The Open School 21
The Project
Since 1996 the Open School 21 has developed a wide range of workshops for school students and teachers in the city of Hamburg in order to promote an understanding of justice, peace and sustainable development. The Open School 21 draws on the expert knowledge and experience of people who have lived in or come from developing countries. These experts may be artists, academics, musicians, journalists, community or development workers, anthropologists, doctors or business people. Their authentic experience of development issues in the context of increasing globalization and their commitment to human rights, justice, peace and sustainable development makes them a valuable resource for school students and teachers alike. The team also includes experts from local non-government organisations working on these issues.
Aims and Objectives
The project wants to offer pupils the chance to understand global dependencies and encourage them to take an active part in the struggle for a just and secure future for all. Getting to know and respect other cultures and learning about living and working conditions of people elsewhere provides a new perspective on common responsibilities. This can be a challenging and exciting learning experience. Therefore you will find workshops in our programme on music and art in various countries as well as workshops on child labour and poverty. Other topics include: Hamburg's colonial past, world trade and fair trade, racism and migration, globalization, natural resources and war, etc. The Open School 21 tries to encourage teachers and pupils to reflect on their own value system, culture, lifestyle and their role as consumers. It hopes to empower them to become important activists for global sustainable development.
Learning and Teaching Methods
Education for sustainable development requires a high level of active participation by everyone involved in order
to achieve long lasting results. Therefore teaching methods include a wide range of illustrative materials, audio-visual
aids and creative incentives for the participants to express their own feelings points of view. Wherever possible the
workshops are held at locations that are relevant for the particular topics concerned e.g. on a boat tour through the
harbour, during a visit to the fair-trade centre, on a guided tour through the city centre or at the intercultural
centre "Werkstatt 3".
A high standard of teaching in the Open School 21 is ensured by providing support and training for all tutors.
They are continuously briefed on new developments in the educational field and they are offered courses especially
designed to enable them to meet the challenges that education for sustainable development holds.
Organisation
Around 5 000 pupils and their teachers attend the Open School's workshops annually. The workshops last 1,5 hrs.
The minimum fee is € 60,- per workshop or € 3,- per person. The programme is designed for all ages and all types of
schools. It is published in form of a booklet once a year and sent to all schools in Hamburg as well as 1 500 individuals.
Currently 25 freelance experts are offering 30 different workshops. The project office is run by two co-ordinators
and a finance director.
Networking
The Open School 21 could not fulfill any of its tasks without continuous cooperation with other individuals and organisations in the field of education for sustainable development. Networking is essential to contribute to and gain from current debates in the field as well as picking up current issues of interest and concern to the pupils in Hamburg. Therefore the Open School 21 is working closely with various environmental and cultural education projects in Hamburg, with the city's education department, with migrants' and refugees' organisations, with schools, colleges and churches. Besides that it has become a competent partner organisation or model for ESD projects throughout Germany.
Public Awards
The UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development seeks to promote public understanding of the principles behind sustainability. The German Unesco Committee awarded the Open School 21 the title of "Official Project of the UN Decade" for the years 2005 to 2012.
The Open School 21 is open to all questions, suggestions and partnerships concerning education for sustainable development!
You are welcome to contact us at:
Open School 21
der Werkstatt 3 e. V.
Nernstweg 32
22765 Hamburg
Germany
phone: ++49 (0)40 - 39 80 76 90
fax: ++49 (0)40 - 39 80 53 69
info(at)openschool.de
www.openschool21.de