Continuing education and international affairs
Democracy Festival
Joint project to promote democracy education at schools in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district
The aim of the Democracy Festival at schools in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district is to make the opportunities for democracy education in schools visible and to promote corresponding projects as part of the Democracy Festival. To this end, the participating schools receive content-related, organizational and, if necessary, financial support from the project sponsors. Organizational support also includes the procurement of extracurricular cooperation partners who can carry out democracy projects at schools. In addition to the projects at the participating schools, there is an accompanying program from the project sponsors to support the processes at the individual schools. The Democracy Festival will conclude with a festival week during which the projects carried out will be presented and a specialist and cultural accompanying program will take place.
The initiators of the Democracy Festival are the Regional School Counselling Center and the Municipal Integration Center of the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein as well as the Center for Teacher Training and Educational Research at the University of Siegen.
Take part
Are you interested in taking part in the Democracy Festival?
You have the following options:
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Design your own democracy education project!
It is always possible for schools or individual teachers to take part in the Democracy Festival with a project. If you do not yet have an idea for a project, you will soon find suggestions and possible cooperation partners on our website. If you are interested in taking part and have any questions or concerns, you can get in touch with the contact persons for the Democracy Festival
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Take part in an event of the accompanying program!
During the project period at the schools, there will be several events in which you can participate as a (prospective) teacher. Even if you are not carrying out your own project as part of the Democracy Festival. You will soon find more information about the accompanying program on our website.
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Stay up to date!
If you would like us to keep you informed about the events taking place as part of the Democracy Festival, please send us a short message and we will add you to our festival mailing list. This way you won't miss any events and will receive interesting information about the festival projects.
The third democracy festival for schools in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district took place from September 2025 to March 2026. During this time, 15 schools in the district were once again supported in their projects to promote democracy. On this page you will find an overview of the dates and participating schools.
When and where? |
What? |
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| Wednesday, 08.10.2025 15:00-17:30 Auditorium of the Lindenschule Siegen |
Kick-off eventThe well-attended kick-off event for the Democracy Festival 2025/26 took place on Wednesday, October 8. Representatives of the interested schools came together in the auditorium of the Lindenschule Siegen to find out more about the project, exchange initial project ideas and plan the next steps. The event was enriched by a specialist presentation by Lara Völlnagel and Julia Steuber (both from the University of Siegen) on the connection between social media and democracy education in schools. |
| September 2025 - March 2026 |
Project period at the schools |
| Tuesday, 24.03.2026 Lyz Siegen |
Closing event of the democracy festival9:00-12:30 Closing event of the Democracy Festival The following schools from the district were represented at the closing event with a total of 135 pupils and 24 teachers:
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The second round of the democracy festival for schools in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district took place from September 2024 to May 2025. During this time, 15 schools in the district were supported in their projects to promote democracy. On this page you will find an overview of the dates and events that took place as well as some visual impressions of the final event.
When and where? |
What is it? |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, 18.09.2024 15:00-17:30 Lernwerkstatt Lehrer*innenbildung der University of Siegen |
Kick-off eventThe kick-off event for the Democracy Festival 2024/25 took place on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Representatives of interested schools came together in the rooms of the Teacher Training Workshop at the University of Siegen to discuss initial project ideas with the organization team and plan the next steps. The event was enriched by a lecture by Prof. Dr. Alexander Wohnig on the neutrality of teachers and schools. |
| September 2024 - May 2025 |
Project period at the schools |
| Wednesday, 07.05.2025 Hörsaalzentrum Unteres Schloss of the University of Siegen |
Closing event of the Democracy Festival9:00-12:30 Closing event of the Democracy Festival All day: Exhibition of projects and information material The following schools took part in the closing event with their projects:
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Picture gallery
Impressions of the closing event
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The 2023/24 Democracy Festival for schools in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district took place from September 2023 to March 2024. During this time, 14 schools in the district were supported in their projects to promote democracy. On this page you will find an overview of the dates and events that took place as well as some visual impressions of the final event.
When and where? |
What is it? |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, 27.09.2023 15:00-17:30 Lernwerkstatt Lehrer*innenbildung der University of Siegen |
Kick-off eventThe kick-off event for the Democracy Festival 2023/24 took place on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. The representatives of the 13 initially participating schools came together in the rooms of the Teacher Training Workshop at the University of Siegen to discuss initial project ideas with the organization team and to plan the next steps. The event was enriched by a specialist lecture by Prof. Dr. Alexander Wohnig on extracurricular cooperation between schools. |
| September 2023 - March 2024 |
Project period at the schools and accompanying offers |
| Thursday, 23.11.2023 18:00-20:00 Online |
"Criticism of racism: What do I need to know? What can I do? What can the institution of school do?" - Lecture and discussionSpeaker: Prof. Dr. Karim Fereidooni (Ruhr University Bochum) Find out more... |
| Tuesday, 28.11.2023 18:00-20:00 Lernwerkstatt Lehrer*innenbildung der University of Siegen Directions |
"The class council as a method for student participation in everyday school life" - lecture and exchangeSpeaker: Tanja Bunzel (primary school teacher, Freinet and Montessori pedagogue, trainer for non-violent communication) Learn more... |
| Wednesday, 13.03.2024 Hörsaalzentrum Unteres Schloss of the University of Siegen |
Closing event of the Democracy Festival9:00-12:30 Closing event of the Democracy Festival All day: Exhibition of projects and information material |
Picture gallery
Contact us
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Democracy Festival, please contact the following persons:
Municipal Integration Center Siegen-Wittgenstein
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Karsten Burkardt Phone: 0271/333-2326 E-mail: k.burkardt@siegen-wittgenstein.de |
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Regional School Counseling Center Siegen-Wittgenstein
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Friederike Wille Phone: 0271/333-2760 Email: f.wille@siegen-wittgenstein.de |
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Center for Teacher Training and Educational Research |
Ulf Krippendorf Phone: 0271/740-3984 E-mail: krippendorf@zlb.uni-siegen.de |