Festivity of thanks for those active in the pandemic Honour for the commitment to the Lern-Buddies project by Federal President Frank-Walter-Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender.

Last Friday, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender held a garden party in the park of Bellevue Palace in Berlin to thank citizens who were particularly involved in their profession or voluntary work during the Corona pandemic. Among them: Dr. Claudia Schünemann, internship officer for school internships at the Faculty of Humanities and Education, who launched the Lern-Buddies (Learning Buddies) project at Faculty 6 at the beginning of the pandemic. The aim was to support pupils with learning problems during the challenging time of homeschooling and to offer student teachers, among other things, a substitute for school internships that were cancelled. It was an opportunity that benefited everyone involved: pupils received individual support, parents were relieved and the student teachers were able to try out their practical skills.

Dr. Claudia Schünemann at the garden party of the Federal President. Photo credit: Dr. Claudia Schünemann/TU Braunschweig

Friedrich-Georg Mandt at the garden party of the Federal President. Photo credit: Dr. Claudia Schünemann/TU Braunschweig

Friedrich-Georg Mandt (Teacher Training Course GHR Mathematics/Sports) took part in the event on behalf of the student coordinators, without whom the organisation of the project would not have been possible.

“I was really pleased about the invitation and the honour that came with it. The atmosphere was extremely festive and appreciative. In his opening speech, the Federal President explicitly thanked us for bringing school home to children here in Braunschweig,” says Dr. Claudia Schünemann. “Afterwards I was able to take part in a round of talks with the First Lady Elke Büdenbender and three other people from the education sector. There was a lively exchange of ideas and good networking opportunities.”

There are already further plans for the future of the Lern-Buddies. Dr. Claudia Schünemann: “We have founded an association that will act as a mediation platform between interested schools and students. The aim here is to provide long-term support, i.e. at least for one school term, for children who have major learning deficits as a result of the pandemic. The student teachers can commit themselves for a fee and thus also have the chance to gain important and far-reaching experience in their later professional field during their studies, supported by the teachers at the schools. The interest of the schools is great! At the same time, this gives many students the chance to find an excellent substitute for student jobs that may be lost in the pandemic. So it’s a win-win situation for both sides.”