“What glues society together?” – The Democracy Festival in Düsseldorf!
At the end of August, what we had long been waiting for finally took place: Democracy International’s National YEUF Event took place at the Democracy Festival in Düsseldorf. And of course, the Europe Dome could not miss that! Ina Poppelreuther from Mehr Demokratie shares her experiences of the day.
12th October 2023
Translation by Mariana Gomes
Together with Düsseldorfer Jugendring, Mehr Demokratie e.V. organised the great Democracy Festival, in Düsseldorf, and we from Democracy International had the pleasure to join them. The event put together a colourful programme of workshops, information and hands-on stands, a panel discussion with members of parliament, a poetry slam and a concert by the band Toxic Youth. But first things first.
Saturday, 21 August
10:30
The large room in the Haus der Jugend started to be filled up and quite busy. Initiatives and parties placed their information stands all around, the workshop organisers were preparing themselves and the first young people were arriving. The atmosphere was good – there was a pleasant tingling in the air. The event we have been so excited for was finally about to start.
11:15
The Democracy Festival started a few minutes late. The day began with a first round of workshops. Five workshops were taking place on different topics, hosted by some partners: Making the economy sustainable, hosted by the Economy for the Common Good; Taking action against fake news by Correctiv; Human rights in the textile industry by FemNet; Flight and migration by Young European Professionals and Countering right-wing extremism by the Counseling Centre for Right-Wing Extremism.
13:15
The participants slowly arrived back from the workshops to the main room. It was now full: More than 25 organisations, parties and initiatives were around along with their information and hands-on stands. From the State Centre for Political Education, who brought a wheel of fortune and a large stand, to the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Ebru e.V., who were offering participants the chance to make marble art together.
Almost all youth organisations from the political parties were represented at the event. The Jusos, the Young Liberals, the Green Youth, Volt and the Left Party could provide information about their own political programmes.
There was another highlight in the inner courtyard: the European Public Sphere, our Europe Dome. Inside the dome, we shared an art exhibition on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The artworks show the interpretation of the fundamental rights by artists from all over the European Union.
At lunch, delicious oriental food was also provided by Ebru e.V., a migrant and self-organised association for cultural dialogue.
14:00
Between lunch, information stands and general dialogue, World Café also took place. Questions were raised: How can I formally get involved in my city/country? How can I also be effective informally? What holds society together? How can I make my voice heard in Europe? Young people and young adults’ engagements and concerns contributed in many different ways. The first questions for the panel discussion could already be based on these reflections.
15:45
Off to the second round of workshops! This time, there was a workshop from Jugend Wählt about the voting age of 16, a workshop on the interplay between (direct) democracy and climate protection, hosted by Achim Wölfel, Mehr Demokratie regional director, and our workshop on LGBTQIA+ rights in Tunisia.
17:15
While the participants were sitting in the workshops, the guests for the panel discussion arrived. The discussion was centred on the question: “What holds society together?”, with the presence of parliamentarians from both the state and federal levels. We were joined by Sven Wolf, member of state parliament for the SPD, Dagmar Hanses, member of state parliament for the Greens and Dr Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, member of parliament for the FDP.
The panel discussion was characterised by lots of shared laughs, but also serious topics. What remains most memorable: No matter how divided governments sometimes seem, the aim is to negotiate the best solution in the interests of the citizens. Disputes are completely normal in democracies. The only important thing is to form a common resistance to people who want to attack and dismantle our democracy.
After the panel discussion, the participants had the opportunity to speak to the parliamentarians in person and also to take photos, something that was very appreciated.
19:00
One highlight follows the next. After the panel discussion, things got poetic! The two winners of the German Sign Language Poetry Slam performed their contributions. The room’s atmosphere was totally moved by the artists’ very personal stories and some of those present must have brought home the inspiration: It’s about time I learn sign language too!
19:30
From absolute silence, the last point of the programme went the opposite way: the band Toxic Youth closed the evening with rock music and a selection of covers.
22:00
Tired but full of insights from the day, we head home. It is clear to us that this will not be the last democracy festival organised by Mehr Demokratie!
Want more impressions of the day? WDR was there with us and shared their thoughts about the Democracy Festival: