On 23 and 24 November 2023, the 8th mikopa of the ZEOK took place at the Bibliotheca Albertina and the University of Leipzig under the title ‘Education in East Germany: fair, diverse, post-migrant.’ We documented the event and created a video.

We have long been living in a post-migrant society in which one in three citizens cites migration as a point of reference in their family history. But how do secondary schools, vocational schools, universities and (technical) colleges specifically address social diversity? To what extent is this development reflected in educational institutions – in their content, their structures and at the personnel level? What resources does civil society offer here and what contribution can post-migrant communities make?

The annual conferences aim to raise mikopa's profile as an actor in social dialogue in eastern Germany, to make participatory public engagement tangible as a counter-model to exclusive public engagement, to strengthen the voices of (post-)migrants, BIPoC and eastern Germans, and to create new alliances between marginalised voices and institutions.

At the Berufsbildungswerk Leipzig (BBW), young people can try out a profession, prepare for an education or complete an education. The BBW specializes in people with hearing, speech and language or other communication impairments.

For the image film, we accompanied the specialist trainee Katerina Trujillova and the trainee Oliver Beier. They give personal insights into the theoretical and practical training in their specialist areas, into support services and living and leisure activities at BBW Leipzig. The special features of the training become clear and the BBW is presented as an attractive place to learn and live.

For the low-barrier version, we used green screen technology to integrate the sign language interpreter into the video.

In the Berufsbildungswerk, young people can try out a profession, prepare for an apprenticeship or complete an apprenticeship. The BBW specialises in people with hearing, speech and language or other communication impairments.

11 different training areas are portrayed in short videos. In each clip, trainees give very personal insights into their field and the special features of training at BBW become clear. The films were partly made with the involvement of the trainees. This gave the young people the opportunity to see themselves as an active and self-confident part of the film. The clips thus leave room for different focal points and yet follow a formal overall concept.

Here you can find the films.

Courageous, committed, value-oriented - the EJS has been training journalists according to these principles since 1995. Today, EJS alumni work for respected newspapers, magazines, online editorial offices, radio stations and TV stations throughout Germany. Many have been awarded journalism prizes. But the 22-month cross-media training at the EJS goes beyond teaching the craft. Teamwork and shared values often form the cornerstone of long-term collaboration.

Together with Richard Marx, we accompanied the 13th-year trainees during their training in Berlin.