Enhanced community regulations have fortified its social structure.
In a bid to foster community strength and understanding among young people, the Neuwied District Youth Welfare Department recently organized an educational trip to Berlin. The trip, aimed at youth aged 14 and above from the districts of Altenkirchen and Neuwied, was designed to provide an immersive experience about politics and cultural diversity.
The highlight of the tour was a visit to the German Bundestag, the country's parliament, which was organized by Rhineland-Palatinate Bundestag member Ellen Demuth. The youth participants received insights into the daily workings of parliament and the Bundestag, offering them a unique opportunity to learn about Germany’s parliamentary system, political processes, and democratic values firsthand.
The trip's organizers, Simone Hoehner and Nicole Bauer, reiterated that politics becomes understandable through experience. They stated that the 'Politics Experience' strengthened the community and provided the participants with new friendships and a strengthened sense of community.
Cultural experiences were also included in the itinerary to give the youth a broader historical and social perspective of Berlin. The visit to the Holocaust Memorial was a poignant reminder of Germany’s 20th-century history, while engagements with sites like Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, and the remnants of the Berlin Wall offered insights into the country's political history and contemporary democracy.
Lighthearted experiences were also incorporated into the programme, such as a musical performance of Romeo & Juliet and a visit to the Friedrichstadt-Palast, one of Europe's largest theatres. These elements helped to create a balanced and engaging educational journey.
The trip concluded on a positive note, with many young people showing motivation to get more involved in politics in the future. Simone Hoehner and Nicole Bauer stated that the participants took home new friendships and a strengthened sense of community, making the trip a resounding success.
[1] Traces of Evil: https://www.tracesofevil.com/en/ [3] The Berlin Wall Memorial: https://www.berliner-mauer-gedenkstaette.de/en/home/
- The visit to the German Bundestag served as an essential part of the educational trip, offering a chance for young participants to gain firsthand insights into policy-and-legislation and democracy, thereby either continuing with other education-and-self-development opportunities or engaging more actively in politics.
- Simone Hoehner and Nicole Bauer, the organisers of the trip, emphasized that general-news stories about politics often remain abstract to young people. Incorporating experiences like the Berlin trip helps make these complex topics relatable and stimulates a questioning and learning mindset.
- For a comprehensive experience that combined education and self-development, the Neuwied District Youth Welfare Department’s tour included the exploration of learning opportunities through museums and historical sites like the Holocaust Memorial and the Berlin Wall Memorial, reiterating the importance of understanding Germany’s diverse political-and-cultural past and present.
