Minor Matters?Interview with Martina Hasenfratz about her involvement with Café Exil

2 August 2023

Photo: Hasenfratz

In the doctoral phase, you dive deep into your own topic while in many cases already publishing diligently and gaining teaching experience. All of this is often so time-consuming that other activities become, at least at times, a minor matter for many doctoral candidates.

In our interview series "minor matters?", we present doctoral students who are nevertheless involved in the university environment alongside their research work – but why, what does that do for them and how do they balance it all? Today we are talking to Martina Hasenfratz, who is doing a doctorate on "Menstruation and Sustainability" in the DFG Research Group "Futures of Sustainability" at Universität Hamburg.

What exactly is this "minor matter" you are involved in besides your doctorate?

Since 2015, I have been actively involved with Café Exil, an anti-racist counseling and support center for refugees and migrants here in Hamburg. One afternoon each week, I dedicate my time to the counseling service. Moreover, I occasionally accompany individuals to authorities, assist them in preparing for asylum hearings, and take part in organizing rallies and demonstrations to address asylum policy issues, or give presentations on specific asylum and residency-related topics.

Why do you invest your (certainly often scarce) time and energy here?

Political activism is an essential means for me to effect change or draw societal attention to specific issues. I believe it is not enough to merely express frustration or write about certain matters; action is required. That's why I have been involved with Café Exil for many years, sharing my privileges and practical knowledge with those who face immense challenges in this society. These are individuals who often lack access to education and employment, living with the constant fear of deportation.

What tips do you have on how to get started with such a commitment without having to go beyond your own limits?

It is important to set a time frame for both the doctoral research and the volunteer commitment. That's why I reserve one afternoon each week for my volunteer work, and anything additional is done only when I have the capacity. While my main focus is naturally on my dissertation, this project also benefits from having one day a week dedicated to something different.