German-Polish Professional Exchange: After-School Care Educators from Warsaw Visit Magdeburg

From 5 to 8 October 2026, the EJBM welcomed a group of after-school care educators from Poland to Magdeburg for a multi-day professional exchange. The visit focused on gaining insights into the German after-school care system, exchanging ideas on different educational approaches, and strengthening German-Polish cooperation in the field of education.

Insights into After-School Care in Magdeburg

A total of eleven after-school care educators from seven primary schools in Warsaw, along with representatives of our long-standing Polish partner organisation SZANSA, travelled to Magdeburg to learn more about the care and support provided to primary school children in Germany.

As part of the programme, the participants visited several after-school care centres ("Horte") in Magdeburg, including Am Glacis, Am Westring, Ottersleben and Sudenburg. These visits gave them the opportunity to gain first-hand insights into everyday educational practices and engage in discussions with staff members about their daily work.

Different Education Systems, Shared Challenges

The discussions focused on the different frameworks and conditions for after-school care in Germany and Poland. Although both countries pursue similar goals in supporting the development and education of primary school children, their organisational structures and approaches to childcare differ considerably in some areas.

The visits to the Magdeburg facilities therefore provided particularly valuable insights into different educational concepts and practices. Topics such as inclusion, cooperation with parents, funding, staff-to-child ratios and the role of independent providers offered numerous opportunities for professional discussions.

The Polish participants were able to share their own experiences from their daily work in Warsaw and compare them with the approaches used in the facilities they visited. This led to lively discussions about similarities, differences and potential ideas for their own educational practice.

The exchange highlighted the value of looking beyond national borders. Different approaches opened up new perspectives and encouraged participants to reflect on existing structures and working methods.

Working Together to Strengthen German-Polish Cooperation

The professional exchange was organised by the European Youth Education Centre Magdeburg (EJBM) and GOEUROPE!. The project was supported by the Auslandsgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt e.V. (AGSA), particularly through its specialist department "Vocational Training Without Borders" (Berufsbildung ohne Grenzen), as well as the German-Polish Society of Saxony-Anhalt (Deutsch-Polnische Gesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt e.V.).

The project was funded by the State Chancellery of Saxony-Anhalt.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to all participating after-school care centres in Magdeburg and their staff for taking the time to welcome our guests, opening their doors and providing valuable insights into their daily educational work.

We would also like to thank our guests from Warsaw and our partner organisation SZANSA for their great interest, openness and the many enriching conversations.

For us, this visit once again demonstrated the value of international professional exchanges. They not only facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences but also help build lasting connections and create new perspectives for educational practice.

We look forward to continuing our German-Polish cooperation and creating further opportunities for international encounters and shared learning in the future.