Volunteers for Chemnitz 2025 publish reports on their experiences, assignments and adventures around the European Capital of Culture in the volunteer editorial office.
Nicolas lived in Chemnitz until September 2024, when he moved to Austria for work. The 24-year-old continues to volunteer for Chemnitz 2025: whether it's Christopher Street Day in the Salzkammergut, interviews with the press or nighttime missions in the Hartmannfabrik, Nicolas is always there when he's needed and has a lot to report.
Berlin - To celebrate 75 years of the Basic Law, the Capital of Culture Chemnitz was invited to look after the stand of the Saxony state delegation at the federal government's big democracy festival from 24 to 26 May 2024. With activities such as the joint construction of Lego ramps for wheelchair users or a Basic Law domino, we were able to create a varied programme that inspired many people.
I arrived in Berlin on Saturday, 25 May, even though I was only registered for Sunday. I wanted to help out as a jumper at short notice and was able to spend a great day in Berlin on Paul-Löbe-Straße. Together with the other 15 federal states, there were stands and booths with information from the federal states and hands-on activities.
I was most impressed by our democracy domino. The idea was for citizens to build the Basic Law out of dominoes. To accomplish this, 3500 dominoes were made in the Holzkombinat, each bearing the articles of the Basic Law. It was intended as a visualisation and to show that when one article falls, all the others fall with it. And that even after 75 years, our Basic Law must be protected, even if we often take it for granted. This message was really well received and also moved me a lot.
Visitors were also able to listen to local artists or even the film "(K)Einheit" while enjoying a cold beer. A garage was also set up, which was designed by graffiti artists. This garage courtyard, which was created by the organisers, had a special flair and caused many people to stop, both on Saturday and Sunday.
One woman asked me: "Where can you rate your stand as the best of the festival?"
And I hope people will say the same about our Capital of Culture.
