In a workshop on 10 October 2024 at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), vocational school teachers were provided with practical approaches for addressing and raising awareness of the events of October 7 in Israel.
More than a year has passed since the Hamas terrorist attack on southern Israel. The ensuing conflicts are also having an impact in Germany and anti-Semitic attacks are on the rise here. These developments also pose challenges for educational professionals in vocational schools when they deal with the events of October 7, 2023 in the classroom.
In a workshop on 10 October 2024 at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), vocational school teachers were given practical approaches for addressing the topic and raising awareness. The event was organised by the Israel Programme in cooperation with the Coordination Centre for German-Israeli Youth Exchange (ConAct). The event focussed on the following questions:
- How can the events of October 7 in Israel be responded to appropriately in the classroom?
- How can teachers deal with the topic sensitively, empathetically and confidently?
- What are the insights regarding the impact of this event on social life and discourse in Israel and Germany?
- How do educational professionals address the topic of October 7 in exchanges and educational work with young people from Germany and Israel?
The ConAct team presented the ‘We Are Connected’ toolkit, which was developed in cooperation with the Israel Youth Exchange Authority and the Council of Youth Movements in Israel. It offers comprehensive materials for dealing with the events of October 7 in an educationally responsible manner and provides educational professionals with practical guidance for addressing and reflecting on the events. It also sheds light on the social impact in Israel and promotes greater awareness of increasing anti-Semitism.
The participants appreciated the opportunity to exchange ideas with other vocational education professionals in order to gain confidence in dealing with the topic and to support each other in preparing and accompanying future German-Israeli exchange groups.
Toolkit: ‘Education and encounters after October 7’
The toolkit offers guidance and support for addressing the events of 7 October in educational work with (young) people. It sheds light on the impact of the events on Israeli society and raises awareness of the increasing anti-Semitism in Germany and worldwide. It was developed by the Coordination Centre for German-Israeli Youth Exchange (ConAct), the Israel Youth Exchange Authority and the Council of Youth Movements in Israel to accompany German-Israeli youth exchange programmes against the backdrop of the attack on Israel on October 7.
go to toolkit info on the ConAct website ( Toolkit in English, PDF)
Source: BIBB (in German)