WHO WE ARE?
How it all started
It all started in spring 2013: Our association member Sabine Rötering-Heinemann, who founded AT EYE LEVEL - Systemic Education in Gambia e. V. together with her husband Harald Heinemann and led the board for six years, tells her story here:"I felt more and more strongly my great desire for change, for starting something new, specifically: to spend a longer period of time abroad and to work with children during this time. (For some years I have been working as a lecturer in teacher training, but my first profession was 'educator').
By a lucky coincidence I got in touch with an organization in Gambia/West Africa and was able to take two months to work in a 'pre-school' there.
After a short period of confusion - I had never been to Africa before - it became a very happy time for me. The work in this 'Pre-School' was characterized by cheerfulness, lightness and great mutual respect.
Rarely in my life have I found my work so meaningful as with these teachers and children.
Oh, those kids! - Funny, strong, hungry to learn, lovable! And me? - I was enraptured! After the first two years of wonderful experiences with children, parents and teachers in The Gambia, it was clear to me and my husband Harald (certified pedagogue and psychotherapist) that we wanted to continue this activity.
Development cooperation through an educational initiative seemed to us to be more convincing and sustainable than handing out charity.
And with this conviction as a background, we asked committed, professionally qualified friends and acquaintances to actively support us within the framework of an association.
In June 2015, we founded the association 'AT EYE LEVEL - Systemic Education in The Gambia e.V.' with 12 people, whose members were characterized by their enthusiasm and many years of professional activity as educators, therapists, craftsmen and computer scientists, and who were willing to support our work professionally and thereby on a voluntary basis."
Sabine Rötering-Heinemann
Founder of the non-profit organization AT EYE LEVEL Systemic Education in Gambia e. V.
Harald Heinemann
Founder of the non-profit organization AT EYE LEVEL Systemic Education in Gambia e. V.
Our next board
In 2021, Sabine and Harald decided to hand over their board activities to younger hands. Since April this year Claudia has taken over the 1st chair, after having held the office of 2nd chair for two years. Quirinus is our 2nd chair and Michael our new secretary-treasurer.
Claudia Assmann-Bach, 1. chairwoman
Quirinus Oest, 2. chairman
The other members of our association for the next three years:
Jo Bach (Prüm), Andreas-Maria Baumeister (Osann-Monzel), Bianca Brösicke (Zürich), Michel Czerwinski (Luxemburg), Martina Diederich (Trier), Ranan Durdu (Köln), Saskia Höppner (Köln), Christine Kausen (Prüm) and of course Sabine Rötering-Heinemann and Harald Heinemann (both Cologne)
Our actual board
In April 2024, we elected our new board:
Frank Ertel (1st chair)
Miren Gonzalez (2nd chair)
Sibille Marburger (secretary-treasurer)
s year Claudia has taken over the 1st chair, after having held the office of 2nd chair for two years. Quirinus is our 2nd chair and Michael our new secretary-treasurer.