By Wibke Wilkens
The year 2020 was unlike any other for the Wirtschaftsjunioren Braunschweig (Junior Chamber International Braunschweig). Instead of visiting regional companies as planned, supporting the Hanseraum Conference in our neighboring district of Gifhorn-Wolfsburg, and traveling to the World Conference in Yokohama at the end of the year, we shifted most of our club activities into the digital space – with surprisingly great success.
Part 1: New Year’s Kickoff, Company Visits, and Culture
The Wirtschaftsjunioren year began with a successful New Year’s kickoff at “Vier Linden” in Braunschweig – in early January, more than 40 members met for their first joint exchange of the year. This kickoff event, held in this form for the first time, will certainly be repeated as soon as possible.
This was followed by the traditional New Year’s reception of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) in Ilsede, an interesting company study at Glaub Automation & Engineering in Salzgitter, and even a cultural highlight: together we attended a performance of the opera Eugene Onegin at the Braunschweig State Theater.
Part 2: Online Conferences and a Summer with Some “Normality”
From March onward, the first lockdown had us firmly in its grip: planned company visits, including to SincoTec in Clausthal and Hoffmann in Lengede, had to be canceled, and our monthly working group meetings took place digitally from then on. But, of course, the young and dynamic Wirtschaftsjunior is not easily deterred, and we did our best to make the most of the situation.
The company study of MHB Mineralölhandel GmbH was quickly moved online, as was an exchange with Member of Parliament Carsten Müller on the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis. Thanks to the great commitment of many Wirtschaftsjunioren, even the Hanseraum Conference of our neighboring district Gifhorn-Wolfsburg could take place via videoconference.
In the summer, a brief sense of “normality” returned. Although we were unable to hold one of our annual highlights, the golf tournament of the Wirtschaftsjunioren Braunschweig Foundation, we were at least able to organize our annual summer festival in the Reitlingstal in compliance with coronavirus regulations.
In addition, in early September we enjoyed an exciting company study at AMINO GmbH in Frellstedt and carried out a planting campaign together with Lebenshilfe Salzgitter in the Bebelhof city garden.
Part 3: A Digital Conclusion
With rising coronavirus numbers in the fall, we returned to a virtual format for our activities. The company study at Autohaus Holzberg was held online, and even the December general meeting was attended from our laptops.
Conclusion
The conclusion of this “unusual” Wirtschaftsjunioren year: association life works online – even though personal meetings and some canceled events were certainly missed by everyone.
Thanks to the spontaneity and flexibility of our members, it was still a wonderful Wirtschaftsjunioren year, and we are already looking forward to the next one!
