juntos en accion - together in action - agir ensemble

My name is Sandra and I come from Munich in Germany. I am 25 years old. Now I am a student, studying European Studies at the Catholic University of Eichstätt (between Munich and Nuremberg). My studies concentrate on the cultural aspects of Europe. I’m studying literature, linguistics as well as history, archeology and politics. It is a mixture of topics to have a better understanding of European culture. I’ve always been interested in foreign countries and their culture and that’s why I have chosen this type of study. I’ve already achieved the bachelor’s degree and I’m doing my masters now.

Before becoming a student, I was doing an apprenticeship for 2 years in a travel agency. It was a 2 year diploma to achieve this apprenticeship, and it was the idea of my dad to do this before starting to study. Today I’m very happy that I did this apprenticeship because now I know that I would like to work in the field of tourism, and the diploma gives me a sort of qualification that says I’ve learned a certain profession where I can find a job after my studies. In Germany an apprenticeship consist of two parts: I had to work in the travel agency and I had to go to a certain type of school which is specialised on the job I did. I liked my job very much as well as I liked people there, but when there was no possibility to continue my job due to financial reasons in the company, I took up the opportunity to study.

The problem is that the demand nowadays is to have so much experience and education before entering the workforce. In the past, with the lowest level of education you could have an apprenticeship, but now you need to have A levels (13 years of school). So what will happen to the others who don't have this level of education? I think that it is important to have different type of schools and levels of education, but therefore it is important to give a chance to all students, not only to those who graduated from the highest school level. Everybody has a certain talent which they can bring into the workforce. Employers have to give a chance to everybody.

People recognise you

Before joining the YCW I was involved in my local church parish. When I moved to Eichstätt which meant leaving my hometown Munich, I couldn’t go on with the work in my parish. So I searched something new and there was the YCW. I took part in a camping weekend which was organised by the YCW of Bavaria. After this weekend I got an invitation for a meeting of the YCW in Munich. I had no idea what the meeting was about, but I was curious. I can remember that after drinking a glass of wine with people there, I accepted an invitation to join! After one year of participation, I decided to stay. What I like is that everybody says “thank you” and recognises you, even if what you did was not so good! People see what you do and give you responsibility. That’s what I appreciate the most. The work for the YCW in Munich is not easy at all. Munich is a big city which offers so many possibilities for young people. It is not necessary to take on responsibility. So it is hard for us to attract more people for the aims of YCW. At the moment, we are about five people in Munich who work voluntarily for the YCW. We hope to get some more help this autumn.

We talk about our lives, not just about our jobs.

Even if we care about young workers, we don’t speak about our jobs all the time. We talk about our lives. People of different experiences come together and there is no problem because we are not interested in the “revenue” or so. We help each other with all the little problems everybody has in his daily life. I personally like it very much to speak with a person who has a totally different life as a worker and not a student. I learn a lot through all these discussions with people in the YCW. I think the objective of the CAJ (YCW) is to bring people together to change the world. I think it's also important not to be ashamed of having a way of living that includes going to mass, prayer, to live your faith how you like it. I think I wouldn't speak to everyone in my daily life if it wasn't for the YCW. Here (in the YCW) I do. That's the Christian element for me. My mum was a reference for me. She never forced her religion or beliefs on me, but she gave orientation. Being with others was also a motivation for me. I am an only child, so Church gave me a group and a chance to do something. Being a part of the youth group of my parish was an important part of my life.

What is your dream?

My dream is that all people work together towards a world of acceptance, equal opportunities for everybody, freedom, being together and feeling good. To not have stress, but to have a good atmosphere. To communicate and find a common base, to not constantly have problems, but to enjoy friends and pass good time together and good conversation!