The DDR Museum supports LifeTeachUs

LifeTeachUs brings real life to schools

In Germany, over 1 million school lessons are cancelled every week without replacement. The non-profit organisation LifeTeachUs compensates for these lost lessons with so-called LifeLessons. The LifeTeachUs volunteer and certified LifeTeachers come from a wide variety of fields and industries, but have one thing in common: they bring real life and practical knowledge into schools.

In the LifeLessons, children and young people learn about different professions and work experiences, for example, or are shown how tax returns or time management work. Depending on the grade level, topics such as dealing with emotions in a healthy way, opening an account for the first time, artificial intelligence or cryptocurrency can also be covered. This way, pupils learn something practical instead of just watching films or doing nothing. The LifeLessons are just as varied and diverse as the teachers themselves.

True to the motto: »What do you wish you had known when you were at school?«, the LifeTeachers teach a wide range of topics that are intended to prepare students for life after school. The pupils get to interact with a wide variety of people and social classes that they would otherwise not meet at school or in their own environment. The fewer lessons that are cancelled, the better the equal opportunities for the children. After all, up to 20% of all lessons are cancelled in some districts.

The whole thing is organised via a specially programmed app of the same name, in which the partner schools report their needs, which are then requested from suitable LifeTeachers, one of whom can then take over the LifeLessons at the school or online, even at very short notice.

The founder & managing director of LifeTeachUs

Ludwig Thiede (pictured right) is the brains behind LifeTeachUs. Ten years ago, he asked himself why he hadn't already learnt certain things at school. This question gave rise to the idea for LifeTeachUs.
This was followed by a rocky road that involved many voluntary hours after work in addition to his regular activities, a few doubters and, initially, many closed doors at schools. Ludwig was faced with the decision to give up more than once. Eight months after its foundation, more than 100 partner schools and over 4,000 LifeTeachers are registered across Germany. More and more large companies are signing up for corporate volunteering.
The numbers are growing steadily.

The DDR Museum as a strong partner

As a museum, we take our educational mission very seriously. For us, this means that we offer discounted and preferential admission to our museum to school groups of all ages, as well as constantly looking for ways to make a lasting contribution to improving education and access to education in Germany. Together with founders, we have therefore set up the non-profit organisation »LifeTeachUs gGmbH«. We finance LifeTeachUs, are also involved in its content and persuade other private companies to get involved as well.

Become active as a LifeTeacher yourself

Has your curiosity been aroused? As a flexible voluntary position, LifeLessons can only be taken on if it really suits you in terms of location and time. There is no minimum number of hours to be completed, but there is a lot in return: bright, curious and eager-to-learn young people who will be there for us in the future. All information about volunteering as a LifeTeacher can of course be found on the LifeTeachUs website.