Regelmäßige ‘global chats’ mit Schülerinnen und Schülern aus über 30 Ländern gehören zum Konzept unseres internationalen Nachhaltigkeitsclubs United Change. Diese werden digital durchgeführt und von amerikanischen Moderatoren geleitet. Hier geben unsere Club-Mitglieder Einblicke in ihre Online-Debatten aus dem Schuljahr 2025/26.
Global Chat on Rule of Law in May 2026
On May 17th 2026 we had a global chat about the rule of law. The occasion was the “International Day of Living Together in Peace,” which takes place every year on May 16th. Our debating question was “Should immigrants be allowed into a country without proper documentation?”. We were divided into two separate breakout rooms to discuss the issue. I was part of the group arguing in favor. Our main argument was that people should not be reduced to their passports as every human being should live securely and be treated with dignity. We emphasized the importance of the SDGs as fundamental cornerstones of human development and international relations.
Besides, we agreed that most refugees do not have proper documentation because of the government and the system they are trying to escape from. Therefore, immigrants coming from the most precarious backgrounds would often be helpless. I brought up the point that the documentation may depend as well on economic factors and the international relations between governments. Again, denying people crucial support because of missing documentation, which is normally not the people’s fault, is unfair. We currently see how the topic polarizes the USA and many societies in Europe – like Germany.
In plenum, the group against brought up the argument that immigrants may impose different and often backward worldviews on their new societies, especially endangering gender equality. This probably might happen sometimes. However, this claim is way to general and we should not forget that immigration benefits societies and enriches them in many ways. Democracies are fostered through growing pluralism.
The group against also emphasized that undocumented migrants may attract hatred and thus divide societies. Again, we can see this in many cases, but I believe that such hatred can be overcome through cooperation and openness if governments foster integration. Hilal and Derin agreed with me there. Derin is a Club member of the Turkish BWB Club. He is 14 years old and will turn 15 in two days. Hilal is from our German BWB Club. We agreed that humanity is the most important factor and that a society should help immigrants as long as a society has the necessary capacities and resources.
Johann Kaufmann, Year 12
Global Chat on 19th of April 2026: Unplanned Urbanisation
In the beginning of the Chat on the 19th of April, 2026, we shared our views on Global Earth Day, which takes place on the 22nd of April every year. Our club had helped in the school garden last year and we intend to do so again this April.
In the so-called “about us” session, representatives of the BWB Club of Cyprus presented their club and culture. This was very interesting for me as I had not heard about Cyprus’ rich traditions, among them festivals and community gatherings. I also learned that hospitality is at the core of the culture of Cyprus. It was inspiring to listen to the club talking about its donation drives, fundraising and organized discussions on global issues. I believe that especially those discussions and donation drives could be an option for our club as well.
After that, we were introduced to the topic of the global chat: “Unplanned Urbanization”. I was part of the group arguing against unplanned urbanization.
Our main argumentation was that unplanned urbanization may cause houses to be poorly built, endangering the people who live in them. I personally brought up the point that regulations help to secure the well-being of people and that often green zones fall prey to unplanned urbanization. This is especially horrible, because the loss of green zones fosters climate change. In addition, green zones are often a free place for people to relax from their stressful and sometimes harsh urban life. It is to be feared that especially people with a comparably difficult economic background would suffer from these disadvantages.
In the discussion the group in favor brought up the argument that countries with a drastically growing population need to build new houses as fast and cheaply as possible. I personally understand their point. However, I believe that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages and that those buildings might be prone to being destroyed in earthquakes.
I did not bring it up during the discussion, but now I have come up with the idea that UN funds to support affordable housing, which is an SDG, could be a step in the right direction if the money is well used in countries and regions in need. The UN would of course need to supervise the use of this money to ensure its impact.
Johann Kaufmann, Year 12
Global Chat on 19th of April 2026: Unplanned Urbanisation
Today, the main topic of our discussion was unplanned urbanization and its advantages and disadvantages. It was a very engaging and thought-provoking discussion that allowed us to exchange ideas with students with different perspectives. During the discussion, we compared planned and unplanned urbanization.
We agreed that planned urbanization offers many important benefits. It can reduce environmental damage, improve living conditions, and create cities with better access to transport, schools, hospitals, and other essential infrastructure. Careful planning also helps cities grow in a more organized and sustainable way. At the same time, we recognized that in many developing countries the immediate priority is often different. For millions of people, the most urgent need is access to housing, clean water, roads, and basic services. Without homes and infrastructure, there is little foundation for future progress. Because of this, rapid and sometimes unplanned urban growth can become unavoidable when cities receive large numbers of new residents.
