This is participation training at Deutsche Schule Medellín

Participation in education is key to the development of leaders with critical thinking and social commitment. At Deutsche Schule Medellín (DSM), student participation is a fundamental pillar that drives the formation of active and responsible citizens. From Kindergarten to Klasse 12, students have the opportunity to be actively involved in decision-making, community building and the development of critical thinking.

Democracy from childhood
“Although you wouldn't think it, the youngest children already understand what democracy is. That's why we create scenarios in which they can exercise their right to choose.” explains Valeria Restrepo, Director of Kindergarten. At this stage, the children vote for the name of their groups, choose some projects that they develop independently and have the autonomy to decide what type of play suits them best during free play time. “We're having an impact on the formation of their being, giving them the tools they will need to go out into the world, to investigate and question themselves”. Early participation, although based on play and playfulness, lays a solid foundation for students to recognize themselves as citizens with voice and judgement.

Participation throughout school life
This approach is maintained at all stages of education at the school. Emma Velasco, spokesperson at DSM, emphasizes that, “from the time we start reasoning, the school teaches us to think critically’. Her role allows her to be on the Board of Directors of Cecam (DSM School Council) and to participate in coexistence committees and disciplinary councils. For her, participation is not only a possibility, but a responsibility: “We are the ones who live the school, we know how things work”.

Spaces designed for active participation
DSM structures different spaces to ensure the participation of students. In this respect, Pablo Andrés Patiño, Social Science teacher and the Trust Teacher at Cecam mentions three fundamental pillars:
“The UN module, DS-MUN, represents a whole country, CAS links the students to the city, and the
students with the city, and Cecam is one of the most structured spaces in the school for students”. However, he clarifies that participation is not limited to these events.
“There are spaces in the classroom, parents have the Exprésate (an institutional tool which allows them to
express their concerns and contributions in an organized way, to help in the school decision making process), and the school makes an effort to listen to its community”.

Democracy in everyday life
Democracy is a daily exercise. For Federico Vega Naranjo, Head of Social Studies, democracy should not be seen only as the act of voting in student elections. “Day to day our students make decisions, make suggestions to teachers and have the option to choose some elements of the classes”, he says. His goal is to make students aware that they are constantly exercising democracy, even in everyday aspects of their education. “Democracy means giving everyone a voice and participation. We can't think that we are all the same”, he adds.

Developing leaders with critical thinking
At the school, every student finds opportunities to be heard, to influence their environment and to prepare themselves for the world with the certainty that their voice matters. Deutsche Schule Medellín's commitment to participation and education translates into the formation of leaders with critical thinking and empathy. As Pablo Patiño puts it, “our job is that when our students graduate, they leave prepared to be the best possible leaders”.

This can also be of interest: This is our education model

Learn more about our educational approach
Do you want to know more about our methodology and the spaces for participation at Deutsche Schule Medellín? Visit our admissions page and find out how to become part of our community. Click here.