If you had the chance to print a slogan of your choice on three billboards in Berlin's vibrant streets, what would you write? What thoughts do you want to share with the public? Which issues need more attention? What needs to finally become visible again? These were precisely the questions that twelve young people from Berlin faced in the summer of 2022 as part of my project: We are not too young, too inexperienced, too naive… – “We are the future!”
My name is Jule Küppers, and I completed my voluntary service at the wannseeFORUM Foundation from September 2021 to August 2022. In addition to the daily tasks, it's customary to plan and carry out your own final project. I had complete creative freedom, and initially felt quite lost in this vast scope: What was currently occupying my mind the most? What issue isn't receiving enough attention in society? And what is it that I actually want to change?
Origin of the project idea
With the end of my voluntary service, not only was the question of the project itself hanging in the air, but also the question of what the future held for me personally. Did I want to start studying? And if so, what? In my personal circle, the number one topic of conversation was the future of my friends and me. We dreamed and hoped and imagined colorful future scenarios. But at the same time, many question marks hung in the air; doubts and worries about the current state of the world gave our daydreams a sour aftertaste, and feelings of insecurity and even fear often surfaced. At some point, it became clear to me: I wanted to dedicate my project to the feelings and thoughts of my generation regarding the future. Due to the pandemic, the needs and concerns of young people were pushed into the background for a very long time because public attention was primarily focused on protecting the elderly. But the forgotten worries and anxieties of young people, their dreams and wishes, are so important to society that I wanted to bring them out of the shared kitchens and onto the streets of Berlin.
Project structure
Once the idea was finalized, the long project planning and conceptualization phase began. Through contacts at wannseeFORUM, I found cooperation partners who wanted to support my project, and when my application for funding from DRAUSSENSTADT was accepted, nothing stood in the way of its implementation: I planned several events for the project, which were to take place in cooperation with wannseeFORUM, the Center for Art and Urbanistics in Moabit (Z/KU), and the SCOTTY project space in Kreuzberg.
The first part was a day-long workshop in the public garden of the Center for Art and Urbanistics, which I organized in collaboration with Hedda Schmelting (seminar assistant) and Felix Pestemer (artist). The workshop focused entirely on the future. The participants explored what lies ahead from a wide range of perspectives: private and personal, as well as socio-political and economic and ecological. Strong feelings quickly emerged that everyone could share: the sense of living in two worlds – one filled with unbridled anticipation and curiosity about the future, and the other, which, in light of various crises, causes us all great concern. We felt simultaneously torn between anticipation and worry, and a strong sense of not being seen or taken seriously by society as a younger generation. After the intensive exchange, the participants recorded their thoughts and feelings on posters.
At the end of the workshop, all participants came together again and came up with a slogan that best summarized all their thoughts: “Yes, I am looking forward to the future. Yes, I am afraid of the future. No, that is not a contradiction. Listen to us, take us seriously, and let's shape the future together.” For ten days, the striking, colorful billboards were displayed at three locations in Berlin (Beusselstraße S-Bahn station, Wannsee S-Bahn station, and Moritzplatz U-Bahn station), attracting attention and prompting reflection for all passersby.
The posters, featuring a QR code, simultaneously drew attention to the exhibition in the SCOTTY project space , where the works were on display to the general public for a month. Alongside the posters designed by the workshop participants, the project documentation, consisting of photographs and a video created by Layla and Yaheb Kübler, was also on view.
The project was rounded off with an online survey that reached 30 young people aged 14 to 26, allowing them to contribute their perspectives on the future. Selected responses were collaged as quotes on posters and complemented the exhibition. The opening on September 30, 2022, was attended by many people of different generations, who engaged in discussions about the survey questions and answers. The evening was filled with a stimulating exchange of perspectives, inspiring insights, and the question of what the future holds for the project results.
What was achieved with the project?
The project provided young people with a space to intensively explore their ambivalent feelings about the future, feelings that unfortunately often fade into the background and receive little attention in everyday life. The young people were able to connect with one another and realize that they are not alone in their feelings, fears, anger, and powerlessness. It is important to confront this unease and these ambivalences and to show older generations what moves, worries, and troubles us. One generation alone cannot change the future. It requires collaboration and solidarity among all generations on equal footing to tackle the major challenges ahead. But only when all our needs and concerns are equally acknowledged and taken seriously can changes be brought about that benefit everyone. And the foundation for this is to first explore and document the current state of each generation in order to embrace different perspectives. That is exactly what the project has achieved: It has made the perspective of young people on the future a public topic, created opportunities and places to engage with their own thoughts and to talk to other people, including those from other generations.
This is far from the end of it. It's only the beginning. But it's an important first step.
Conclusion and Outlook
When I started thinking about my first independent project in the spring of 2022, I had absolutely no idea that it would result in such a well-attended exhibition at SCOTTY. This unique opportunity to realize my own project at wannseeFORUM allowed me to gain incredibly diverse experience and overcome challenges I never would have dared to tackle without the support of the wonderful team. I learned not only a great deal about meticulous planning, communication with partners, and public relations, but above all, how to accurately assess my own capabilities, set priorities, and remain flexible and relaxed when faced with spontaneous changes to the plan. I am incredibly grateful for all these insights and will certainly benefit from them in future projects.
Looking back, what fills me with particular pride is the fact that so many dedicated and inspiring young people collaborated on this project, thus confirming its core message: that we are not too young or inexperienced to tackle things alone, but rather that we young people are the future! And therefore perfectly capable of implementing projects, provided we are simply trusted and taken seriously. It was a project for young people, with young people, by young people, which highlighted the societal relevance of our perspectives, both for the future and the present.
In our society, I also find it important to look inward and not suppress our own emotions, but rather to acknowledge them and give them their validity. I find it frustrating that strong emotional expressions are often not taken seriously, and one is even accused of not being objective. But in my opinion, that's a misconception. Feelings and emotions are such a large part of our lives and are what make human experience so valuable in the first place, that I think it's important to give them more space and appreciation in everyday life and in public. All feelings are real, valid, and not only belong to our reality, but they are also the compass that guides us. Talk to people about your feelings and listen to others when they want to share theirs.
thanksgiving
In conclusion, I would like to thank DRAUSSENSTADT, the wannseeFORUM, the Center for Art and Urbanistics, and Scotty eV for making this project possible and for the pleasant collaboration. I would also like to extend a special thank you to the following individuals, without whom this project would not have been possible: Tina Leskien, Simone Häckel, Hedda Schmelting, Felix Pestemer, Layla Kübler, Yaheb Kübler, Thomas Gilke, and the participants of the workshop and the survey.
The project was part of the DRAUSSENSTADT initiative and was funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Europe and the Foundation for Cultural Education and Cultural Consulting.
