Maël Vidal was born and grew up in Auroville before going to France to pursue higher studies, where he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social anthropology. After some back and forths, he returned in 2021 and was a member of the Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly from 2022 – 2025. Here he talks about the experience of these last years spent in the Working Committee and what he would like to do now.

The German Government set up the Weltwärts programme to allow young Germans to volunteer in a different country for 6-18 months in areas like education, health, environment, culture and human rights, in order to broaden their minds and strengthen international understanding.  The North-South programme which brought German volunteers to Auroville has been running here since 2008, but now it has come to an end. However, the South-North programme which allows young Indians from Auroville and the neighbourhood to work in Germany is continuing. Karin, who has been a mentor of both groups, talks about the programmes.