Hugenottenkabinett - Kids´ Club at the Hugenottenkabinett

Kids' Club at the Hugenottenkabinett in Burg, Starting Nov. 15, 2007

As early as 300 years ago the premises of today's Hugenot museum served the growing together of refugees and established residents. Since the arrival of over one hundred Hugenot families from France, Switzerland and southern Germany at the end of the 17th century, it took 120 years until they finally lived together comfortably in Burg.

Looking back you could say that both sections in the population gained a lot from this process of getting closer together. It was a long process interspersed with successes and failures before both groups accepted the other; and it would not have happened without the care and support of the 'official patronage', as we would call it today (edict from Potsdam in 1685 and the patronage of the Royal House of Hohenzollern). Integration was wanted and it was supported ideologically, logistically and also financially.

Goal of the Project:

As a protestant church we feel called upon to be actively involved with our resources in shaping immigration and integration in this 'European Year of Equal Opportunity 2007' as proclaimed by the European Union. We want to contribute our part to the successful coming together of all nationalities in our region. We recognise the opportunity that a number of social players in the region can cooperate in attaining this goal as part of the local action plan of the City of Burg.

In particular we intend to speak to children and their families (as well as related persons in the periphery) with the goal of enabling and supporting every-day life learning as well as organised learning opportunities through participation.
We think that it is of utmost importance to create opportunities for children and families - with and without a migration background - to meet. We see this as a prerequisite to attain the basic competence of tollerance.
- The idea is that by getting to know others and learning mutual appreciation of each other, experiences are gained which lead to the establishment and enhancement of healthy attitudes. As a result children accept their interaction with others / strangers as normal without any biases.
Accompanied verbal and non-verbal communication opportunities are to assist in successful co-existence as well as equal opportunities in the respective educational biographies.
Common ground and differences in religious aspects and worldviews are to be worked out. .
Conflicts are to be made visible with the goal of establishing and practicing non-violent methods to solve conflicts.

Project description:

Children (of all ages) meet regularly in the premises of the Hugenot museum. Here children of German parents are deliberately brought together with foreign children. The programe: getting to know activities, thematic activities and eating together.
Outings and common celebrations with families.
Including parents in the children's meetings with the goal of getting to know each other and overcoming biases and prejudices.
Participation in common activities as part of the local action plan.
If there is interest then special programes such as early education in English.
Conflict management in individual cases.

The coexistence of local people and immigrants is not successful without effort. Both sides have to contribute to the success with their own integration efforts. As one of the social actors in active education we would like to contribute toward this goal with our project.