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Zukunftswerkstatt „Spielend Diversität begleiten – finding diversity trough play“
Play as a method is an important building block in the non-formal education work with male / female youths and children. As a consequence of special regional developments in culture and pedagogy very differing country specific approaches co-exist within the EU (e.g. play pedagogy, playology, play therapy, etc.). Similarly different are the approaches to variety and gender topics in child and youth work throughout the member states.
The goal of our project is the support of anchoring play as a pedagogic method in a European context as well as the expansion of the variety of intercultural and gender appropriate learning through play as a method of non-formal education. This way, professionals in child and youth work are supported in their aim to develop the chances of young people. The idea behind this is to create a sustainable European network for diversity-aware and gender appropriate play, also heightened awareness of regionally anchored best practice projects.
Nine organisations in eight countries were approached as project partners, all of whom use, develop or teach the method ‘play’ in various ways in their work with girls and boys as well as developing and training male and female students and professionals. They have co-operated in the development of this project and voiced particular interest in an international theme and subject-related exchange with the aim of learning from the experiences of other organisations and build a network.
18 Professionals with professional experience and who are at least 30 years old will take part. The project will attempt to ensure that from each country one male and one female participant from both management and practical levels are represented. The project’s core is the provision of two four-day seminars in Germany (Potsdam) on Robert Jung’s method of future workshops based on the criteria of Harrison Owen (open space), as well as Marvin Weisbord (future conference). Active participation in the 25th International Bildungsforum Spielmarkt Potsdam, with professional presentations, forums and events is planned for the first seminar. The use of these best practice projects will give important impulses for the combined project development.
In 2009, the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research recognised and highlighted this presentation format within the European Year of Creativity. Skype conferences and online information packets will facilitate the co-operation between the workshops. To ensure sustainability, an accompanying online communications platform will be opened to coincide with the first seminar. This guarantees the availability of the gained knowledge within the institutions of the participants as well as an opportunity for additional co-operation within the organisation.
