GrIStuF 2018
Topic
The Greifswald International Students Festival (GrIStuF) is a biannual festival hosted by volunteers in North East Germany. Its aim is to connect students from all over the world in dialogue beyond nationalities, race or religion. It provides a platform for exchanging ideas and enables discussion on current topics. This year’s theme “Borders” will put in focus political borders but also personal lines and limits that occur in our daily life.
Under the motto "Beyond Borders - Where are Your Limits" we are already looking forward to the next Greifswald International Students Festival 2018! From the 16th to 23rd of June 2018 approximately 150 students from all over the world will be hosted in Greifswald to deal with workshops concerning borders and limits in every imaginable way.We will focus on topics like personal borders (for example in theater), political borders and the Utopia of a world without borders, the internet as the first world without borders, cultural borders…
Cultural events such as films, the “Fête de la Musique” and parties will complete the program. You can find more information on the workshops here.
Application for the festival will be possible from the beginning of December.
We from GrIStuF e. V. are looking forward to one week full of intercultural connection and worldwide international communication.
Manuela Schwesig is the patroness of GrIStuF 2018
We are proud to announce that the prime minister of our beautiful home state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is our patroness
"Dear students,
We all have our own experiences with borders. They shape our everyday world and can be loose or permeable and barely visible. Some are rigid and almost impossible to overcome. Our parents’ generation in Germany had to experience how incisive a border – in the form of the iron curtain – can be. But now, that wall has been down longer than it was up. Of course, there is still plenty to do before a complete recovery of the German nationhood is fully achieved. But we know: borders can be moved, overcome, fixed or at least discussed.
I am very pleased, dear participants and voluntary organizers of the ninth Greifswald International Students Festival that you will be dealing with this enthralling topic in all its facets. You will exchange views on boundaries and discuss possibilities to overcome them in a respectful way and on an equal footing. About 150 students from all over the world have gathered for that reason in Greifswald and work hard to make the world a little bit better. Admittedly, while you seek solutions, there will be new borders erected elsewhere. But every tiny step towards understanding is one in the right direction.
We in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are also taking a stand for cooperation between different cultures and religions. All of you can be proud to support understanding among nations in these sometimes turbulent times. I am sure, your important series of events will be continued for a long time. There are numerous issues including politics, the economy and society, which have to be discussed in a fresh way and independent from social or country-specific boundaries. For that reason, please maintain your freedom to discuss any topic openly and without resentment. Let all of us work together for an understanding in society and between countries.
Manuela Schwesig,
Minister-President, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern"
Workshops
Thematic activity during GrIStuF 2018
GrIStuF's first and foremost goal is connect people from around the world and enable them to discuss current and important social, economcial, political end ecological issues. Below you find the list of workshops for the festival 2018 and how they are connected to out topic "Beyond Borders - Where are Your Limits?".
The thematic work will be initiated during the official opening ceremony on Saturday, June 16th at 3pm. The participants and numerous guests will gather for the first time and will be introduced to the festival's motto. Please be there on time! Afterwards you will meet your teamers for the first time during "Teamer meets Participant".
There will also be a public presentation of the festival's results at the end of the week in the city center of Greifswald. In different manners like e.g. posters, performances or lectures the outcome of the festival is going to be presented. Therefore you all and Greifswald's interested public get the opportunity to see the workshop's results and to connect with each other.
Workshops
Since its inception, the condition of the EU has constantly been under discussion. 32 years after the dissolution of the interior borders into the Schengen zone, the topic is as controversial as ever. What have we accomplished in this great European endeavor? And at what price?
The participants of this workshop will engage in discussion about the achievements and the failures of the EU, bringing their personal perspectives and experiences in their own countries to the forefront. They will try to answer the question of whether the idea of a European Union works and if so, in which format it should continue.
Your teamers: Julia, Clé, Thjorben, Lorenz and Lucile
(JEF Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
Right from the beginning of our lives, we learn a moral code. Our parents, friends and the society we live in shape us and our individual understanding of ethics and moral behaviour. But how are our basic ethical principles defined? How do we judge things as good or bad and why? In this workshop we want to look for transnational parallels in our individual views of ethics and discuss the differences. Together we hope to improve our implementation of the moral code we believe in.
Your teamers: Franziska and Matthias
Language is the most important tool for successful communication, especially in this time of globalisation. Not speaking the same language creates borders between us. Or does it? Conversations are certainly more creative when we try to communicate with each other despite differences in our mother tongues. In this workshop we will learn that language is defined by much more than just words and we will compare our various methods of nonverbal communication. Our goal is to increase sensitivity in the intercultural situations of the global world we live in.
