May, 2004 - Nr. 5
Building Bridges between Berliners and New Yorkers
TWIG - Over 280 young New Yorkers are experiencing the best of the German capital this week through the program "Bridge New York-Berlin." Created by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as a symbol of Germany’s solidarity with the United States in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the program seeks to bring together young people from both countries to discuss politics, history and culture while strengthening the friendship between Germany and the United States.
In addition to seeing historical sites such as "Checkpoint Charlie," the remains of the Berlin Wall, the new SONY center at the Potsdamer platz, and the Technical Museum, the young people from the Big Apple stay with German guest families and get to know their peers. They are also allowed a glimpse into the vibrant metropolis nightlife in the hopping Prenzlauer Berg district.
The group of 15 to 18-year olds is the last of three groups to come to Berlin through the program. Just like the previous groups that visited in 2002 and 2003, their visit included a reception held by the chancellor and a visit with the Federal Press Agency.
"Bridge New York-Berlin" is a combined project of the
federal government and German businesses and is sponsored by
DaimlerChrysler.
Republished with permission from "The Week in Germany"
