Feeling history, living modernity

Asked if she has any memories of German reunification in 1990 Charlene Mhlanga smiles politely. No, none at all – after all, she was only born in 1989, the year the Berlin Wall fell. And she was born in Bulawayo, the second-largest city in Zimbabwe. It was a time when the nation, which had itself gained independence just nine years previously, was searching for its identity, and for a way to switch from a planned to a free-market economy. The new German states still faced something similar themselves. What Charlene Mhlanga can still remember is the spirit of euphoria that was evident in Zimbabwe until the late 1990s.

And she also sensed a similar enthusiasm when she came to Berlin a few years later. “Naturally, you can read a lot about German reuni­fication, but it’s only since living in Berlin that I can really appreciate the significance of those events,” says Charlene Mhlanga. Since 2013 she has been studying for a Master in Public Policy at the Hertie School of Governance, having gained her Bachelor degree in Bremen. “History is present in the entire city,“ says Charlene Mhlanga, “at the same time Berlin is an incredibly modern city thanks to its many business startups.” 25-year old Charlene is very familiar with the startup scene. Alongside her studies she worked for three months at Ampion. Berlin-based, in 2014 the non-profit organisation travelled through 15 African countries with five startup buses and brought together IT developers, programmers, app inventors and designers. Together they developed new business models. “This team spirit is typical of German work culture and something I really appreciate,” the student says. Which is why she can imagine working in Germany when she graduates.