Activism
On January 9–11, the 12th meeting of the Äppelwoi Komitee will take place near Berlin. We have already shared who they are and what they do. In this piece, we return to the community’s 8th meeting: we planned to release this text back in May, but due to unforeseen circumstances, we are only publishing it now.
In May, a meeting of the Äppelwoi Komitee discussion club was held in Thuringia—an informal platform for anarchists, socialists, and antifascists in exile. We are publishing a report on the past event and a conversation with a representative of the collective.
“From May 16 to 18, the eighth meeting of the Äppelwoi Komitee discussion club took place in Thuringia, Germany, organized with the support of the independent media outlet No Future. The meeting gathered about 30 participants—anarchists, socialists, and antifascists in exile currently living in Germany and France. The program was aimed at developing sustainable and flexible forms of political and human interaction under conditions of social and geographical fragmentation.
The meeting began in Erfurt with a research walk through the ‘protest city.’ Participants analyzed the urban fabric as a space of historical memory and resistance. Later, the program moved to a camp at the Bakunin Hut near Meiningen, where participants took part in a ritual tea ceremony, serving as an informal method of introduction and trust-building. One of the key events was the ‘Utopia Factory’ workshop, conducted by a theater director. Its goal was to explore how collective imagination and language can transform dreams of alternative social structures into concrete actions and sustainable practices. The practical part of the program included social games aimed at modeling conditions of survival, competition, and mutual aid, as well as a lecture-hike through local nature led by an instructor.
Lectures and workshops were also organized on: issues of local integration, digital security, the musical underground, visa activism, and creating conditions for collective action. Final sessions included a masterclass on autonomous travel and a feedback roundtable. As the organizers note, Äppelwoi Komitee meetings are becoming an informal platform for creating an infrastructure of autonomy: mapping routes, gaining skills, and developing horizontal ties. Participants agreed on further cooperation and coordination, including upcoming events in July and September.” – Report on the 8th Äppelwoi Komitee meeting, provided by the collective.
— This isn’t the first meeting. What has changed recently? Has your number grown? Have new people or new ideas emerged? Perhaps it has become easier to stay in touch?
— Yes, this was already the eleventh meeting. Since we started, the community has grown significantly—both in terms of the number of participants and the stability of our connections. While the first meetings were more about getting to know each other and finding a common language, we now have a core group of people who know how to prepare and facilitate events, as well as a pool of speakers ready to share their expertise. New participants have joined from various cities in Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, and the Baltic states. Communication has become more regular thanks to small city meetups, online discussions, and joint projects. It has become simpler and more horizontal: people already know they can count on support.
— What forms of self-organization are actually working now—especially in the conditions of emigration, constant instability, and fragmentation?
— Small autonomous groups work best—informal, flexible, and without unnecessary bureaucracy. Such cells can react quickly and get concrete things done: organizing events, helping others, or gathering resources. Trust between participants is more important than the specific format. We often discuss how to maintain this trust and avoid burnout. A distributed model also helps, where there is no single ‘center,’ and connections are built on the principle of mutual aid.
— How do you build solidarity between people from different countries, languages, and contexts, especially if everyone is in exile with different backgrounds?
— Through joint action and honest conversation. When we do something together—prepare an event, write a text, or have a discussion by the campfire—barriers dissolve. We all share the experience of loss and relocation, but also a common desire to preserve something and pass it on. We try not to isolate ourselves within national circles and consciously invite participants from different countries. Respecting differences helps: we don’t try to ‘unify’ everyone, but rather give space to every voice.
— Has your position or view on political struggle changed after moving to another country? What has become harder, and what has become clearer?
It has become clearer that resilience is also a form of resistance. In emigration, it is especially evident how important it is not to burn out or lose sight of the horizon. It has become harder to feel connected to the reality on the ground in the region: news arrives fragmentarily, and contacts are sometimes lost. But at the same time, it has become easier to think strategically—from a distance, you notice how much everything is interconnected and how vital it is to maintain a space for a future return.
— In your opinion, how can one avoid getting stuck inside their own circle of activists? What helps maintain openness and move forward?
— Constant interaction with different environments helps: culture, education, local German initiatives, and migrant associations. We try not to turn into an ‘interest club’ but seek points of interaction with others. Sometimes it’s just communal cooking or an open event in the city, but these are exactly the things that bring back a sense of reality and connection with people.
— Many activists face burnout and trauma. How do you manage to balance self-care with participation in politics and community life?
— It’s difficult, and there is no universal recipe. Collective care helps: when the community itself is built as a supportive space. We discuss burnout openly, use art therapy practices, arrange group walks, and even include ‘quiet hours’ in the meeting schedules. Self-care becomes a political act because without it, it’s impossible to continue the journey. The main thing is not to be alone and not to be ashamed of your exhaustion.
To participate in the 12th meeting, contact the Äppelwoi Komitee via email through their website.