Kendrick Trust Support for Trip to Nuremberg
In July 2025, I was selected by the UK-German Connection to go on a two-week-long trip to Nuremberg, Germany, which was where the post-WWII trials took place.
UK-German Connection is an organisation funded by the German and UK governments to foster a closer connection between the youth of these countries, offering intercultural opportunities, and facilitating connections between schools, youth groups and young people themselves in both countries.
At Nuremberg, I had an opportunity to visit the Nazi rally grounds, where I learnt a lot about Nazi propaganda and how they used the then-new technology to push forward their agenda. I learnt a lot about the struggle of choosing to preserve or destroy their buildings – to pretend as though they never existed or to hold on to the pain of remembering what happened so it never happens again.
Apart from a wealth of historical information, I enjoyed the freedom of discovering another country and culture whilst also improving my German. I learnt a lot about how to make my German sound more natural with Jugendsprache (youth slang) as well as a lot about German society, like how collectivist it can be, with many families choosing to go to the Bioladen (organic store) for weekly grocery shopping and getting involved in the local Jugendzentrum (youth centre).
Some of the cultural activities I experienced included making Stockbrot (literally stick bread) over a campfire, going to Würzburg University's Martin van Wagner Museum and learning of German names for well-known Greek mythology figures, seeing the world’s oldest globe (der Erdapfel, literally earth apple) in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, admiring the impressive architecture of St. Kilians Cathedral and, of course, eating schnitzel.
The trip changed my perspective on youth exchange trips – I never realised how enriching spending just two weeks in another country could be. From increasing intercultural awareness amongst young people, as well as developing our own characters. I loved having the opportunity to talk with German teenagers and learning more about myself in a foreign environment. I made a lot of friends – in fact, I hope to go back there next summer!
Exchange trips like these are the key to a more unified world in the future and I hope whoever reads this article takes up more opportunities to travel and understand a little more of other cultures.
I would like to express my gratitude with a big thank you to the German department, Ms Kattirtzi and the Kendrick Trust for making this trip possible for me!
By Joanna - Year 13