In the sixteenth episode of the Electrical Engineering podcast "Current Affairs", Jaqueline Hinz talks to our host, Olga Friesen, about the organisation Arbeiterkind.de.
Arbeiterkind.de has set itself the task of supporting pupils and students throughout Germany who do not come from academic households. Having non-academic parents creates additional problems and challenges for students, which Arbeiterkind.de aims to counteract with counselling and support services. Jaqueline Hinz has been involved on a voluntary basis since 2024 and Arbeiterkind.de has also recently been recognised as a university initiative at Paderborn University.
"It's definitely still an issue, otherwise we wouldn't exist," replies Jaqueline Hinz when asked whether educational equality has not already been achieved in Germany. For example, pupils from non-academic families are less likely to receive a recommendation for grammar school than pupils from academic families, even though their performance in primary school is the same. Arbeiterkind.de aims to break down the underlying prejudices, raise awareness of the issue and educate people about the opportunities that all pupils have. Above all, a space is created so that "working-class children", i.e. children from non-academic families, can exchange ideas and feel more secure in their own lives, as they are not alone with their problems.
However, students from academic families are also invited to take part in the dialogue. "Of course, you can also bring in new perspectives," explains Jaqueline Hinz and recommends simply dropping by.
Listen to the sixteenth episode of the Electrical Engineering podcast "Current Affairs" wherever podcasts are available or on the institute's website.
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