Visit I

Youth against Fascism and Racism (Volker/Suse)

On Thursday, 26th of June 2003 we want to suggest a visit to a self-run and self-organized Youth Centre in Strausberg as an additional offer.

Strausberg is a midsize city nearby (about 15 km) that is situated right outside of Berlin. The project we are visiting is called "Horte" and is one of the largest formerly squatted left Youth centres in the state of Brandenburg that exists since 1995. The Centre houses a lot of projects and initiatives, starting from music projects, a self run library, office spaces, living spaces, a cafe and a meeting room, workstations, a carpentry, photo and video laboratory, metal and clay, as well as a small concert

hall. "Horte" is run by young activists being 18 to 25 years of age that are facing a fight against neo-nazi as well as against administrations of bankrupt cities. They are confronted with a very conservative population and the economically difficult situations are marked by an unemployment rate of up to 30 percent.

Nevertheless, these young activists manage to find political and personal perspectives within that framework.

The visit will include a dinner and a tour through the project, followed by a discussion with the activists from Strausberg as well as from other towns in Brandenburg. They will talk about their

activities and lives in Brandenburg's cities, their political strategies and realities.