Thanks to projects funded by the Karl Konrad and Ria Groeben Foundation, the Freudenberg Foundation and the Berlin Administration Department of Education, Science and Research, protagonists from nursery schools, schools and youth welfare service institutions in Reuterkiez, Neukölln, can access a reliable support system over the longer term. The support services – for instance, offer of contacts, advanced training, advisory services, process support, model development and transfers – are based on

• joint support strategies, which are focused on the educational success of all children and young people
• systematic cooperation with others and with other key protagonists in the city district
• active involvement of parents
• professional advancement of educationalists, teachers and partners.

These functions, which are coordinated in the Pedagogical Workshop run by the project provider, RAA Berlin, ensure that “One Square Kilometre of Education” is integrated within the Local Education Association, Reuterkiez, and in the “Rütli Campus” project, in local activities and the community school, and in the “Neukölln Project” supported by Stiftung Zukunft Berlin.

“One Square Kilometre of Education” is based on six core areas:

1. Quality development in schools and nursery schools counteracts the fragmentation of education – in and out of schools. Pedagogical practice reinforces children’s and youngsters’ skills in a sustainable way, if these can be promoted in various ways both in and out of educational institutions – from the first maths lesson to the second in English, morning and afternoon; from the nursery school to elementary and secondary schools.

2. Projects for quality development in schools and nursery schools and for advancing the professional skills of qualified child care workers and teachers are aimed at long-term and stable changes. But they are also appropriate ways to achieve short-term improvements in the education provision for children and young people.

3. Parents are vital education partners for nursery schools and schools. Without an active partnership on both sides, the measures designed to promote the success of children and youngsters will have a limited impact.

4. To judge the short and long-term impact of measures for quality enhancement, professional advancement and active parent involvement, four groups of children and young people are the focus of a study. The groups include children, who have just started at day-care facilities or those about to start elementary school or transferring to secondary schools, and finally all youngsters leaving school.

5. In every city district, there are protagonists who take responsibility for the education of children and young people – for instance, youth welfare or civic services, or from self-help groups comprised of parents and migrants or public urban development schemes. External support that is accepted and focuses on the creation of complex educational processes must take into consideration their views and action models, including strengths and weaknesses. It must also get involved in their networks and, if applicable, offer them support.

6. The basis of all strategies for quality enhancement, professional advancement and cooperation both on a personal and institutional level is a culture of respect, which highlights trust and principles of autonomy and participation.

The project commenced in Reuterkiez in spring 2007 and, in summer 2007, the “Neukölln Pedagogical Workshop” opened at Friedelstrasse 5.

Participants in this project are currently the Franz Schubert, Rütli, Heinrich Heine and Adolf Reichwein Schools, nursery schools at Rütlistrasse, Nikodemus, St. Christoherus, Sonnenschein, Villa Kunterbunt, Forum Social Services I and II as well as Youth Welfare institutions.

Contact and further information:

Pädagogische Werkstatt Neukölln

RAA Berlin

Sascha Wenzel, Vesna Lovri

Friedelstrasse 5

12047 Berlin

Germany

Telephone +49 (0)30 62 98 76 - 50

Fax +49 (0)30 62 98 76 - 52

E-mail SaschaWenzelRAA[at]aol[.]com, vesna.lovric[at]raa-berlin[.]de

Website www.raa-berlin.de, www.freudenbergstiftung.de/index.php?id=532 

[1] Regionale Arbeitsstellen für Bildung, Integration und Demokratie e.V. (Regional Centre of Education, Integration and Democracy (Reg. Ass.)