Projektpräsentation
Europe@DJHT
Internationaler Bund (IB)
Preschool children from Jena playfully discover Europe. They open their children's parliament for questions, discussions, and presentations about Europe. Their topics include justice, peace, and dealing with nature, all using exciting methods according to the motto: Discovering Europe.
What do little children think about big Europe? What ideas and wishes do they have for living together in Europe? What do children think about national borders, language barriers, and the protection of natural resources? How do they want to shape their future on this continent? At the Lichtenhainer Zwerge Kindergarten in Jena, participation, global thinking, and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) are conceptually fused into one. For their work, they were awarded a prize by the IB foundation Schwarz-Rot-Bunt in 2023.
With the project "Europa-Entdecker" (Europe Explorers), children are given the opportunity to playfully discover Europe. The goal is to provide children with the space to develop, articulate, and participate in a fascinating process of exploring their ideas about Europe. Children have their own unique perspective on the world. They notice shortcomings that adults accept and see potentials wich are hidden from the eyes of adultes. Weekly morning circles and the monthly children's parliament complement everyday activities. The children decide on the topics and priorities. Leading the way, the preschoolers introduce the countries of Europe to the younger children. At the center of this is the self-designed XXL Europe puzzle, which all the children can repeatedly turn to, ensuring that the topic is picked up weekly. "Why are there borders?" or "How do people differ?" and "What is common in the countries?" Enthusiastically and with great creativity, the children engage in these questions - each with their own curiosity and expertise. The ideas were written down in an open letter and recorded in a video message, which, through the European Parliament member Katharina Barley, was sent to the European Parliament in Brussels. The children actively participate and stand up for their ideas about Europe. They practice democratic voting, acceptance of other opinions, and respect for other people. The children are heard and taken seriously. This increases their sense of self-efficacy and participation - even reaching into the European Parliament.
The presentation of the project is framed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (DGBNE e.V.). To make Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) come alive in the daycare concept, it has to connect to the children's world. Children are empowered to participate in decision making and to take action. For learning together as equals, there needs to be space, opportunities, and stimuli to think and act with a future-oriented approach. It involves understanding relationships and values that are crucial for their (own) future. The DGBNE accompaniment works with innovative approaches and provides participatory methods for responsible contribution to an ecologically sustainable and socially fair environment.
Further information
https://ib-kitas.de/standort/211822
Project / department
Kinderförderung und -bildung