Picnic with 1,000 children in the Augarten and music festival in the Jazzpark Essling

2023-09-16 12:00:32

City celebrates the opening of two educational districts in Donaustadt and Leopoldstadt

Vienna (OTS) – The concept of the Viennese educational community has existed in the city since 2017: With the reopening of the educational community in Augarten in the 2nd district and in Essling in the 22nd district, there will already be 28 educational communities in the city as of September.

NEOS Vienna club chairwoman Bettina Emmerling underlines: “The fact that there are already 28 educational districts in the city is impressive and shows how strongly the topic of cross-generational exchange of knowledge and experience is accepted. Bildungsgrätzl accompany children and young people on their educational path in the best possible way and break through the old and solid walls of the school in order to enable new networks and cooperation in the Grätzl.

The opening of the new Augarten educational district was celebrated on September 15th with a picnic with around 1,000 children and young people from the educational institutions. Among the guests was NEOS Vienna club chairwoman Bettina Emmerling, representing Vice Mayor and City Councilor for Education Christoph Wiederkehr to find. Entertainment was provided by various game stations and singing performances by the Vienna Boys’ Choir elementary school.

Director of Education Heinrich Himmer says at the opening: “Educational districts focus on the needs and potential of children and young people. Cooperation is the key to successful educational innovation. Young people develop social skills and life prospects at school as well as in their everyday lives in the educational community. The interaction between school and extracurricular offerings makes it easier for children, young people and parents to easily access the diverse educational offerings in our city.”

Each of the city’s educational districts, which enables exchange and cooperation between kindergartens, schools, leisure facilities and cultural offerings in the district, specializes in certain topics. A cross-school buddy system is planned in the Augarten educational district. Older children support younger ones.

District head Alexander Nikolai: “With the Bildungsgrätzl Augarten we are continuing the successful project! The Bildungsgrätzl deepens the exchange of experiences between the various educational institutions. In particular, the change between individual educational institutions is well supported by the Bildungsgrätzl. Furthermore, joint activities are planned within the educational community and the individual talents and interests of the students are promoted. I am very pleased that the Bildungsgrätzl contributes to better and more varied educational, leisure and advisory services in the immediate living space of our children and young people!”

Motto “City of the Future”: Clothes exchange in the educational district of Essling

At the opening festival on September 16th of the third educational district in the Danube city, the educational district Essling, the Esslingen children’s choir thrilled people with an “Essling Hymn” and Bio Forschungs Austria offered a participatory program with the family center “Family Puzzle”. In the Essling educational district the focus is on “sustainable urban development”. Here, children and young people contribute to a sustainable city with temporary activities such as a clothing swap or an exercise challenge.

District head Ernst Nevrivy congratulated the facilities on their opening: “The Donaustadt is a young district with an increase in young families. This is due not least to the offerings for children and young people in public spaces and educational institutions. The Bildungsgrätzl underlines that this offer grows with the population and is constantly becoming more attractive in Essling!”

The City of Vienna supports the Bildungsgrätzl with adapted funding as well as with advice and support regarding start-ups, concept development, and exchange of specialist knowledge and experiences.

You can find an overview of all active educational districts with their respective focuses and participating institutions as well as the contact to the educational district project management at www.wien.gv.at/bildungsgraetzl.

Photos coming soon: www.wien.gv.at/presse