"If you had told me that one week in Mainz could make me both question the foundations of justice and learn which bakery sells the best pretzels, I wouldn’t have believed you. But here we are! The SoWiSo Summer School wasn’t just lectures and debates about law and justice (though, honestly, those were so good I almost started citing them in daily conversations with my friends back home). It was also the place where I made incredible friendships—people who could switch from discussing Rawls to recommending the perfect karaoke song in the same breath.
I’m leaving Mainz with my brain a little fuller, my heart a lot warmer, and my WhatsApp buzzing with new international group chat that will never, ever be quiet again."
- Anna
"I take many new friends, a better knowledge of transitional justice, psychological warfare, propaganda and more consciousness about the war in Ukraine and the stakes involved in it."
- William
"Attending the Summer School “War in Ukraine: Conflict Research, International Law, and Pathways to Peace” was a truly enriching experience. I gained valuable insights from members of the academic alliance with Mainz University, who shared diverse perspectives on the conflict in Ukraine and possible approaches to achieving peace. Beyond the academic discussions, the program allowed me to build meaningful friendships and professional connections, creating opportunities for future joint projects. Most importantly, I came away with new ideas on how young people can play an active role in the restoration and rebuilding of Ukraine, which I see as both an urgent challenge and a shared responsibility for our generation. "
- Svitlana
"From this Summer School, I take home valuable knowledge about how to relate to international relations and how to approach negotiations. The experience organized by FORTHEM was very useful and helped me develop both my academic perspective and my practical skills."
- Cristiana
"This intercultural experience is something that makes you consider the topic from different perspectives. I am really happy to have been involved in the summer school, the participants, lecturers, organisers and university are amazing! That’s a great environment for learning and improving."
- Anna
"I gained new knowledge from the lectures, particularly while preparing for debates and giving short class presentations. I also developed practical skills useful for debating, and I will bring with me wonderful memories of Mainz — of its welcoming university atmosphere, inspiring professors, and the people I had the chance to meet."
"- Yelzavet
"First of all, it was a really important and interesting experience for me, as my major is no related to international relations or law or something like that. I really appreciate the opportunity to listen to the information that is really new for me and to discover important topics. So it’s obvious that I’m taking home a lot of knew pieces of knowledge. "
- Anastasiia
"Thanks to this project I had the chance to expand my knowledge to a topic of massive actual interest while being guided by really interesting lectures held by inspiring experts, which gave me the ability to deeply understand what is going on right now in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. "
- Davide
"Being able to meet new people, from across Europe, and from very different backgrounds. Also studying topics that are new to me, and have opened my eyes to very new perspectives and new ideas. It has been a really great week, and has been an amazing opportunity to discuss such a relevant and important topic."
- Emily
"I really enjoyed connecting with students from all over Europe. I also enjoyed the non-formal way of interaction between the students an the teachers/professeors. The lectures were amazing as well."
- Jonas
"
The summer school offered profound insights into the war in Ukraine, highlighting both the possibilities and the limitations of international law in responding to conflict. I gained a deeper appreciation of peacebuilding as a long-term, multidimensional process that demands resilience, dialogue, and vision. This experience has not only broadened my academic perspective but also strengthened my motivation to contribute to more just and sustainable approaches to peace."
- Maija
"As an anthropology student a lot of the information was new, but I learned a lot both from the lecturers and other students from different academic backgrounds. The topic of this summer school was very important. I learned new terminology I can use in my studies and I gained more knowledge about the war in Ukraine. "
- Liida
"
The topics covered in the course were mostly new information for me, so each lecture was really interesting. I especially liked the speeches by professionals and the very comprehensive information package."
- Laura
- Celine
"I gained new knowledge from the lectures, particularly while preparing for debates and giving short class presentations. I also developed practical skills useful for debating, and I will bring with me wonderful memories of Mainz — of its welcoming university atmosphere, inspiring professors, and the people I had the chance to meet. "
- Liza