Close icon

menu

S

C

H

O
O
L
S

School Partnerships. Bridging Europe & Africa.

discover.

connect.

learn from each other.

What is it about

Have you ever thought about what a partnership with a school in Africa might look like – and what we in Europe could learn from it?

‍

‍We help schools build partnerships between Europe and Africa that really work: pragmatic, respectful and developed in collaboration with local people.

‍

The exchange is never one-sided – it thrives on everyone involved learning from one another: schools, students and teachers.

‍

This creates connections that remain feasible, are mindful of resources and are enriching for both sides.

‍

What makes that possible

  • International cooperation that remains feasible even with a small budget.
  • Projects that really involve teachers, students and partner institutions.
  • Clear structures that function sustainably.
  • Partnerships that make sense for everyone involved.
  • Projects can be created despite scarce time and energy, because Opakbox takes care of the set-up, coordination and “staying power”.
  • Schools benefit from the selective experience that is often lacking in the Europe-Africa context, including knowledge transfer, which Opakbox consciously and respectfully contributes.

school partnerships | WHAT

What such a project could look like.

1

first conversation.

We will explain what you want, what resources are there and what makes a partnership useful for you and the partner school.

2

Find partner schools.

Together, we’ll look at potential schools in Africa, make initial contacts and see where our goals, values and circumstances align.

3

Scouting on site.

Depending on the project, a small delegation travels to Africa. We visit the partner school, expand the network, outline a first draft project and discuss it directly with local partners.

4

preparation at home.

Opakbox takes care of the groundwork: detailed planning, coordination, any necessary promotion of the project, and, if requested, preparing the students. All of this is done in such a way that the project remains feasible despite a busy daily schedule.

5

Students' journey.

The students travel to the partner school in Africa. Opakbox can accompany them if requested. Once there, the project is implemented and further developed jointly.

6

Debriefing & knowledge transfer.

After returning home, we reflect on our experiences, bundle what we have learned and plan the next steps. Together, we are examining whether further support makes sense and how the project can be embedded in the structures of both schools in the long term.

school partnerships | HOW

There we.

Contributed.

ZhdK goes Namibia!

Project

ZHdK goes Namibia! is an artistic-educational exchange project involving ZHdK students in the area of elementary music education at the Arts Performance Centre (APC) in Tsumeb, Namibia. At the start of the project, they spend a month on site, develop workshops together with local teachers, share teaching ideas and implement creative processes in music and dance. The aim is to establish sustainable creative relationships and to make art experienced as a unifying language.

‍

Institutions involved

Bukaya

Project

BUKAYA is an exchange format for teachers and professionals from the social sector who want to broaden their horizons. BUKAYA makes it possible to get to know other cultures and school systems in Ethiopia and Namibia, to reflect together and to learn from each other. The participants are prepared for the exchange, accompanied and supported locally, with a focus on personal growth, mutual respect and genuine learning on an equal footing.

‍

Institutions involved

YEEP

Project

YEEP is an international learning and exchange format that has been connecting young people in Switzerland and Ethiopia since 2013. Students from various Swiss universities work locally in mixed teams and develop entrepreneurial solutions for real local challenges. YEEP strengthens entrepreneurial thinking, promotes intercultural learning and enables co-creation in which both sides benefit from each other.

‍

Institutions involved

contributions.

contact

Challenge first ideas together?

Book a free initial appointment