Your teamers: Anja and Dejan (GrIStuF e.V.)
Music connects, enlivens and affects us. Music is a language which is understood world wide. It can be the tool for crossing borders and plays a huge role in the field of integration. The results of this workshop will contribute to the "Fête de la Musique“ which is also taking place during GrIStuF.
"In this one week workshop seminar we will explore the origins of different music cultures and their instruments. We will walk through the path of the changes in history and technology and the birth of recorded music until we will reach the current globalisation age which we are in today and see it’s affect on past musical barriers. Participants are more then welcome to bring their own musical instruments of any kind , music playlists and original recorded music."
Your teamer: Gil
(Producer, theAngelcy, Tel Aviv, Israel)
The more foreign you feel by yourself and the more foreign you perceive others, the harder it is to get in contact with each other. In the hands-on, creative workshop „Theater“, we explore personal limits during stage play and address a topic of the group‘s choice on stage. Only when we dare to leave our comfort zone can we begin to learn. Let‘s be daring.
"As old as the hills, yet as current as the present: Theatre combines presentation with interpretation; Theatre can be touching, entertaining, criticising, revealing, provoking, and amusing at the same time. Theatre is a way of showing and sharing your experiences, thoughts, and hopes in a creative way. We want to encourage and empower you on stage, broaden your theatrical horizon, and interpret the festival's topic in our very own theatrical way. Discussing borders, boundaries, limits, we will try to create our very own piece of art."
Your teamers: Rena and Ella
Religion is a sensitive topic. Some people believe strongly, while others have lost interest in religion entirely. This difference can lead to misunderstanding and create walls were there should be dialogue. Religion can be a source of strength, hope and compassion. At the same time religion(s) can be a source of conflict. Participants from many different countries will come with various religious beliefs to Greifswald. Let‘s use this as a source of discussion!
Your teamers: Johann and Thomas
We all wear clothes. Our reasons vary from protection from the weather, to following our cultural and religious traditions, to expressing our individuality. In this workshop on clothing, we want to discuss fashion and consumption. By trading, altering, sewing and printing our own clothes we will then live the alternatives. We hope for a traditional diversity from the kimono to the kilt.
Your teamers: Mel and Alicia (Kabutze)
In the practical workshop „photography“ we will familiarize ourselves with our cameras and with the faces from all over the world in front of the lense. We will get close and ask questions about our individual limits while we try to figure out how the camera might change our expressions. Can Photography overcome borders? At the end of the festival we want to create an interactive exhibition showing the diversity of GrIStuF.
Your teamers: Felix and Markus
"2018. Climate change. Migration... Only in 2016 more than 5000 people died in the Mediterranean, because of borders. This needs to be stopped! Even though the world community is facing many problems that cannot be solved by nation states alone, nationalism is on the rise. With globalization many concepts that are essential for nation states do not work anymore. If great numbers of humans are on the move, who will be a citizen, who will be allowed to vote and to be protected by the state? Is a better world possible? In this workshop we will develop a utopia of a world without borders, without nations, where humans can decide on their own where to live and in which communities to live. And we will test how this can become reality. Make it happen! Be the change!"
Your teamers: Alina and Emanuel
The internet eliminates national borders and seems to be infinitely open to us. At the same time, by creating accounts and looking for content which interests us, we create a bubble for ourselves in which we feel confident and which makes us believe in our own chosen reality. The internet provides a chance for worldwide attention. This is good when it comes to injustice or the lack of equal human rights, but problematic when it comes to fake news, cyber mobbing and narcissism. The participants in this workshop will spend time discussing the borders we all have to deal with while using the internet.
"The participants in this workshop will spend time discussing the borders we all have to deal with while using the internet. We will spend time experiencing the existing borders, what is beyond them, how we can deal with them and where they could be in the internet of the future."
Your teamers: Chris and Salome
Worldwide we differentiate between male and female. Yet, the biological sex is only a part of this distinction. The socially expected attributes of females and males differ widely and the borders between the genders have become more and more fluent over time. What‘s behind the gender discussion? What are our personal limits of acceptance when it comes to different genders? The participants report about their home countries and the gender roles they grew up with.
Your teamer: Max and Xhoana
Industrialization, technical improvements and digitalization have made our world shrink. It is amazing that we are now able to work together internationally on so many levels. At the same time, growing protectionism, visible in the face of rising nationalism, is threatening what we have achieved so far. Where is the world going?
"While we can't deny how amazing it is that the world has become very accessible through social media and young people of the 21st century can now easily interact with each other in the same language (English as the language of Globalization), we also have to be cautious about rising nationalism, the lost of cultures and moral values in our society. Globalization should be a tool to UNITE! not to DIVIDE! It should be a tool to break limits and barriers rather than building walls and borders. What do you think? Is globalization GOOD or BAD for our modern society?"
