A newly established network in the German state of Lower Saxony aims to enhance and increase the visibility of anti-discrimination educational efforts within local schools. The “Netzwerk Diskriminierungskritische Schule Niedersachsen (NDS²) / Network of Schools Critical of Discrimination in Lower Saxony” is committed to transforming schools into environments that promote respectful coexistence. This mission requires a firm position against anti-democratic tendencies and the creation of practical tools to actively address and challenge discrimination.

A Dynamic Kickoff: Unified Voices Against Discrimination

On April 22, 2025, Ifak, a Participa City partner based in Göttingen, participated in the NDS² kickoff event held in Hanover. The gathering brought together around 100 educators and civil society representatives, providing a valuable platform for networking and exchanging ideas. The event also served as an opportunity to showcase the Erasmus+ project “Participa City,” which focuses on promoting inclusion and participation of ethnic and cultural minorities across Europe. Participants engaged in various workshops, emphasizing the need for systemic approaches to combat discrimination in schools and sharing successful practices from their fields.

In Lower Saxony, a range of needs at multiple levels emerged from the discussions. Participants expressed the desire for concrete guidelines from the Ministry of Education, including teaching materials that critically address discrimination and obligatory professional development for all teaching staff. At the school level, calls were made for expanding multidisciplinary teams and implementing sustainable, long-term anti-discrimination programs across all grade levels to better support students affected by discrimination.

Looking Forward: Building a Collective Movement

The NDS² kickoff event was an inspiring and productive meeting, uniting people from diverse backgrounds who share a commitment to fostering anti-discriminatory practices in schools. Going forward, the network plans to deepen its collaboration and enhance the information available on its website: https://ndshochzwei.de/.

Together, we are creating inclusive communities where every individual feels they belong.