Ein arguments instead of judging: Martina Striek brings neighbors together

Ein arguments instead of judging: Martina Striek brings neighbors together

Lemförde, Deutschland - in the "Altes Amt" Lemförde community, Martina Striek, the volunteer arbitrator from Hüde, ensures peace among neighbors. Your mission? To settle disputes such as noise, hedges and neighboring disputes before landing in court. The Lower Saxony arbitration law gives her the legal basis, and her experience shows that personal conversations are often the key to the solution.

The 53-year-old professional consultant has already worked on numerous cases since taking office in June 2020. "I don't listen, judgments, and find matches to make compromises," explains Striek. Your motto: "Ein instead of judge!" In pandemic there was an increase in disputes because people spent more time at home. "The stimulus threshold was lower," she notes. But this year it seems to be calmer. "I'm knocking on wood," she adds humorously.

The way to the arbitrator

If you want to become an arbitrator yourself, you can find out more from the community. Previous knowledge is not necessary, but patience and knowledge of people are an advantage. Striek visited several training courses to be prepared for their task. An arbitration interview costs the applicant 50 euros, and the arbitrator is obliged to invite both parties for a conversation. "Once a neighbor broke off the conversation, so I had to impose a job," she reports. However, such incidents are the exception. "Most people here want peace," said Striek.

She has many positive examples, for example as neighbors built a fence together to prevent a dog from running on the neighboring property. "Three out of four cases end with a comparison," she says proudly. This comparison is valid and can be taken into account in court. Striek is passionate about the arbitration talks: "It is a compromise that the parties have agreed on."