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About the Network

The Network for Joint Democracy-Building in Early Childhood Education is for everyone who is committed to ensuring equal educational opportunities.

Our Mis­sion

The Net­work for Joint Demo­cracy-Buil­ding in Early Child­hood Edu­ca­tion (GeDAB) is com­mit­ted to iden­ti­fy­ing bar­riers to access to high-qua­lity edu­ca­tion for young child­ren and working to eli­mi­nate them. The net­work advo­ca­tes for early child­hood edu­ca­tion that pro­mo­tes demo­cracy and par­ti­ci­pa­tion and con­sis­t­ently ali­gns its struc­tures, resour­ces, and action plans with the UN Con­ven­tion on the Rights of the Child. In doing so, we take into account the children’s dif­fe­rent living con­di­ti­ons as well as the varied—and in some cases multiple—forms of dis­ad­van­tage and dis­cri­mi­na­tion they face, which can rein­force one ano­ther. Inclu­sive approa­ches that chall­enge dis­cri­mi­na­tion and streng­then demo­cracy are essen­tial, because edu­ca­tion can only suc­ceed if struc­tu­ral bar­riers are iden­ti­fied and eliminated. 

Our Approach

We take a multi-per­spec­tive approach and faci­li­tate dia­lo­gue among aca­de­mia, prac­ti­tio­ners, poli­cy­ma­kers, govern­ment agen­cies, civil society, and the busi­ness com­mu­nity to trans­late sci­en­ti­fic fin­dings into action and break down bar­riers to edu­ca­tion. By crea­ting a nati­on­wide forum for pro­fes­sio­nal exch­ange, con­sul­ta­tion, and know­ledge trans­fer, we ensure that edu­ca­tio­nal equity is struc­tu­rally embedded. In addi­tion, we sup­port govern­ment agen­cies and state-level initia­ti­ves in making access more under­stan­da­ble, relia­ble, and equi­ta­ble, because trust is built when insti­tu­ti­ons are acces­si­ble and take into account people’s diverse life experiences. 

Our Impact

GeDAB high­lights where edu­ca­tio­nal bar­riers exist and helps stake­hol­ders make access to edu­ca­tion more under­stan­da­ble, relia­ble, and equi­ta­ble. In this way, we help build trust bet­ween insti­tu­ti­ons and fami­lies and drive struc­tu­ral chan­ges that pro­mote grea­ter equity of oppor­tu­nity in early child­hood edu­ca­tion. Through net­wor­king and policy ana­ly­sis, we bring key facts to the table in deba­tes and sup­port struc­tu­ral impro­ve­ments. This leads to las­ting chan­ges in admi­nis­tra­tive pro­ce­du­res, policy initia­ti­ves, orga­niza­tio­nal struc­tures, and edu­ca­tio­nal prac­ti­ces. This is how GeDAB pro­mo­tes children’s rights, par­ti­ci­pa­tion, and a cul­ture of demo­cracy within the early child­hood edu­ca­tion system 

At the top, a daycare center is shown next to a book containing paragraphs intended to symbolize children’s rights. Behind it is a set of scales, which also symbolizes these rights. And a wheel that represents innovation and work. In the background, there is a plus sign and several buildings. These represent the institutions. Below them are three puzzle pieces—two yellow ones and a purple one in the center—with the words “Transformation, Exchange, Visibility” written on them. And below that, there is a tablet, a cell phone, and another tablet. All three display social media posts. On the first, there are three speech bubbles that read: “Children with an immigrant background are less likely to attend daycare.” “That’s because of their culture!” “Actually, it’s because of barriers to access.” The cell phone displays 12 tiles with statements and photos as part of a campaign. And on the tablet in the background is a post that reads: “To protect all children in Germany, children’s rights must be enshrined in the Basic Law.”

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Our News­let­ter

The news­let­ter is published 3–4 times a year and pro­vi­des infor­ma­tion on the topic of buil­ding demo­cracy tog­e­ther in early child­hood education.

We use Rapidmail to send out our news­let­ter. Please also review our pri­vacy policy.

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