From June 12th to 16th, 2017, two 11th grade classes of the Louise-Schroeder-School The wannseeFORUM provided an opportunity to explore the seminar theme of "Arrival and Reception" and to develop their own artistic and media contributions. The seminar was held in cooperation with the VHS Steglitz-Zehlendorf and Border Crossers I Research and Training instead and was supported by the Berlin Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family.
In keeping with the spirit of a smooth start, the seminar began with a welcome plenary session, an introduction to the educational institution, an opportunity to get to know each other, and an overview of the program. Migration researcher and border crosser Manuel Assner, in his introductory remarks, posed questions about shaping an immigration society:
• Who is the society?
• Who is part of it, who is allowed to be part of it, and who decides?
• Who is allowed to come? Who is allowed to stay? Who should/must leave?
The answers to these questions already reveal a great deal about the character of the respective society. Manuel Assner made it clear that no country on earth has ever managed without migration and that the freedom to choose one's place of residence is a fundamental human right.
A sociometric analysis made it possible to visualize the diverse migration experiences within the seminar group, and the subsequent discussion revealed that Germany has always been shaped by immigration and emigration.
In the 1-Step-Forward exercise, participants took on different roles, all of whom had immigrated to a fictional sagaland and now, depending on their origin, qualifications, and (attributed) characteristics, had very different opportunities and chances to progress within the sagaland. This vividly illustrated the exclusions and privileges that make arriving and being integrated into a new society more difficult or easier.
Exploring the seminar topic also included two city tours organized by the "border crossers" (a local group). While one seminar group explored the Moabit district, focusing on the lives of undocumented people, the other group went to Neukölln to investigate the diversity of the urban space and the variety of its neighborhoods. By addressing the processes of change in the districts, migration became a tangible reality, and not just since the recent past. Summer of Migration 2015. To further explore the topics raised, an information table with brochures and background material and computers for research were available back at the wannseeFORUM.
Well-prepared, the participants began working in small groups. They could choose between the following workshops: rap, app design, audio, comics, and theater. Each workshop focused on different aspects, which were then explored through artistic and media-based approaches.
The app group explored concepts such as foreigners, locals, and self-identities versus ascribed identities. In their examination of power and presence in urban space, they developed the city tour. „(When?) Lake of Decisions“ with various stations under the headings "Displacement and Arrival," "Good Neighborliness?", "Living Side by Side Instead of Together," "It Tastes Good Elsewhere Too…", "Integration Through Sport," etc., in which the participants' perspectives on migration are made clear through short films, interviews, and texts. The app „Digi Walk“ The walking tour map for Wannsee can be downloaded here.
The rap group discussed at length what it feels like to arrive somewhere new, what one can do personally, and also how the group can help someone settle in. They summarized their thoughts in the song "Es wird Zeit" (It's About Time). It's about respect and better coexistence, but listen and see for yourselves:
The audio group explored what motivates people to come to Germany, what hurdles they face upon arrival, and what contribution we ourselves can make to creating a livable environment. Through role-playing, they examined various perspectives on migration and discussed, among other things, the advantages and disadvantages of remittances. Their audio contributions, titled "Come to Work," were presented in the form of a Street survey, one Background report and one Expert debate They addressed prejudices against people who come to Germany for economic reasons.
The comic group examined migration to West Germany (and East Germany) and the positions and reactions within the immigrant society since 1960. Based on the experiences of various individuals who migrated to Berlin between 1960 and 2017, characters were created. The location and encounters served as the starting point for developing a storyboard: How am I received? How do I react/can I react? Why did I come here? What do I find? etc. This resulted in the comic book "They Came, They Saw, They Stayed."
The theatre group then explored different perspectives on migration in Germany. They considered the situations in which people are discriminated against and how courageous intervention against it is possible. Through role-playing, they were able to shift their perspective and develop empathy for the situation of those affected. In the theatre scenes they ultimately performed, titled "Ticket, please!", they demonstrated one possible way of dealing with discrimination: showing solidarity with the person affected.
On the final day of the seminar, the results from the workshops were presented to a public audience in the theater hall of the wannseeFORUM. The students' presentations, which clearly demonstrated the week's intensive work, were met with enthusiastic applause. We hope all the students felt welcome and wish everyone involved every success in shaping an inclusive society.