Portrait of Aino Laberenz in DIE ZEIT

The current issue of DIE ZEIT features an impressive portrait of our Managing Director Aino Laberenz. In this article, she talks about our unique project in Burkina Faso, which goes far beyond the organization of fundraising events. Our team at the Opera Village pursues a profound goal: we don’t just collect donations. Rather, we are passionately committed to giving children in Burkina Faso a better future through education and at the same time promoting a differentiated view of the African continent. Our project stands for an open exchange between Africa and Europe, for joint learning and for a critical examination of stereotypes.

Our main task is to bring international artists together, to create creative spaces for children and young people and to show new perspectives on important issues of our time. For over 14 years, we have been working to make the Opera Village a place that creates something completely new, away from clichéd depictions of suffering people. The article in DIE ZEIT highlights some of these aspects, but there is not enough space to present the full spectrum of what has been and will be created in Burkina Faso.

Photo: Diana Pfammatter for DIE ZEIT