Seminar for student representatives: “Elections”

From September 12th to 18th, a student council seminar took place at the wannseeFORUM.
Around 50 students from four schools in Berlin came together to learn about elections and student representation. They arrived on Monday morning and were all a little excited about what the week would bring. After the most important organizational matters were settled first in a plenary session and then in school groups, and the seminar representatives were properly elected, the participants went to their respective workshops for the first time. The young people could choose whether they wanted to act in plays, make films, take black and white photos, create a blog, or draw pictures. After a short introductory phase in the workshop groups, there was a delicious dinner, and then everyone came together again for a get-to-know-you evening with speed dating and the game "Werewolves."
The next day, after the large plenary session, everyone gathered in their workshop groups, where the work began immediately. Because there wasn't much time before the presentation on Friday, everyone was motivated to deliver something good. The topic was explored in a variety of ways in the different workshops, with the work of the student council and the school elections being discussed repeatedly. The week flew by, and before we knew it, presentation day had arrived. Some workshops worked late into the night on Thursday to finish their projects. The presentations went very well, much to everyone's satisfaction. The black and white photography  focused on everyday life. While the video group satirized political campaign advertising, the drawing group the very topical issue of American election campaigns. The theater group tackled the question of homophobia versus heterophobia and the question of digitalization in their play. The weblog group presented their blog, thus providing an overview of all the groups.
In the evening after the presentations, there was a big karaoke session where everyone could showcase their singing talent.
On Saturday, things got more concrete again. For the large-scale student council simulation, each workshop prepared a proposal, which was then discussed and ultimately voted on during a simulated student council meeting. The students were also able to address issues from their own schools; for example, one group called for a blacklist listing all threatened (but officially prohibited) collective punishments. After all the proposals had been discussed and voted on, the official part of the seminar was over, and the only thing left was the big closing party. There was singing, laughter, and lots of dancing until everyone was tired and went to bed.
Thus ended the student council seminar, and on Sunday everyone departed, but with many new ideas and concepts for future student council projects in mind.

You can find more photos from the seminar here.