STUDENTS

DSB Mediators

We make sure there are happy faces! We help you to find solutions in difficult situations! We are always there for you, you can come to us with your worries! These are us, the students from grades 7 to 12 who are being trained as mediators.
Our goals are:

• Recognising points of contention,
• work on the conflict,
• rethink one’s own points of view,
• find compromises,
• Conflict resolution without defeat.

– What is mediation?
Mediation is the term for a conflict resolution procedure in which impartial third parties mediate between disputing parties if they cannot come to a constructive solution on their own. Since conflicts can only be resolved in the long term if all parties involved in the dispute contribute to finding a solution, the goal of mediation is to find a solution to the conflict that is as amicable as possible. It is the task of the mediators (teachers) or mediators (pupils) to support the parties to the dispute in constructive conflict management, for example by structuring and accompanying the discussion process.

– Why do we need mediation at our school?
Mediation in schools is an extension of existing approaches to social learning. Mediation programs are elementary building blocks of the educational mandate that the school has in addition to its educational mandate. To ensure the success, continuity and longevity of such a project, forward-looking planning regarding the installation is essential. The mediation approach should be embedded in other pedagogical and educational measures at the school. In addition, a positive supportive attitude of the entire staff contributes to the institutional anchoring of mediation at the school. Based on the BLI report recommendations and the above-mentioned facts, the need to train and establish mediators and mediators also arises at our school.

– How do we proceed?
Information and motivation

• Informing and motivating the officials,
• Informing and motivating certain groups of students,
• Introduction to the program and motivation of the staff,
• Informing the pupils about planned training for mediators,
• Inform all school committees.
• Installation of the concept in the school program
  In order to secure the long-term perspective, the creation of framework conditions and the support of the staff is essential. The prerequisite for this is a decision in principle by the school conference or the teachers’ conference.
• Ensuring human resources: At the school, a teacher trained in mediation takes over the training and supervision of the pupils. The time invested is credited towards the teaching obligation. A fixed consultation hour is recommended.
• A spatial opportunity for a pleasant and constructive conversation must be created.
• Embedding the program in already existing thematically related programs, e.g. SMV.
• Coupling the program with other social and educational activities and topics, e.g. project week.
• Reflection on the school development process, e.g. changed teacher role, other forms of student participation, house rules, etc.
• Topic-related school-external / school-internal further training.
• Training of pupils to become mediators.
• Decision and composition of the dispute resolution group
• Care must be taken to ensure that as many different groups of pupils as possible are represented.
• Pupils who themselves have behavioural difficulties in the situation are unsuitable as mediators.
• The pupils must be made aware of the expected time burden and responsibility.
• The consent of the parents is mandatory.

– Mediation working group/mediators:
The head of the working group is the school’s mediator.

• Participants: Pupils in grades 7 to 10. On a method day on the subject of mediators, the future mediators are made aware of the framework conditions of their training, the necessary personal prerequisites and requirements. Interested students submit a fully completed application form (deadline: beginning of November). The basic training of the mediators comprises two hours per week for three months (date: end of January). At the end of the above-mentioned phase, the mediator chooses two particularly committed mediators (preferably from the upper school) to support him in leading the working group.
• At the beginning of the second half of the school year, the mediators will take up their work. The conversations take place during the breaks. In the event of any delays to the following lesson, the teachers are asked for their understanding. The mediators will be externally recognizable to everyone in daily school operations.
• The procedure for class sponsorships according to the following scheme is recommended:
  Arbiters
  Sponsorship class
  Grade 7 – 1 to 3
  Grade 8 – 4 to 6
  Grade 9 – 7 and 8
  Grade 10 – 9 to 12
• A list of the names of the active mediators and their sponsor classes will be created and made public. The working group takes place every 14 days, with a focus on support and further training of the mediators as well as the discussion of special problems.
• In the following school year, the process described above is repeated for the newly trained mediators. The mediators who have already been trained are involved, continue to be supervised and trained. After one year of activity in the working group, an exchange with mediators from the other German schools in the state is sought. At the end of each school year, a written evaluation is carried out.

Learning without borders - Supporting Each Other at DSB Alexandria

At the Deutsche Schule der Borromäerinnen Alexandria, learning is not limited to the classroom. With our Learning Without Borders initiative, students from higher grades share their knowledge and skills to support younger students in their studies.
Talented and motivated older students offer online lessons to help clarify difficult subjects, provide guidance, and encourage confident learning. This peer-to-peer support strengthens not only academic performance but also teamwork, responsibility, and mutual respect.
Participation is easy: interested students simply register through the official form and submit their certificate from the previous school year. Once registered, they can benefit from extra explanations and personalized help in a variety of subjects.
Through Learning Without Borders, our school community grows closer together — with older students becoming mentors and younger students receiving the encouragement they need to succeed.

Children Help Children (CHC) – A Project of Solidarity

Children Help Children (CHC) is a student-led initiative of the German School of the Borromeans Alexandria (DSBA). Since 2004, our students have been supporting children from the garbage settlement Ezbet El Nachl in Cairo, giving them the chance to go to school and build a better future.
The idea began in a geography lesson, when our students learned about the lives of the “Zabbaleen” families. Living in simple tin shacks and earning their livelihood by collecting and
sorting waste, these families often cannot afford school uniforms, bus fees, or even basic school supplies. Many children are needed to help their parents at work instead of attending school.
Out of compassion grew action: together with partner schools in Bavaria, our students started raising funds to make education possible for around 50 children. Today, thanks to CHC, we support 62 children and young adults – from primary school through university – by covering costs for:

• School uniforms and transport
• Books and learning materials
• Private tutoring
• And much more

The project is more than financial aid. Over the years, a student exchange program developed, with Egyptian and German students visiting each other, staying with host families, and even meeting the children whose education they help make possible. These encounters have created lasting friendships and cultural understanding.
CHC has also received support from partners such as the Rotary Club Zwiesel-Bayerwald, whose generosity opened new opportunities for many children.
At DSBA, our students commit themselves from Grade 6 to Grade 10 to contribute regularly to the project. This shared responsibility fosters a strong sense of solidarity, empathy, and global citizenship.
Today, CHC is a lifeline for children in Ezbet El Nachl. At the moment, DSBA is the only school continuing this vital support – a mission we are proud to carry forward.