Here With Me

System Development in Cyprus

This mobility was a very important part of this project - it allowed our staff and Creative Practitioners to begin building those international relationships with Latvian and Cypriot youth leaders.

It was also important to try out our creative ideas and delivery methods between us to best prepare for upcoming youth exchanges.

Amongst us, we shared expertise in: creative writing and directing, various movement practices including movement in outdoor spaces and movement for camera, knowledge in filming and editing, performing text, leading and safeguarding youth groups, managing practical aspects of youth activities.

Here is a beautiful text by N. Hermsa (one of our young participants) developed at an early stage of the project. We used the text as a stimulus for exploring movement and film work in Cyprus.

That feeling, when i’m sad and depressed, it’s kind of comforting, I miss it sometimes.

One part of me wants to move on and forget about past, but the other part wants to get back to it. When I finally start to feel good again, my brain wants to go back to the moment it got bad. Why?

I often fight with myself, in my mind I want to do something I shouldn’t, but in reality I restrain myself from it. In that moment my brain goes black, I’m not thinking about the consequences , it’s like I’m fighting myself and that’s when the brakedown happens.

It’s killing me inside and out, my body is shaking and thoughts are like tornado.
So how do deal with it? If my thought starts with “what if” I try to ignore it. If I dont, I mess up, the overthinking hits, and the loop starts again…

N. Harmsa

Here With Me - Storytelling With Movements project

Text: Neringa Harmsa

Performance: Gundija Zandersona

Cinematography and directing: Matthew Gough

This video was created in Cyprus , spring 2023, as part of the System Development mobility funded by Taith in Wales - international learning exchange programme.