The network coordination and institutional child protection of the city of Aachen is sending out a strong signal for prevention: since the beginning of this year, all elementary school in the city of Aachen have been able to book the interactive prevention course "Echt Klasse" free of charge. The aim is to sensitize children to the topic of sexual violence in a playful and age-appropriate way. Another aim is to strengthen self-awareness and the ability to act.

The course usually remains in the respective elementary school for one to two weeks and consists of several stations where children can independently experience and reflect on various everyday situations. The topics covered include "good and bad secrets", body boundaries, feelings and saying "no". The trained teachers accompany the children through the course. Each station can thus become a protected space for learning and sharing. "Our aim is to empower children before they get into critical situations. The course provides the ideal basis for this," explains one of the institutional child protection coordinators, Johanna Paul.

Pre-event training for
teachers: By incorporating the obstacle course into the City of Aachen’s preventive education program, it can now be made available to Aachen elementary schools completely free of charge. In cooperation with other specialized departments, teachers receive pre-event training and informational materials so that they can safely guide the children through the course and, if necessary, explore the topic in greater depth in class. A parent information session is also offered at every school for all interested parents.

This service was made possible as part of the City of Aachen's child protection network coordination. As a result of the NRW state child protection legislation in 2022, three specialists are now strengthening preventative child protection in the city of Aachen. Among other things, their task is to network the local stakeholders in child protection, develop joint strategies and promote exchange between youth welfare, schools, healthcare, the police and many other relevant agencies. With offers such as the "Echt Klasse" course, it also provides targeted support for local prevention work and contributes to the systematic and sustainable improvement of child protection.

Interested schools can contact the City of Aachen’s Institutional Child Protection Office at kinderschutzkoordination@mail.aachen.de to schedule an appointment.