Youth competition Times of Upheaval”: Creative encounters between East and West!

Youth competition Times of Upheaval”: Creative encounters between East and West!

Things are boiling in Germany, and not just politically. The youth competition “Times of Upheaval. Germany in Change Since Unification” starts on September 1st. Organized by the Federal Foundation for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship and the Federal Government Commissioner for East Germany, this competition has a clear goal: to promote exchange and understanding between East and West Germany and between the generations. The theme “New Encounters” gives young people aged 13 to 19 the opportunity to creatively explore the first personal encounters between people from East and West after 1989 and the changes that accompanied German unification. To participate, young people can work in groups of at least two people, always supported by an adult project supervisor. The deadline for submission of creative entries is February 1, 2026. A total of 30 prizes worth up to 3,000 euros are up for grabs, plus a trip to the awards ceremony in Berlin. Further details are on the platform landkreis-harburg.de to find.

What are the developments in Germany since reunification? This question sheds light on that bpb. While Berlin was separated by the Wall until 1989, many new districts have developed in the east since then. The fall of the Berlin Wall caused a significant change not only in Berlin, but also in other cities such as Dresden and Leipzig. In the west, however, cities such as Cologne, Munich and Frankfurt are growing. However, the East, particularly the rural areas, continues to struggle with a declining population. For example, the Mansfeld-Südharz district is expected to lose 20% of its population by 2035.

Demographic differences

An investigation of the Destatis shows that the demographic changes in East Germany are remarkable. Since reunification, the population in the east has decreased by 15%, while the west has seen growth of 10%. These developments can be partly explained by younger people migrating to the West, which is leading to a demographic imbalance. The average age is rising in the East, while West Germany is benefiting from greater immigration. These inequalities are not just numerical, but also entail differences in quality of life and the labor market.

While the unemployment rate in the East was 17.7% in the early 1990s and is currently 8.3%, the gap between living standards in West and East Germany remains noticeable. In 1991, the gross domestic product per capita in West Germany was 22,687 euros and in East Germany only 9,701 euros. The gap has narrowed, but the gap is still noticeable. For example, GDP per capita in West Germany in 2018 was 42,971 euros, while in the east it was 32,190 euros.

Another important topic is social developments. Birth rates in the East continue to decline and life expectancy is increasing. Many East Germans feel that they are not being sufficiently recognized by politics, which is reflected in an increase in protest voters, particularly for the AfD. Although reunification was a milestone, there are still challenges that need to be addressed.

For the young people who want to take part in the competition, this is an opportunity not only to come to terms with their own identity, but also to bring up the various facets of German history and the present. The question is to what extent they can build bridges and what the future holds for relations between East and West.