structural development

That was a celebration! 10 years of Oberlausitz space pioneers and the 5th runway for country enthusiasts

 a guest article by Arielle Kohlschmidt from the Oberlausitz Space Pioneer Station

Our project “ Raumpioniere Oberlausitz ” celebrated its 10th birthday this year. 10 years of advising, networking and supporting newcomers and returnees and being able to get to know many hundreds of people! We have managed to get our topic into the media nationwide, we have successfully made our Görlitz district known and it is now widely known that rural areas are a welcome alternative to big city life for many people.

The 5th runway for country enthusiasts on September 14, 2024 was a very special one for us. We were guests at a housing project – to our knowledge the oldest in Upper Lusatia.

Thirteen people live in the Meda culture factory in Mittelherwigsdorf - which was once built as an egg noodle and macaroni factory and has been lovingly and ecologically expanded since the 1990s. Thirteen people who also opened private rooms for us for our diverse workshops. Appropriately, one focus this year was the topic “How do I start and live in a housing project?” This interested, among others, students from Zittau who want to stay in Upper Lusatia after graduating. The Decentralized Saxony sent us a consultant who spoke from his own experience and the Auguste 77 invited us to a trip to nearby Olbersdorf .

Information and exchange, but also music and a very special sense of community at the 5th Landbahn for country enthusiasts

What is it really like to live in the country?

Around 100 people from Dresden, Leipzig, Berlin and the region followed our call this year - to an event that is not seen as a conference of experts, but as an open space for sharing and exchange that comes from our community generated by returnees, newcomers and locals. Those interested could look over the shoulders of people who had already delved deeper into various subjects, for example dealing with old buildings or building straw bale houses .

An important topic for city dwellers is always the question: What is life really like in the country? Of course, life is different when JWD lives in a small village like we do. Of course you have to change and, above all, “get off your ass” and become active yourself. Anyone who enjoys realizing themselves and getting involved will find a great playground here. Whether it's a small community or a small town: communication is more direct, faster and often simply uncomplicated. An appointment with the mayor? No problem. Waiting for hours in the admissions office? Certainly not here. The mayor of Mittelherwigsdorf, Markus Hallmann, was naturally present and was able to talk about his place and answer questions.

Important decisions are made more easily with better information and exchange: especially if the mayor himself is involved

It was also important to us to convey that not everything is all sunshine and roses in Upper Lusatia. It does no one any good if people are awakened with false expectations and then abandon their tents again after six months. And of course we know that the results of the state elections are difficult for some potential newcomers. What is interesting – to paraphrase Hölderlin – is what happens in such places: Where there is darkness, light also grows. A colorful counter-movement is blossoming. These places are loved by those who live there and are nourished and enriched by great projects. For example, the ENO Taskforce project manager Anja Nixdof-Munkwitz the topic: What is there to eat here and Franziska Kusche organized the trip to her heart-felt living project Auguste 77 .

Our coaches from the Neulandgewinner program were always thrilled to travel to Upper Lusatia and visit these many, many great initiatives.

We are heartily filled with this day and look forward to the next time!

Many greetings from the beautiful Pampas :-) (Klein-Priebus)

Her This email address is being protected from spam bots! To display JavaScript must be turned on.

Our thanks go to our supporters and sponsors, including the State of Saxony ( SMJusDEG ) with the Citizen Participation Funding Guideline , the Commissioner for the New Federal States as part of the Machen!2023 program , the riesa efau and the Kulturfabrik Meda in MIttelherwigsdorf .

We would also like to thank:

• the housekeepers Veronika Kirchmaier and Thomas Pilz
• Fanny Vildebrandt for her support in public relations, among other things
• Franziska Stölzel for a fresh female storm in the transformation process
• Anas Husain for the French esprit
• Lena Schönfelder for sharing her house and experiences.
• Anja Nixdof-Munkwitz for the topic: What is there to eat here?
• Franziska Kusche for the trip to her heart-felt living project Auguste77
• Susanne Gärtner for introducing the sore point topic
• Tina Krov and Markus Hambüchen for insights into how you can get stuck in Upper Lusatia after a trip through 23 countries
• Grit Lemke for her voice for East Germany and the Sorbs
• Norbert Marschall for the topic of humus and solidarity community
• Bianca Schulz for her commitment to the development of a farm project in Gablenz
• Richard Weickelt for reasons to exchange Norway for Upper Lusatia
• Kurtl for the best Upper Lusatian Rullen
• Mayor Markus Hallmann for the advertising block
• Frank Döderlein for his expertise in advising young residential projects
• Anke Eichhorn for her commitment to children and young people
• The childcare worker Mandy for staying deeply relaxed with 15 scurrying children
• Torsten Schwarzkopf for the topic of natural wastewater treatment
• Rico Fahr for the excursion into the future of the school garden
• Albrecht Fiebiger for allaying fears of old buildings
• And finally Andreas Wagner for the brilliant regional catering with Apernmauke and stews and 7 cheeses from regional producers that will be unrivaled for a long time.

Cover photo: Idyliische Oberlausitz and Arielle Kohlschmidt, further photos by Fanny Vildebrand and Rafael Sampedro