Playing in the jungle: that's what children can do on the Beverstraße playground. Pupils from the schools of the Aachen Ost school association - Gemeinschaftshauptschule Aretzstraße, Hugo-Junker-Realschule and Geschwister-Scholl-Gymnasium - have redesigned the playground as part of the "Art in the Quarter" project. Over the past few months, an entire street art jungle landscape has been created on several walls with the support of artists Silke Franke, Ruth Malin, Benjahmin Pfennings and Michael Gerst. The students proudly presented the redesign.

"Art in the neighborhood"

The project, which started in May 2023, is funded by the state program "Gemeinsam MehrWert - Vielfältige Arbeit mit jungen geflüchteten Menschen" - also known here as "Öcher (Mehr)wert". "Kunst im Viertel" is led by school social worker Jan Bernhardt from the Youth Department of the Children, Youth and Schools Division, which is responsible for the schools in the school association.

More than 2,000 pupils from over 20 nations attend this school. Through the project, they enrich the social spaces and the school environment with a variety of cultural influences. A high proportion of the target group live in socially disadvantaged families who find it difficult to access art, culture and sport. Sylvia Schadt, head of the school social work team in the Children, Youth and Schools department, emphasizes the social aspects of the project: "It's great to see how the pupils from different cultures and private backgrounds grow together as a group and are proud of their work."

A great benefit for the pupils

The project supports the pupils to an exceptional degree. "Through their creative involvement in the project, the young people learn important skills and competencies for their lives. This enables them to identify with their own social environment and get involved in the long term," says Bernhardt. "Kunst im Viertel" also promotes the integration of young people with refugee experience, while at the same time training the pupils' creative and motor skills. Residents also benefit from the beautification of the surroundings.

But the most important thing is and remains the fun: the pupils approach the art projects with passion and enthusiasm. Pupil Yilmaz Büyüksan is delighted with the result: "I'm really proud of the whole team. We did a very good job. I'm happy to continue."