What are you looking forward to at polyspektiv?
I’m looking forward to talking to young people about their relationship to Europe as well as welcoming groups of visitors to Erlebnis Europa from all over the world and engaging in discussions with them. As a convinced European, I will try to pass on my enthusiasm for European unification to anyone who is interested. I am also interested in what concerns people in our democracy, what they feel is missing and what suggestions they might have for improvement. I was already familiar with Erlebnis Europa as a visitor. Now I’m looking forward to passing on my knowledge and experience to others in a European context.
How did you join polyspektiv?
As I was looking for something to complement my other activities, the advertisement for a part-time job at Erlebnis Europa immediately appealed to me. Talking to Heidi and Frank, I quickly realized that the work at polyspektiv was just right for me: multi-faceted, dynamic and varied.
What do you do at polyspektiv?
At polyspektiv, I’m mainly involved in Erlebnis Europa, i.e. the EU Visitor Center at the Brandenburg Gate. There I moderate role-playing games and give presentations on the basics of the European Union. During the role plays, groups of visitors, mostly school classes, come and play MEPs from various political groups. Playing the role of the President of the European Parliament, I ensure that the participants can better understand parliamentary work and the legislative process. The presentations are interactive and what I particularly enjoy are the quiz questions we have included for the audience.
Why are you involved in political education at all?
I have learned that democratization is not a linear process, there are always waves and setbacks. In order to consolidate our democratic coexistence, it is important to me to convey to others the framework conditions under which politics works and how we can all contribute to it. I would also like to convey to others that this is important for the continued existence and further development of our democracy.
And what do you do when you’re not working for polyspektiv?
In my other work, I am involved in a nationwide project to ensure that people with reading and writing difficulties can participate in social life despite their deficits. It is equally important to me not only to get young people interested in politics, but also to give adults access to basic education and to sensitize multipliers to the topic. I am also a lecturer at various universities and run seminars on topics such as European law and European politics.
In my free time, I enjoy being active outdoors, learning foreign languages and doing sport regularly. I enjoy it most when it involves a ball and a net.
Photo © BVAG