Community
Learning & mobility
In his own words, Serdar Atai shares his thoughts on this visit:
It all started while searching for alternatives through Learning & Mobility grant by VAHA Program. I came across “Altenburg by the Sea” hub from VAHA Phase 1 projects. When I checked the alumni partner organizations, I discovered that Stadtforum Altenburg’s field of activities were widely overlapping with MASDER’s. There was another partner from the same hub; Other Music Academy (OMA) in Weimar who was also running similar activities. OMA kindly made a nearby recommendation for a sister NGO; Bethlehem Church in Leipzig which I had the chance of visiting their representative in charge.
Prior to my visit, i had a very friendly correspondance and two online meetings with Marko Heinke who was my contact person at Stadtforum Altenburg. He gave me all tips about how to get organised for travelling to Altenburg.
From the day 1, i felt so priveleged having one of the best guides of the town. We went all around the old town and the Castle observing the valuable arhitectural heritage taking a closer look at the building stock of the region. The Playing Card Museum and Historical Hair Dressing Salon were best practices of thematic museums that something along the same lines could be replicated in Famagusta undoubtedly.
Both the Lindenau Art Museum and Fockendorf Paper Museum were closed for renovation works with extended delays bringing to my mind our same style never ending Museum works in Cyprus.
A large number of idle buildings; although the first floors used as shops, the second floors for accomodation are kept empty in need of urgent conservation. Stadtforum is actively engaged in promotion of “Staying in Historic Buildings” encouraging the property owners for renovation of their historic buildings along the proper guidelines and repurposing abandoned gardens to be used as public spaces rather than parking lots. I learned that they don’t have enough enforcement measures or fines by the authority over empty property owners which we’re suffering from the same problem in Famagusta too. Stadtforum holds the track record of old buildings with pinned maps from the past and also struggle for unbureaucratic, fast and citizen friendly approval processes in urban development just like we do.
Other commonalities are in Tourism business as they are trying to strengthen traditional crafts & trades, to develop town center with all stakeholders’ contribution for an “events budget”, to revitalise the town with temporary shops and flea markets and to define day-trip destinations for diverse needs.
Their event series “In Dialogue: For a Vibrant Town Centre” has a potential of offering an open space interaction for reliable public consultation.
The inspiring lesson learnt from this study visit was Stadtforum’s direct involvement in the City Council elections with delegated Lists sending in their own representatives for the third time in Office; having their own say and an upper hand pressure on local decision making body.
Thanks once again Marko Heinke for hosting me there and sharing all those valuable information and experience. You welcome to Cyprus any time you would like to Marko.
My next host was Susen Seidel in Leipzig who has an Office at Bethlehem Church in south Leipzig.
As our MASDER has been facilitating church services for the Greek Cypriot Orthodox refugee community and some intercultural events were co-organized bringing two communities of Famagusta in the past, i wanted to explore what they’ve been into. The name of the Church was also catchy for me as Famagusta is also harbouring St.Mary of Bethlehem Church as a catacomb. Anyway, Susen was very welcoming when i arrived there. We went around the Church where they organize the services, group meetings and community events. They have a wide variety of Choirs, Instrumental Circles, Children and Youth Clubs, Scouts, Women’s (Mothers) Circle, House Groups and many more.
Although i didn’t have time to personally pay a visit, i listened to their story on support for the activities taking place at Sudcafe where people from different age groups, with or without families meet face to face without any reference to labels like “refugee”, “native”, “needy” or “donor”. There’re conversations over coffee and cake where various games are played while speaking and practicing German language, homework supervision for refugee school children is available and cultural performances are staged for entertainment.
Finally, we went down the road and then uphill to have a surprising overview to picturesque Leipzig as the Spring’s first blossom of trees were already there.
Thanks for your time and those beautiful moments Susen.
East meets East
Exchange of grassroot practices
30.04.2026
Famagusta as a medieval town in the east of Mediterranean/Cyprus has many commonalities with Altenburg; one of the medieval towns of Thuringia in the east of Germany. Likewise, Famagusta harbours St. Mary of Bethlehem Church as a catacomb while there is a corresponding Bethlehem Church in Leipzig stimulating a physical visit for discovery of both locations how the civil society organisations have been working around them.
