In 2024 it took place in the city of Erfurt and for KAAD, the convention was characterized by a large number of cooperation events in which KAAD scholars were often able to get directly involved.
) with Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Dr Robert Habeck , the economist Prof. Dr Johannes Wallacher , Karin Kortmann (ZdK) and Katharina von Bronswijk . Right before the start of the discussion, an inspiring encounter took place between the KAAD group and the Vice Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Robert Habeck , which he also appreciatively mentioned before the start of the event . The subsequent debate focused on the possibilities for successfully transforming the transport sector in Germany in a socio-ecological way. The challenges for the economy were addressed, as was the indispensability of sustainable energy supplies, the fears of the future, especially among the younger generation, intergenerational justice and the social-ethical perspective on the transformation process.
In this fruitful workshop, 19 of our scholars came together with 15 young people from a wide range of German educational institutions and discussed pressure to perform, but also loneliness, the frequency and potential dangers of media consumption, learning how to prioritize things correctly, and discrimination and homesickness among international students. The workshop thus provided an impetus in the sense of helping people to help themselves and showed that there are many opportunities for support and self-actualization that young people can use to deal with the special challenges of studying.
At the same time, he emphasized how important it is not to give up hope and showed how this can be possible. Afterwards, Msgr.
The other group dealt with the "Mechanisms of Extremism and How We Break Them Down , A Reflection on Radicalization".
Members of the KAAD group shared their experience of persecution and discrimination in their countries of origin. The Muslim participants on the other hand openly shared their experiences with discrimination in Germany and the difficulty of not really belonging anywhere. The discussion took place in small groups and later the participants of the discussion group shared their insights in the plenary. It quickly became clear that this debate should be explored in more depth in a seminar in order to do justice to the complexity. The exchange was thus a first step towards a more profound debate that should contribute to a better understanding between each other.
After attending the panel "Democratic peace in times of populism", in which the effects of populist movements and parties on the democratic environment in Germany were examined, the group was able to contribute to the "Fishbowl" event asking "What brings us together and what divides us". It became apparent that the effects of the corona pandemic continue to shape the lives of schoolchildren, but also of students and trainees. While students complained about a lack of social contacts, which had led to isolation and, in many cases, radicalization on social media, one trainee expressed his displeasure that apprentices had not even been part of the discourse during the pandemic. This led to frustration among trainees, some of whom also expressed their opposition to the educational elite. KAAD scholarship holder Lisa Maria Wirjantoro from Indonesia also noted that the communication and actions of those responsible for politics regarding migration were extremely contradictory. While on the one hand immigration is made more difficult in many areas and migration often has negative connotations, at the same time there is a lot of political talk about skilled workers to be recruited from other countries and the Global South.
Another panel discussion dealt with political extremism as a "threat to democracy". While Georg Maier explained which measures had already been taken against right-wing and left-wing extremism, David Begrich stressed that the task of defending democracy was not just the responsibility of politicians, but also and especially of civil society.
In daily evening reflection sessions, the scholars of both seminar groups came together and brought the results of the events into the context of current debates in Germany in general and in the eastern German federal states in particular. Prof. Dr Christoph de Oliveira Käppler , Chair of Social and Emotional Development in Rehabilitation and Education at the Technical University of Dortmund and member of the Academic Council of the KAAD, rightly points out that the podiums and workshops on this topic often fail to recognize emotions in the context of the polycrisis as a contributing factor to the shift to the right in society in Germany and Europe.
The Katholikentag in Erfurt ended with a closing mass on the cathedral square. The fact that peace is fragile was symbolized by the broken clay vessels on the steps of the cathedral.
The KAAD Group with the Dr Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection
During the workshop about mental health
The group with Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel OSB and our President, P. Dr Hans Langendörfer SJ
KAAD scholars with Reinhard Cardinal Marx
At the KAAD stand with DBK Secretary General Dr Beate Gilles and KAAD Secretary General Dr Nora Kalbarczyk
