The power of sharing: Power sharing in practice

We are all born into predetermined and, often, unjust power structures. Achieving a more fair distribution of this power seems almost impossible; after all, who wants to lose control and effectiveness? The power sharing approach provides an unexpected answer: A fair distribution of power can work if groups with power and privileges consciously relinquish them or share their power with less privileged groups. This is exactly what is happening as part of the "Acting together in solidarity in a diverse society!" project run by Paritätischer NRW. To this end, several tandems have been formed, each consisting of a more privileged organization in the welfare sector and a migrant-led organization with less power. But how exactly does power sharing work in the German society? What are the challenges, and what do those who relinquish their power actually gain from this? Two model projects from Bielefeld and Dortmund show the benefits of a new distribution of power - and where the hurdles lie.

A tandem pairing of organizations from Bielefeld is an example of successful power sharing. "Many families come to us who have been traumatized, for example, by experiences of fleeing, violence, racism, discrimination, and hate crime", explains Amin Alich. He is a board member of the Islamic Center Bielefeld e.V., an open mosque that aims to break down fears of contact with Islam in Germany. Through his voluntary work, Amin Alich comes into contact with many people who have experienced terrible things. "They often suffer from trauma-related disorders such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, or even outbursts of anger."

The people Alich supports find it difficult to cope with their traumas on their own, and they lack access to professional help. Medical services, such as professional trauma management therapies, also require certain privileges and access. These hurdles can be overcome through power sharing.

Together with Dilek Dogan-Alagöz from ZENTRUM TEMPUS Bielefeld e.V., Alich applied to the Paritätischer NRW program as a tandem partnership. A qualified teacher, Dogan-Alagöz specializes in trauma management. As part of an established organization, she can share a great deal of expertise and access within Alich's association. This tandem gave rise to the dea of making the trauma-specific expertise of ZENTRUM TEMPUS Bielefeld e.V. available to visitors of the Islamic Center Bielefeld e.V.

The two organisations are now working together. As part of the joint project "Strengthening skills and participation in social life", both associations offer their members workshops on coping with trauma, where participants can first learn what trauma is and effects trauma has in the brain and neurophysiologically - understanding one's own condition is often the first step towards overcoming it. In later stages, stabilizing exercises are carried out.

Amin Alich knows the families from the Islamic Center Bielefeld e.V. and can easily reach them to bring them into the new project. "This only works through personal interaction and the trust that develops between us," he explains. The approach has been successful: More than 17 participants have attended each of the four workshops that have taken place thus far.

In general, trust is a major asset when working together – and this also applies to tandem partners. Dilek Dogan-Alagöz and Amin Alich experience shared power as something positive within their organizational tandem. In the larger structure of social welfare, both see this more critically. Alich explains: "Even if you are well networked as a migrant-ed organisation, you hardly stand a chance against the big players and cooperation on an equal footing is out of the question. For this reason, and because we have known Dilek for a long time, this collaboration was very important to us." Dogan-Alagöz adds: "The power lies with the regulatory services, for example, with social services such as youth, family, and elderly care facilities. They have financial resources and contacts in social policy. They have lobbies that we, as small organisations, do not."

If Alich and Dogan-Alagöz had their way, the whole system would change. They would like to see easier access to financial resources for migrant-led organisations, greater social recognition for their work, and a better standing at the municipal level. The two see the biggest obstacle to power sharing as the fact that, to date, existing inequalities have hardly been recognized and acknowledged. They would like the different starting conditions of various migrant-ed associations to be taken into account when distributing funds.

The Bielefeld project is not the only one of its kind. Another practical example of power sharing is a theater project in Dortmund: An established association for educational work shares its power by launching a theater project for young people.

This second tandem is based in Dortmund's Nordstadt district, a diverse neighborhood with a high unemployment rate, high levels of poverty and, on average, a low level of education. Project initiators Mete Derendeli and Okan Özbek both grew up in this neighborhood and are familiar with the situation. Derendeli is a project manager at "UBV - Unternehmen. Bilden. Vielfalt.” (“Companies. Create. Diversity.”), an established association whose members and supporters work together to promote diversity and equal opportunities in work and education, as well as participation in educational and cultural life in Dortmund. This includes, on the one hand, promoting the willingness of entrepreneurs to provide training and, on the other, supporting young people on their way into training. His tandem partner Okan Özbek runs the fledgling association Habitus Ruhr, which is active in the field of educational support.

Both share an interest in showing young people possible career prospects and nurturing their strengths. Together they developed the "In Your Shoes” theater project, whose aim is for young people to learn to symbolically put themselves in others’ shoes and to see things from others’ perspectives. To do this, they interview people who have made a special journey through life, such as someone who has managed to escape homelessness. Under guidance, participants develop scenes and plays that they then stage and perform. Derendeli already has experience with these kinds of workshops and says: "The young people have great ideas of their own. For many, it's a completely new experience to be applauded for doing their own thing and that gives them a lot of self-confidence."

The project has another - very practical - advantage: Through drama, young people learn to use their voice and body language consciously, which is also helpful for job interviews or in assessment centers.

The balance of power between the two associations is very different in this tandem, for example in terms of financial support or networks. However, both can find added value in their partnership. "I learned a lot from Okan when dealing with young people. Precisely because we are so different, we benefit from each other," says Mete Derendeli from the established association "UBV - Unternehmen. Bilden. Vielfalt.". Okan Özbek's organisation also benefits from the tandem: "In the social sphere, a lot of things are based on relationships; you first have to build up a network and make contacts."

Sabine Kemler, a project manager and specialist at Paritätischer NRW, confirms this: "There are resources on both sides of the tandem that are worth sharing. For example, the more established organization has a good standing in decision-making bodies, while the small association has the necessary ease of access to the target groups.”

In his efforts to gain a foothold in urban society with Habitus Ruhr, Okan Özbek has had many positive experiences: "Many people have been very supportive. I have noticed that they don't so much have the feeling that they are giving up power, but rather that they enjoy giving and supporting." Derendeli emphasises "We want to make a difference in the social sector and improve peoples’ situations. If I give up some of my power, it also means that those I want to help will benefit from it. Personally, I would like to see more support for young people in general; that is my overarching goal. And power sharing is perfect for that!"

In the end, a crucial question arises: Why should power be shared at all? The clear answer: "Because - with regard to power sharing in diverse societies - we cannot afford to let good ideas fall by the wayside at the moment", says Sabine Kemler from Paritätischer NRW. Power sharing is therefore also relevant in relation to society as a whole, she adds: "There are many good solutions out there. We want to bring in as many perspectives as possible and filter out the best approaches. We need a fair competition of good ideas!"