Familias
Last month we held the seminar “Future Workshop” for the first time, a new training programme for young people completing their Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr in various social and ecological institutions within Diakonie Germany. This workshop was developed and delivered together with my colleague Kiki Kreuder.
Over the course of three days, we accompanied the participants through a reflective process in which they identified aspects of society they feel dissatisfied with. These concerns were related to topics such as inclusion, social justice, diversity, media, and sustainability, among others.
As a first step, the participants were given access to a range of information sources connected to these fields, allowing them to deepen their understanding and identify the topics that interested them most or affected them directly.
In the second phase, the focus was on formulating realistic goals aimed at creating small, concrete changes. We placed particular emphasis on ensuring that the ideas developed were feasible and could be implemented in the short or medium term, taking into account the resources available.
Based on this process, the following projects were developed in small groups:
- Creating an Instagram account to raise awareness about challenges related to media reliability, particularly in connection with diversity-related issues.
- Organising an intercultural neighbourhood event, sharing food and music with people from different cultural backgrounds.
- Creating learning spaces where students can do their homework and study with support from others, free of charge.
- Designing informational leaflets about the importance of healthy nutrition and physical activity for people with intellectual disabilities, offering practical and accessible ideas.
Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in open discussions, took an active role, and demonstrated a critical perspective on society, along with a strong motivation to take concrete steps towards creating real change. It was a genuine pleasure to accompany this process.
Thanks to the extensive preparation by my colleague Kiki Kreuder, we were able to offer a well-structured and diverse methodology that addressed each necessary step of the process, while consistently respecting individual perspectives, ideas, and creativity.
In addition to the great enjoyment I find in teaching, this work gave me a strong sense of hope. At a time when young people are often criticised, it is especially important to provide them with space, a voice, and the tools to connect with social realities and to feel confident in their active participation.