Education initiatives
OrigiNations offers university seminars, school classes, youth groups, interested organisations or grassroots initiatives the possibility to introduce them to a variety of issues of concern to indigenous communities and to the work approach of OrigiNations. We also offer to facilitate contact with indigenous groups whom we are working with in different regions, for example for a virtual exchange with interested school classes or seminars.
We are committed to “global learning” initiatives in order to strengthen the development of individual and collective competence for action to support solidarity movements with minorities worldwide. We encourage tolerance and respect for other cultures, ways of life and different world views, highlight the preconditions of our own perspectives and create enabling conditions in order to find sustainable solutions for joint problems.
We implement university seminars in anthropology, cultural studies, environmental and developmental psychology as well as in pedagogy and teacher training courses. In our seminars we deal with topics such as diversity and anti-discrimination, intercultural competences, identity, cultural and natural heritage, indigenous ways of knowing and learning, as well as the creation of spaces and social processes which are conducive to self-empowerment of marginalised groups.
In the school context, our topics fit well into subjects such as geography, political sciences, history, philosophy as well as English, Spanish and French language teaching, among others. We also offer to carry out extra-curricular workshops, courses, project days and other activities, tailor-made to the interests of the specific group.
If you would like to arrange a visit of us in your school, university or group please contact us at: info@origi-nations.org
One of the longer school units that OrigiNations has carried out on indigenous topics is presented here:
Exchange project between BaAka youth and a German school class
In 2016/2017, together with a geography teacher, OrigiNations designed a unit on the Dzanga-Sangha rainforest comprising 10 lessons. OrigiNations put the school class in touch with the indigenous youth group which OrigiNations has been working with for several years. The students not only learned about the ecosystem and flora and fauna of this biodiverse region, but also about the livelihoods and culture of the indigenous hunter-and-gatherers.
In various video messages, comics and letters both the German school class and the Central African youth group exchanged information about their lives. The German students showed a lot of appreciation and respect for the culture of the BaAka, and admired their forest skills and deep commitment to protect their natural and cultural heritage.
Comic by a German student detailing a typical day in her life
Especially the logging firms operating in the area pose severe threats to the livelihoods and culture of the indigenous population. A “mystery”, a set of 24 information cards, was developed for the German school class in order to help them grasp the issue from the perspective of the different actors on the ground and also make them aware of their responsibility as consumers of tropical wood in Europe. If you are interested in using these educational materials (in German), please contact us at: info@origi-nations.org.
Video message by the BaAka to the German school class: https://vimeo.com/242543403
Example letters from the German pupils to the BaAka:
