Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize

Best Practice Award 2011

The Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Award 2011 is bestowed upon Christiane Daepp, founder of the Swiss program “Ideenbüro”.
During her career as a teacher, Christiane Daepp realized that children are excellent listeners and problem solvers. On the basis of this knowledge, Christiane Daepp founded “Ideenbüro”, a program in which schoolchildren help their fellow pupils solve problems. “Small children are impressed by older children and depend on their behavior rather than listen to well-intentioned advices of adults”, explains Christiane Daepp. “This is the reason why consultations at the Ideenbüro are so efficient and effective.” The “Ideenbüro” is the contact point in a school for all types of problems, ranging from bullying and vandalism to the troubles that arise in pupil-teacher interaction. The children in charge of the “Ideenbüro” take responsibility for solving problems independently and participating in the social community.