Network meeting „School without racism - school with courage“ Workshops, city tour and exchange for pupils

For the eighth time, the Municipal Integration Center of the City of Cologne on the occasion of the International Day against Racism on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, The Cologne Courage Schools are inviting pupils and active members of Cologne's Courage Schools to a network meeting. The event is being organized in cooperation with the Cologne Adult Education Center from 8.45 to 15:30 in the VHS Forum at Neumarkt. The motto of this year's event is once again: „Against agitation and exclusion - for a society of diversity.“

March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1966 and commemorates the bloody suppression of a peaceful demonstration against the racist apartheid system in the South African township of Sharpeville on March 21, 1960.

For many pupils, experiences of racism are part of everyday life in Germany. The network event addresses racism and discrimination in the school context and aims to raise awareness of diversity through knowledge transfer, exchange and sensitization. In the „School without Racism-School with Courage“ network, diversity means not limiting oneself to accepting one another. Courage schools are actively committed to combating racism and discrimination, questioning hierarchies, privileged perspectives and stereotypical attributions.

The network meeting invites all participants to develop ideas and strategies together in order to shape an inclusive society based on solidarity.

After the welcoming address by 1st Mayor Derya Karadag and a keynote speech by journalist Daniela Sepehri, pupils from Year 8 and teachers will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and network with other Cologne Courage schools in workshops.

These include questions such as:

• How can schools contribute to the culture of remembrance of racist violence?
• What forms of expression are suitable for young people with and without experience of racism to stand up for a diverse society?
• How can queer young people affected by racism be empowered?

Numerous cooperation partners and schools present their projects at the Market of Opportunities and show how diverse the commitment against racism and discrimination can be.

„A total of almost 40 Cologne elementary school, vocational colleges and secondary schools are setting an example as Courage Schools for respectful coexistence, tolerance and diversity. Together, pupils and teachers are working to ensure that classrooms, break rooms and social networks become places where everyone feels safe, seen and heard.“ (Torsten Burmester, Lord Mayor of the City of Cologne)

More than 5,000 schools throughout Germany are part of the „School without Racism - School with Courage“ network, which was founded in 1995 by the association Aktion Courage e.V.. The Courage network stands for a joint commitment against racism and for democracy, equality, respect and civil courage. Around 3 million pupils, teachers and educators are involved nationwide.

You can find more information about the network here: School without racism - school with courage