Stendal-Stadtsee, Magdeburg Neu-Olvenstedt and Halle-Silberhöhe: three neighbourhoods where social pressures shape everyday life. Many people do not vote, the right to have a say often remains a theoretical concept, and anti-democratic attitudes are no longer a marginal phenomenon. This is precisely where the ‘Mobilising Democracy’ (DeMo) project comes in.
The project, run by the Institute for Democratic Culture at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences and SozialStärken gGmbH in Stendal, is working in collaboration with partners the Internationaler Bund in Magdeburg and AWO SPI in Halle. The aim is to bring political education to where it is needed – not in a patronising, top-down manner, but through dialogue.
“We learn from the local people: what issues concern them? What are their goals? And what can we change together in the neighbourhood?” explains project leader Dr Laura Litschel.
The activities are deliberately designed to be easily accessible: neighbourhood cafés, breakfast get-togethers, an open bicycle workshop, film nights or a mobile soup kitchen bring people together. What takes place is determined by the wishes of the residents. Ideas emerge from conversations, leading to concrete actions.
Recently, however, the project took an unexpected turn: following the latest funding cuts by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth as part of the ‘Demokratie leben!’ programme, the initiative launched in early 2025 will now be brought to a close by the end of the year – rather than continuing for four to eight years as originally planned.
Despite its short duration, the project is already having an impact. One participant has already reported that she now views democratic issues differently and questions them critically within her own family as well. “This has shown just how much can be achieved through dialogue and persistence,” says Nanette Blasche, the project coordinator in Stendal. Through collaboration with neighbourhood management teams, networks and volunteers, the project team hopes that the ideas will continue even without further funding.
The project team is currently looking for more participants: regular events are held in the respective neighbourhoods! You can find all the relevant information here.
Read the official press release.
Photo: Laura Litschel