Through interactive sessions, short movies and simulations, we will add our voice to the growing number of world youth who want to make the world a better place.
Your teamer: Idris
Deep sea mining, fishery, plastic pollution, nutrient load, marine acidification: Where are the ecological limits of our oceans? What will happen if these limits will be exceeded? What are tipping and turning points? How does environmental policy and ocean conservation work in international contexts? How can we influence these politics? Following the concept of Planetary Boundaries, we have already exceeded four of seven dimensions: climate change, loss of biodiversity, nitrogen and phosphor cycle and land use. It is time to act now! Let's start together!
Your teamers: Anja, Lena and Marlene
(NaBu Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
We are the most liberal generation the world has ever seen. But what does that mean? What is unguilty pleasure or fetish and where may it go too far? Where does the law limit sexuality? What does society frown upon and what does it accept? What is considered normal and what is not? We are going to explore all of this and much more. Be prepared! We can't wait to see you!
Your teamer: Judith, Leo, Lukas, Alex, Meike, Nico and Charlie (Mit Sicherheit Verliebt)
Program
It will be the best week of your summer!
The GrIStuF program is one week full of thematic and cultural highlights! You will begin your mornings with various Input Lectures, shedding new light upon our topic, and introducing you to interesting people and their ideas. Afterwards you will discuss, create and develop your own ideas during the Workshops. The evenings, then, are reserved for our cultural program: Movie Screening, Poetry Slam, Parties, Concerts, and much more. Be prepared for an amazing, colorful program!!
It has been created for you with all our love and will leave you just the right kind of exhausted: happy and full of new ideas.
Find the full program book as a PDF (2MB) here.
Input Lectures
Speakers from Greifswald and afar will introduce you to interesting ideas and great projects. Don't miss out on them!
Doctors Without Borders – Experiences in South Sudan
Any humanitarian catastrophe, no matter if it is manmade or caused by nature and climate, affects civilians worst. Founded in 1971, the non-profit organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières helps people worldwide where the need is greatest. They deliver emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care. „Independent. Neutral. Impartial.“ - their work truly knows no borders.
Stefanie Neuhofs is an operating surgeon at the University Clinic in Greifswald. In 2013 she spent six months as a volunteer for Doctors Without Borders in South Sudan. She will introduce the organization, and share with us her experiences which include some of her own personal limits.
Place & Time: Sunday, 17th of June, 9-10am, Hörsaal 3, Campus Löfflerstraße
Borders Beyond Territoriality: Concepts, Practices, Stories
Did you know that you can study borders at University? Dr. Alexander Drost is the coordinator of the international graduate programme “Baltic Borderlands – Shifting Boundaries of Mind and Culture in the Borderlands of the Baltic Sea Region,” a collaboration of the Universities in Lund (Sweden), Tartu (Estonia) and Greifswald. He studied in Greifswald and Joensuu (Finland), and did research in London and Calcutta. Now, that’s an international CV.
In his Input Lecture, Alexander will take you through the historical development of different border concepts and their application, using examples from different times and locations in the world. He will also draw attention to current problems of academic discourses about borders and their (non-)representation in the non-academic public, which highlights certain discrepancies in the communication and dissemination of rather new understandings of borders.
Time & Place: Monday, 18th of June, 9-10am, Attention: Hörsaal Alte Frauenklinik, Wollweberstraße 1
Beyond Borders: The Art of Aggressive Humanism
Borders aren’t always walls or fences, but often exist within our heads, too. Since 2009 the Berlin based Center for Political Beauty is aiming to overcome borders through (public) art and raise awareness for important contemporary issues. Through their unprecedented provocative, humorous, and political actions they are testing the limits of art and its perception. What is the role of art? What is and isn’t it allowed to do?
Artist and movie maker Cesy Leonard is the creative designer behind the Center’s activities. She started her career as a graffiti artist in the streets of Stuttgart, and joined the Center for Political Beauty in 2010. She will introduce you to the ideas and concepts of their actions allowing us a glimpse behind the set. We are proud to welcome her at GrIStuF.
After her thought-provoking presentation, we will be interested to hear your opinion and you are most welcome to join us in a little discussion.
Time & Place: Tuesday, 19th of June, 9-10am, Hörsaal 3 Campus Löfflerstraße
Stepping out of your Comfort Zone
Are you afraid of heights? Extreme Athlete and Triple World Record Holder Alexander Schulz has travelled the world, setting records, balancing on slacklines as long as 674m, in-between skyscrapers or over valleys as breathtakingly high as 247m (current world record). He brings with him to Greifswald exactly the kind of crazy we like - and want to be inspired by. Alex will take you on a journey beyond fear and talk about learning & growing by leaving your comfort zone.
