It was extraordinary to take part in The Europe of the 89ers, a project run by Professor Timothy Garton Ash from Oxford University and Stiftung Mercator. The initiative aimed to connect past, present and future on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary commemorating the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
Invited students and young professionals listened to stories from the past, as told by testimonies from the Fall of the Berlin Wall. Looking at how Europe might look in 2030, we later deliberated on issues like migration, climate change, defence and communication. The overall discussion fed into Europe’s Stories, a research study conducted by Oxford University.
We also had the chance to attend the official ceremony to commemorate the Fall of the Berlin wall with the presence of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
During the trip, I contributed to Junior Report by interviewing dissidents from East Germany and testimonies of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.