2. December 2025
ImpACT launches in schools
ImpACT has been launched at vocational schools in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Four groups have already started with the first workshop and their engagement projects, and a total of ten groups are planned for the current school year. The Global Ethic Foundation’s project strengthens democratic skills and self-efficacy in two workshops and an engagement project and is made possible through a cooperation between foundations in the Stuttgart Foundation Network and other sponsors.
ACHIEVING MORE TOGETHER
ImpACT encourages students at vocational schools in Baden-Württemberg to actively shape their environment.
After an intensive preparation phase, which ranged from acquiring funding and training the workshop leaders to the pilot phase, regular implementation has now begun.
Four groups have already begun developing their own engagement projects in the first workshop at the vocational schools in Waldshut.
THIS IS WHAT THE ENGAGEMENT PROJECTS LOOK LIKE
Before starting the first workshop, the students get involved in the preparatory phase. They take a close look at their environment and think about what changes they would like to see at their school, in their class, or in their everyday lives. They reflect on what bothers them, what they would like to change, and what values are important to them. They develop initial ideas about how they can take action to initiate this change. This results in a practical project idea that they implement themselves over the course of the school year.
Examples from the first groups:
- Enabling discussion of problems
An anonymous suggestion box in the classroom, the contents of which are regularly discussed with the teacher or school social worker.
- School-wide activities
Planning a joint graduation party for all AV-Dual groups to promote exchange and community spirit.
- Strengthening community
Collecting deposit bottles and selling cakes to finance a joint pizza or ice cream event.
These examples show how low-threshold ideas can have an impact, especially on self-efficacy and group cohesion.
JOINT FUNDING MAKES IT POSSIBLE
The cooperation to promote ImpACT came about through the Stuttgart Foundation Network and a pitch in the Working Group on Educational Opportunities. A significant portion of the funding is provided by foundations from this working group:
- Vector Stiftung
- Eugen und Irmgard Hahn Stiftung
- Lechler Stiftung
- Gerhard und Paul-Hermann Bauder Stiftung
In addition, the Robert Bosch Foundation is participating in the funding as a member of the Stuttgart Foundation Network. Other sponsors include the German Postcode Lottery and the Dieter Schwarz Foundation.
This broad alliance provides the funding that makes a statewide democracy project of this size possible.
In the course of the school year, additional groups will start at schools throughout the state, with a total of ten implementations planned. An increase in the number of implementations is planned for the next two school years.