As a final conclusion, we agreed that the best solution is to combine both short-term and long-term goals. Governments should first ensure that people have safe housing and basic infrastructure, while gradually introducing better urban planning for the future. In this way, cities can meet today’s urgent needs while also developing into sustainable, organized, and livable places for future generations.
Overall, the lesson was very interesting and helped me understand that urbanization is not only about building cities, but also about balancing human needs, economic growth, and environmental responsibility as a whole.
Viktoriia Hrytsiuk, Year 12
Global Chat on 19th of April 2026: Unplanned Urbanisation
I was part of the group that discussed the cons of unplanned urbanization. The main arguments we focused on were poor infrastructure, environmental degradation and social inequality. For example, infrastructure often cannot keep pace with rapid population growth driven by the construction of housing, which can lead to traffic chaos or a lack of electricity and water supply. Furthermore, unplanned urbanization sharply increases air, water and soil pollution; green spaces disappear, and waste management systems fail.
Lastly, the gap between rich and poor neighborhoods tends to grow even wider as the population increases.
Hilal Cetinkaya, Year 12
Global Chat on New Year Resolutions in January 2026
At the start of the chat I learned about the culture of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Four different people from the UAE informed us about their culture. I got to learn about their sights, like the Dubai Mall, their traditional food, for instance dates and coffee, their language and the traditions they follow, for example celebrating weddings with huge parties.
After that we got separated into different two groups, in which we should talk about New Year‘s resolutions. One group argued that New Year’s resolutions can bring hope into our life and others argued that resolutions are more of an illusion. I argued that hope may encourage people to take a fresh start and make people welcome new beginnings. Even though you are still the same person, it is much easier to take a fresh start at the beginning of a new year. You can learn from the mistakes that you made in the last year and try to fix them.
At the end of the global chat we got paired up with a partner from another country and discussed how we should set goals for the future. I got paired up with a boy from Iran and we agreed that a new year brings new opportunities and possibilities.
Raya Koll, Year 12
Global Chat on New Year Resolutions in January 2026
In our last Global Chat, we discussed the topic “New Year, New Hope: Motivation or Political Illusion”. I, personally, believe that the theme for this month was chosen perfectly!
We were divided into breakout rooms and I was placed in the group speaking in favor of the topic. I was really glad about this, as I support the idea of making New Year’s resolutions. Why wait longer to achieve or change something? For me, there is something deeply motivating about starting a new year with a vision like ‘New year, new me…’. It feels like a fresh start, so why not make the new year your year? Still, January 1st is just a date. Resolutions can be really helpful, but can also lead to feelings of guilt when they are not carried out perfectly. The pressure is too much in many cases, it kills motivation instead of fuelling it.
The general discussion at the end was really interesting, and it became clear that there is no real answer to the question whether resolutions make sense; everyone is motivated in a different way and feels differently. Still, the other side presented some very convincing ideas. What really matters is working on yourself and being proud in the end!
Marlene Kobudzinski, Year 12
Global Chat on New Year Resolutions in January 2026
Today, I participated in the BWB (Buddies without Borders) meeting in which we discussed the topic “New Year, New Hope” and whether a new year truly represents a genuine fresh start or is more of a symbolic idea. I was assigned to the group that argued in favor of the New Year as a positive new beginning, as it offers a mental reset, encourages people to reflect on the past year, and motivates them to set new goals.
During the discussion, however, it became clear that meaningful change does not necessarily depend on a specific date. The opposing side pointed out that waiting for the New Year can lead to procrastination and that real progress comes from consistent effort rather than symbolic moments. After hearing both perspectives, my own opinion developed further. I now believe that while the New Year can be a helpful source of hope and motivation, people should take responsibility for their lives throughout the entire year and work continuously toward change, growth, and their dreams, regardless of the calendar.
Hera Müller, Year 12
Global Chat on Humanitarian Needs in December 2025
In the last Global Chat, we discussed “Humanitarian Efforts and the International Human Solidarity Day.” The aim of the discussion was to exchange views on whether governments should be allowed to intervene in humanitarian crises, or whether this responsibility should be left to NGOs. Are humanitarian efforts a basic aspect of human decency and essential for world peace?
During the discussion, we were sent into two breakout rooms. One group was in favor of government intervention, while the other group argued against it. I was in the breakout room speaking in favor. As I personally share this view, I felt it was pretty easy to express my opinion. I believe the biggest advantage is that governments may secure access and security for those involved, since humanitarian aid is often most needed in conflict zones. Governments can negotiate access plans and overcome diplomatic challenges, a capacity many NGOs do not have. Another argument in favor is the prevention of misuse or corruption by certain parties.
