Altenstadt middle school: pioneer in consumer education 2023/2024

Altenstadt middle school: pioneer in consumer education 2023/2024

The Altenstadt middle school has fought for a special place in the Bavarian educational landscape by being recognized as a “Partner School for Consumer Education Bavaria 2023/2024”. This honor is not just a title, but reflects the school's commitment to integrating important consumer education topics into the classroom.

At a time when the fashion industry is often perceived as environmentally harmful and unethical, the students at Altenstadt Middle School have chosen this year's theme: "Fast Fashion? This is how we do it better!" picked up. This question is particularly relevant because it encourages young people to think about their own consumption. Questions like “How many items of clothing do I really own?” and “Where do my clothes come from?” are at the center of their considerations.

Commitment to sustainability

The students dealt intensively with the ecological and social impacts of fast fashion. They not only examined the carbon footprint and water consumption of their clothing, but also questioned the working conditions in the producing countries. This research inspired her to take action. The school has initiatives such as clothing swap closets and sewing workshops that help students find sustainable alternatives to buying new clothes.

Thorsten Glauber, the Bavarian State Minister for the Environment and Consumer Protection, praised the students' commitment and emphasized how important it is to prepare the young generation for the challenges of the consumer world. “The projects show that the students are intensively concerned with future issues,” he said. “We want to support them so that they can cope well in the complex world of consumption.”

The “Partner School Consumer Education Bavaria” initiative has been running since the 2015/16 school year and has established itself as a platform to encourage schools to deal with consumer education. Participating schools submit media articles on topics such as fast fashion and energy consumption to showcase their creative approaches.

Anna Stolz, the Bavarian Minister of Education, emphasized that the students' creative contributions not only reflect everyday questions, but also encourage more conscious consumer behavior. “Your commitment is an incentive for all of us,” she said and congratulated the students on their achievements.

The state chairwoman of the Bavarian Consumer Service, Eva Fuchs, emphasized the importance of the initiative and the creativity of the students. “It is impressive to see young people engaging with important consumer issues and putting their ideas into action,” she said.

For further information on the “Partner School for Consumer Education in Bavaria” initiative, those interested can visit the website www.partnerschule-bayern.de visit.

Image: StMUV, Veronika Seitz

The Bavarian Minister of Consumer Protection Thorsten Glauber, the state chairwoman of the Bavarian Consumer Service Eva Fuchs and the Bavarian Minister of Education Anna Stolz (from left to right) on the occasion of the award.