Ten years of successful work by step21 for tolerance and responsibility

Xenophobia and rightwing extremism among young people are rising. But how can it be prevented effectively in the long term? One good example is the step21 initiative, now celebrating its 10th anniversary. To be able to continue its work, step21 urgently needs your support.

One in seven young people is "very xenophobic". The results of a recent study by the Lower Saxony Criminology Research Institute have shocked politicians who all call for greater preventive efforts and overall social responsibility.

The nonprofit initiative step21 has for the past ten years been successfully promoting values such as responsibility, tolerance and having the courage of one's conviction among children and youths. Federal President Horst Köhler praised step21 in the Bundestag in January as a good example of an "initiative that supplements what is taught in school and goes into more depth, giving rise to experiences that should be available to as many young people as possible."

step21 will soon be publishing an anniversary report documenting the cornerstones of successful prevention. "Without our many large and small supporters, our work over the last 10 years would not have been possible," says Sonja Lahnstein, founder and director of step21. "Particularly in times of crisis, xenophobic tendencies surge. At the same time, funds for community work are cut in all areas. Now more than ever, we need sponsors who are prepared to support our work and invest in the future of society."

One good example of corporate social responsibility is Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, which has supported step21 for several years. Burkhard Schwenker, chairman of Roland Berger, explains his support as follows: "Our society is based on fundamental democratic values. It can only continue to function if we manage to convey our values to future generations. That is why step21 is so important today. We hope we will find partners who can help us in doing so."

Many years of experience and success – 900,000 children and teenagers reached

In more than 300 step21 projects, over 900,000 children and teenagers have learned that tolerance is not just an abstract term but one that you have to stand up for time and again. The aim of this knowledge and understanding is to help young people develop intercultural skills early on and remove any basis for xenophobic thoughts.

In cooperation with around 13,000 schools, innovative media boxes were used in addition to other tools. Interactive project days and successful bus tours were conducted throughout Germany. The initiative recently developed an innovative media box for primary schools on the topic of [Weltbilder : Bilderwelten], ("World views : Picture worlds") which, accompanied by training events for teachers, is already being used in several hundred schools.

The next step21 [Weiße Flecken] magazine ("White Spots") is due to be presented to the public on June 30, 2009. Young editors from four countries have researched "white spots" in print media from Nazi times and promote human rights in Europe. With a circulation of 30,000 copies, step21's [Weiße Flecken] magazine will reach a wider audience in 2009. The forward-thinking remembrance project is supported by its "first reader" Chancellor Angela Merkel: "I am very grateful for the step21 initiative. It helps young people resist extremism and xenophobia and promotes responsibility, tolerance and having the courage of one's convictions."