“I’d Like to Get Involved in Politics and Try to Put My Ideals into Practice”

This text was translated from German by DeepL.

What are you studying, and what do you like about your degree course?

I’m in my fifth semester of a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. After initially starting my degree at KIT, but finding the content there too technical for my liking, I transferred to the University of Mannheim and am very happy here. I had a great start. I have particularly fond memories of the first weekend and getting to know the other students.

Before starting my degree, I researched the programme thoroughly and my expectations have been met. I particularly like the fact that you can take a minor here. As I’m also interested in politics, I’ve chosen Political Science. I also find the professors who teach here particularly inspiring: some, for example, advise federal ministries whilst simultaneously conducting research into important economic policy issues.

You came to Germany from Syria during the 2015 refugee crisis. Can you tell us a bit about your background?

I grew up in a suburb of Damascus. Even as a child, I was interested in politics. At the age of 14, I witnessed the start of the Arab Spring in Syria and took part in the protests myself. At the time, I had hoped that a free and liberal democracy would emerge. Unfortunately, that is not how things turned out. Despite the war, I continued to attend school at first. Twice I had to flee my home town for the centre of Damascus because it was being bombed and besieged. Due to the fighting there, I was unable to take the central school examinations in Damascus, which are equivalent to the German Abitur. There was also the risk that, if arrested, I would be conscripted into military service. I wanted neither to kill nor to die in a war. My twin brother and I then decided in 2015 to flee to Germany, as we already had family members living here.

Making a fresh start here came with many challenges: at first I didn’t speak any German, I had to find my feet in a completely new environment, and my journey as a refugee had also involved some extremely difficult experiences. At the same time, I received a great deal of support in Germany. I learnt German quickly, and my family members here made it easier for me to settle in. My aim was to catch up on my A-levels as quickly as possible and then go on to university. On the one hand, I wanted a qualification that would give me security and the opportunity to build a good life for myself, wherever I might be. On the other hand, I was keen to experience university life and interact with other students.

Alongside your studies, you are actively involved in politics. How did you get involved, and what would you like to achieve? 

Unlike in my home country, I was able to become politically active and express myself politically in Germany from the very beginning. When I decided to make Germany my permanent home, I decided to advocate for good integration policies. I initially became involved in the Green Party’s working groups on migration and integration policy, where I wanted to use my personal experience to highlight the opportunities offered by a diverse society shaped by migration. For two years, I also volunteered in migration counseling, which gave me a closer insight into the challenges people face.

And once you become involved in politics, you are often asked whether you would like to run for office. That was the case for me, too. I am also interested in how party politics works, how decisions are made, how a party organizes itself, and how people work together to build majorities. To me, this is democracy in practice. At the same time, a political party is also a kind of political family, where members engage in critical discussions with one another.

At the moment, I am active in expert committees on migration and integration at national level. At regional level, I am involved in expert committees on queer politics, financial and economic policy, climate protection and current issues. I am also active on the local council of the Jockgrim municipal association, where we deal with specific local issues. I put my heart and soul into this work because I believe that everyone should get involved in politics or at least form an opinion on political issues.

Do you have a favourite spot at uni or in town?

I really like the university and love being able to sit and study here in the library in the castle. I always tell my friends that I’m studying in the castle, and I feel it’s an honour. I particularly like the high ceilings; they make me feel like I have more space. The university also feels like a small family. 

Do you still have time for hobbies alongside your studies and voluntary work?

I really enjoy cooking because it helps me switch off. I like to try out complex dishes and sometimes spend hours in the kitchen. I particularly enjoy inviting friends round for an evening of good food and wine. I also enjoy travelling and hiking, and I read a lot.

Do you already know what you’d like to do full-time in the future?

I want to get involved in politics and try to put my ideals into practice, including here in this region, because it has given me so much and has become my home. That is why I think it is important not to remain a member of the German Bundestag for life, but to try to put your ideals into practice through political projects, even if some of them fail.

At the moment, it is important to me to build a professional career alongside my political work, which is why I work part-time as a working student at a financial institution. This also gives me the opportunity to pursue a different career path if I choose to do so. However, I want to keep my options open, because something may always happen in the future that changes your plans.

Interview: Ilayda Aydemir   I September 2026