- Sajtóközlemény
On Tuesday, April 10, 2018, Europa-University Flensburg students visited the FUEN in the office of the House of Minorities in order to learn more about the FUEN, the AGDM and generally about the German minorities in Europe. As part of their studies to become teachers and their additional certificate program "German as a second and foreign language", they were interested in learning more about the current situation of the European minorities and discuss ways to pursue other possible future professions. For this reason, a series of visits has been organised by various institutions. Last Tuesday it was FUEN's turn.
The afternoon started with an introduction about the FUEN and their activities, presented by FUENs Operation Manager Nehle Mommsen. The students paid close attention and showed particular interest in FUEN projects, including the Minority SafePack Initiative and the ‘House of Minorities’ concept.
Then Renata Trischler, AGDM Coordinator, presented the German Minorities Working Group (AGDM) as well as the history and situation of the German minorities. The subsequent discussion was devoted above all to the question of identity, which in some countries still addresses the explosive question of recognition and the associated question of the recognition of minority language as an official language.
After a short break, Käthe Nissen, Educational Administrative Consultant at the German School and Language Association in North Schleswig, presented the German minority in Denmark. She highlighted their activities and presented how the organisation is structured. It was particularly interesting for the teachers in training to learn more about the working conditions of the local minority. Alina Bliesmann, who is currently doing an internship at the German Youth Association Nordschleswig, reported on her experiences with the German minority in Denmark and their ways of working.
Éva Pénzes, FUEN Executive Director, said after the meeting:
"It is a special concern of the FUEN to make the House of Minorities Office known as an information, documentation and meeting center for minority issues. Today's visit shows, that the concept ‘House of Minorities’ can be an added value for the whole population - a meeting center not only for minorities, but also for the majority. It is a place, where everyone can inform themselves and have productive dialogues about the European national minorities."
