Globalization

Future dimensions of development education are widely unknown today. Our global living environment and everyday worlds develop in contexts which become more and more complex. Old certainties are dissolving; new orientations can rarely be identified. Thus, it becomes harder to find reasonable answers to the new challenges that are worthwhile for development education; answers which make it possible to impart knowledge and behavior for a future-oriented living.

The editors and the editorial board of the Zeitschrift für internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspädagogik (ZEP, Journal for international educational research and development education) have established a medium that, for more than thirty years, has been bringing development education and international educational research to the public.

Complex theoretical contexts are picked up and explained in the different issues while, at the same time, experiences and problems are discussed from a practical perspective in a way that they facilitate relevant impulses back to the scientific discourse.

The journal targets educationalists working in development education and scientists from neighboring disciplines as well as anyone who is interested in global learning and development cooperation in schools and elsewhere.

In 1990, more than 20 One World and Third World associations joined together to form the registered association Neusser-Eine-Welt-Initiative (NEWI). NEWI informs and educates in order to raise awareness for topics related to development policy among the citizens of the German city of Neuss. The main tasks of the full-time coordinator include intensive public relations and lobby work as well as educational work. NEWI puts its main emphasis on fair trade, an annual One World festival, superregional campaigns and the support of the Local Agenda 21 in Neuss. NEWI owns a well-equipped office; a learning place outside of school – the Café Flair – and the exhibition Kaffeegarten (coffee garden), that is operated within the framework of a public-private partnership concept.

The Kaffeegarten is an interactive exhibition about coffee farming, consequences of world trade and the advantages of fair trade. In 90-minute workshops on coffee, visitors can find answers to many questions about the Germans’ favourite drink. This offer is aimed at school classes of any age, apprentices in the hotel, catering or grocery trade and any interested groups from, among others, businesses, administrations, churches and associations.

As part of their KOMPact education project, the Neuss based Neusser-Eine-Welt-Initiative (NEWI), a registered association, has compiled materials and methods to support global learning. Covering the topics of fair trade, globalisation (focals areas: developing countries, world trade), human rights (focal areas: children’s rights, refugees, HIV/AIDS) and the Agenda 21(focus areas: nutrition and health, world climate and energy resources as well as paper use), NEWI now presents an expandable loose-leaf binding in an especially designed folder. It provides background information about each topic mentioned and also includes suggestions on how to put the presented ideas into action. Furthermore, readers can find extensive, commented link and address lists in the compilation. It therefore offers a solid ’market overview’ and is a valuable source of information for the teaching of global relations based upon the principles of education for sustainability.

The KoordinierungsKreis Mosambik (KKM, Network Mozambique) is a country network association for civil society parntership activities between Germany and Mozambique. More than 140 organizations, groups and individuals are network members.

Network activities include the support of school partnerships between Mozambique and Germany and educational activities concerning debt relief and reduction of absolute poverty.

Activities include seminars on issues related to development and cooperation, publications and three times a year a magazine on Mozambique (Rundbrief Mosambik). Cultural exchange is supported by inviting Mozambican artists to Germany, organizing exhibitions and visits to Mozambique.

RAA - regional centers for foreigners' concerns, youth work and schools in the German state of Brandenburg - is a non-profit organization based in Potsdam. We manage six "Regionale Büros für Integration und Toleranz" (BIT) (regional offices for integration and open-mindedness) and four other offices as well as regional and local projects. In 2004, we established "Globales Lernen/Entwicklungszusammenarbeit" (global learning and cooperation for development). For us, global learning is about raising awareness of the world as a whole, of interrelations between North and South, and about relating our everyday life to the lives of people in developing countries. RAA is involved in an enormous variety of development-policy projects. We offer working groups, workshops, and training for teaching staff, and support schools in organizing workshops for students. Long-term projects include supporting school partnerships between schools in Brandenburg and schools in Senegal, Zanzibar/Tanzania and Angola, as well as smaller-scale initiatives. "Begegnungen mit Sansibar" (meeting Zanzibar) is a project that combines education and cooperation for development. Since 1992, more than 160 adolescents and teachers have been given the chance to gain deep insights into another culture and to help promote interactions between Germany and Tanzania, and more will follow. The project in Zanzibar encourages participants to closely examine both the foreign culture and their own. It includes such diverse activities as the building of classrooms, theater projects, thematic research, workshops, seminars and continuous education for teachers. In Germany, the results of this work are available as educational materials, thus enabling our partners from Tanzania to present their life and their views in Brandenburg. In addition, RAA is in charge of organizing and holding the "Brandenburger entwicklungspolitische Bildungs- und Informationstage" (Brandenburg educational and informational days on development aid) as well as the education program of the 'Berlin Import Shop' fair.

The Global Marshall Plan initiative gets on as an integrative platform for a world in balance. Consisting of a network from more than 5000 supporters from all levels of society, it gathers politics, economy and civil society with five core demands to a fairer globalization.

Labor union

The solidarity service international (Solidaritätsdienst International e. V.) is independent, party politics and ideological open. SODI stands up for a united, fair and peaceful world in which the natural resources are preserved.

In fair cooperation with women's organizations and trade union organizations, with municipal initiatives, church facilities and cooperatives SODI realizes for over 25 years of self-help projects in countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America as well as East Europe and Southeast Europe.

An important component of the work in Germany is work of information and educational work on developing-political subjects. SODI is specialized in multimedia projects which sensitize above all young people, inform and motivate to exert themselves for a fair and sustainable world. From social transformation to global justice, lastingness and future ability is for SODI, on this occasion, a big concern. SODI takes part with an active engagement in civil-social networks and campaigns. SODI is recommended by the senate management for education, youth and science as a supplier of the global learning.

Peace Brigades International (PBI) has been the leading organization for unarmed protective accompaniment and observation of human rights in conflict areas for over 30 years. International teams accompany threatened activists who work for peace, democracy and justice.