On Sunday, 28th of July, the international ewoca³ workcamp “imPULSE” commenced in Cologne-Stammheim. Within the framework of the two-week youth encounter, young people from France and Ukraine are guests of the Cologne youths, for all of them to renovate the facilities of Open Door St. John. The workcamp participants will also take part in the HipHop camp week “Beats from the Rhine” and will, together with about 60 other youths from Cologne, learn to dance, rap and perform – in three languages.
On Wednesday, 31st of July, Bernd Neuendorf, State Secretary of the Department for Family, Children, Youth, Culture and Sports of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia visited Open Door St. John. “The ewoca³ project does not just support collaboration in youth politics and European integration”, Bernd Neuendorf reported after his visit. “It also plays an important role in furthering understanding and reconciliation in Europe and the World, which should not be underestimated.” Overcoming the boundaries between the young people, gaining experiences and, by working together in a project, building a united Europe are the goals of the ewoca³ encounters. Dr. Rana Deep Islam, project manager at Stiftung Mercator, also visited the workcamp in Cologne and commented on the project: “ewoca³ makes its contribution in conveying the often seemingly complex idea of European integration and convergence in a way that is both down to earth and youth-appropriate. In short: Europe becomes meaningful.”
We wish the youths from Ukraine, France and Cologne lots of fun at the workcamp “imPULSE” and are looking forward to their presentation at “Beats from the Rhine” next week. Here are some impression from the workcamp and the visit of State Secretary Bernd Neuendorf.
