Düsseldorf's AWO performs voluntary examination of Bundestag election contenders

In the heart of Düsseldorf, the AWO-Aktiv meeting point in Wersten welcomed a diverse gathering on Thursday, 13th February. The event, attended by politicians from the SPD, FDP, and Die Linke, aimed to bridge the gap between politics and the community.

The SPD candidates for the Düsseldorf local council election 2025 were in attendance, including Fabian Zachel (mayoral candidate), Matthias Herz (District 1), Stephanie Widholm (District 2), Christine Kurschat (District 3), Franca Bavaj (District 4), Markus Raub (District 5), Till Voßen (District 6), Christoph Laugs (District 38), Eva Lingen (District 39), Diyar Güngör (District 40), and Jürgen Bohrmann (District 41).

The meeting point, located in a district that does not belong to the privileged ones in Düsseldorf, serves a community with 40 nationalities living in the area. The event provided an opportunity for interaction, with ongoing discussions about issues such as skills shortage, critical situation with temporary workers, and bureaucracy.

Zanda Martens, a candidate running in the northern part of Düsseldorf for the federal election, visited the bike workshop where volunteers refurbish donated bikes for new owners. Meanwhile, Christine Rachner crafted with some girls, learning to make funny masks with various materials.

The AWO had invited the politicians to learn about the citizens' well-being beyond panel discussions. The meeting point, with all its offerings, is accepted as an "extended living room" by the neighborhood. It houses an animal farm that includes donkeys, ponies, rabbits, chickens, cats, goats, guinea pigs, and more.

Many children from the neighborhood participate in the care of animals at the farm. The petting zoo relies on volunteers on weekends when there are no full-time employees. The animal farm remains open even when the meeting place is closed.

For those interested in meeting the Düsseldorf candidates for the federal election in person, more information can be found here. The event served as a Civic Engagement Practice Check for the politicians, offering a unique insight into the community's needs and concerns.

The concept of "self-help through mutual aid" was described by Anita Hegerkamp, reflecting the spirit of the AWO-Aktiv meeting point. The event was a testament to the power of community engagement and the importance of politics being rooted in the needs of the people.