The United Services Union (ver.di) has terminated the lease agreement with the non-profit organization that runs the youth education center, effective December 31, 2016; the premises are to be vacated by the end of March 2017. Nevertheless, we find it difficult to believe that a youth education center with such a long tradition, which provides outstanding political education, is to be closed, especially at this time when democracy desperately needs support.
Like many others, the board of the wannseeFORUM Foundation wrote to the chairman of ver.di, the Berlin-Brandenburg state leadership, and the union's department responsible for trade union education in June 2016, advocating for the preservation of the youth education center. Our argument—that, especially given current societal developments and the rise of right-wing extremist, right-wing populist, and racist movements, structures that promote democracy in youth education must not be destroyed—has become even more urgent in light of recent events. It is certainly not only the socio-political commitment of the major trade union that is needed, but also the new Berlin government, to develop a rescue plan at the very last minute.
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