After his presentation you can join him and other experienced slackliners from Greifswald during Open Space for a sporty activity and to test your own skills on a slackline.
Time & Place: Wednesday, 20th of June, 12-1 pm, Hörsaal 3 Campus Löfflerstraße
Maps for the 21st Century: Dissolving Borders?
Katapult is a magazine for Cartography and Social Science developed and created here in Greifswald. Yes, these guys actually make a living with maps. But not just any maps, and not just any magazine. Their ideas are inspired by the borders we have in our world, yet shed a new and refreshing light upon them. Katapult’s data analyst Sebastian Haupt will introduce you to the work and team behind this amazing Greifswald product.
When they first started, they were congratulated for their brilliant idea and advised to abandon the printing market (and publish online only), move to Berlin (because there can be no business in a region rural as Greifswald), and publish as many positive letters to the editor as possible (for marketing). So they stayed in Greifswald, their magazine gets printed 4 times a year and there is a double page dedicated to the most hilarious, rude or silly negative comments in every issue. We love these guys and are happy to welcome them as part of the program.
Time & Place: Thursday, 21st of June, 9-10am, Hörsaal 1 Campus Löfflerstraße
German Colonialism and the African Continent
Colonialism is a well-studied subject, and its consequences are of big contemporary importance. Foreign invasions (and at times random attribution of new borders) are fueling many of the world’s conflicts.
In our last Input Lecture you are most welcome to a brief and critical introduction to the German colonial history. Taking a generally understandable approach to the genesis, characteristics and consequences of the historical process, we will finally have to discuss the question: What are the effects of German colonialism noticeable today? The lecture will deliver an entertaining composition of historical facts and our speaker’s own experiences.
Martin Schulz has studied history, history of arts and geography at the University of Greifswald. In his master thesis he took a closer look at the topic of colonialism based on the biography of German colonialist. Since 2004 he traveled to several African countries, and does ongoing research and education concerning the subject matter. He warmly invites you to share your points of view.
Time & Place: Friday, 22nd of June, 9-10am, Hörsaal 3 Campus Löfflerstraße
Movie Night
One of the first cultural events during GrIStuF 2018 will be a movie night. Together with our friends from “Kino auf Segeln” (Cinema on Sails) we will show the movie “WEIT” at the beautiful Greifswalder Museumswerft. This won't be an ordinary cinema experience. Weather conditions permitting, the movie will be shown outdoors, and the screen will be the sail of one of their historic boats, against the backdrop of the city skyline and the beautiful, historic dockyard. “WEIT” translates to “afar” in German and is a colourful and authentic movie about the extraordinary journey of a couple travelling the world. Without the use of a plane and on a low budget, they depart from Germany to travel the world in four years, their only company each other, curiosity, and spontaneity.
Time & Date: Sunday, 17th of June, 9.30 pm, Heineschuppen Salinenstraße 20
Running Dinner
The Running Dinner is an all time favorite event among students and will give you a glimpse into the kitchens of Greifswald. The event will happen once again at the 19th of June! Detaled information can be found here.
GrIStuF Poetry Slam - Beyond Borders
A poetry slam is a form of a poetry talk where young poets perform their self-written text within a certain time frame. If you can't imagine anything while reading this description, just think of a rap battle…but with poetry instead of rap. This Slam will be quite an experience as the Slammers can present their text in any language they choose. The texts will be translated so the audience can understand what they are about. If you would like to participate and present a text about limits and borders (or whatever you associate with them) yourself, please write an email to booking[@]gristuf.org or talk to us at the Info Point.
Time & Date: Wednesday, 20th of June, 8pm, Friedrich-Löffler-Straße 70
Fête de la Musique
Fête de la Musique
Every year on the 21st of June you can listen to music outside and for free in Greifswald. This event shouldn’t be missed this year! From 1pm onwards you will find many different stages spread out all over the city with the main stage from GrIStuF at the “Museumshafen” (harbor). More information here.
Meeting of the Continents
This event is a chance for all participants to present the countries and cultures which they come from. There will be food, music and live performances from all over the world. This colourful occasion will be open to the public, just like any other event during the Fête de la Musique.
