By Joep van den Boom and Judith Gerritzen
At the beginning of spring break, 22 DP1 students boarded a bus to Berlin early in the morning. This trip was not only a chance to have a fantastic time with friends but also an opportunity to engage in activities contributing to their CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) learning outcomes. These outcomes must be documented as part of the CORE DP program, which includes the Extended Essay, TOK, and CAS.
So, what did we do? On Saturday, we visited Sachsenhausen, one of the major Nazi German concentration camps. Students reflected on this tragic chapter of history and connected it to recent global events. They are encouraged to take meaningful action, such as creating a podcast to raise awareness. Afterward, we visited Teufelsberg, an artificial hill made from the rubble of World War II devastation, which was later used as an American communication center during the Cold War. Today, it serves as a creative park where graffiti artists showcase their talents and host various events during the summer. The students drew inspiration from this site for their graffiti artwork at the Berlin Wall the next day.
Additionally, the students contributed to a community garden, helping to reinvent Tempelhof Airport’s sustainable purpose by interviewing visitors. Beyond this, they participated in many other activities to serve the Berlin community.
I’m confident they learned a great deal through these experiences, but most importantly, I hope they created memories to cherish for a lifetime.