In March 2026, Serdar Atai, President of MASDER (Famagusta Walled City Association) visited Stadtforum Altenburg/Thuringia spending two working days there. Later on, he spent another day in Leipzig visiting Bethlehem Church.In his own words, Serdar Atai shares his thoughts on this visit:
It all started while searching for alternatives through Learning & Mobility grant by VAHA Program. I came across “Altenburg by the Sea” hub from VAHA Phase 1 projects. When I checked the alumni partner organizations, I discovered that Stadtforum Altenburg’s field of activities were widely overlapping with MASDER’s. There was another partner from the same hub; Other Music Academy (OMA) in Weimar who was also running similar activities. OMA kindly made a nearby recommendation for a sister NGO; Bethlehem Church in Leipzig which I had the chance of visiting their representative in charge.
Prior to my visit, i had a very friendly correspondance and two online meetings with Marko Heinke who was my contact person at Stadtforum Altenburg. He gave me all tips about how to get organised for travelling to Altenburg.
From the day 1, i felt so priveleged having one of the best guides of the town. We went all around the old town and the Castle observing the valuable arhitectural heritage taking a closer look at the building stock of the region. The Playing Card Museum and Historical Hair Dressing Salon were best practices of thematic museums that something along the same lines could be replicated in Famagusta undoubtedly.
Both the Lindenau Art Museum and Fockendorf Paper Museum were closed for renovation works with extended delays bringing to my mind our same style never ending Museum works in Cyprus.
A large number of idle buildings; although the first floors used as shops, the second floors for accomodation are kept empty in need of urgent conservation. Stadtforum is actively engaged in promotion of “Staying in Historic Buildings” encouraging the property owners for renovation of their historic buildings along the proper guidelines and repurposing abandoned gardens to be used as public spaces rather than parking lots. I learned that they don’t have enough enforcement measures or fines by the authority over empty property owners which we’re suffering from the same problem in Famagusta too. Stadtforum holds the track record of old buildings with pinned maps from the past and also struggle for unbureaucratic, fast and citizen friendly approval processes in urban development just like we do.
Other commonalities are in Tourism business as they are trying to strengthen traditional crafts & trades, to develop town center with all stakeholders’ contribution for an “events budget”, to revitalise the town with temporary shops and flea markets and to define day-trip destinations for diverse needs.
Their event series “In Dialogue: For a Vibrant Town Centre” has a potential of offering an open space interaction for reliable public consultation.
The inspiring lesson learnt from this study visit was Stadtforum’s direct involvement in the City Council elections with delegated Lists sending in their own representatives for the third time in Office; having their own say and an upper hand pressure on local decision making body.
Thanks once again Marko Heinke for hosting me there and sharing all those valuable information and experience. You welcome to Cyprus any time you would like to Marko.
My next host was Susen Seidel in Leipzig who has an Office at Bethlehem Church in south Leipzig.
As our MASDER has been facilitating church services for the Greek Cypriot Orthodox refugee community and some intercultural events were co-organized bringing two communities of Famagusta in the past, i wanted to explore what they’ve been into. The name of the Church was also catchy for me as Famagusta is also harbouring St.Mary of Bethlehem Church as a catacomb. Anyway, Susen was very welcoming when i arrived there. We went around the Church where they organize the services, group meetings and community events. They have a wide variety of Choirs, Instrumental Circles, Children and Youth Clubs, Scouts, Women’s (Mothers) Circle, House Groups and many more.
Although i didn’t have time to personally pay a visit, i listened to their story on support for the activities taking place at Sudcafe where people from different age groups, with or without families meet face to face without any reference to labels like “refugee”, “native”, “needy” or “donor”. There’re conversations over coffee and cake where various games are played while speaking and practicing German language, homework supervision for refugee school children is available and cultural performances are staged for entertainment.
Finally, we went down the road and then uphill to have a surprising overview to picturesque Leipzig as the Spring’s first blossom of trees were already there.
Thanks for your time and those beautiful moments Susen.
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