"A day in the world" - a virtual project that gives courage

Younsters from Osterode, Germany, and Kaolack, Senegal, shoot video and meet virtually

Overview

The in-person meetings of the school partnership between Osterode in Germany and Kaolack in Senegal, which were postponed due to the pandemic, were replaced by a video project. The students recorded on video scenes from their everyday lives and how the COVID-19 pandemic is being tackled. They used the footage to produce a film entitled 'A day in the world'.

Background

On 2 February 2020, when a group of school students from the Tilman-Riemenschneider-Gymnasium in Osterode were sitting in the plane from Dakar to Hamburg at the end of their project trip, no one guessed that after nine years of close cooperation, including regular visits, this would be the last in-person meeting for quite some time. And for 2021 too, real meetings between groups of students from the two continents seem a rather remote possibility.

The meetings, which are aligned with the topics of the 2030 Agenda, are the cornerstone of the multidimensional partnership between Osterode and Kaolack. What began with an exchange of emails between two teachers in March 2012 has since become an acknowledged good practice example for cooperation between equal partners. The so-called Osterode model comprises three pillars: As well as the school partnership, since 2018 the two municipalities have maintained a friendship that has now turned into a climate partnership. And finally, the Elhadj Diouf Foundation is working to promote education, bring people together and create prospects – with a special focus on youth.

Objectives

Despite the travel restrictions caused by the pandemic, the school students wish to keep in touch and show that there is much more which unites them than divides them. They are learning a great deal about the everyday lives of their counterparts, and are building a solid foundation for real meetings, once they become possible again.

Activities

In late March 2020 the Tilman-Riemenschneider-Gymnasium and the Lycée Valdiodio Ndiaye already launched a campaign entitled 'We're staying at home and being creative!' The students wrote poems and short stories, drew cartoons and designed puzzles.

In November 2020 it was then time to begin the virtual video project, the film 'A day in the world'. Equipped with one smartphone and one tablet each, the purchase of which was funded by the Educational Exchange Service, the students from a French class in Osterode and from the German Club at the Lycée in Kaolack filmed typical aspects of their daily lives, with a special focus on what they have in common. Amongst other things they documented their hobbies, day-to-day life in their school, daily prayers and the preparation of traditional meals. The individual items of footage were edited into a film, which will be presented in the course of 2021.

Effects

Despite the visits not taking place, the students were able not only to strengthen their friendships, but also to learn a great deal about people's everyday lives in another part of the world. How is the pandemic affecting our friends from the other continent, and how are people there dealing with it? What are the health-related, economic and social impacts? So the fact that the students had made 'a virtue out of necessity' paid off, as their teacher Tobias Rusteberg from Osterode noted enthusiastically. He added that the students were not suffering from 'coronavirus lethargy; on the contrary, they are taking many things forward and are really enjoying our ONE world'. This is the best basis on which to continue the in-person meetings once this becomes possible again.

Video: Ein Tag auf der Welt - "A day in the world"  [Wactch video at YouTube, approx. 50min]

Conclusions

The travel restrictions resulting from the coronavirus pandemic need not mean that exchange with partners in the Global South is placed entirely on hold. For school partnerships too, which really are based on in-person meetings, there are interesting digital and creative alternatives. The key requirements for this are dedication, enthusiasm, teachers to moderate the process, creative youngsters and a minimum of technical facilities including an internet connection and devices.

More information

Video: Ein Tag auf der Welt  [Watch video at YouTube, approx. 50min]

Flyer: „Ein Tag auf der Welt“ - ein virtuelles Projekt, das Mut macht [pdf]

Schulpartnerschaft Osterode – Kaolack, Senegal
https://trg-osterode.de/auslandskontakte/kaolack-senegal/

Elhadj Diouf Foundation
https://elhadj-diouf-foundation.de/gb/

Klimapartnerschaft Osterode – Kaolack
https://www.osterode.de/portal/meldungen/-osteroder-modell-nimmt-weiter-fahrt-auf-912005128-21351.html?rubrik=912000001

SKEW: Osterode am Harz: der Weg ins Engagement
https://skew.engagement-global.de/osterode-kaolack.html

Published: 05/08/2021

Contact

Tobias Rusteberg
Tilman-Riemenschneider-Gymnasium Osterode
Email: tobias.rusteberg(at)iserv-trg-oha.de

Images

Categories: COVID-19 Education Integrated urban development The social city SDGs / Agenda 2030
Regions: Africa Senegal Kaolack Europe Germany Osterode

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