“Diverse democratic participation” in the European Parliament election: Ahmad Denno ‘22 and five BCB students publish online resource DemocraSeed to mobilize voters

This year’s European Parliament election takes place from June 6-9. In order to help inform and mobilize eligible voters in Germany, particularly those with a migrant background, BCB alumnus Ahmad Denno ‘22 has compiled the online resource DemocraSeed. The project is affiliated with Eed be Eed, an organization founded by refugees and Berliners to build bridges of communication between newcomers and German society, of which Denno is a co-founder and Executive Manager.

Described as an “alliance for diverse democratic participation,” DemocraSeed’s resources compile essential voter information—including who is eligible to vote, where to find a polling station, and how to cast a ballot—in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian, French, Spanish, Polish, German, and English. As part of the translation effort, five current Bard College Berlin students and recent graduates worked with Denno to bring the project to fruition. Mariem Abdennadher served as BCB Project Coordinator, Selo Uğuzeş translated into Turkish, Aleksandra Vartsaba translated to Russian, Julia Łukuć translated to Polish, and Yalda Osman Azizi translated to Persian.

“For me, this is a crucial time for people with refugee and migration backgrounds who have the right to vote in the upcoming election,” Denno explains. “It is essential for them to raise their voices and choose candidates who truly understand the issues faced by these communities in Germany. Every vote counts, especially considering that only 12% of the migration and refugee communities in Germany, which make up 26% of the population, have the right to vote. This is why we initiated this campaign—to simplify information about the EU elections and highlight their impact.”

The DemocraSeed project was sponsored by the federal program Demokratie Leben! and BCB Civic Engagement was an official cooperation partner. Visit the DemocraSeed website here.

By: Bard College Berlin Communications

Post Date: 06-06-2024