Potsdam invests 75,000 euros in education for disadvantaged children!

Potsdam invests 75,000 euros in education for disadvantaged children!

There is always something you can do to improve education! An impressive example of this is the “Educational Support” project, which has been financed by the city of Potsdam since 2022. This honorable project aims to significantly improve the educational opportunities of children and young people who are not entitled to state learning support. This is where the dedicated volunteer educational assistants come into play: They support young people with school challenges and help them to learn and repeat the lesson material.

With a total of 160 children, teenagers and young adults supported since the project started in 2021, the project has not only asked questions, but also delivered impressive results. There are now 77 volunteer educational guides active and demand continues unabated. An average of 60 accompanied children are expected in 2024, while the need will increase to 75 children in 2025 Meeting point Potsdam reported.

Volunteer work and awards

The dedicated work of the volunteers is not only appreciated by the families of those involved, but is also officially honored. While the AWO 2024 received the Lotte Lemke Commitment Prize for the “Educational Support” project, the jury emphasized the individual support of children and young people. This happens by strengthening their self-esteem, motivation to learn and social skills. The prize is endowed with 2,000 euros and benefits the volunteer educational supervisors, such as Wisal Alatala, Anna Komsic and Rainer Rettig. Project manager Jörn Mensching, acting head of the KINDER(ar)MUT office, is enthusiastic about the reward for their continuous support over at least half a school year AWO Potsdam reported.

The challenge of educational equity

In Germany, educational equality is still far from where it should be. Children from socially disadvantaged households often have worse educational opportunities than their peers from privileged families. The discussion about this grievance was reignited after the PISA results in 2001. Dr. In her podcast, Anne Christin Holtmann sheds light on the causes of educational injustice and shows that the influence of one's parents should not alone determine educational success.

In countries like Finland, for example, it is clear that there is a high level of equal opportunities and successful compensatory mechanisms in schools. While various reforms such as all-day schools and school mergers were introduced in Germany after the “PISA shock”, the need for reform remains. In order to promote social mixing in schools and thus increase the performance of socially disadvantaged students, a rethink is required, such as this Federal Agency for Civic Education notes.

The “educational support” project in Potsdam is a step in the right direction to reduce the gap between different social classes. Not only knowledge is imparted here, but also self-confidence, motivation and the joy of learning. There’s something to be said, dear readers – let’s tackle it, together for fairer education!