Working together for diversity: FHD and AFBB at the ‘Dresden is(s)t bunt’ banquet

Creative hands-on activities, more than 15 different cakes and numerous personal conversations: together with the Academy for Vocational Education and Training (AFBB) and with the support of students, Dresden University of Applied Sciences took part in the ‘Dresden is(s)t bunt’ banquet. The communal table on Dresden’s Neumarkt became a lively meeting place for people of all ages.

Mariana Seeboth, a student on the Social Pedagogy and Management (BA) programme, describes the start of the event: “The day began with rain and a somewhat anxious glance at the sky. So the joy was all the greater when the weather actually changed in the afternoon: the sun came out and it even got really warm. This created the perfect conditions for the banquet.”

Creative activities foster connections

The Dresden University of Applied Sciences’ participation was organised by Josephine Schütze, Head of the Practice Office at the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences. A tablecloth to colour in, paper and pens, as well as a face-painting session and various art activities, invited visitors to get involved.

The activities were well attended throughout the afternoon. The colouring tablecloth, in particular, appealed to children and adults alike. It provided a simple opportunity to stop for a moment, get creative together and strike up a conversation.

The Dresden University of Applied Sciences’ participation was supported by four students from the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and the Faculty of Design. They supervised the activities, welcomed the guests and represented the university during the lively afternoon.

More than 15 cakes on the communal table

A particular highlight was the culinary offering from the AFBB. Pupils had put a great deal of effort into preparing more than 15 different cakes and other small baked creations for the event. The lovingly prepared selection proved very popular and kept the communal table bustling throughout the afternoon.

The collaboration between FHD and AFBB highlighted how educational institutions can actively shape social interaction even outside the classroom and the university setting.

Experiencing social participation in practice

The banquet addresses themes closely linked to the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences at the FHD: diversity, social responsibility, social participation and the active shaping of community life. The faculty combines academic foundations with a focus on application and close links to practice. An event such as the banquet brings many of these themes to life. It demonstrates how spaces for interaction are created, how different people come into contact with one another, and how low-threshold initiatives can promote social participation.

A lively and unifying afternoon

Mariana Seeboth draws a positive conclusion: “Towards the end of the afternoon, it finally became pleasantly cooler and a little quieter. After all the encounters, conversations and the lively hustle and bustle, it was a lovely way to round off the afternoon.”

The FHD is delighted to have been part of the banquet alongside the AFBB and to have sent a clear message of diversity and social cohesion. A big thank you goes to everyone who helped organise and run the event, particularly the FHD students involved and the pupils from the AFBB.