Newsletter - Sommer 2014
UK-German Connection newsletter - summer 2014
Commemorating World War I, inspirational Youth Ambassador activities, German visitors and more...
Welcome to the summer 2014 edition of the UK-German Connection newsletter.
Find out about the thought-provoking project exploring WWI carried out by two schools, which culminated in the creation of a joint memorial to the Christmas Truce. There's also a look at the next Youth Ambassadors seminar as well as a call for German primary schools to partner with schools in the UK.
Enjoy the sunshine and the well-earned break over the summer, when it arrives - maybe you'll be hitting the Strandkörbe too!
Exploring the commemoration and culture of WW1 - 100 years on
What happened during the Christmas Truce 1914 and what was the cultural importance of the event? How did people commemorate during World War I and how did its aftermath affect the UK, Germany and wider European relations? Students from Mildenhall College Academy in Suffolk and Gymnasium Theodorianum in Paderborn found their answers by challenging cultural (mis)conceptions during their project on 'Commemorating Past Sacrifice'. They were able to rethink their attitudes towards the conflict and those involved on all sides.
As a permanent outcome of their joint work, the students designed a UK-German war memorial together to pay tribute to the 1914 Christmas Truce - which left "an indelible emotional mark on the participants as well as a physical landmark on the soil of Belgium", according to one teacher.
This project was funded through the UK-German Challenge Fund: www.ukgermanconnection.org/schule-challenge-fund and the next application deadline for this and other funding programmes is 31 October 2014.
News from the networks
Identity discussions, cultural parcel exchanges, quiz nights... our UK-German Youth Ambassadors will be discussing these and many more of their projects at their evaluation seminar in Berlin in July. The seminar gives them the opportunity to present and celebrate their projects and activities this year, and to reflect on the impact they've had, as well as their own learning. And, of course, time to catch up with each other and explore Berlin together!
You can find out more about this year's Youth Ambassadors, and how their projects are going, in their dedicated community area: http://www.ukgermanconnection.org/ya-community
And don't forget that the deadline to apply to be a Youth Ambassador in 2014-15 is 30 June! http://www.ukgermanconnection.org/jugendbotschafter
Deutsche Grundschulen gesucht!
Haben Sie Interesse an einer Partnerschaft mit einer britischen Grundschule?
Viele Grundschulen im Vereinigten Königreich suchen nach deutschen Partnern für Brieffreundschaften oder projektbezogene Zusammenarbeit.
Bei Interesse oder Fragen kontaktieren Sie bitte Alison Dolamore: alison.dolamore@ukgermanconnection.org
Sun, sand and summer holidays!
Summer is almost here and the voyage kids website has a selection of special features to help you get into the summer mood!
Help Max and Molly pack their bags and write their postcards, and learn English summer words.
Have fun!