BARCAMP
DIALOGUE AND THE CULTURE OF DEBATE
July 25–26
On 25–26 July 2026, the Barcamp “Dialogue and Culture of Discussion” took place in a forest near Berlin.
More than 30 people took part in the event — Russian Germans from Berlin, representatives of various Russian-speaking communities of the city, as well as participants with diverse cultural, professional and personal backgrounds. The event created a space for communication, networking, exchange of ideas and strengthening connections between different groups within Berlin’s Russian-speaking community.

The discussions during the Barcamp focused on questions such as: “How can we talk to people whose political views we do not share?”, “Can AI help us better understand the complex landscape of German politics?”, “Where is the line between constructive discussion and a meaningless argument?”, “How can we stop feeling like outsiders in a new country?” and “Integration or loss of identity: where is the boundary?”

At the beginning of the programme, a pitch session took place: participants presented their ideas and topics, followed by a joint vote. Based on the results, the most interesting topics were selected for further work in groups.

Before the sessions started, interactive formats for getting to know each other and team building were held — the games “Zoom” and “Open Discussion”. During the latter, participants shared their views on social, political and democratic issues, formed groups with similar perspectives and took part in constructive exchanges of arguments with other participants.

During the day, three rounds of Barcamp sessions took place. Participants were free to choose the topics that interested them and move between different groups.

The programme included the following sessions: “Map of Cultural Differences”, “Negotiation Workshop”, “Stories of Creating Mini-Communities in Germany”, “Plurilingualism – Encounter – Creative Self”, “Logical Fallacies in Communication”, and “How to Find and Win Grants in Germany”.

In addition to the main programme, the event provided an opportunity for informal exchange and strengthening the community. Some participants stayed overnight, allowing conversations and encounters to continue beyond the official programme.

While spending time in nature, participants were able to see deer, raccoons, storks and falcons. Some also took the opportunity to swim in the lake.
In the evening, the programme continued around the campfire: participants roasted marshmallows, sang songs with guitar accompaniment and talked while enjoying the starry sky and the light of the almost full moon.

The Barcamp demonstrated how different formats of communication and active participation can help develop a culture of discussion, strengthen an active neighbourhood community and create new connections between Berlin’s Russian German community and other Russian-speaking communities of the city.
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