Even though I found this global chat really interesting, I felt that many students did not really interact, which made it hard for the moderator. During the open discussion, both sides presented their collected arguments and explained them to the other participants. I genuinely found the argumentation of the other side more interesting, as they brought up really convincing points. Maybe NGOs are indeed more flexible and focus more on the actual needs of humans? I feel like this really helped me open my eyes and see the other side of the coin.
Marlene Kobudzinski, Year 12
Global Chat on Humanitarian Needs in December 2025
In the video conference on the 21st of December 2025, we discussed the importance of government intervention to meet the humanitarian needs of citizens. The conference start was very interesting, as some of the Turkish UN Club delegates presented their Turkish culture, cuisine and history in a vivid and detailed PowerPoint.
The actual political discussion was also very interesting for me, as I had to argue that government interventions were useless, even though I personally believe that government intervention is necessary. This forced me to change my perspective, which helped me realize some points I had been unaware of before. While discussing with my “international buddies”, I realized, for example, how important humanitarian aid is, regardless of government actions. I, therefore, came up with the idea of fostering the work of NGOs, as they have the big advantage of collaborating internationally – while being less bound to diplomatic rules. In addition, they can act more independently from international treaties, and they can be supported by different countries as they tend to be more neutral than governments that are bound to certain party policies. Our American host said she really liked this point because she had not seen it this way before. This felt like a big achievement for me, as I had initially thought that government intervention was the only solution to humanitarian problems. Now I know it is not.
The exchange of opinions with other students from around the world is what makes these conferences so helpful for me. I feel that I am sometimes limited to certain views, which are rooted in my education and upbringing and when one discusses a specific topic during the conference, one learns to see things from a completely different point of view. It is obvious, for example, that students living in countries with more corruption think more poorly of government intervention than me, living in a country with strict anti-corruption laws and separation of powers.
Johann Kaufmann, Year 12
Global Chat on Humanitarian Needs in December 2025
I talked with Nami about how Germany and Europe help eradicate poverty by encouraging many social activities. We had an amazing conversation about the efforts made by the governments of Germany, UAE, and Iran. In Germany, we strongly encourage helping the poor by providing food and other resources. I also told Nami that I was a part of an activity few years ago that involved donating clothes and other necessities to Ukraine during the war.
Likewise, helping the poor is encouraged by the government of UAE, especially since it’s a religious principle of Islam. This emphasis is particularly strong during Ramadan, the month in the Islamic calendar during which Muslims are required to fast, and during which food is given out for free to all classes of society, especially those suffering from poverty.
Economic deprivation and financial hardship is a serious problem in the world, and it is amazing to see how the governments of developed countries encourage their citizens to contribute to reducing its adverse effects.
Hera Müller, Year 12
Global Chat in November 2025: “Should eating meat be restricted?”
Am Sonntag, dem 16. November 2025, hatte unser Nachhaltigkeitsclub die Chance, den monatlichen Global-Chat zu hosten. Die Global-Chats sind Debatten, welche per Videokonferenz mit Schülern aus aller Welt stattfinden und immer verschiedene ökologische, ökonomische oder soziale Themen behandeln. Unsere Diskussionsfrage lautete: “Sollte der Konsum von Fleisch begrenzt oder verboten werden?”
Über diese Frage wurde eifrig diskutiert. Als Moderatoren des Global Chats haben wir zuerst in das Thema eingeleitet, indem wir den anderen Teilnehmern einen Überblick verschafft und einige Pro- und Contra-Argumente in den Raum geworfen haben, um Denkanstöße zu geben und eine fruchtbare Diskussion zu starten.
Anschließend wurden alle Mitglieder der Videokonferenz in zwei Gruppen eingeteilt, wo sie sich gemeinsam ihre Argumente überlegt haben. Dabei haben wir beiden Gruppen Unterstützung geboten. Nach 10 Minuten haben sich alle dann wieder in einem Raum getroffen und die eigentliche Debatte hat begonnen.
Die Argumente wurden immer abwechselnd vorgetragen, sodass die Debatte geordneter und ausgewogen ablaufen konnte. Abschließend haben wir ein Fazit gezogen, welches durch die verschiedenen Ansichten und Perspektiven auf das Thema äußerst differenziert ausfallen konnte.
Jeder Global Chat bietet uns so neue Denkansätze und Sichtweisen, welche uns helfen unseren Horizonten zu erweitern.
