Academic Education, Personal Development and Professionalism

Sibel Durmaz, graduate of Childhood Education, reports

Where am I and what am I doing?

I have been working part-time at a daycare center for many years. I take great joy in supporting children in their development and fostering them through nature-oriented, creative, sensory-rich and experiential education. 

How did I get here?

During my studies, at the time of the refugee wave in Germany, I became aware of KRASS e.V.. Through its projects, it provides children and young people from socially disadvantaged families with free access to cultural education. Since then, I have been supporting artistic projects for refugee children in refugee accommodation and taking them on trips to the museum. Meeting the refugee children is something very close to my heart.     

After completing my studies, I also began working freelance for an intercultural child and youth welfare provider. The service is called “Educational Support (HzE) with Migrants in Their Native Language.” In this role, I support migrant families, adolescents and children both in their native language (in my case Turkish) and in German. An acquaintance who works for the provider told me about the job.

How did my time at Alanus University shape me?

During my studies to become a childhood educator at Alanus University, alongside my academic education I was also able to work on my personal development and professionalism. I now see new challenges in my professional field much more as a good opportunity to further develop my knowledge, my skills and my personality.