"UWE initiative reveals details about the welfare of more than 500 students from schools in Essen"
In November 2024, the UWE project—a municipal questionnaire—was conducted in eleven schools across Essen, aiming to assess the satisfaction and well-being of students in grades 4, 7, and 9. A total of 280 elementary school students and 239 middle school students participated in the survey.
The focus of the survey was on how children feel in school, neighbourhood, family, and friendships. The findings revealed that one-third of the surveyed children and youth reported not feeling well, while two-thirds reported high well-being.
The UWE project is a collaborative approach, involving representatives from the city's school, youth, education, and culture departments, as well as political committees such as the Committee on School, Education, and Science. This engagement also includes politicians and administration members from the city of Essen, working closely with schools, parents, and local district actors.
Students with high well-being were found to have optimistic attitudes, high self-esteem, positive body image, and fewer worries. On the contrary, students with low well-being consistently showed lower values in their resources. Interestingly, differences between respondents varied depending on the school location.
Close relationships with adults, good contact with peers, and a positive school experience are important for the general well-being of children and young people. Structural improvements, social support, democratic participation, and active engagement in the neighbourhood are crucial for holistically promoting the development of students.
The survey used an innovative method, a photo safari, where children took pictures of their school and living environment to answer questions about their feelings. The schools participating in the survey have a high social index between 5 and 9, and ten of these schools are part of the Startchance program.
The findings of the UWE survey will be incorporated into the work of the administration and into the further development processes of the municipal overall strategy. Furthermore, schools and the city can draw on the Startchancen program to implement measures for the improvement of students' well-being.
Detailed information on the results of the UWE survey can be found in the Ratsinformationssystem of the Essen City Hall in the agenda item 1101/2025/4. The response rates for the survey were 63% for elementary school students and 52% for middle school students.