Ella Raabe & Isabelle Hermanski, Jgst. 12
Global Chat in November 2025: “Should eating meat be restricted?”
I personally liked this topic because there are so many different aspects like health, environment or moral beliefs that you have to be considered in order to answer this question. I got paired up with a partner from the Philippines and we discussed this question. We both had a completely different opinion on this question because I was much more against restricting meat, while the girl I spoke with wanted to restrict meat consumption in future. This talk gave me quite a few insights on another perspective of this topic. Even though we did not agree on the same solution it was important to understand my partner’s point of view.
Raya Koll, Year 12
Working in small groups, the students adapted well-known European fairy tales into short films, bringing classic stories to life using animated LEGO figures, hand puppet theatre and lay-flat animation technique, a visual storytelling method using arranged figures and objects.
Am Samstag, dem 20.06.2026, besuchten wir mit der 
Man könnte dennoch argumentieren, dass die Zwangsarbeiter das Lager bereits in den
Am Dienstag, dem 12. Mai 2026, nahmen elf Schülerinnen aus dem bilingualen Differenzierungskurs in der 
Bei ihrer Ankunft im Schulungsraum lernten die Schülerinnen zunächst künftige Goethe-Bewohner kennen. Da die Essener Schule Natur aus Renovierungsgründen umziehen wird, werden die Dornschrecken, wandelnden Blättern und australischen Gespenstschrecken im nächsten Schuljahr ein neues Zuhause in der Goetheschule finden. Erst ein wenig skeptisch wurden die Insekten beäugt, als Biologin Gaby Borg vom Krefelder Zoo die Dornschrecken aus den Terrarien nahm. Schnell aber verloren die Schülerinnen die Scheu vor den Krabbeltieren, die während der Paarung auch zu zweit unterwegs sind: Die Männchen werden dann auf dem Rücken der deutlich größeren Weibchen getragen.
Danach begann der erste Workshop über Kräuter und Heilpflanzen mit einer Einführung in das Problem der Biopiraterie. Am Beispiel der Stevia-Pflanze erfuhren die Schülerinnen, wie große Konzerne aus der Lebensmittel-, Kosmetik- und Pharmaindustrie indigenes Wissen und Pflanzen der Urvölker systematisch geraubt haben. Stevia wird heute als Süßungsmittel mit wenig Kalorien in vielen Produkten als Zuckerersatz verwendet, ohne dass die einheimische südamerikanische Bevölkerung, die Stevia ursprünglich angebaut hat, davon profitiert. Abhilfe sollte das 
Im zweiten Workshop ging es mit Bettina Igelbrink auf Entdeckungstour durch den Grugapark. Die Schülerinnen lernten Wildkräuter kennen, die vielerorts am Wegesrand wachsen, und früher in deutschen Klosterapotheken bei Schmerzen oder diversen anderen Beschwerden eingesetzt wurden oder denen magische Kräfte in Hexenritualen zugeschrieben wurden. Zum Verfeinern von Speisen wird beispielsweise Bärlauch verwendet, der gerade im Park in voller Blüte steht und auf keinen Fall mit dem giftigen Maiglöckchen verwechselt werden darf. „Kann man das essen?”, war daher die häufigste Fragen, die Frau Igelbrink beantworten musste, während sie Blätter und Wurzelstücke als Kostproben verteilte – immer auch gleich mit entsprechenden Erklärungen: „…wurde früher als Knoblauch-Ersatz verwendet!”, “… riecht nach Nelken” oder „… schmeckt eher langweilig, eben grün. Kann man aber essen.” Am meisten Respekt hatten die Schülerinnen vor dem Blauen Eisenhut, der giftigsten Pflanze Europas, die schon durch bloße Berührung Herzrhythmusstörungen auslösen kann und früher für so manchen Giftmord herhalten musste. „Diese Pflanze also bitte nicht streicheln!” Bei Interesse finden Sie hier eine 
Zum Abschluss gab es noch einen Praxis-Workshop. Verschiedene Kräuter warteten in der Schule Natur darauf, von den Schülerinnen verarbeitet zu werden. Mit Hilfe eines Mörsers wurde Meersalz zerkleinert und nach eigenem Geschmack zum Beispiel mit Rosmarin oder Thymian verfeinert. So entstand selbst gemachtes Kräutersalz, das die Schülerinnen am Ende mit nach Hause nehmen durften. Nun heißt es abwarten, was die Karen aus Nordthailand über ihr altes Pflanzen-Wissen berichten werden, das bis heute auch in Märchen und Legenden weitergegeben wird.
