Pupils from Schoenwalder Elementary School express dissent against discriminatory practices
Last Friday, a summer festival took place at Friedrich-Hiller-Grundschule in Schönwalde, Ostholstein, marking a significant milestone for the primary school. The event celebrated the school's receipt of the "School Without Racism - School With Courage" award, a European grassroots initiative promoting schools to combat racism and foster a culture of respect and courage.
The award was given due to the students' efforts against racism and exclusion. Over 90% of the students signed a self-commitment to promote respectful coexistence, and a working group consisting of community representatives was formed to prevent violence and exclusion at the school.
Manja Krausche, the coordinator of the program, praised the students' commitment. Jasmin Grosnick, a Holstein-Kiel footballer, has offered her support to the students' project, thanking them for setting an example for diversity at their school.
The school and its students took action after incidents of burglary with xenophobic vandalism and right-wing graffiti occurred in 2024. Since then, the school and the community have been working together to create a place where everyone feels welcome, regardless of origin, religion, or skin color.
Doris Jürs, the principal of Friedrich-Hiller-Grundschule, expressed pride in being the first primary school in Ostholstein to receive the award. She emphasized that the school's journey has transformed a question of "Why?" into a powerful statement of "Why not - Now more than ever!?"
The "School Without Racism - School With Courage" award signifies a commitment to being a school and a community where respect, tolerance, and courage are lived. The criteria for the award typically include a commitment signed by a majority of students, teachers, and staff to oppose any form of racism, the implementation of proactive school activities and projects promoting tolerance and diversity, and the establishment of a team or council that monitors adherence to these principles and coordinates related events.
This initiative began in Germany and has since spread widely across Europe, involving hundreds to thousands of schools who display the award logo and participate in annual events. Examples of schools that have received this award include the Nelson Mandela School in Berlin and Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium Pirna, both of which publicly reference their status as “School Without Racism - School With Courage” institutions.
The award celebration was not just for the recognition of the award but also for acknowledging the collective journey towards creating a respectful and inclusive environment. Doris Jürs confirmed this, stating that the celebration was a testament to the school's commitment to openness and the promotion of respectful coexistence. The Ahrensbök memorial site is also involved in the program that promotes openness at the school.
The festival was a celebration of the school's achievements and a call to action for the community to continue supporting the school's mission. Many actors from the working group participated in the summer festival, highlighting the school and the community's joint efforts towards creating a more inclusive society. The speech given by Doris Jürs at the summer festival highlighted the journey taken by the school and the community together.
[1] Nelson Mandela School [2] Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium Pirna
- The Nelson Mandela School in Berlin and Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium Pirna, like Friedrich-Hiller-Grundschule in Schönwalde, are both "School Without Racism - School With Courage" institutions, emphasizing their commitment to fostering a culture of respect, tolerance, and courage.
- The celebration of Friedrich-Hiller-Grundschule receiving the "School Without Racism - School With Courage" award not only marked their achievement but also served as a call-to-action for the community to continue promoting openness, respectful coexistence, and education on self-development.
