Hidden within Essen, the Don Bosco Gymnasium holds a story as compelling as its namesake. Established in 1966 by the Salesian order, Don Bosco Gymnasium isn’t just a school. It’s a living testament to the philosophy of St. John Bosco. He believed in nurturing young minds. The school initially served as a boarding school, a tradition it maintained until the 1990s. Beyond academics, Don Bosco Gymnasium fostered a spirit of global citizenship. In 1981, the school launched “Action Tools for Haiti,” a self-help project. This initiative provides ongoing support to Salesian institutions and projects in Haiti. For many years, Don Bosco Gymnasium was an all-boys school. This changed in the 1999/2000 school year when girls were admitted to grades 5 and 11. Don Bosco Gymnasium also faced a dark chapter in its history. In 2022, a 16-year-old student was apprehended for plotting a right-wing extremist attack. The planned attack, modeled after the atrocities committed by Anders Breivik, was thankfully thwarted. Today, Don Bosco Gymnasium thrives with over 750 students and a dedicated faculty of around 60 teachers, led by Jens Bette. It stands as a beacon of learning, community, and resilience in the heart of Essen.
Kultusgemeinde
Fifty years. That’s how long the Jewish Kultusgemeinde in Essen has stood on Sedanstrasse. Fifty years of resilience. Fifty years