Returning home to Mecklenburg: Why many want to return to their roots

Returning home to Mecklenburg: Why many want to return to their roots

A remarkable trend has developed in Germany in recent years: many young people are returning to their home regions. This return trend is particularly noticeable in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In a personal report, an author describes his return after spending time in the capital Berlin, where the traffic and noise were very stressful. He sat on his terrace, enjoyed the smell of grilled sausages and let the calls of seagulls remind him of the coast. On his travels through various cities in Germany he got to know the advantages of the metropolises, but ultimately he felt why he wanted to go back to the Uckermark. When asked whether he has arrived in his homeland, he reflects on the challenges and opportunities that his place of origin offers him. Uckermark courier reported.

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, various initiatives are underway to counteract the ongoing emigration trend. One of these is the return agency mv4you, which has been active in Schwerin since 2001. Loud Deutschlandfunk culture The agency now has over 7,300 registered people, many of whom say they are homesick. Young people in particular who have traveled to other federal states in search of career prospects are increasingly considering returning to their home country.

A look at the numbers

However, the migration of young adults from East Germany remains a significant issue. In 2023, around 7,100 people aged 18 to 30 moved from East to West Germany, an increase that cannot be overlooked. How ZDF today reports, a total of 727,000 young people have left East Germany since 1991. Most of them move on for studies and vocational training.

The return agency mv4you has recorded an increasing number of people wanting to return in recent years. This year, 250 people have already deregistered, which indicates that they have found work and are therefore taking the step back to their home country. This development shows that the agency represents an important contact point for counteracting demographic change and the labor shortage in the East.

Home as a point of attraction

Those willing to return are not only looking for a new job, but also for an improved quality of life that their home regions can offer. After years in urban areas, the longing for more spontaneity and family connection has certainly played its part in helping many people find their way back. The author of this moving returnee story encourages other readers to share their own experiences of arrival and return - because every story is unique.

The challenge remains that structural problems, such as low net incomes, often also need to be addressed in the region. But there is hope: companies in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are increasingly looking for skilled workers, especially in the areas of engineering, IT and crafts. For many, the journey back can also be an opportunity to redesign their own career in a familiar environment. Right now it is clear that people are more willing than ever to rediscover the roots of their homeland.