Gesamtschule Leverkusen-Schlebusch (GLS) offers the Award
„Duke of Edinburgh Award“ supports strengths of young people – Gesamtschule Leverkusen-Schlebusch (GLS) is a part of the framework for non-formal education
The GLS did not hesitate for long when the offer came to participate in a very special project: True to the motto “There is more in you than you think!”, young people’s talents are discovered that may go unrecognised in everyday school life, self-confidence and teamwork are trained, the young people learn to stand on their own two feet and gain completely new experiences. These are just some of the goals that the project pursues.
Participants in the training from left to right: Ulrich Bornewasser (Currenta), Katharina Baahrs (Education Office of the City of Leverkusen), Daniela Deckert (Currenta), Andreas Brenken (Didactic Director of the GLS), Torsten Fischer (All-day Coordinator of the GLS), Bruno Bermes (Headmaster of the GLS), Arne Loth (Duke Award).
“The project hidden behind the somewhat unwieldy name “Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award” is a very special pearl that fits wonderfully with our educational concept and our pupils. In addition, it ties in with thoughts and plans that we have had in mind for a long time,” says Andreas Brenken, Didactic Director at GLS. “What’s particularly great about this programme is that pupils decide on their own project, which they plan on their own responsibility, that they set themselves personal goals and thus challenge themselves,” explains Torsten Fischer, all-day coordinator at the GLS. In this voluntary project, the young people are allowed to look for and realise goals from the areas of commitment, fitness, talents and Adventurous Journeys. The bronze, silver and gold levels require more and more time and personal responsibility. For example, a group of students from Berlin set themselves the (gold) goal of crossing the Rondane National Park in Norway on foot.
“An Adventurous Journey like this is a special highlight for me, where pupils plan and carry out a hike lasting several days with overnight stays in tents in small groups and largely on their own responsibility,” finds Anne Jürgensen, teacher at GLS.
The project has already started with a training of 10 colleagues at the Leverkusen-Schlebusch Comprehensive School. The entertaining event was led by Arne Loth from the Duke Award, who had travelled from Berlin especially for the occasion.
Start of implementation with an initially smaller pilot group of pupils is planned for the beginning of 2023.
(Courtesy of GLS – please find the entire article on the school’s homepage.)
