“wir_jetzt_hier” – A passion project gets underway

Konstanz, August 1, 2025 – What moves young people today? What concerns, dreams, and desires do they carry within them? These are the questions addressed by the stage program “wir_jetzt_hier,” which will be performed on October 7 and 8, 2026, at the Bodenseeforum Konstanz.

Until then, everyone involved has a long, exciting, and intense journey ahead of them. "The stage production will have its origins in the joint work with the young people. We want to identify their issues and make them visible on stage,“ reports actor and author Oliver Wnuk during a press conference on the project launch at the Bodensee Philharmonie studio. ”This is not about navel-gazing or self-promotion, but about carefully and mindfully identifying the issues," Wnuk continues.

The main themes will be developed as part of a year-long project that recently began with a workshop for students at the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule in Konstanz. The school has been active as a “culture school” for years. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to realize this extraordinary project together with such a great team,” says school principal Thomas Adam.

Wnuk, himself a graduate of the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule, talks about his motivation: “I was able to experience the stage for the first time at this school—it changed my life. Today, I want to give something back: to create a space where young people can discover and express themselves—honestly, artistically, powerfully.”
In addition to his role as initiator, project manager, director, and author of the program, Oliver Wnuk is also involved as an ambassador for the Mentor Foundation Germany, which is leading the project. “Our main goal is to strengthen young people's self-confidence so that they can make good and responsible decisions for their lives,” explains Managing Director Matthias Ehret.

“This works particularly well when young people and adults work together on a project and create something together,” adds Bettina Gräfin Bernadotte, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Mentor Foundation Germany. “We are delighted that Oliver Wnuk has taken on the project management together with filmmaker Teresa Renn and theater educator Saskia Junggeburth.”

“Together with the teachers at the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule and volunteer mentors, a cross-generational project is being created – entirely in line with the Mentor idea: to promote good contact between young people and adults outside the family home,” Countess Bernadotte continues.

The project takes on a special artistic dimension through the involvement of the Lake Constance Philharmonic Orchestra. Under the direction of chief conductor Gabriel Venzago, the orchestra will not only accompany the creative process musically, but will also develop its own soundscapes together with the young people. This creates a connection between language, play, and music – immediate, lively, and expressive. “Music can convey emotions where words are no longer enough,” emphasized artistic director Dr. Hans-Georg Hofmann during the press conference.

Those present agree: the aim of the project is not the performance itself, but the journey together – a process that enables young people to try things out, grow and make themselves heard artistically.

“wir:jetzt:hier!” is a project that uniquely combines cultural education, personal development and social participation. It is a project close to our hearts – because it empowers young people and makes their voices heard.

Contact

Mentor Foundation Germany

Matthias Ehret, Managing Director

Email: m.ehret@mentorstiftung.de

Tel.: +49 (0)7531 / 303-357

mentorstiftung.de