LdE Award for Primary Schools 2026 – Learning through Engagement Foundation

The LdE Award for Primary Schools 2026 "Where Learning Comes Alive" honors outstanding Service-Learning projects at primary schools in challenging circumstances. In selected federal states – Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia – innovative concepts are showcased where school education merges with social engagement. The aim is to recognize educational approaches that enable students to take responsibility and convey key basic competencies through active participation. Both the LdE teaching process in all phases—from planning through implementation to completion—and the sustainable integration of learning through engagement into everyday school life and the school program are awarded. A special focus lies on the active participation of the children and the integration of the engagement concept into the institutional development of the school.

In total, the Lernen durch Engagement Foundation awards four prizes of €1,500 each for outstanding LdE teaching concepts and two prizes of €2,000 each for long-term established anchoring measures. Eligible to participate are primary schools in challenging circumstances as well as their teachers and school principals who firmly integrate Service-Learning into teaching and school development. Evaluation criteria include the degree of innovation of the LdE practice, its integration into everyday school life, and the potential for student participation. Applications are submitted online via a standardized form and are possible until March 27, 2026. Awarded projects will be announced following the jury decision in April 2026; the festive award ceremony is expected to take place in June in the respective federal states.