Berufsbildungswerk Leipzig für Hör- und Sprachgeschädigte gGmbH

The BBW-Leipzig group is a non-profit group of social institutions, projects, services. The institutions and projects are concerned with education and employment as well as placement and inclusion for people with different needs for support. The BBW-Leipzig group is also responsible for several kindergardens. These are the hosting places for ESC volunteers. The "kindergarden Hohe Straße" was founded in 1969, since 1993 as independent non profit institution with a capacity of 109 children (90 kindergarten places including 4 integration places and 19 nursery places). The children are looked after by 18 pedagoges. The institution focusses on several points that are implemented: The main focus is a bilingual profile (German-French) - realized so far in 3 groups: 2 kindergarten groups since 2004, a crèche group since 2017 with the aim to provide children with early, at least bilingual everyday integrated care, support and education to facilitate, promote and develop an open intercultural exchange for children over one year old; Development / consolidation / training of the social-communicative and intercultural competencies of children, professionals and parents; Incorporation of French culture in the annual cycle through appropriate offers and networking within the city. Our other main focuses are: - Integration: 4 children with special living conditions are supported and accompanied by appropriately trained staff in 2 groups. - In one group, the musical abilities and skills of the children are additionally promoted by a music education specialist. There are cooperations / memberships to 2 elementary schools (of which one offers the continuation of the bilingual profile in primary education), the French institute, another German-French kindergarden, the association FMKS e.V. and the city library. Another kindergarden, "KiTa forum thomanum", was founded in 1969, since 1993 as independent non profit institution with a capacity of 100 children (82 kindergarten places including 4 integration places and 18 nursery places). 18 pedagoges care about the children. The institution focuses on three main points that are implemented in music pedagogy, a bilingual profile (German-Italian/ German - English) and the religion pedagogy. The concept of the music pedagogy at the kindergarden is based on the musical development of children and it is chair by two music pedagogues. Period rituals like daily singing, big morning-circle and times for music and rhythm. Furthermore there will be special highlights like church services during the year for special church events, the summer event or visiting concerts (f.e. in the „Gewandhaus“, visiting the oper of Leipzig). The Kindergarden „forum thomanum“ represents a bilingual organisation with an italien/german and english/german profil. The children will be guide by special assistence for language and they will learn languages by playing, singing and period rituals. The third focus is based on religion pedagogy and focuses the social environment of children. Special church events durring the year of the catholic church form the work of the religion pedagogues. Objective of the pedagogy of the kindergarten in general is to link all three main points together. Music, language and religion should be mesh and work together. There are cooperations with primary schools to prepare children for the time after kindergarden and to continue the concept of music, language and religion profil.