With the pilot project "Eltern mischen mit - Mitwirken heißt verändern" ("Parents get involved - participation means change") by Elternnetzwerk NRW e.V., the city of Aachen wants to inform parents about the education system and strengthen the participation of parents with a history of immigration in educational institutions.

This is because the involvement of parents and guardians has a positive influence on children's educational success. Heinrich Brötz, Aachen's Councillor for Education, Youth and Culture, sees the project as a great opportunity: "The pilot project can succeed in lowering linguistic, cultural and social barriers and opening up participation channels for new groups of parents."

On Wednesday, December 18, the alderman awarded the certificates to the successful parent moderators who are now starting their work. They have completed theoretical and practical training over the past few months.

In the project, nine interested parents were trained as parent moderators. They are to pass on their knowledge of the education system and parental development in the education system at information events in schools and daycare centers (KiTa). They are also prepared to discuss topics from parents' everyday lives on request.

Brötz gave the newly certified members the following words of encouragement: "Thanks to your commitment, the diversity of our city will soon be reflected in the co-determination committees at schools and daycare centers. That is democracy in action." Possible locations include schools, daycare centers, family education centers and integration centers.

The qualified parent moderators receive an expense allowance for their work at the information events from the project sponsors: the German Red Cross and the Haus für Familien.

The Prevention Team of the Department for Children, Youth and Schools of the City of Aachen had applied for funding from the Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees and Integration of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia for the project via the "Kinderstark - NRW schafft Chancen" program.

More information can be found at www.eltern-mischen-mit.de.