An Insight into an International Schools Camp – M. Linder, L. Kubwumukiza

From a German perspective:

From 21 to 27 June 2017, Protestant schools from four continents gathered for the “International Schools Camp” in Wittenberg on the Reformation anniversary. Previously, the students spent one to two weeks in German schools and travelled with their host schools to the “International Schools Camp”. Almost 180 young people and teachers discovered Wittenberg and the Reformation, worked on global challenges, learned in intercultural encounters, and experienced community. At an International Teachers Academy, teachers from Zambia, Rwanda, Congo, Cameroon, the Philippines, Brazil, Germany, and the USA shared their experiences during school visits and developed ideas for intercontinental networking, including digital learning formats.

During the “Global schools500reformation Day” and the final evening, the students came into contact with many people who are working for peaceful developments around the world – such as the UN Youth Ambassadors. At a fair play football tournament organised by “Brot für die Welt”, the intercultural encounter was played out. The students learned to treat each other fairly and respectfully on and next to the football pitch. I, Max, was one of the students. Together with the other students of the Bodelschwingh-Gymnasium Herchen and the Presbyterian School of Science and Technology Bafut (Cameroon), we developed a joint musical, which we presented at the “talent’s tent” at the world exposition.

Coincidentally, Elvis and Ernest from Groupe Scolaire de Shyogwe (Rwanda) and myself and two other students from Bodelshwingh Gymnasium, were assigned into a room. We got along very well from the start and learned a lot from each other in the short time. Close friendships were formed that still exist today.

Maximilian Linder

From a Rwandan perspective:

I, Lionel, took part in a school exchange with my school from Huye with a school in Mainz. The Rwandan pupils stayed in Germany for one week and lived in host families. I visited many school classes and taught the German pupils about the Rwandan culture, showed some traditional dances and taught them some small words in Kinyarwanda. I explained the Rwandan school system and talked about typical Rwandan food. The group visited some museums in Mainz and spent two days with activities only together with their respective host families. The German pupils also taught me some German words and played basketball with me. The Rwandan pupils gained a lot of experience and thoroughly enjoyed the exchange. I experienced a new culture and made new friends. The exchange between Rhineland-Palatinate and Rwanda is important to learn from each other on eye level and to keep the grassroot partnership alive.

Lionnel Kubwumukiza