May 2021

More than one year after the last meeting in person, also the Coordinators Meeting in Spring 2021 had to happen online instead of in Berlin. To make the digital meeting more digestible, the program was reduced to fit only one day. On May 8, 2021 the Coordinators from projects all over Europe met to get to know and in touch with each other and to discuss how the project is currently going in their countries.

Programme and Activities

There were three focal topics on the agenda:

• Understanding Europe’s social media
• Challenges and opportunities: a resumé after one year of digital Understanding Europe
• The network of Understanding Europe

During the social media module, participants used a Mentimeter survey to share their interests, ideas and visions concerning their own as well as the network’s channels. Ideas on new formats and new ways of cooperation were discussed to enhance  activities and to make them more participatory and diverse.

In the second module, the Coordinators had some time to exchange and advice each other on challenges and opportunities of the current situation: They discussed how the digital setting of the project affects their team management and the crash-courses in schools and then came up with ideas on how to handle challenges they are facing.

In the last module, ideas on how to strengthen Understanding Europe as a network. The focus was on organizational aspects and cooperation, but also on how to further promote a sense of togetherness. Respective changes will be put into practice throughout the rest of the year.

The modules were complemented by many breaks, as well as a digital dance workshop.

All in all: We would like to thank all participating Coordinators for their input and motivation and hope to finally be able to welcome them to Berlin again for the next meeting in August. 💯