Of the People of Trebnitz, Müncheberg and other heroes…
Migration, unemployment, an ageing population – a triad that, unlike in music, doesn’t signal harmony, but rather describes the dominating sense of worry and hardship in eastern Brandenburg. Whether such conclusions float down from office desks or are debated in rather more passionate terms in kitchens and social discussions, they often come hot on the heels of… a lack of job-focused perspective, dwindling socio-cultural opportunities and, with it, a resultant weakening sense of affinity with the local area. A lack of public participation in the community as well as an increasing sense of political disinterest is to be found more and more often in the fields, communities and villages of eastern Brandenburg.
Is this diagnosis right? Or is it a description that is superficial and therefore full of gaps, addressing merely the symptoms of a region that finds itself in the midst of a demographic shift- a region that is beginning to see its shifting living conditions as an opportunity for development? As a challenge to no longer rely solely on state regulation mechanisms for the realisation of its hopes, but rather to make its own way? Quality of life cannot be determined purely by the state- it flourishes from civil society’s active involvement.
Something is happening in the rural sphere. And what is happening there is, according to experience, more effective and efficient when local players begin to take action on a local level. The residents of a region know best what is lacking and they’re also the ones who know best what ought to be changed and indeed how these changes can be realised in a creative and innovative way. Projects that are put into action on a local level not only bear fruit well, but also plant the seeds for future growth. If they are then carried out in a professional and transparent way, this success can be understood, evaluated and applied to other scenarios. The effects of the projects spread in a lasting way. A self-contained community that is more or less homogenous and defines itself from a place of local identity and shared traditions – or at least shared needs and expectations – benefits from a locally-established approach to development. Setting goals, creating strategies and implementing campaigns and projects doesn’t impose on the place or its residents. On the contrary- it is initiated and implemented by the inhabitants themselves.
The ideal makers and improvers of a rural quality of life are not sitting in the town‘s planning offices – they live in the villages. They are the heroes of the development of their regions. Everywhere. Including Trebnitz. Because Trebnitz doesn’t just have a castle that has been continually building bridges across the Oder since reunification; across borders and barriers, forging links and relationships between people, cultures and artists. It also has around 450 residents who make the village what it is… a place worth living in the Märkisches Oderland – an area that finds itself undergoing a demographic shift.
Together, Trebnitz Castle and the village create an organism… this has always been the case, even throughout different historical periods. In feudal structures, in pre- and post-war times, in the 40 years of the GDR, at German reunification and in the tumultuous period following it… and also today. Much could be written about the changing functions of the castle and village over the decades and centuries – but that is not the topic at hand. Our focus is the relationship and changing unity between the two.
Between conflict and symbiosis, between differences and mutual interests lies the opportunity for dialogue, as Trebnitz inhabitants as well as the castle don’t (and never did) want to let go unused. The conversation shouldn’t remain on the level of dialogue alone – rather, it should be experienced and seen. In September 2011 it was time for the ‘village heroes‘ to see the Trebnitz light of day. Dedicated members from Trebnitz and Müncheberg met at Trebnitz Castle in order to follow the traces of heroic acts that could make their region a better place to live in and bring inspiration to the programme ‘Community through Participation‘, created by the Federal Centre for Political Education which supports them.
The goal of the inter-generational projects was to bring together young people, adults and senior citizens from the Märkisch Oderland region in the context of a future workshop, in order to develop ideas together for a present-day and also future worth living in. The village heroes‘ independent, participatory approach is, nevertheless, not to be interpreted as a principle of ‘now you are on your own- let’s see what you make of it‘. The Trebnitz Castle Education and Exchange Centre Association as well as other players in the region from various different areas have provided expertise on topics and questions given to them by the village heroes.
An intensive, 3-day future workshop took place with accompanying workshops and excursions, as well as evaluative meetings on a 6-weekly basis, in which the village heroes were able to exchange ideas about their analyses, approaches and proposals and, where necessary, reach out for external know-how. How do we create effective PR? How does our administration operate? Who are our contact persons? How do we plan a project? How do I get support? And, last but not least, how do I find the appropriate financing?
