What projects are you currently working on within the organization?

Civic Solidarity Platform – International Civil Society Cooperation within the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), annual German-Polish expert roundtable on current issues in bilateral relations (Wojnowice Water Castle near Wroclaw, Poland). Additionally, I work on fundraising.

What motivates you to work in the social/public sector and in Austausch? Why is this work important to you personally?

Individual freedom and security are under massive pressure. This strengthens my desire to make a practical contribution to improving the situation. I am convinced that promoting dialogue and smart projects to address the great challenges of our time are essential building blocks for a better future. More than ever.

What has been your most rewarding experience working with the Austausch so far?

The feeling of being able to make a meaningful contribution in one’s work to fighting suffering, opening new future perspectives, and strengthening the dignity of the individual.

What are the most significant projects you have been involved in throughout your career? 

At the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I developed a program providing accessible trauma support for Ukrainian students, helping many children and young people cope with the war’s psychological impact.

What is your favorite book and why?

My favorite book is Romanticism: A German Affair by Rüdiger Safranski because it explores both the bright and dark sides of romantic thought and feeling in German cultural history—ranging from Novalis and Hölderlin to the Nazis and the upheaval of 1968.

What’s your favorite place in Berlin|Germany? Is there a spot in the city/country that inspires or relaxes you?

My birthplace Cologne.

What type of music or song is your go-to when you need motivation or to relax?

Piano Concertos of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Tell us one fun fact about yourself that most people wouldn’t know!

… that I am passionate about painting oil paintings.