Crossing Lines: Slacklining and the Middle East
This project's parent organization is Crossing Lines
It uses Multiple sports
Entered the Sport for Peace and Social Justice Award
More about Crossing Lines: Slacklining and the Middle East
With Crossing Lines, we’re addressing lack of cultural understanding about the Middle East by the western world and connect our cultures. Slacklining (walking on flat rope in a balancing sport reminiscent of tightrope walking) has an inherent ability to connect people, drawing strangers together over a playful activity. In its more advanced form, highlining (walking a slackline at extreme heights), the activity creates striking visual imagery that never fails to start a conversation.
We’re taking advantage of these two aspects of slacklining to change the conversation about the Middle East and Islam in two ways. First, we’re hosting highlining festivals in Iran and Lebanon to draw slackliners from around the world to these countries to share in the experience and create striking media with which to share our stories. Second, we’re working with established non-profit organizations to teach slacklining to refugees in Lebanon, the U.S., and more.
The Syrian conflict has had a huge impact on the world and the refugee crisis, islamophobia, and war mongering currently overtaking mainstream media is dangerous. We believe slacklining is a tool we can use to address these issues in a sus