Cultural heritage without borders Review

About Cultural heritage without borders

Cultural Heritage Without Borders: Preserving Our Past for the Future

Cultural heritage is an essential part of our identity and history. It reflects our values, traditions, and beliefs, and it connects us to our past. However, many cultural heritage sites around the world are under threat due to various reasons such as natural disasters, armed conflicts, urbanization, and neglect. That's where Cultural Heritage Without Borders (CHwB) comes in.

CHwB is a non-governmental organization that works tirelessly to save, care for and preserve cultural heritage that is at risk of being lost forever. Founded in 1995 by Karl von Habsburg-Lothringen in Sweden, CHwB has since expanded its operations to several countries worldwide.

The organization's mission is simple yet powerful: "to safeguard cultural heritage as a vital element of human dignity." CHwB believes that preserving cultural heritage not only protects our past but also contributes to sustainable development by promoting social cohesion and economic growth.

One of CHwB's core principles is inclusivity. The organization recognizes that cultural heritage belongs to everyone regardless of their background or nationality. Therefore, they work closely with local communities and stakeholders to ensure that their voices are heard throughout the preservation process.

CHwB's approach involves capacity building through training programs for local professionals such as architects, conservators, archaeologists among others who can then take charge of preserving their own cultural heritage sites sustainably.

Over the years since its inception over two decades ago now CHWB has worked on numerous projects across different continents including Europe (Albania), Africa (Mali), Asia (Afghanistan), Middle East (Iraq) among others all aimed at preserving unique historical sites from destruction or decay due to various factors like war or natural disasters.

In Albania for instance where they have been working since 2001 when they started with Berat Castle which was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2008, CHWB has been involved in the preservation of several other sites including Gjirokastra Castle, Butrint National Park and the historic city of Korca.

In Mali, CHwB worked on the restoration of Timbuktu's mausoleums which were destroyed by Islamist militants in 2012. The organization trained local craftsmen and women to rebuild the structures using traditional techniques and materials.

In Afghanistan where they have been working since 2002, CHwB has been involved in various projects such as restoring Kabul's historic Murad Khane district which was once a thriving cultural hub before being destroyed during years of war. They also worked on preserving Bamiyan's Buddha statues which were destroyed by Taliban militants in 2001.

CHwB's work is not limited to physical preservation alone but also includes intangible heritage such as music, dance, and storytelling. In Iraq for instance where they have been working since 2015 when ISIS took over Mosul city destroying many historical sites including Nimrud archaeological site among others they have been training young musicians to preserve traditional Iraqi music that was almost lost due to years of conflict.

CHwB has received numerous awards for its outstanding work over the years including Europa Nostra Award (2003), Swedish Arts Council Prize (2010), European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Award (2016) among others.

In conclusion, Cultural Heritage Without Borders is an organization that plays a crucial role in preserving our past for future generations. Their approach is inclusive and sustainable with a focus on capacity building through training programs aimed at empowering local communities to take charge of their own cultural heritage sites. Their work across different continents shows their commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage as a vital element of human dignity regardless of geographical location or political affiliation.