2025 is a year of anniversaries in Hamburg: Alongside Stage Entertainment and the Hamburg Dungeon, we at NORD EVENT are also celebrating our 25th anniversary. And we’re marking something truly special — our 15-year partnership anniversary with the Elbe-Werkstätten. Since 2010, we have been proud to count several employees from the Elbe-Werkstätten as part of our operational team, relying on their support: Together with their supervisor Jörn Michaelis, the team prepares our events at various venues — from polishing cutlery to setting the tables.

One of these colleagues is Vesna Stojkovic, with whom we had an extended conversation about her life journey, her dreams, and her work at the Elbe-Werkstätten during our shared sailing trip aboard the Mare Frisium.

When she was little, Vesna says, she always wanted to become a flight attendant. “I have always been fascinated not only by the work itself but also by the many different languages spoken around the world,” she explains. Today, she continues to learn new languages through her collaboration with NORD EVENT, where people from all over the world work hand in hand. Vesna is a longstanding member of the Elbe-Werkstätten team that supports us at NORD EVENT. She has been working with the Elbe-Werkstätten for 17 years — and for 15 of those, with us.

What does she like most about it? “That the Elbe-Werkstätten enable us to work directly with companies and, above all, with people who do not have disabilities,” Vesna says. She especially values the opportunity to choose her own workplace through the Elbe-Werkstätten without being tied to rigid daily schedules. According to Vesna, the variety of working hours at different workplaces is always exciting.

Speaking of varied and exciting — that’s how she describes her tasks at NORD EVENT. “Every day is something special,” Vesna sums up. “I really enjoy setting the tables with their different requirements — especially when it’s for a wedding and I get to help with the decorations. I also like folding napkins and setting up the beverage station with coffee, tea, and water glasses for conferences.”

Vesna’s enthusiasm is unmistakable — an infectious passion that shines through when she talks about her work, especially her inclusive work environment: “I really think that’s fantastic,” she says. As we sail past the Blankenese Stair Quarter under full sails in bright sunshine, she recalls one of her most memorable experiences with NORD EVENT.

“In 2010, when we were still new at NORD EVENT, our entire group went to Kieler Woche and even got to sail a bit on the Mare Frisium,” Vesna recalls. She also remembers the kitchen party at the VLET Cooking Lounge in early 2020 that we celebrated together. What started as a regular setup shift with chefs Lars Möller and Tobias Lehmann turned into a surprise party for the team — complete with great food and a wonderful atmosphere.

When she’s not on duty, Vesna enjoys going for walks and shopping — always accompanied by music. After a brief chat about our favorite artists and concerts we’d like to attend, we also talk about the hopes and dreams we have for the future.

“My greatest wish is that my schizophrenia will one day no longer affect me,” she confides, “and that I can continue working until retirement.”

Work is our mission — not just a promise, but a lived reality at the Elbe-Werkstätten. At NORD EVENT, we are proud to support this because our collaboration demonstrates how valuable inclusion in the workplace can be. Thanks to this and other partnerships, people with disabilities are given the opportunity to grow, take on responsibility, and be part of a professional team. Vesna is just one of many employees who have benefited from this cooperation and who gladly shares her experience: “When I talk to others about the Elbe-Werkstätten, I always emphasize that although we have a disability, we are still part of an external group that works directly on-site at a company. And that there are many other areas offered where each person can individually decide what suits them best.”

Vesna chose us at NORD EVENT — a decision we were grateful for then and still are today. As we return to the dock aboard the Mare Frisium, we say our goodbyes, but not for long, because the season is slowly starting, and there’s plenty of work ahead. “This is going to be great!” Vesna exclaims with a smile — and that’s exactly how we feel too.

On behalf of the entire team, we would like to thank Vesna and her colleagues, as well as supervisor Jörn Michaelis, for the many years of collaboration. The Elbe-Werkstätten are no longer just a partner but a true part of the NORD EVENT family, and we look forward to many more years of working together. Would you like to learn more about how your company can collaborate with the Elbe-Werkstätten? Then visit https://www.elbe-werkstaetten.de/!