Workshop: Involve Me, Europe!

Negotiate skillfully. Convince like-minded people and opponents about your arguments. Speak in public. Make important decisions. What is daily business for politicians, 40 students could learn in a playful way in a simulation game "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" presented for the first time in Germany.

In  cooperation of ZAWiW, the Danube Office in Ulm / Neu-Ulm and the Family Education Center this new type of participation in politics was performed for the first time with an intergenerational group. The theme for the teenagers, young adults and seniors was to slip into the role of a politician and see how cross-border politics in the Danube Region works.
In the simulation game, representatives of various countries of the Danube Region come together at a government conference. The goal: to develop together a joint action plan on the subjects of flood control, climate-friendly generation of hydroelectric power from the Danube, or on the subject of eco-tourism. Every country and region has as in "real life" very different interests. Conflicts and clashes in the simulated expert sessions and debates are unavoidable.

Watched critically by the media, at the end of the conference the participating States formulated a  final declaration. And as in real conferences, the  "politicians for the day" seizeed the opportunity for statements to the agreements. This game funded by the Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Baden-Wuerttemberg will be transfered by the 30 participating coordinators from the various Danube countries like Bulgaria, Serbia, etc. to their countries of origin. There it is intended in a playful way to help to convey democratic processes. On the previous evening, the 30 guests had the opportunity to discuss in the donaubüro  the current situation in the Danube Region with real politicians such as the Honorary Consul of Macedonia, Mr. Arndt, the first Mayor of Ulm, Mr. Czisch and the Member of Parliament Mr. Filius.

A joint event of the Danube offices Ulm / Neu-Ulm,
the Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Baden-Wuerttemberg,
ZAWIW of the University of Ulm
and the Family Education Center Ulm