How do young people engage with their country? This is the question we asked ourselves in our current Mut-Magazine, which was included with 18 daily newspapers in the fall with a print run of more than 800,000 copies. The centerpiece of the booklet was a „Journey through the Republic,“ the photographic results of which, alongside other photographs from Mut now on display at the gallery in the city of Fellbach – until January 7, 2024.
The vernissage was celebrated last Thursday. „You need courage to make a commitment,“ said Maja Heidenreich by way of greeting. „That means stepping out of your comfort zone when you face new challenges,” said the head of the Fellbach Office for Cultural Affairs to around 60 guests. At the center of the research for the MutThe magazine featured portraits of young people from different regions of Germany involved in volunteer work.
At the vernissage, invited protagonists also discussed the Mut-Trip through Germany and representatives of the local youth council on the opportunities and limits of youth engagement. „Just let them do it,“ recommended Matthias Hentzler, 23. The active member of the YMCA (CVJM) recounted how, at the age of 15, he was tasked with organizing a youth retreat in Italy. „That trust helped immensely.“ And student Quentin Gärtner, who volunteers at 16, added: „Standing in front of others and speaking – that gives you skills, it's a gain for yourself too.“ The young group agreed: sometimes young people need a little push to get involved. But then an exciting self-dynamic often develops. Some of the youth council members listed several volunteer positions they hold.
What will come of it, what solutions arise for society – Zeitenspiegel dedicates itself to this perspective with the Mut-magazine, which has now been published for the eighth time. „We have been practicing constructive journalism for more than 20 years,“ he summarized Mut- Editor-in-Chief Uschi Entenmann in her introduction at the vernissage. As an example, she cited the Africa edition, with which Mut a few years ago, took a different look at the continent. One that „doesn't just feed into the cliché that we Europeans cherish“ – the image of a continent of corruption, wars, and crises. „We are not hiding these dramas, but we are telling the whole story.“ Much is developing positively in Africa, as economist Max Roser of the University of Oxford has demonstrated, among others.
In the new Fellbach MutIn addition to the portrait images of the committed young people and their stories, two further photo series from the current exhibition will be shown. Mut-Output presents: a report on young Bundeswehr soldiers in Lithuania and a documentary on young adults working with people with disabilities. Three text-photo teams researched the exhibited youth series: Rike Uhlenkamp and Rainer Kwiotek, Erdmann Wingert and Uli Reinhardt, Jan Rübel and Christoph Püschner.
Admission to the exhibition, open Tuesdays to Sundays from 2 PM to 6 PM, is free. Location: Galerie der Stadt Fellbach, Marktplatz 4, 70734 Fellbach