Diversity Mentoring Program

Although people with a migration background make up 26 percent of our society, they are severely underrepresented in politics at all levels. Yet, women with a migration background in particular can contribute to a diverse political landscape and act as important role models.

For this reason, EAF Berlin is organizing the Diversity Mentoring Program: "My background? I want to be in the foreground!". Key components of the program include theoretical engagement with local political structures and practical exercises, for example on public image. The heart of the concept is the mentoring relationship, in which elected officials pass on their experience and practical knowledge to support mentees with a migration background who have already taken the step of joining a party but have not yet won a mandate.

The first round of the program was successfully completed in mid-June. By that time, 14 tandems, consisting of committed mentees and mentors with a migration background and an elected mandate, had worked together over the entire duration of the program. The mentors were elected officials at the local, state, federal, and European levels. The parties represented in the mentoring program were the CDU, FDP, The Left, Alliance 90/The Greens, SPD, and Volt.

Second round starts in the fall: Apply now!

With the end of the first round, the call for applications for the second round, which begins in the fall, was launched. In the new round, the program will again offer mentees and mentors various modules, including sessions on power and micropolitics, self-PR on social media, and storytelling. The cross-party approach and exchange with migrant networks remain the focus this time as well.

The mentoring program for women with a migration background aims to motivate and prepare participants for a local political mandate. It provides theoretical and practical knowledge about local political structures, processes, and opportunities for influence, and expands the participants' personal and methodological skills through regular tandem meetings with their mentor, interactive training sessions, and exchanges within the participants' network.

At the end of the first round: A final seminar

At the final seminar on June 18, the mentors and mentees of the first round came together one last time to review the past 5 months and look to the future. Particularly encouraging: during the program, one mentee was elected to the city council in Frankfurt am Main, and two other mentees were placed on district lists in Berlin.

Before the official presentation of certificates, the participants heard opening remarks from Dr. Martina von Bassewitz (BMFSFJ) and then engaged in a discussion with Honey Deihimi, former Integration Commissioner for the State of Lower Saxony and member of the Integration Network of the CDU Germany.

A big thank you goes to the mentees and especially the mentors of our first round, who contributed tirelessly and enriched the program.

Further information

The "Diversity in Politics" mentoring program is funded as part of the Helene Weber College by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth .