Author: Netti

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

For more than seven years, extreme athlete Norman Bücher has been running around the world as a youth ambassador, giving young people a voice. For his project “7 CONTINENTS – Run for Voices,” he talks with children and young people on all seven continents about their hopes, dreams, and fears, carrying their messages all the way to the United Nations. As a sponsor, we have been supporting this endeavor since last year, and we’re glad to share the latest stops in this post, along with a look ahead to the final leg of the project.

School events in Karlsruhe

During his African leg last year, Bücher was accompanied by a cameraman. This resulted in a moving documentary film. It is particularly important to him to show the film to students in the Karlsruhe area.

The film centers not only on the extraordinary running routes through Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya, but above all on the encounters with young people and their personal stories. Afterward, students can discuss topics such as education, future opportunities, courage, responsibility, and community together with Norman Bücher.

May 22, 2026 – Pestalozzi School Durlach

The series kicked off on May 22, 2026 at Pestalozzi School Durlach with two film screenings, each followed by workshops. In total, around 240 students from grades 3 through 9 experienced the film that day and discussed what they had seen afterward.

June 23, 2026 – European School Karlsruhe

About a month later, a screening also took place at the European School Karlsruhe.

For the roughly 120 students in attendance, the event offered a chance to gain new perspectives. It became clear that young people around the world often share similar hopes and dreams – regardless of which country they live in.

Further dates are planned in the coming weeks.

A conversation with Norman Bücher

Following the school visits so far, we spoke with Norman Bücher – about moving encounters and what adults can learn from young people.

What was the most moving moment of your journey that has stayed with you?

There isn’t just “one” most moving moment for me. What has always stayed with me are the moments when I met people – when strangers invited me to eat with them, when I encountered people with incredible hospitality and warmth.

Why is it important to you to show the film specifically in schools?

Because 7 CONTINENTS is about young people and their perspectives and hopes. The film gives young people here in Germany unfiltered insight into the everyday lives of other young people in East Africa. The documentary allows viewers to look beyond their own horizon and encourages reflection. That’s very important to me personally.

What impact do you hope to have on the students?

The best part is when I immediately notice that something has made an impression. That’s exactly what the feedback shows – for example, when students talk about how impressed they were by the sense of community among the people featured in the film, or how much they enjoyed listening to the young interviewees from East Africa.

Your experiences are interesting to us adults, too. For example, what can teachers and parents learn from your experiences?

Ask more questions – explain less. I didn’t run around the world to give young people answers. I ran to ask questions. Many adults believe their job is to pass on knowledge, provide solutions, or point the way. My project shows something different: young people often want to be heard first.

Everyone wants to be seen. Whether in Rwanda, India, Bhutan, or South America: People are different, but one need seems to be the same everywhere: “See me.” Teachers can have an enormous influence on this. Often, decades later, a person doesn´t remember worksheets or lesson content – but they do remember the teacher who believed in them. The teacher who asked, “How are you really doing?” Adults who saw their potential.

Humanity is not a side note. Many adults invest enormous energy in performance, structure, processes, and results. This is especially important for teachers: professional competence is important. Humanity makes the difference.

The final leg of your journey is coming up soon. Can you give us a small preview?

At the end of August, I’ll set off from the Capitol in Washington, D.C., for the final leg of 7 CONTINENTS. After running thousands of kilometers and having countless encounters, I’ll reach the United Nations in New York in mid-September. That is the symbolic destination where I’ll present the voices, hopes, and messages gathered from young people over the course of more than seven years of this project.

We wish you all the best for the journey, and thank you so much for the interview!

Our commitment to 7 CONTINENTS

Norman Bücher’s experiences show what can happen when you truly listen to young people: open conversations instead of ready-made answers, a genuine shift in perspective, and the feeling of being seen and taken seriously. That’s exactly why we at IT-Choice support this project: to facilitate encounters that inspire reflection, foster understanding, and encourage young people to make their voices heard. Because the future is created where people listen to one another.

Blog entry about Africa leg