In Germany we have political parties that are open and that matter in the political landscape. If you want to do something about a political issue then it’s very ineffective to see yourself as an activist because that means you usually aren’t around the people who make policy decisions and you are an outsider from their perspective.
In Berlin there’s nothing stopping a high school student from sitting in the rooms in which the educational policy agenda of the main political parties is made.
The adult might even like having you there to have your perspective which is different from their own. That doesn’t mean that they will do everything that you want, but you might contribute ideas.
In Germany the recommendation would be to focus on joining one political party and paying your dues in it. Pick one political issue in which you want to contribute. Research that issue and try to get motion on the topic passed within the party infrastructure. At best you also read what other people outside of your party have to say about the issue.
If you are in the process of writing a motion on topic X, it might be easy to simple tell other civil society actors in that space to say: “Hey, I’m in the process of writing a motion on topic X for the next party congress of party X. I want to have your thoughts on the matter.” Then you go out and meet people to refine your thinking. The best learning happens by talking to knowledgable people
Solving societal issues is not about doing the obvious things but about understand the issues and the stakeholders in the issue.
Focus your energy. I don’t see a reason why you shouldn’t be able to contribute. Most people don’t produce change because they don’t focus or because they rather associate with people who are like themselves than sitting in rooms with serious people.
Doing this builds also the connections that you need to have a political career in Germany.
In Germany we have political parties that are open and that matter in the political landscape. If you want to do something about a political issue then it’s very ineffective to see yourself as an activist because that means you usually aren’t around the people who make policy decisions and you are an outsider from their perspective.
In Berlin there’s nothing stopping a high school student from sitting in the rooms in which the educational policy agenda of the main political parties is made.
The adult might even like having you there to have your perspective which is different from their own. That doesn’t mean that they will do everything that you want, but you might contribute ideas.
In Germany the recommendation would be to focus on joining one political party and paying your dues in it. Pick one political issue in which you want to contribute. Research that issue and try to get motion on the topic passed within the party infrastructure. At best you also read what other people outside of your party have to say about the issue.
If you are in the process of writing a motion on topic X, it might be easy to simple tell other civil society actors in that space to say: “Hey, I’m in the process of writing a motion on topic X for the next party congress of party X. I want to have your thoughts on the matter.” Then you go out and meet people to refine your thinking. The best learning happens by talking to knowledgable people
Solving societal issues is not about doing the obvious things but about understand the issues and the stakeholders in the issue.
Focus your energy. I don’t see a reason why you shouldn’t be able to contribute. Most people don’t produce change because they don’t focus or because they rather associate with people who are like themselves than sitting in rooms with serious people.
Doing this builds also the connections that you need to have a political career in Germany.