Employees of the Pestalozzi Children's Foundation have contributed to a new publication on the topic of democracy education. The book brings together practical contributions from the field of education and shows how democratic participation can be made tangible for children and young people and why democracy education is indispensable.
The contributions from the Pestalozzi Children's Village highlight three different approaches: In the future workshop, young people set their own topics, think in a visionary way and develop concrete first steps towards change. Media production enables pupils to create their own podcasts and radio programmes - and experience how information is created, has an impact and needs to be scrutinised. Finally, in the school city project, around 200 young people build their own city for a whole week: with a government, businesses, parliament and their own currency. They learn what democracy really means: taking responsibility, negotiating conflicts and standing up for each other.
All approaches have one thing in common: Young people should not only hear about democracy, but experience it directly and help shape it.
Democracy education is a central component of the Pestalozzi Children's Village's educational projects. Whether in youth conferences, media project weeks or international exchange programmes: Democracy education is a common thread that empowers young people to help shape a sustainable society.