Freedom Team Interview

Freedom Team Interview: Lisa Beier in Focus

1. Please share a few words about yourself?

Lisa did her 5-month internship at the FNF office in Sofia as part of her studies which are called Foreign Trade / International Management. She’s been studying in Hamburg for the past 2.5 years and alongside her academic studies, she worked in the social sector. She holds a scholarship of the FNF, which has allowed her to take part in many of the foundation's seminars in Germany and she now wanted to get actively involved in the work of the foundation herself through the internship. Lisa is also a member of the German liberal party FDP and gained some first political experiences in local committees.

2. Share some fun facts about you?

Last year, Lisa found out through a DNA test that 36% of her origins are in Eastern Europe and 34% in the Balkans, which is why for her this experience abroad was also a kind of journey to her own cultural roots.

She also has a personal connection to the foundation: she graduated from the same school that Friedrich Naumann attended. Although the school had been re-established between their school days, you could say that Lisa has been on the trail of liberalism for quite some time.

3. Which liberal values you are most passionate about?

Self-determination is particularly important to Lisa, but she states that a society can only harmonize if there is also a high degree of tolerance and pluralism. She believes that liberalism is the best approach to achieving all of this.

4. What have been your first impressions from your position in FNF?

Lisa started her internship in the FNF office in Sofia on the 1st of March, which is the date of an ancient Bulgarian tradition called “Baba Marta”. On that day and a few days afterwards, Bulgarians exchange and wear the so-called “Martenitsas” – decorative pieces of red and white twisted threads, symbolizing health and happiness and a lucky charm against evil spirits. Lisa received several of those Martenitsas from her colleagues in the office, which has been a very warm welcome for her. It was a great way to get to know both her colleagues and Bulgarian traditions, and Lisa immediately felt at ease in the team.

5. What has been most interesting and challenging about your position in FNF?

Gaining insights into the work of the regional office, which is responsible for the entire region of East and Southeast Europe, has opened up a wide range of topics. Even though the problems people face are different everywhere - from war, to unstable or authoritarian governments, to the restriction of certain rights such as those of the LGBTQ community - in the end it is always about the same principles: Freedom, democracy and human rights. On the one hand, this has made Lisa realize that a peaceful society can be threatened by countless threats at any time, but it has also given her hope that there are people everywhere who, despite all the difficulties, are standing up against these dangers.

6. Given your background so far, what and how did you contribute to the mission of FNF and pursuit of Freedom?

Her academic background, studying “International Management”, gave Lisa easier access to this internship abroad right from the start. But also the fact that she has been active in the “liberal family” for quite some time was an advantage for her when it came to collaborative projects with other European organizations.

7. What is your Freedom message?

Nur wer still stehen bleibt, tritt keinem auf die Füße. – Guido Westerwelle