Students from Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf Visit Sri Lanka

The students from Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf have safely arrived in Sri Lanka and already had the chance to meet their exchange partners. On Wednesday, November 29, the Goethe-Institut visited the German and Sri Lankan students in Kalpitiya.

The program began with an introduction to the institute’s diverse areas of work by Jan Ramesh de Saram, the representative of the Cultural Programs Department. As part of the new focus on “Bio-Design”, he highlighted innovative ideas from a young biodesign researcher who focuses on sustainable development. Her particular focus lies on the issue of overfishing and the idea of fostering new ecological balances and creating alternative sources of income through the targeted cultivation of seaweed.

Afterwards, Lihan Mendis led a theater workshop that started with various warm-up and icebreaker activities to strengthen group cohesion. In the second half, participants engaged creatively with the topic of sustainability. Working in small groups, they developed short scenes addressing everyday environmental challenges – for example, a sea turtle getting trapped in plastic waste or a dog nearly choking on garbage left behind in the city.

The students were encouraged not only to highlight environmental problems but also to develop and act out possible solutions. In this way, the workshop combined artistic expression with sustainability goals, fostering both individual and collective responsibility for natural resources. At the same time, it promoted intercultural exchange and understanding between the German and Sri Lankan students.