Vera Maier, founder of Meine Schule e. V.
and initiator of German-Russian youth exchanges.
Vera Maier founded Meine Schule e.V. (sports, education and culture) in 2008, in order to provide children such as her grandchildren with a space to learn the Russian language and culture. In the interim, 26 teachers also teach other languages, mathematics and arts subjects six days a week.
Since 2013, she has organised international encounters in Germany, Russia and Europe. The theme of art as a way of communicating between cultures is always at the centre of these meetings. Intercultural exchange is important in order to get to know different customs and attitudes, and to develop a healthy self-awareness.
After meeting, children and adolescents feel more open-minded towards unfamiliar cultures and people. They are prepared to take responsibility and to take action themselves. One participant from 2014 is now a student, and completed the “Juleica” training programme to become a youth group leader herself.
Frau Maier hopes that all adolescents will be given the chance to travel. Here, it’s particularly important to talk to parents and persuade them to allow their children to take part. One first step can be experiencing cultural exchange in their own city. For more than ten years, Meine Schule e.V. has shown people how this can be done.