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Togetherness and respect: A workshop for diversity at the MS Kölblgasse
Vice Mayor Wiederkehr and Gaál visited the MS Kölblgasse and took part in an inclusive workshop, accompanied by singer Virginia Ernst. Together they sang a serenade with the students.
Togetherness and respect: A workshop for diversity at the MS Kölblgasse
On Wednesday morning, the students of 2A at MS Kölblgasse in the Landstrasse district gathered for a special workshop. The aim of the game was to steal a rubber chicken from the teachers and hide it unnoticed behind a red floor marking. While the children really enjoyed the game, it also created a team dynamic that transcended all differences such as origin or gender.
This workshop is part of the “Respect: Stronger Together” project, which was initiated by the City of Vienna. Vice Mayor Kathrin Gaál and her colleague Christoph Wiederkehr were also on site that day to actively participate in the students' activities. “This was a project close to my heart from the start,” Gaál explained about the commitment.
Celebrity support
During the workshop with the children of 3B, among others, it became clear that some students were interested in taking on an office. They also have great respect for the professions of the project's two ambassadors, the singer Virginia Ernst and the actor Faris Rahoma. Virginia Ernst expressed her concern: “I would have wished for such projects when I was at school 20 years ago.”
During the workshop, Rahoma referred to the political developments at the time of the workshop, namely Donald Trump's election victory. He found that the things that divide us often come to the fore more than the values we share. “It is important to find common ground and we saw today that that can work very well,” Rahoma added.
A total of ten schools in the city are taking part in the project this year. Since its introduction, 13,752 students and 1,165 teachers have taken part in workshops or training courses. Methods for a non-violent, prejudice-free and integrative school should be integrated into everyday school life beyond the workshops.
Wiederkehr, who also attended a workshop, was impressed by the diversity in the class and noted the students' strengths and interests on a poster. This made it clear what diversity means for working together. “The school should be a fear-free space in which the students can develop,” emphasized Wiederkehr.
At the end of the workshop there was a special highlight: the students and Virginia Ernst sang a song. The deputy mayors Gaál and Wiederkehr also insisted on singing along. “Music creates connections and joy,” said Ernst, who has been an ambassador for the project for two years. This commitment shows how important it is to promote values such as respect and community in a democratic society.
The “Respect: Stronger Together” initiative therefore remains an important and worthy cause for Viennese schools. Those interested can get a deeper insight into the project in a detailed report courier.at.