A part of the social studies discipline at our school is the cooperation with an elderly home called Seniorenresidenz Wiesentheid, which has existed for some years. The students from our social studies branch can do social internships at this institution and volunteer work by visiting senior citizens and providing meaningful interactions like going for a walk, playing games, and having coffee and conversation with the residents. This cooperation provides a better understanding to both sides – the youth and the seniors – and is a great way for students to learn about the needs of the elderly.
In their tenth academic year, students from our social studies discipline go on a five-day city trip with disabled people, whom we call our guests since we host this trip. This cooperation with the Mainfränkischen Werkstätten Kitzingen, a place where our guests are employed, has existed for over 25 years to great success. Throughout the trip, groups of students take care of their guests and learn about the everyday lives of people with disabilities. This project has created a better understanding for people with special needs, and more importantly, meaningful friendships between students and people with disabilities. Cities that have been visited in the last couple of years are Aachen, Berlin, Freiburg, Hamburg, Munich, and Vienna.