Education for Democracy with a Peer-To-Peer Project Based on Theatre and Empowerment Methods

The paper reflects the experiences with a peer-to-peer project for regular schools in Germany in which 16–18-year-old students are trained with theatre methods in preparation for a 3-day-project for diversity and against discrimination for a target group of 11-12-years old students at the same school. The preparation consists of practical theatre techniques with elements of Forum-theatre (Agosto Boal) and interaction games of creative-pluralistic dialogue. In addition, the students receive expert coaching for the creation and modification of the 3-day schedule. While analyzing autobiographical situations or current incidents of discrimination involvement at their school, the students reflect their own attitudes towards civil courage. During the 3-day process they organize their moderation by their own and reflect the practicability of the concept after each day and modify it if necessary. A long-term goal of the project is to implement solidarity participation into everyday school life. After the project days a weekly cross-age meeting opportunity is offered to maintain this democratic dialogue. While getting older the former participants become trainers and avocats for democratic values on their part.