The new program booklet of the Bargteheide adult education center for autumn 2024 is here and with it 80 pages packed with exciting offers – some of them even digital. Adult education center director Frank Feier is proud of it: “Together with over 80 teachers and 60 cooperation partners, we have invested a lot of work and added a total of 55 new courses to the tried and tested courses.”
Ann-Cathrine Röhrl, Maike Utecht and Frank Feier presented the new VHS program
One positive achievement of the pandemic is the online lecture series “VHS-Digital”, which brings knowledge and current discussions directly into the living room at home. The adult education center team has selected nine digital formats from a diverse portfolio of offerings, including a lecture on the energy transition. Or a conversation with ARD’s long-time Israel correspondent and SPIEGEL author Richard C. Schneider, who analyzes the latest developments in Israel, one year after the Hamas terror attack.
A particular focus in the area of society and life is political education with the series of events “What can we do about the shift to the right?” In addition to two lectures and a panel discussion, the nationwide format “Long Night of Democracy” will be held for the first time in the Bargteheide town hall on the night before German Unity Day. An impressive photo exhibition has been developed in collaboration with Amnesty International, the photo agency OASTKREUZ and the Ukrainian human rights activist and photographer Oleksandra Bienert.
Anyone who would like to experience scientific experts live and on site can attend the lecture series of the Schleswig-Holstein University Society, Bargteheide section. Guests pay six euros at the box office. One topic from the current program is the lecture “The electric car – solution to all (diesel) problems?” on Thursday, September 19th from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
“As always, the largest and possibly healthiest pillar of our adult education center is the health and fitness area,” says Maike Utecht, who is happy to answer questions about health, prevention, relaxation and exercise during opening hours. In addition to tried and tested courses such as Zumba and Qi Gong, there are fourteen new offerings such as Yoga Nidra – deep relaxation in a feel-good atmosphere, yoga for moms or various back fitness courses.
The language section of the VHS Bargteheide is also growing steadily. Language coordinator Ann-Cathrine Röhrl from the adult education center has a special treat in store this time: a Christmas and experience workshop on German Sign Language. Here everything revolves around the Christmas and Advent season, such as verses from well-known Christmas carols but also general greetings in sign language.
Once again, there are some language courses for refugees and migrants that teach German as a foreign language,” says Ann-Cathrine Röhrl. “These courses are aimed primarily at participants with uncertain prospects of staying in the country or without admission to an integration course.” Knowledge of the Latin alphabet is required.
German as a foreign language and for beginners is also taught free of charge in a total of six modules. Registration for this is only possible in person. To do so, a registration interview is required during office hours, which take place on Tuesdays between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the adult education center (Am Markt 4). Classes are on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 9 a.m. and 12.15 p.m.
The printed program booklet is now available at the VHS office in the Bargteheide town hall. During the additional opening hours in the town hall from September 2nd to September 6th, 2024, Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the VHS team will be happy to provide information and advice. All courses can also be found and booked online at: www.vhs-bargteheide.de.
Right-wing extremism has also taken on worrying forms in Bargteheide. This was shown in several attacks on the Autonomous Youth Center and the growing number of extremist stickers and right-wing slogans. Several thousand people have demonstrated here against the right in Germany. Now the adult education center is also taking up the topic with a series of events. It is offered free of charge. There are lectures on the causes of the shift to the right, right-wing extremists in local politics and a panel discussion on the situation in Stormarn. There are also guided tours of the Neuengamme concentration camp and the Bullenhuser Damm memorial.
