About Palhik Mana
About us
We are a non-profit organization founded in 2015 aiming to make a positive and lasting change with different target groups through playback theatre and vocal improvisation but also by giving musical performances, several workshops and even social travels.
You can contact us for:
- training and workshops “playback theater” for organizations and companies
- training and workshops “vocal improvisation” and expression for individual groups, art education, social organizations and companies
- performances (playback theatre and musical performances – jazz for change, theme concerts)
- social travels to India (Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kashmir), Turkey, Cuba,…
- lectures on various themes (intercultural, migration, gender, multicultural elderly care and Alzheimer’s disease, Islam and feminism, the application of playback theatre in social themes and debates, …)
Contact: info@palhikmana.org
mobile phone +32 486 86 84 85
Discover what Palhik Mana vzw can do for you!
Our mission
Palhik Mana vzw wholeheartedly embraces the journey of creating lasting positive change, with a vibrant vision, open-mindedness, and a dedication to fostering a harmonious society. We are excited to inspire and ignite creativity within individuals, guiding them to uncover and embrace their authentic power.
Palhik Mana vzw enthusiastically develops and organizes vibrant intercultural, multi-media, artistic, socio-artistic, socio-cultural, pedagogical, educational, and spiritual projects in the exciting fields of music, (social) theatre, social travel, poetry, film, video, photography, dance, literature, journalism, visual arts, multimedia, and beyond, fostering creativity and connection in every endeavor.
The focus is always on the exciting creative process, the enriching personality development of the project participants, and the uplifting growth of their positive self-image, as well as the social appreciation of the project target groups. We enthusiastically engage participants of various ages, origins, and genders, with each project thoughtfully crafted for a clearly defined target group based on their needs and aspirations. With Palhik Mana vzw, we aim to break down barriers at every level: bringing people and cultures together, learning from one another, and joyfully coaching individuals in their creative journey to transcend old ingrained norms and patterns, while fostering a deeper awareness of who they truly are and the authentic power they possess within.
In doing so, we joyfully collaborate with other organisations and talented artists, shining a bright light on their remarkable contributions as well.
‘CHANGE … is an INSIDE JOB!’: the enduring positive change and open-mindedness we cultivate not only benefits us but also positively impacts our immediate community and extends to the broader environment around us.
Founding members:
Sara Avci – Henk de Laat – Eric Gijssen
Board members:
Melisa Avci – Sara Avci – Sanae Jamaï
About the name Palhik Mana
Palhik Mana is an enchanting mythical figure (Kachina) in the vibrant culture of the Hopi Indians that we had the extraordinary fortune to visit in 2010. Immersing ourselves in the awe-inspiring Palhik Mana ceremony, filled with soulful singing and mesmerizing dancing, we experienced something truly special, as outsiders typically aren’t granted access to such sacred moments. This unparalleled experience has left an indelible mark on our hearts and souls.
Palhik Mana, also known as Butterfly Maiden, is the one who vibes with spring. She’s the goddess of fertility, sparking transformation and fresh starts in our lives. She spreads our inner strength like pollen and helps our dreams take flight. A total creative powerhouse and a symbol of rebirth and regeneration—everything our non-profit is all about!
About Sara Avci
Sara Avci is a creative, energetic, socio-cultural entrepreneur/jack-of-all-trades and now works for her own organisation, Palhik Mana vzw.
She studied socio-cultural work and CIMIC Intercultural Communication and International Management.
In 1993, she moved from Ghent to Brussels for her first job at a women’s organisation. In the early days, she was responsible for setting up a project that would become a fully-fledged intercultural initiative for socially vulnerable groups of women. After four years of working solo, she was joined by others and the organisation flourished, spreading its tentacles into various Brussels municipalities. For the last seven years, she has continued to combine her role as coordinator with her grassroots work.
During her 25 years of professional experience, she also took a few years’ break to work as a cabinet advisor on ethnic and cultural minorities.
She has completed various additional training courses, including Playback Theatre with Joe Salis and Jonathan Fox, mindfulness, Ayurveda, creative therapy and hand reflexology, and continues to pursue further education.
Empowerment, self-reliance, civic responsibility and bottom-up working are key concepts throughout her work.
Sarah is a cultural creator, educator, coach, trainer and expert on interculturalisation, gender and ethnicity, Islam and feminism, intra-family violence, migration, refugees, interreligious communication, etc.
As a socially engaged activist, Sara already combined grassroots work with (social) artistic methods. In 1999, Sarah caught the bug in South India during her internship on women’s rights as part of her CIMIC Intercultural Communication and International Management degree.
This is how she came into contact with the Playback Theatre method and quickly discovered its power and impact on Dalit women, but also on the entire community. She knew then that she wanted to use this method in Belgium to empower disadvantaged groups. After a great deal of experimentation, training and education on the method, she is now actively applying it in Belgium and abroad, mainly working with socially vulnerable groups.
Sara believes in the power of storytelling and sharing through Playback Theatre because this method honours the stories of individuals and communities, connects them with each other, affirms the dignity of personal experiences, and brings individuals and communities closer together by acting as a bridge builder. Playback Theatre is artistic, social, healing, community-building, and visionary all at once!
Sara wants to use Playback Theatre to take people out of their comfort zone and, above all, out of their daily routine, offering them opportunities to discover their own hidden talents and skills like improvising and shared leadership, and use them to make themselves stronger and create openness in their everyday lives.
Palhik Mana 