The digital transformation is causing uncertainty, and Germany and Europe are at risk of being left behind globally. There is a shortage of skilled workers, while children from economically disadvantaged families still struggle to find their way in school and work. Enter Fetsum Sebhat and Teddy Tewelde and their organisations PxP Embassy and Future Skills Association.
In an interview with Thorsten Giersch, they explained how, about ten years ago, images of children fleeing their homes triggered a desire to help – not on a small scale, but with full commitment. The result was the first “Peace by Peace” festival in Berlin’s Waldstadion in 2016. The successful children’s emergency aid initiative became a commitment to learning. Today, the two exceptional personalities bring together innovative educational institutions, companies and organisations to make a difference in the areas of schooling and education. What sets them apart is their positive view of what can be achieved.
This also applies to Teddy Tewelde’s work at a school in Berlin-Reinickendorf. He teaches Future Skills, a subject he developed himself. What,” asked Thorsten Giersch, “are these key skills that children, but also adults, need for their professional lives today? Fetsum Sebhat provided the answer: the willingness to learn and solution-oriented thinking, the 4 Cs – creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking – are very important, followed or accompanied by digital and media skills. At the school in Reineckendorf, Teddy Tewelde teaches all this in practical projects where children, supported by experts, can develop their own initiative – a good example for other schools and companies.
The short video was recorded after the official programme.
A summary of the talk on the main stage can be found in the IBA Forum Newsroom in June 2025.
Photo: © IBA
