Domestic project – Learning development cooperation
Completed
It is not only in Afghanistan and Uganda that we are active in development cooperation and campaigning for educational equality; we are also committed to raising awareness of these issues in Germany. We firmly believe that the most effective approach is to start exactly where the most can be achieved for the future: in schools. As part of our domestic project, we are working with experts and educators to develop teaching materials on the causes and consequences of international crises and conflicts, using Afghanistan as an example, as well as on solutions in the context of sustainable development cooperation.
INITIAL SITUATION
Pupils in Germany have too little contact with the topic of development cooperation in school lessons. There is too little discussion of the living conditions and effects of crises on poorer and war-affected cultural groups.
In a time of omnipresent global crises, students are still too focused on their own lives and needs. They find it difficult to see complex situations from a different perspective. Complex relationships, such as the consequences of flight and migration, are difficult to understand.
Important global issues such as the right and opportunity to education are often taken for granted from the reality of our own lives. Students are also often unaware of Germany’s own role and responsibility in solving global crises. As a result, the impression quickly arises that they cannot achieve much themselves, as development cooperation is perceived as the responsibility of “others”.
“Global development education has so far been a didactically neglected area of political education and political didactics. In addition, this learning area has so far been considered very differently in the various curricula and framework plans of the federal states. From a didactic perspective, the implementation of this learning area in lessons therefore currently appears to be quite arbitrary.” – Orientation framework for global development education (2016)
Our approach
With our project for and with Hamburg schools, we want to make children and young people aware of the causes and consequences of international crises and conflicts and of possible solutions in the context of sustainable development cooperation at an early age. If children encounter these topics early on in their school career, this can have a lasting impact on their view of the world and is passed on to those around them.
To this end, we are producing teaching materials for grades 9 and 10 at grammar schools and district schools in Hamburg, which convey the causes and consequences of the current crisis situation in Afghanistan with a focus on the educational situation there in an age-appropriate way. By drawing a comparison with Germany, the pupils can identify more easily with their peers in Afghanistan. In this way, they learn to value their natural right to education and their diverse training opportunities more strongly.
Students learn that decisions at regional, national and European level are not only interlinked, but are also increasingly influenced by international interests and developments. They learn that in the face of global problems and conflicts, global solutions must be created in which each individual can participate.
We produce and distribute material for approx. 6-8 lessons in the form of texts and working materials. They are supplemented by handouts as well as information events and training courses for teachers on how to use the teaching materials.
The main topics:
Current conflicts, peace negotiations and the education situation in Afghanistan
Causes of the current crisis situation in Afghanistan
Consequences of the crisis-ridden education situation in Afghanistan e.g. poverty, flight and emigration
Effects of a global crisis (e.g. COVID-19) in a country like Afghanistan compared to Germany
Sustainable development cooperation and the role of NGOs and the civilian population or each individual
Focus on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: the right to education and the importance of education for sustainable global development
This project is supported by ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED SO FAR
A GUEST IN HAMBURG SCHOOL CLASSES
We visited some school classes in Hamburg shortly before the summer vacation and were able to answer many very interesting questions about Afghanistan.
OUR TEACHING MATERIALS
This is what the finished teaching materials look like!
GRAPHIC IMPLEMENTATION AND TRAINING FOR TEACHERS
The developed teaching materials are implemented graphically. At a training event in February in cooperation with the Hamburg Teachers' Institute, we will present the finished teaching materials to teachers and pass on important didactic tips.
CREATION OF TEACHING MATERIALS
Building on the conceptual workshops, the teaching materials are developed in collaboration with eight volunteer teachers, who teach the causes and consequences of the current crisis situation in Afghanistan with a focus on the educational situation there in an age-appropriate way.
WORKSHOP WITH TEACHERS
Together with committed teachers, we develop a concept, structure and schedule for the creation of exciting and didactic teaching materials for Hamburg schools in two concept workshops.
