ReROOT Output

Dortmund Platform-Building action: Action 400 Chairs: Together Against Educational and Participation Disadvantage in Nordstadt

Read the article promoting ReROOT research in Dortmund published in Echo der Vielfalt: Newspaper for Intercultural Dialogue No. 1, 2023 in original German here.

Unofficial translation below:

Action 400 Chairs: Together Against Educational and Participation Disadvantage in Nordstadt! Thursday, May 4, 2023, from 10:30 to 12:00 on Nordmarkt, Dortmund.

The Situation: Nordstadt, as an arrival district, plays a central role for the entire city. But what are the current conditions for children and adolescents here? Currently, there is a shortage of nearly 400 school places in Dortmund, leaving numerous children and adolescents without schooling. Particularly affected are children and adolescents from Nordstadt. Beyond the gaps in school places, there is also a lack of sufficient out-of-family care facilities, such as daycare centers and family care, as well as adequate health care, including an adequate number of pediatricians. The city of Dortmund and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia have already initiated various projects to address this shortage. However, these ongoing measures will take years and come with additional challenges.

The “400 Chairs” Campaign: To draw attention to these issues, 400 chairs will be set up on Nordmarkt on May 4, 2023. The number 400 represents the approximate scale of the reported shortage of school places in the press, but it is symbolic of the existing needs given constant fluctuations and developments. This initiative aims to raise awareness and facilitate dialogue with relevant stakeholders and those affected.

During the event, participating stakeholders from the district will be available at information stands and will offer interactive activities. There will also be short speeches addressing the topic. Additionally, many participants will present their messages through posters and similar means.

The campaign is part of the research project ReROOT (https://rerootproject.eu), which examines the composition and impact of arrival-specific infrastructures in nine European urban areas, including Dortmund’s Nordstadt. Come and support this cause!

Published January 1, 2023 on VMDO

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