Learning, understanding and standing up for equality together: a broad network of volunteers raises public awareness in Germany about NETZ‘s work in Bangladesh and carries out important educational work throughout the year.

Education is not only a key part of NETZ‘s work in Bangladesh, but it also took centre stage in development education in Germany in 2024. Across numerous events, volunteers shared their knowledge about Bangladesh and global interconnections, providing practical insights into the local education situation. The target groups were primarily school classes, church groups, fair trade shops, and other educational institutions.

First-hand insights through visits

In the summer of 2024, as an initiative of NETZ, an expert group from Bangladesh, comprising of a teacher and education trainers from the NETZ partner organisation Anandalok Trust, visited Germany.
In more than a dozen events, the practitioners from Bangladesh – Abdha Afrin Jhorna, Nazma Aktar, and Shamsul Huda – presented the education system, alternative approaches, challenges, and opportunities in Bangladesh. The exchange with volunteers, students, teaching staff, and parent representatives in Germany was enriching for both sides.

In Krefeld, the group discussed kindergarden concepts and early childhood education. At secondary, primary, and comprehensive schools in Tönisvorst, Wetzlar, Heuchelheim, and Duisburg, the visitors explained how schools and co-determination work in Bangladesh. This also highlighted the sometimes harsh learning conditions and the great value placed on education. The visits, including to the one-world shop in Werne and the Wetzlar city administration, reinforced the importance of the partnership between civil society groups in Germany and the people of Bangladesh. 

Bangladesh Conference: 35 years of NETZ

The NETZ general meeting and Bangladesh conference in June 2024 featured a diverse programme focusing on the key topics of education and knowledge. Bangladeshi education experts from the expert group and the NETZ country office manager in Bangladesh, Habibur Rahman Chowdhury, provided insights into opportunities, challenges and potential in education in Bangladesh. It was all about exchange and mutual learning: How does ‘education for a just world’ work, what role does child-centred pedagogy play, and how can NETZ-supported Anandalok schools implement targeted prevention and protection measures against natural disasters like floods? It became clear how crucial it is to support these girls and boys, and what a significant role the school community plays for the entire village. Participants also had fun practising new skills at the Bratachari dance workshop, where all guests were invited to join in.

Solidarity campaign: "Finally, school!"

Numerous advocacy groups, some of which have been involved for many years, came together in 2024 to support NETZ and its work in Bangladesh, sending an important signal of global solidarity. These include one-world shops, church communities, private individuals, student initiatives, and sustainability groups. As part of the large-scale solidarity campaign ‘Finally, School!’, schools and other institutions in Weimar, Freiburg, and Wetzlar, among others, enabled 150 children in Bangladesh to attend school and helped establish 120 school libraries. Additionally, there were numerous fundraising campaigns as part of public events such as the women’s clothing market in Rellingen, the Ochsenfest in Wetzlar, and, as every year, the nationwide carol singing campaign at the end of the Christmas season, during which more than 30 communities in Germany collected donations for NETZ school projects.

Sharing knowledge, raising awareness

An important task of NETZ and its numerous volunteers is to provide opportunities for development education. They organised 22 events at schools, universities, and adult education centres, as well as online, reaching several hundred people. Topics included climate justice, the textile industry, education and development, and feminist perspectives. A photo exhibition on climate change was also shown at four locations across Germany, reaching a large audience. The NETZ working group on education develops concepts and materials for educational work. Its members gathered for a procedural meeting and a methodology workshop on two weekends in 2024.

Public relations

NETZ informs the public about politics, society, economics, and culture in Bangladesh. The NETZ website offers background articles, analyses, and expert interviews on the most important global and development policy issues – including those that receive less attention in the German media. We also provide information through monthly newsletters and press releases. German and international media reported on our work 36 times in 2024. The Bangladesh magazine NETZ is the most important publication in German on Bangladesh, both in print and online.

Volunteer service

Since 1991, NETZ has been sending young people to Bangladesh to learn and work with our local partners. As in previous years, the volunteer programme was suspended in 2024 due to the security situation in Bangladesh. The programme is being further developed conceptually with the aim of resuming it, including a reverse voluntary service programme from Bangladesh to Germany. André Schönhardt served as a federal volunteer at the NETZ office in Wetzlar until August 2024.