The first phase of the project concentrated on an analysis of the region’s needs and major issues: What is missing? What is not working (any more)? What do we want and need?
In the second phase the village heroes developed ideas and approaches as to how they were able to solve the problems that were raised in a local way, so that they may attempt their practical implementation in the third phase. This final third five month-long action phase, accompanied by one-day workshops every six weeks, has developed a life of its own that has extended far beyond the project end date of August 2012 and led to the creation of the independent association ‘Village Heroes (e.V.)’
The journey itself is the most exciting part… what moved the village heroes, which fields did they plough and sow seeds in and who did they bring on board?
Four working focal points already emerged from the first phase. While some dealt with the castle park and developing resources from the surrounding nature, others focused on improving the state of the Trebnitz train station. Alongside interaction between people, nature and infrastructures, the exchange between people themselves was met with great interest. For the one part, inter-generational dialogue was tackled, and for the other, the village heroes turned their attention to culinary and intercultural issues regarding exchange between people.
Heroes would not be heroes if they didn’t look beyond their own noses and seek out new shores… peer at new horizons. The annual youth agora at Trebnitz Castle – a German-Polish intercultural-political exchange project spanning several days, whose key focus lies in strengthening youth participation on both sides of the Oder. The opportunity for co-operation presented by this event didn’t go unnoticed by the village heroes. Individuals in Trebnitz and Müncheberg passed on the ideas they developed to the young people of the German-Polish Oder region. What interests the under-20s about the intergenerational story café? What questions would they like the chance to ask older members? How do they imagine a park for young people would look? What kind of visions do the kids have in mind for the disused railway station building? And how would they really go about implementing a lasting cross-border cookery club in the region?
The spark ignited, the baton was passed from the village heroes to the agorians, to and fro, back and forth… An explosive mix of constructive suggestions and solid plans was brewing out of all the desires, utopias and visions.
A first story cafe in Trebnitz was brought to life– the multifaceted biographies of the residents found an inter-generational stage. Discussions on improving the park took place, the uniqueness of the botanical and historical flora and fauna was highlighted and shown to be a tourist attraction to the authorities and the public. The successful outcomes were topped off with a hand-made wooden pavilion offering information about the castle to visitors – inviting walkers and nature lovers to take a break, whether they had planned to, or stumbled across it as passers-by. Not only the agorians and village heroes got to enjoy a German-Polish bbq evening– its sounds and smells extended right across the town boundaries of Trebnitz. Up until now, only ideas of utopia have existed for the railway station building… a kiosk, which, alongside providing the basic traveling necessities also offers health foods and regional products… a bicycle station with accommodation for lovers of the Märkisches Oderland and a photo studio to capture the beauty of the Märkische Schweiz on paper, whether in black and white or in colour… there is definitely no shortage of ideas.
While these visions await their implementation, other dreams have already been realised. From the pool of ideas on intergenerational exchange, agorians and village heroes developed the project of a festival to be celebrated together, which brought together local rites and traditions as well as residents on both banks of the Oder… Trebnitz Castle shone for the German-Polish Andreasnacht in November 2012 in all its glory. The cross-border festival brought together singing senior citizens and playing children, fable-reading young people, chefs and residents of Trebnitz, Müncheberg, Seelow, Kostrzyn and Boleszkowic… and showed its guests a vision of their future in the form of the wax that is traditionally poured in Poland for Andrzejki.
It was a rosy future… a future that feeds on the engagement of dedicated people– young and old, village heroes and agorians. The real heroic deed is the starting point itself. The village heroes have set off on a path of co-existing together and moving more towards each other. In doing so, they have conquered borders, seized opportunities and sewn seeds for development. They have instigated projects and let the region blossom. With the planned Village Heroes Association, they have become a milestone; a part of the Märkisch landscape. And the next stage yet is ahead of them– we can certainly look forward to the future!
Natalie Wasserman
