On July 21, Norman Bücher visited us in Karlsruhe – bringing with him a flag several meters long that has already accompanied him on parts of his journey around the world. He will also take it with him to the United Nations in New York in September. For us, as a sponsor of his “7 CONTINENTS” project, it was a special moment to welcome Bücher in person.
Food for thought
The original plan was for us to meet with Bücher and our managing director, Mirko Ketterer, in the kitchen for a brief welcome. This quickly developed into a brief impromptu talk followed by a Q&A session. Bücher spoke about his journey and his encounters with young people around the world.
Many of his encounters, especially in poorer countries, touched him deeply. The openness and curiosity with which he was received there left a lasting impression on him. “A certain amount of humility can be a good thing sometimes,” Bücher says with a smile. Many things we take for granted, like running water for a morning shower, are unthinkable in other parts of the world. Yet the desires of young people aren’t all that different from one another: basic needs are, in fact, the same worldwide – such as the desire to “be seen.”
Curious questions came from the group: Had anything serious ever happened to him on one of his journeys, or had he ever found himself in a dangerous situation? “Hardly ever,” says Bücher. On the contrary: he was almost always welcomed with open arms and invited in. Although one or two situations did turn out to be adventurous or forced him to discard his original plans and adjust his course. But the bottom line is that his experiences make him optimistic: “People are actually good, and there is a lot of humanity in the world.”
Our managing director also took the opportunity to share a few personal words with Bücher. He was particularly moved by the documentary film about the Africa leg – “a film that children and teenagers absolutely should see” said Ketterer. Bücher had already shown the film at schools in Karlsruhe over the past few weeks and discussed it with students there. You can find a detailed report on this on our blog
Signing the flag
Following the conversation, it was time for the actual highlight of the visit: we were allowed to sign the flag that will accompany Bücher on the rest of his journey. As we discovered, it was not at all easy to find a free, unwritten spot on it.
Afterwards, we all went outside together to spread out the flag and capture the moment with a few photos.
What´s Next
In early September, Bücher will set off on the final leg of his journey: together with the collected voices of the children and young people, he will carry the flag to the United Nations in New York.
We are delighted to support this wonderful project and wish you, dear Norman, all the best on the final leg – and hope that the voices of the children and young people are truly heard.
Visit to IT-Choice: Norman Bücher (left) reports on his 7 CONTINENTS project
Listening attentively: Our team in direct conversation with Bücher
Signature on the flag that accompanies Bücher on his journey
The flag in its full length – a commemorative group photo
Further information on the “7 CONTINENTS” project on our blog