Time & Date: Thursday 21th of June, 2-4pm, Lawn in front of the Mensa am Schießwall
Farewell-Party: Outer Space
A long, exciting and productive week will be behind us when we meet one last time for our farewell party, and to say “Goodbye GrIStuF 2018” and welcome to “Outer space”. Open to everyone in Greifswald, you can expect a huge spectacle with our world famous handmade decorations and a few surprises. The motto of this year will leave all borders behind and take you directly to the moon or maybe even further. Let yourself be enchanted by some great music from our awesome DJs in the GrIStuF Cantina and the favorite music of the participants at the participants floor.
Line-Up:
- Timboletti (3000 Grad)
- Hamann & Flägel b2b Moon in My Pocket
- Skully & Dully
Time & Date: Friday, 22nd of June, 10pm, GrIstuF Cantina Am Schießwall 1-4, 3-5€ entry
Open Space
Because we all need a change of scenery from time to time
Wednesday will take you out of your workshop rooms and mix up your schedule. From 9-5pm you’ll be able to choose from a whole range of activities and talks, each shining a light on a different facet of our main topic. If you want to offer something yourself, don’t hesitate, speak to the people at the InfoPoint, they will be more than happy to add your Idea to the program.
Program (you can find the whole program at the day itself at the Info Point and the GrIStuF Campus - everything will be signposted there):
Find Your Inner Superhero*ine!
by Luisa
Time frame: 12-17
Participants: max. 15 people
Venue: Lutherstraße / GrIStuF Campus
Knowing your limits goes along with knowing your potential. In this practical workshop, we will use mindfullness excercises and games to explore the personal potential of the participants. The aim is to extract and define each individuals' superhero*ine qualities and express them in a playful, artistic way. Knowing your inner superhero*ine helps to achieve your political, social, personal and other goals in life.
Slackline Workshop with "One Inch Dreams"
After an inspiring Input Lecture (remember it will be at 12:00 (noon) at Lecture Hall 2!!!), world record slackliner Alexander Schulz invites you to stand on a slackline yourselves. This workshop will be for beginners and more advanced sport enthusiast. The venue is in front of the GrIStuF Cantina. 13:30-15:00 (1:30-3pm)
Breaking the Borders!
by Mohamed
Time Frame : 10-16h
Participants : max. 20 People
Every one of us was born into his/her culture (Habits - Religion - Names and Morals)! Then you had to fight to prove who you are. Do we have to follow our cultural habits? Do we have to explore other people’s cultures?
Our Workshop will take place on Beach! Yes, We will have to meet up first at meeting room to discuss our topics and then move to debate on it.
We will discuss the following topics:
- Culture & Borders
- How you can get involved with new cultures.
- Do LGBT Rights & Religious conflicts a part of any region culture?
- Interviews with locals of Greifswald to discuss the same topics and more
What you have to do to attend:
- Decide you want to join this workshop
- Get ready for the beach and get your drink
- Be ready for some games and photos around the beach in breaks
SOrCE - Students Organising Conventions Everywhere
by SOrCE members
3-5 pm in front of GrIStuF Cantina
SOrCE is an umbrella network of educational student festivals throughout Europe. It is aimed towards empowering and supporting youth activism, tolerance, intercultural exchange and making connections and friendships all over the world. If you are interested in starting a festival in your hometown as well or simply want to get informed about all the festivals around Europe and take a peak behind the curtain join the SOrCe members and discuss ideas. https://sorce.info
Greifsbloc: Boulder Workshop
Who: Greifbloc
Time & Place: 2-5pm, Grimmerstraße 11-14
Bouldern is related to rock climbing. This workshop will make you reach your physical limits which you need to overcome to get to the top. Join the "Greifsbloc" team in their indoor climbing gym and learn the skills from them. All required gear is provided, please dress for sporty activities.
Upcycling without borders
Who: Kabutze Team
Place & Time: 10am to 4pm @Kabutze (Friedrich-Löffler-Straße 44a)
Which borders and boundaries limit ourselves when we think about what clothes we wear? Which borders do you want to cross expression yourself through fashion? This practical workshop will give you a SEWING CRASH COURSE and hand on experience in the art of UPCYCLING. Come & get creative!
In addition, you have the chance to SCREENPRINT your own GrIStuF Shirt! (only until 12).
Safer Internet
Who: Salome
Place & Time: 2-5pm, GrIStuF Campus (Lutherstraße 6)
Max. 10 people
To the most of us life without the internet does not seem to be possible anymore. It can help you arrange your life and makes social exchange so much easier! But still there are many risks when sharing information online - it won't be seen just by your friends, but by companies and public authorities.
This workshop will give you practical tools and tweaks all around your "surfing behaviour". Learn how to encrypt your data and be safe on the internet.
if you have, please bring a laptop.
Funders
Thank You!
At this point, the GrIStuF e.V. would like to thank the sponsors of the international student festival 2018:
