Gen Z shapes the future

The non-partisan initiative Ruhrpott für Europa (RfE) is participating in this season's Ruhrtriennale with two formats. Jan Bednorz from the dramaturgy department sat down with Milad Tabesch and Julia Ochwat to discuss past, present, and future RfE projects.

Jan: Dear Julia, dear Milad, you are well known in the Ruhr region with RfE, especially among young people. But for those who are not familiar with RfE yet: What do you do, and who is part of your team?

Milad: We are a non-partisan forum of young people for young people. We started two years ago as an idea, inspired by the newly introduced voting age of sixteen for the 2024 European elections. In the previous state elections in 2022, voter turnout was lowest among 18- to 20-year-olds. We wanted to change that. So we made it our mission to raise awareness and mobilize young voters, particularly with a focus on the European elections. The low voter turnout among young people and the upcoming European elections were the driving forces behind RfE’s founding.

Our work is based on three pillars. First, we visit schools across the Ruhr area to reach as many young people as possible—including those who wouldn’t voluntarily attend our events. We specifically want to engage them in discussions on European political issues. The second pillar is a discussion format we host in various cafés across the Ruhr region, called “Auf einen Çay mit…”. There, we tackle questions that often don’t come up in classrooms. We invite high-profile experts and bring classroom topics into a podcast studio setting. The episodes are then uploaded to YouTube and Spotify.
The third pillar is our advocacy work, which extends beyond schools and cafés. For example, we are active on Instagram and TikTok. One part of this is our Junge Ruhrpott Agenda (Young Ruhrpott Agenda)—a magazine we are launching in August. It showcases the demands and perspectives of young people ahead of the local elections. We want young voices to carry more weight in the political arena.

Julia: Currently, there are five of us in RfE’s core team, supported by 15 to 20 volunteers. The volunteers run workshops, moderate “Auf einen Çay mit…” discussions, help with the Junge Ruhrpott Agenda, shoot vlogs, and much more. They are the heart of RfE and come from across the Ruhr region—from Hagen to Duisburg, you will find a bit of RfE everywhere. What is especially great is how diverse we are. RfE is made up of people with very different backgrounds and stories.

Jan: You work exclusively with young people—the much-discussed “Gen Z,” who are often subject to clichés. How politically engaged is that generation?

Milad: Our generation—“Gen Z”—is very politically aware. Politics is always on our minds. We live in a time where we learn about floods in Texas as quickly as we learn about the next papal election, while also being confronted with local issues, wars in the Middle East and Ukraine—all happening at once. Accusing our generation of being apolitical or uninterested in politics is a big misunderstanding. Sometimes we may shield ourselves from the constant stream of crises or choose what to focus on, but that doesn’t mean we don’t care.

In my political work with young people, I always try to tie our initiative to my personal story. When we address issues that matter to us, we at RfE aim to connect them to young people’s everyday lives. And when we discuss solutions to problems like chauvinistic nationalism—things like solidarity, multilateralism, cooperation, and putting the common good above national interests—we inevitably arrive at the essence of the European idea. That is what sparks young people’s interest.

Julia: That is exactly what we do—in the best possible sense. We chat with people and talk about everyday life. And in those conversations, you realize just how much of it is actually political.

Jan: You build a bridge between abstract politics and everyday life—especially for young people with migration backgrounds. You embrace European ideals, but also subject them to a reality check. How do you respond to people who feel left behind by the EU? 

Julia: Everyone on our team brings their own approach to this. Still, as an organization, we’ve established a shared set of values that guides what we stand for. We try to communicate and uphold those values in classrooms as well. When people offer justified criticism of the EU, it is important to take that seriously. We don’t wear rose-colored glasses when it comes to Europe.

Milad: Of course, we also criticize the EU. For example, with regard to its current handling of authoritarian forces. What Julia said is central to our work. We are not a lobby group for the EU Commission. We aim to stay as independent as possible so we can openly talk about what isn’t working. Only by addressing Europe’s failures can we sincerely think about how to improve things. That has always been one of RfE’s core missions.

Jan: You are currently working on a magazine that brings a young perspective to the upcoming local elections—the Junge Ruhrpott Agenda. You are interviewing people between the ages of 16 and 21. What’s your approach?

Julia: We tried to create the most authentic picture possible of young people in the Ruhr region. It was especially important to us not to only interview those who are already politically engaged. We found teens through a call on Instagram and through our networks and we conducted interviews with young people from across the Ruhr area, each with a different background—so the interviews turned out quite varied.

Jan: What local issues were particularly important to them?

Julia: There was a particularly strong desire for meeting places and social cohesion. Many young people would like to see more places where they can have experiences: opportunities for exchange. In the Ruhr region, there’s a big wish for intercity connections—and for public transport that still works in the evening. 

More broadly, there is a strong desire for democratic participation. One person I spoke with expressed how much they wished older generations would consider younger people more when casting their votes.

Milad: The Junge Ruhrpott Agenda will feature portraits and political demands from young people alongside a quantitative study conducted with Civey. The numbers are fascinating—and for me, also a warning. The magazine will contrast individual voices with empirical data. It’s a combination of representative figures and a deep dive into personal stories. 

Jan: So you're combining the quantitative study with the personal impressions from your surveys. What a great idea for capturing general and individual insights into the political existence of young people. At this year’s Ruhrtriennale, RfE will participate in two ways. First, you will appear in our Spoken Acts series with your format “Auf einen Çay mit….” What makes that format special for you? Any personal highlights?

Milad: My personal highlight was episode eight of “Auf einen Çay mit….”. We had a prominent guest lined up, but they canceled just two hours before the event, so we had to completely rework the episode. In their place, we brought in three Gen Zers from Gelsenkirchen to talk about the federal elections. That episode ended up being one of our most-viewed on YouTube—without any external guests. That moment made us realize: it’s not the influencers or big names that make “Çay” special, but the young people who share their experiences and viewpoints. The emotional range—from despondency to empowered euphoria—really summed up what that episode meant to me.

Julia: For me, the highlight of every “Çay” is how many different people come together. We connect the speakers with the audience, and often, synergies form between participants. We create bonds and friendships; there are so many stories that reflect that. Like Milad, I believe the focus is not on the guests, but on the young adults in the room.

Milad: Each episode is led by a different moderator. A different team of volunteers works on stage and behind the scenes every time. It’s a collaborative effort. We’re not operating under a top-down structure. And in the end, something cool always comes out of it—a product the young adults have created together.

Jan: That sounds like a space that truly encourages experimentation and learning. It seems like your concept has built a dedicated following—people who return, connect with one another, and continue engaging. And you reach even more people through your online audience. Do you already have plans for your “Çay” episode on 12 September?

Milad: Yes, on 12 September, we’ll be your guests with the Çay format. We’ll use the opportunity to present and discuss the results of our Young Junge Ruhrpott Agenda, joined by a special guest.

Jan: You will also be participating in DIY Saturdays with your workshop “Europa in vier Ecken” (Europe in four corners). What exactly can we expect there?

Milad: On 6 September, we’re inviting everyone to join us in a safe space for discussion about Europe. Anyone who enjoys sharing and listening—who wants to live and practice democracy in its purest form—is in good hands with us. We’ll also take a closer look at the Junge Ruhrpott Agenda and highlight some key insights.

Jan: Last but not least: if young people from the Ruhr area want to get involved with you, how can they reach out?

Milad: This fall, we’ll have another open call for young people who want to join RfE. The best way to stay informed is by subscribing to our Glück auf Europa newsletter. And if newsletters aren’t your thing, just follow us on social media. Looking ahead to next year, we’ll be focusing on a new topic: loneliness among young people and what it means for our democracy. For that, we’ll need young people who are ready to engage.

Jan: Thank you both! We are looking forward to having you!