Did Elsa Brändström ever imagine her name gracing a school in Essen? Here we stand before the Elsa Brändström Realschule Essen, a place buzzing with young minds since 1907. Originally called the “Mädchenmittelschule Essen-Altstadt,” it was Essen’s second oldest Realschule. Its mission was to give girls an education beyond elementary school. Until 1921, it was the only school of its kind in the area. The Elsa Brändström Realschule has seen its share of change. It started in a shared space with the “Knabenmittelschule Essen-Altstadt.” It even held classes in temporary barracks after its buildings were destroyed in 1943 during WWII. The school reopened in autumn 1945 under Thekla Stegbeck. It moved to its current location on Bergerhauser Straße in 1952. It was the first new Realschule building in Essen. In 1963, the school was renamed to honor Elsa Brändström, the “Angel of Siberia.” She was a Swedish nurse and philanthropist known for her humanitarian work in Russian POW camps during WWI. In 1975, the school became co-educational, welcoming boys alongside its female students. The Elsa Brändström Realschule continues to evolve. It introduced a bilingual program in 1993. It became a partner school for elite athletes in 2003. It earned the title “School without Racism – School with Courage” in 2010. Even a new building was added in 2019 to accommodate its growing student body. This school is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a living testament to the power of education, resilience, and the enduring spirit of Elsa Brändström.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to