10 countries in 10 days

The Jena application group for the "Zukunftszentrum für Deutsche Einheit und Europäische Transformation" (Future Center for European Transformation and German Unity) focuses on the experiences of upheaval and transformation of the people in Central and Eastern Europe. For this purpose, it is sending its two members Christian Faludi and Tobias Schwessinger on a journey that will take them through 10 countries in 10 days. With camera, recording equipment and a backpack full of questions, both – one East German and one West German – break through the often existing clichés, turn opinions upside down, ask about the images of "the Germans" abroad and, last but not least, about their own identity. As ambassadors of the application, they are interested in looking ahead and asking what people hope for from a "Zukunftszentrum für Deutsche Einheit und Europäische Transformation" (Future Center for European Transformation and German Unity) in Jena.

During their journey, the ambassadors meet people from Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Serbia and Hungary – and also from the twin city of Erlangen – and ask them about their lives in the past 30 years after the collapse of state socialism as well as about their own experiences of transformation and new beginnings and their hopes for the future. They record their experiences and adventures in photos and texts, which are combined to create a contrasting picture of a fascinating and contradictory Europe. The result is a report that breaks down traditional clichés and offers a new, exciting and unusual perspective on German unity and the European transformation.

Bringing the Future Centre in Jena to life

The collected stories, impressions and experiences already fill the idea of a Future Center with life and allow German Unification and European Transformation to be experienced directly. The City of Jena's application for the Future Center consciously broadens its own perspective with the project and includes the people of Central and Eastern Europe and their experiences. The change of perspective makes it possible to juxtapose the biographies of people in Eastern Europe with the transformation experiences in Jena and Eastern Germany, thereby enabling a new mutual understanding.

The journey carries the vision of the Jena application group for the realisation of the Future Center far beyond the city limits, embarks on a search for the future of Europe and asks: What is our common departure? And where to?

The change of perspective through Eastern Europe will be accompanied on the social media channels of the city of Jena and the University of Jena from 15 August. A detailed documentation will also be published at the start of the Jena application campaign on 29 August.