PAVE Conference 2024

Today was the 2024 PAVE Conference at De Montfort University. It’s good to be back on campus talking directly to students. For the first time this year, as well as promoting volunteering opportunities to students with various members of our network in Leicester and overseas, we invited our friends from Snehalaya UK to join us. …

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COP29: Train The Trainer Programme

The United Nations SDG 16 Impact Hub at DMU is hosting a dynamic and creative programme of engagement activities linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) up to and including COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan: 11th– 22nd November 2024. The Parallel Lives Network is delivering a number of engagement activities to compliment the wider programme. Our …

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2024 World Day for Audiovisual Heritage

By John Coster, Founder of the Parallel Lives Network: “The Parallel Lives Archive hosts documentary material from across the Global South sourced by the Documentary Media Centre, Conflict Memory Education Centre, and members of the Parallel Lives Network and the Independent Heritage Network. I’m proud to mark the World Day of Audiovisual Heritage and grateful …

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UN Day for South-South Cooperation

On 12 September 2024, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) will lead the global observance of the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation under the theme, “A Better Tomorrow with South-South Cooperation”. The Parallel Lives Network will be hosting an event at De Montfort University in Leicester, UK. It takes place in the …

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Saturday Heritage Fairs: A New Way To Get Communities Talking

By John Coster: Saturday Heritage Fairs provide a meeting point for individuals and community groups in the early stages of developing a heritage collection and those looking to grow an existing collection; to display what they have, seek feedback, find volunteers and people able to support them develop their heritage collection. It’s become obvious to me …

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Reportage Club: Marta Szczesniak

On Wednesday 8th May 2024, the Parallel Lives Network hosted a Reportage Club event with documentary photographer, Marta Szczesniak @martaszczesniak_photography John Coster, Founder of the Parallel Lives Network was in-conversation with Marta about her photography and a recent trip to Thailand where she captured images of the street children. Venue: Orso Coffee Shop

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Documentary Screening: Ukraine 2024 & Spain 1936

On Tuesday 16th April, The Parallel Lives Network and Documentary Media Centre showcased, in conjunction with the DMU Media Discourse Centre, the FREE screening of two documentary films with Q&As, as follows: 18:00 ‘When We Come Back’ – on the War in Ukraine and the Homes for Ukraine scheme in Leicester, UK (38 mins). 19:00 ‘Herencias de ‘36’ (The …

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Book Launch: Cold Coffee in Asmara

By John Coster The last 12 months have seen many developments at the Documentary Media Centre that hosts the Parallel Lives Network. We’ve started a Series of heritage events called Saturday Heritage Fairs and we’ve integrated the Parallel Lives Network into them by hosting international-focused heritage projects based locally in Leicester. This has seen our …

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Day 10 #16DaysOfActivism 2023

Join us for #16DaysOfActivism from across the Parallel Lives Network. I’ll be interviewing network members about their particular take on activism and what it means to their cause. The programme runs from Saturday 25th November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – through to Human Rights Day on Sunday 10th December. On Day 10 …

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PAVE Conference 2023

We hope you enjoyed the 2023 PAVE Conference on Wednesday 1st November at De Montfort University. If you are reading this then you took the time to speak with us on our stand – thank you! Next steps If you wish to take up a volunteering role with the Parallel Lives Network please go to our …

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