Afro-Asian Institute Graz

Developmental center for communication and encounter

Initiators
The Afro-Asian Institute (AAI) was founded in 1962 by the Diocese of Graz-Seckau under Bishop Josef Schoiswohl as a corporation under public law. The Open House, a center for encounter, exists since 1964. In the dormitory "Quartier Leech", which is now run jointly by the AAI and the Catholic University Community of Graz, living space is provided for young people who come to Styria to study.

Occasion
The AAI Graz had been established as a contact point for students from Africa and Asia, later joined by Latin America as further key region. The AAI Vienna had served as a modepl. Students were to be given the opportunity to complete a program of higher education in Austria, or Styria, respectively, of by providing them with an infrastructure. It was at the AAI Graz where the first Muslim prayer room was installed. Central responsibilities of the AAI include developmental tasks and intercultural, educational and cultural activities.

Target Groups
Since its foundation, the Afro-Asian Institute Graz (AAI) has been a communication center for students from the Global South. Through its activities, the AAI Graz offers opportunities for encounter to students and others from Africa, Asia and Latin America and to all Austrians interested in an intellectual-cultural exchange.

Objectives
As a developmental center for communication and encounter, the institution is dedicated to promoting dialogue between people from different cultures and religions. Students are given the opportunity to exchange ideas on religion, culture and social issues with each other as well as with Austrians. In addition, the project „ComUnitySpirit – Religions and Cultures in Dialogue“, within which the Interreligious Advisory Board of Graz is being coordinated, is based at the AAI.

Topics
Different topics in various formats are taken up occasion-relatedly, and often in cooperating with a range of institutions including universities, communities, church and government institutions, NGOs and others.

In 2021, the range of topics included trans-cultural and interreligious workshops, art and cultural activities and developmental education.

Duration
The Afro-Asian Institute has been in operation since 1962.

Activities

  • The AAI provides an Islamic prayer room to an active Muslim community and is actively engaged in promoting interreligious dialogue by networking and projects.
  • Interreligious contributions to the „Lange Nacht der Kirchen“ (Open Church Night), such as: „Du willst auf allen Hochzeiten tanzen? Hochzeit.Feiern.Interreligiös.“ (2019). (Wedding.Celebrating.Interreligious)
  • Annual interreligious conference, usually at the city hall of Graz. P. e.: “Youth without God? Questions and observations on the participation of young adults in religious communities (2022).
  • Financial support through scholarships. Prerequisites for funding are citizenship of a country of the Global South, admission to a master's or doctoral program at a university or university of applied sciences in Styria and financial need.
  • Symposiums, lectures by experts, readings, exhibitions, concerts featuring international artists, as well as longer-term projects and workshop series
  • Speakers for intercultural workshops in schools and extra-school institutions
  • Student counselling for international students
  • Developmental workshops including transcultural encounters

Form of Organization
The AAI is an ecclesiastical foundation with legal personality. The Board of Trustees currently consists of eight members, the team of seven members with additional internship positions and one community service position.

Funding
Funds (donations, sponsoring) by different cooperation partners, funding bodies, private associations, the Diocese of Graz-Seckau and government institutions.

Annual reports are available here: Jahresberichte, Afro-Asiatisches Institut Graz (aai-graz.at)

Products

  • Educational, art and cultural programs including activities such as: exhibitions open to the public, readings, discussions, art in public spaces, concerts, movies, writing workshops…
  • Speakers for developmental education in schools and extra-school institutions.
  • Interreligious and intercultural workshops
  • Accommodation for fifty students from Latin America, Asia and Africa
  • Student counseling for students from the Global South; AAI-scholarship programs and aid funds.
  • Support of international artists participating in the Styria Artist in Residence (St.A.i.R.) programs.
  • Cooperation partner of „Hunger auf Kunst und Kultur“ (Hunger for Art and Culture)
  • Venues for cooperation events
  • Café Global (university canteen) on the campus
  • Muslim prayer room
  • The Graz Declaration on interreligious dialogue
  • Multireligious calendar (Online: https://comunityspirit.com/calendar/ and - annually - in print)

Website | Social Media | Contact
https://www.aai-graz.at
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAIGraz/
Youtube: Afro-Asiatisches Institut Graz - YouTube
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aai.graz/

Afro-Asiatisches Institut Graz
Leechgasse 22-24
A-8010 Graz

T: +43 316 324434
E-mail: office@aai-graz.at

 

editor: kg / update: bs