From Winnweiler to Bidibidi — and from Bidibidi to Winnweiler

On 22 September 2026, children in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, Uganda, participated in a cross-border visual learning exchange with schoolchildren in Winnweiler, Germany. The online exchange was facilitated by INFOE-Germany in partnership with ICAN South Sudan, bringing together children living thousands of kilometres apart to engage in a lively conversation about school, culture, food, plants, community and governance structures, everyday life, and their hopes for the future. The exchange created a unique opportunity for the children to learn from one another while recognising similarities and differences in their respective environments.

The session encouraged active participation, curiosity, creativity, and confidence among the children. Rather than simply presenting information, the children asked questions, responded to what they observed, and shared their own experiences. Children from Bidibidi prepared snacks, showcased their initiative to their peers, and presented a song, turning the exchange into a meaningful celebration of learning and creativity. Meanwhile, the children in Winnweiler shared aspects of their surroundings and everyday lives, including familiar foods, prompting conversations about what children eat, learn, grow, and experience in different communities around the world.

More than a virtual meeting, the exchange created a bridge between two worlds through curiosity, respect, learning, and the confidence to share personal experiences. Importantly, the children agreed to continue the exchange, creating opportunities to share more skills, ideas, experiences, and aspirations over time. For ICAN South Sudan, the initiative reflects the importance of creating spaces where children are not only recipients of knowledge but also active contributors whose experiences, creativity, and voices are valued and shared with the wider world.