From Ukraine to Berlin, from project participant to project manager: Bella’s story
Bella was one of the participants in our Democracy moves: Socio-political participation of refugee women from Ukraine 
project project last year (see video here). She is now the Project Manager for our Civil society and democratic experiences for Ukrainian women project, a 2.0 version of the same project, sharing the same goal: to provide politically engaged and interested women the opportunity to learn about the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany, especially the underlying democratic principles such as transparency, the rule of law, human rights, and the separation of powers.
We sat down with her and asked her to share her experience.
– Where did you first hear about the Democracy moves project?
For the first time, I learned about the project through one of the major Telegram channels announcing the opening of applications for the workshop. It caught my interest because, at that time, I had been in Germany for less than a year, and I felt that it would be a great opportunity to gain knowledge, confidence, and connections in a new country.
– What was the best part about you participating in the project?
The highlights of the workshops were the participants themselves and the trainers. It was very inspiring to hear the stories of women who, despite challenges, seek new opportunities in Germany and strive to change themselves and the world for the better. Additionally, the level of professionalism among the trainers and the topics they addressed during module facilitation were impressive and provided practical insights into realizing ideas in reality.
– Who would you recommend it to?
Now, as the project manager for the second season of this project, actively recruiting participants, I have already recommended many acquaintances to join as participants in our project. I believe that, since I went through the workshop training myself, my recommendations carry a bit more weight.
– How is it like being on the other side of the second version of this project?
Personally, curating this project feels quite organic for me, as the experience from the previous year helps me communicate with the elbarlament team and organise all necessary processes. It feels like a logical continuation of the training I started a year ago at Democracy Moves. I am thrilled about the opportunity to apply my experience to keep this project vibrant and beneficial for Ukrainian women in Berlin.