Global learning/global education

Anti-Bias attempts to fight discrimination and bias. Its goal is the intensive and experienced examination of power and discrimination, as well as the elimination of repressive and discriminating ways of communication and interaction.

Our website offers:

• detailed information and literature on the Anti-Bias approach,
• our programs of theoretical and practical work with Anti-Bias,
• selected links on organizations dealing with Anti-Bias.

The Anti-Bias Network is an association that started as the Oldenburger Group, another association supporting Anti-Bias. We began our project after attending an Anti-Bias training programme at the University of Oldenburg in 2002 led by two women facilitators form South Africa.

On the one hand, our theoretical and practical basic principles are to be found in the relevant literature on Anit-Bias. On the other hand, our work involves theories, models, and methods from our academic and working contexts such as theories on culture (Rudolf Leiprecht, Stuart Hall), anti-discrimination training programs (Anita Kalpaka), as well as methods from educational and anti-discrimination work.

Anti-Bias is not supposed to be a self-contained approach with specific Anti-Bias methods. We rather see Anti-Bias as a lifestyle and as an ever-developing personal process. Furthermore, we consider the Anti-Bias approach to be an open concept (like the LINUX computer system). In this context, it is possible to apply methods of other concepts and approaches and thus continuously develop the Anti-Bias approach.

North-South educational work has received more attention during the course of the Agenda 21 projects. Educational and public relations work of the initiative on a regional level are particularly important.

In Lower Saxony, the North South work initiative mainly comprises volunteer NGOs. One objective is the professionalization of their educational and public relations work. In some cities, the expansion and development of One-World centers is on the agenda. Global partnerships between the North and South are a main focus (www.globlog.net). The association for educational initiatives in Lower Saxony (Verein Niedersächsischer Bildungsinitiativen-VNB) participates in these efforts with new incentives and continuing education programs, especially with respect to global learning in schools.

Since 2004, VNB work also includes environment-related aspects. It promotes education for sustainability in the field of environment. The VNB considers its work to be a component of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014).

New kinds of exhibitions provide incentives for innovative local educational work

• Global.fair: Fair trade and globalization (www.global-fair.de)
• AIDS: AIDS in Africa (www.aids-truck.de)
• The maze of escape routes: migration, escape, and the situation of refugees in Germany, the threat from the radical right (www.labyrinth-fluchtweg.de)
• Clandestino illegal: migration, illegalization of immigrants, fair-trade products and illegal workers (www.clandestino-illegal.de)
• Masala: cultural exchange – World Music from reggae to hip hop (www.masala-weltmusik.de)

Our multimedia exhibitions take visitors on a tour where they imagine themselves in different roles. Experiencing things from a different perspective can lead to new awareness. Younger people in particular enjoy the multimedia exhibitions. Installed in a trailer truck, they are easily moved and are always an exciting media feature during special project events.

The Society for Development Cooperation in Solidarity Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania e. V. (GSE), as the state agency for global learning in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, is a provider of development education in schools and day care centres in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Using target group and experience-oriented methods, the topics of Global Learning / Education for Sustainable Development are discussed with children and conclusions are drawn about the everyday lives of girls and boys. In addition to the work with children in kindergartens and primary schools, we offer further training for educators (elementary and primary level), in which we present approaches and methods of Global Learning, which the participants can later use in their educational work and thus help to establish development policy topics in the educational work with children. Every year, the GSE participates in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Development Days with its own projects.

We are an association of 54 Munich-based initiatives, groups, organizations and about a dozen private individuals who are active in the area of development policy. The objective of our association is to bring the important concerns of the countries of the South, which are the developing countries, to the North in order to initiate changes on both sides in favor of a common future. Therefore, as a North-South Forum, we do lobbying at a regional level and beyond.

We are particularly active in educational and public relations work. We organize seminars, information events, symposia, plays, exhibitions, campaigns etc. and we compile didactic accompanying and background material. We also collaborate with other initiatives, social groups, and institutions in order to emphasize our common interests. Moreover, it is important to us to provide a platform to people of the South to ensure and expand the intercultural dialogue.

Apart from their work in their respective (independent) groups, many of our members are also active in the open work groups of the North South Forum; e.g. in the One World Education work group (global learning and issues of the North-South work in schools, children and youth institutions; development of materials). This work group played a leading role in the foundation of the regional work group entitled 'School and One World' as well as the Global Learning Forum in which our work group and the North-South Forum actively participate.