North Rhine-Westphalia | Exchanges in the Ruhr area: Offering education, looking for an apartment

Mia, Vanja, and Stella always wanted to give something back and help children. Just like Tanja, Kim, and Mieke. They and other Federal Volunteer Service (BUFD) volunteers work as educational mentors in exchange bars in North Rhine-Westphalia. In return, they can live rent-free in a specially provided shared apartment for up to a year and also receive pocket money of €420 per month.

Education in exchange for rent-free housing. Behind this is an ambitious project that aims to ensure greater educational equity in tense residential areas, which are prevalent in the Ruhr region. The association "Exchange Education for Housing" has been organizing this project since 2014. It was first tested in Duisburg-Marxloh.

There are now additional Swap Bars in Dortmund, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Witten, and Hamburg. Tanja, Kim, and Mieke, for example, work in Gelsenkirchen. Their mission: to help children cope better in school and everyday life. This can be done through traditional tutoring and learning support, or through creative activities; sometimes even with excursions to other realities and places. Many of the children rarely leave their familiar surroundings.

A company in the city of Gelsenkirchen is supporting the project, which has been running there since 2018, according to a request from the city. Nearly 50 children, who can visit the Tauschbar in Gelsenkirchen five days a week, are currently taking advantage of the free program. The organization explains that this is a success (in terms of learning). Across all locations, the children attend regularly, are gaining self-confidence, opening up, and making noticeable progress in learning and social interaction.

"I'm here because I want to give something back."

Mieke Education Sponsor

"I'm here because I want to give something back," says Mieke, who grew up "much more privileged" than her "godchildren." She finds working with the children incredibly enjoyable. Mieke is one of 211 sponsors who have created and continue to create more than 53,000 hours of educational and recreational activities for over 4,350 children since the first Tauschbar opened eleven years ago.

For three years now, there has also been a Tauschbar in Essen-Katernberg, a former working-class district in the north of the Ruhr region's second-largest city. Sabrina Podschies manages the location. "It's home to many children, diverse, and at the same time, confronted with educational challenges – like many other neighborhoods in the Ruhr region," she says. The Tauschbar is a vibrant learning and meeting space that empowers children, supports young adults, and revitalizes community in the district, Podschies says.

The cash-strapped Ruhr cities are grateful for any help. Especially if they don't have to take the lead themselves, if some of the work is taken off their hands, and they only have to donate a little money. The exchange bars are oriented toward the common good and are financed through grants and donations.

Stella, Mia, and Vanja are involved in Katernberg. "Mia really thrives on supporting learning—especially when she sees that children are building self-confidence through her support," says her "boss," Podschies. Stella particularly enjoys the "emotional work and supporting children through crises." After her year at Tauschbar, Mia plans to study spatial planning. Like her two colleagues, she will have the advantage of shared living and a great deal of personal responsibility over many first-year students. Vanja will be doing an apprenticeship at Ikea, and Stella wants to become a kindergarten teacher—a fitting addition to her work as an educational mentor.