This August, three international writers joined the International Writers Project as writing fellows. Run through the Department of Literary Arts and the Watson Institute for International Studies, the program is hosting Kho Tararith of Cambodia, George Seremba of Uganda and Dul Johnson of Nigeria.
The project's main goal is to promote free expression and free speech through writing and performance, said Visiting Professor of Literary Arts Robert Coover, the program's founder.
The initiative hosts writers from unstable, developing countries who want to continue their work. Seremba, who is living in exile, performed his autobiographical play last week.
"We work with writers ... who live under regimes that stifle free expression because the problem of free expression is one that just won't ever go away," Coover said. "People seeking power or wealth or holding power or wealth want to preserve what they have and can't abide any impingement on that."
While the writers arein residence, they receive $45,000 annual stipends, an office at the Watson Institute and help with finding living arrangements. In addition, Coover said, "we give the fellows complete freedom."
This freedom, which the fellows did not experience in their homelands, has led to a new and productive environment for Tararith and Dul.
"The freedom is good for writing," said Tararith, who is primarily working on short stories. "I can write about the poor people in Cambodia, about children living on trash heaps."
Dul, who is writing a book and working on documentaries, agreed with his colleague when referencing his focus on his primary project.
"While we're writing what we want to face, we can do other things on the side," Dul said.
The three writers are from different countries with different backgrounds, but they still have shared similar experiences relating to their Third World origins, Johnson said.
"We are all concerned about social issues," Johnson said. "We share similar experiences, and our people went through the same mess."
The writers also share an objective concerning the purpose of their art, he said.
"Those of us who can affect people through the art, we should not leave them alone. If we run away from the situation, who handles it?" Johnson said. "It's the same story in a different place."
Tararith added, "I want to change my country."
Though there are currently three fellows in the program, the funding for the project is meant to support one person. Due to monetary constraints, only one of the fellows will be staying the whole year. Seremba will be leaving at the end of September, Johnson will be staying until January and Tararith will stay until May for the entirety of the fellowship.
