Listening to pupils, picking them up on the realities of their lives and motivating them to actively participate in civil society - these are the goals that researchers at the University have set themselves together with school administrators and teachers at Wuppertal schools. Their aim is to counteract the increasing rise of extremist and anti-democratic forces.

What are the issues that concern young people? What challenges do they face in their everyday lives? What are the key issues that politicians should address? Which topics do they think should be researched scientifically? These and other questions are discussed in project workshops in the schools. In addition, the pupils will have the opportunity to deal with specific topics such as fake news, climate change, flight and migration as well as the generational conflict in politics. "We will discuss all of this with the pupils at eye level and not lecture from above," emphasises Prof. Smail Rapic from the University of Wuppertal. The professor of practical philosophy and modern philosophy is one of the project initiators.

Giving young people a voice and making them heard

The students can then process the knowledge and food for thought on the various topics independently and in small groups in various formats. Prof Rapic: "This is also intended to promote the creative potential of the pupils. During the themed weeks, they record videos and podcasts. They design posters on topics that are relevant to democratic coexistence." A student parliament at the Bergisches Weiterbildungskolleg is also part of the programme. Over 40 students from the college have already registered for the project week there.

Selected videos and podcasts will be uploaded to the "Democracy education and strengthening democracy in Wuppertal" project website, which will go online shortly. The posters will be displayed at the schools and in other public places such as the atrium in Barmer Rathaus. "By making the results accessible to the public, we also want to counteract the impression of many young people that their voices are no longer heard in society and politics," explains German scholar and co-initiator Prof Dr Anne-Rose Meyer.

Educating and strengthening democracy is always also about preventing racism, emphasises the organising team. The cooperation, in which other Wuppertal initiatives are also involved, aims to create a deeper understanding of democratic processes and values, enable positive experiences and counteract young people's fears and feelings of powerlessness with political education. "Our guiding premise, which we want to convey in the project Civil society engagement is worthwhile and every single person can make a difference," says Rapic.