#65 WAITING ROOMS AND INSTITUTIONAL STUDIES

Institutional studies - the black bread of political education.

Many people are unfamiliar with institutions: " Why do they even exist and what do they do there? Why does it seem so complicated?!" Here's an idea for a new friendship program: Institutions from the inside - administrative staff unpack!

The idea revolves around waiting rooms in public authorities, telephone waiting loops or other places where people wait for personal contact with an employee of an institution. During this time, short stories from employees are played over loudspeakers, listening stations or via QR codes, telling personal stories from their everyday work: "Why do I like working here? What is a successful day? What do I struggle with?" as well as talking about problems or cases they deal with. What (difficult) decisions do they have to make or prepare, what rules guide them and what is challenging? The aim is not to gloss over difficult decisions, but to make the personal, individual positions of employees and the often invisible administrative structures behind them visible.
-tasks, but also the constraints behind them. This is because inauthentic advertising slogans are recognized as such and may only increase annoyance.

In this way, a supra-personal bond can be created between those waiting and those in charge, which creates understanding for administrative requirements and thus prevents unnecessary projections of frustration onto the employees carrying out the work. By discussing typical decisions, problems or procedures, an idea of the task and functioning of democratic institutions can be conveyed.