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Generation Change

Germany’s bureaucracy buddy on the paper trail

In Germany, official paperwork like filing for unemployment benefits can be complicated. Diana Lantzen from Cologne gave up a well-paying job to help others navigate German bureaucracy – and even started advertising her services on eBay. She works with the organization Wir gehen mit (We’ll go along) and accompanies those who need it to important appointments, like at the unemployment or foreigners’ office.

Beyond that, also she’s using the IT knowledge she gained in her former job to develop web-based assistance programs in the social sector.

Listen to the report by Marcus Costello in Cologne:

Diana Lantzen

Diana used to work in IT, but found that money isn’t the most important thing in life (Photo: Diana Lantzen)

Diana (second from right) has found a way to implement her specific skill set when it comes to helping others ( Photo: M. Costello)

Diana (second from right) has found a way to implement her specific skill set when it comes to helping others ( Photo: M. Costello)

Date

Tuesday 25.03.2014 | 12:38

Tags

bureaucracy, Germany, IT

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