding the issues of our project Media Industries and Democracy . During 3 months the participants, using information gained from our own experience, from the IFU courses, and analyzing different models of media, have establish definitions in Media and Democracy issues, in Information Rights, practically shown on case studies, audio and video.

For us, democracy in media should ensure equality, access, gender sensitivity and active participation of all diverse groups of societies. We concerned ourselves with what content would be carried, if mass media did not dominate distribution. We discussed how communities can run local radio stations and interactive television, and looked at how to enhance the possibilities for grass roots journalists and non-government agencies. Comparing experience has been a valuable part of this project.

The struggles, challenges and triumphs of women all over the work irrespective of their workplaces, countries, homes, societies and personal landscapes, have informed our work in this project. With the direction and resources offered by hands-on media workshops, the group presented various versions of newspaper/magazine/radio news and programming of the future, demonstrating operational ways to do better coverage. We created and demonstrate new uses of media, such the group projects that included a video entitled "Media Divas" and various radio programs for broadcasting on two Hamburg radio stations.

Taken from the group project website, Information Media and Democracy Project.

Princess on the air with IFU Radio at FSK

Jeanette, Jackie, and Frederike in FSK's Studio B

Melanie, Terri, and Frederike behind the mics at FSK

Princess and Preti working the board at FSK

IFU Women listen to callers on the air

Monika and Princess on the air at Offener Kanal

Ili Joshi's video shoot

Irma, Augusta, and Princess on tape

Augusta and Irma using Media 100

Frederike working hard on the video

die musik :
 

Princess TamTam at the University of Hamburg

Carmen and Nahru spinning tunes at Frauenknipe, Hamburg

I had a great time musically in Germany.  Although I have not been spinning recently, I did my first little overseas gigs with the University of Hamburg and Fraueknipe Club (Women's Cafe) in Hamburg.

Hamburg is a city rich in underground hip hop with graffiti everywhere!  Since I have been deeply involved with the underground hip hop scenes in America, this public art was a refreshing site to see undisturbed.

Likewise,  producers and djs, Lars 'LB' Behrenroth and Constantin Groll and graphic artist, Kathy T were my musical saving graces during my stay in Hamburg.  They showed me a great time via various late night club adventures. 

After all-night festivities, the gang heads to the Sunday Hamburg Fischmarkt (Fish Market)

Jamming it up with the global girls.

Kathy T, Lars, and Princess @ the Open Air Betty Ford Clinic Party

Constantin on the decks @ the Open Air Betty Ford Clinic Party

Constantin and Lars:  Partners in Musical Crime @ the Open Air Betty Ford Clinic Party