The volunteers from Chemnitz are the ambassadors of the European Capital of Culture. Three young volunteers visited the European Capital of Culture 2024 Tartu in January and report on the opening and their impressions: " On 25 January 2024, we - Hermine, Linda and Nicolas - made our way to South Estonia. Tartu, one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2024, gave us the opportunity to attend the opening ceremony and experience first-hand what it means for a region to hold this title.
The opening events were particularly impressive. There were several small openings in the region to draw attention to the cities and the surrounding area around Tartu. In addition to one of these smaller openings, we were also able to experience the grand opening in Tartu. There was a stage programme with lots of dancing and music, which always involved children. The atmosphere was enchanting. We were all in a good mood and ready to celebrate the opening of the Capital of Culture. After the stage programme, DJs started playing on the market square and later in the evening there was a big rave at the National Museum of Tartu. Everyone danced, had fun and spread good humour. The international spirit of the Capital of Culture was particularly noticeable here and ensured that we all felt comfortable and at home in a city that was completely foreign to us.
Our main goal was to support Tartu's youth programme (Tartu2024 Extended) in organising a party for 14 to 20-year-olds over the next three weeks. This "Youth Party" can undoubtedly be considered a success and should serve as a model for similar events in Chemnitz. It was encouraging to see how well the event was received by the local youth. Chemnitz also has a need and sufficient opportunities to organise events specifically for the young population. This project is particularly important in view of the comparatively high average age in the city.
This trip was something special for all of us. We had the opportunity to get to know nine other volunteers from different European Capitals of Culture and to experience together what it means to work together on a European level. The project work was a great opportunity to exchange ideas regardless of age, background and experience, and to gain new skills that we could take back to our home city. Our stay in Tartu was a significant learning experience for cultural and volunteer work in Chemnitz. It is important to continue to develop and implement projects by and for young people to create an offer that gives them a sense of belonging and representation.
Although we were all ultimately ambassadors for our countries and regions, we learnt above all that a Capital of Culture is not just about the place itself. It's about bringing people together and learning what it means to be European. That is precisely why we are looking forward to taking this motivation and energy with us to Chemnitz in our volunteer programme, so that we can inspire people here in the same way."
