After a welcome, the day began with workshops that the students had chosen in advance. The focus was entirely on democracy; topics included human rights, shame and anger, misinformation, stories of flight, love, and even board games that can be linked to democracy. Afterward, the students had the opportunity to discuss their personal dreams for the future in small groups and to consider concrete steps they can take in their daily lives to make those dreams a reality.
In the afternoon, a panel discussion moderated by Tamara Güçlü took place. The panel discussion was a central part of the Democracy Day program and provided students with an opportunity to engage with the topic of democracy through dialogue. In a discussion with Prof. Dr. Matthias Braun, Amy Kirchhoff (Secretary General of the Federal Student Conference), and Madiha Sarferaz (GermanDream), key questions regarding co-determination, social responsibility, and the challenges of democratic participation were addressed. Particular emphasis was placed on how young people can make their voices heard and have an impact in their daily lives. Interactive elements and the inclusion of audience questions brought the discussion to life; participants had the opportunity to share their own perspectives and engage in direct dialogue with the experts. Participants’ impressions of the day were collected, as well as questions that particularly concern young people regarding democracy or values in their daily lives. Democracy Day concluded on a musical note with a concert by Pia Klein.
Democracy Day was very well received by the participating students, who described it as a varied and practical event. In particular, the opportunity to share their own opinions and actively experience democracy generated a great deal of interest. The event clearly demonstrated how important dialogue-based and participatory approaches are for democracy education. The insights gained during the event and the results of the survey now form the basis for the project’s further development.
The day before, Matthias Braun and Amy Kirchhoff were also guests on the FunFacts show. In the episode, they discuss, among other things, democracy education in schools, education policy, and social media. The full episode is available on YouTube.
