Gütersloh, November 5, 2026. On Wednesday, November 4, following a series of seminars and workshops in Gütersloh and Bielefeld, the young participants in “Generation Global – Wir gestalten Welt” (“Generation Global – Shaping Our World”) went on their first group excursion to Düsseldorf. The participants share a keen interest in foreign policy and were selected through a multi-stage application process. During the two-year program, they will work with professional coaches and experts to develop both their technical and interpersonal skills (“hard” and “soft” skills), preparing them to help shape public debate as the decision-makers of tomorrow.
In Düsseldorf, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, the group met with decision-makers who spoke openly about their work. The young people welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with them. “What I particularly like is that we can discuss a wide range of current issues with decision-makers on an equal footing,” said program participant Sabrina Serra Deppe.
The day began with a conversation with Thorsten Klute, a member of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament, about recent youth protests in Germany and abroad. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) politician explored the potential implications of these demonstrations for education and integration policy. He also addressed online hate speech and fake news and shared his personal views on social media platforms.
Anne Pomsel, Managing Director of the Japanese-German Business Association (DJW), emphasized the importance of economic and cultural ties between Germany and Japan. Düsseldorf, home to the largest Japanese community in continental Europe, was an ideal setting for the conversation. The young participants, too, enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about a country that rarely receives such attention. “I really enjoyed our discussion about the differences and similarities between German and Japanese culture,” said Timur Shakhmanov, a program participant from Paderborn.
The highlight of the excursion came in the afternoon, when Nathanael Liminski, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs, and Media and Head of the State Chancellery, welcomed the group to the State Chancellery. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician spoke with the young people about intergenerational justice and military service, and shared anecdotes about political discussions with his 16-year-old son. Liminski praised the opportunities for open dialogue that the Liz Mohn Foundation’s development network offers its participants.
The group ended the day with a visit to the cabinet meeting room of the North Rhine-Westphalia state government in the Landeshaus building. Mathilda Brün, a participant from Bielefeld, came away with some valuable insights: “I found the different career paths of the people we met particularly interesting. Seeing how people from such different backgrounds had found the right careers for themselves showed me that there are many different paths we can take to reach our goals.”
The group won’t have much time to rest after their first excursion: They will meet again in Gütersloh this weekend for interview and media training.
Photo Caption: Nathanael Liminski, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs, and Media and Head of the State Chancellery, with participants in the “Generation Global” development network and Liz Mohn Foundation staff
