PASCH, the 'Schools: Partners for the Future' initiative of the German Federal Foreign Office, comprises around 2,200 schools worldwide, including German schools abroad and schools where German is taught as a foreign language, fostering strong ties with Germany.
More than 20 schools and 120 students aged 14 to 18 took part in this year's 10th-anniversary tournament, with those from Shanghai joined by athletes from neighboring cities such as Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Hangzhou.
The mixed teams played, fought, and scored with passion. The atmosphere in the sports hall was fantastic, and everyone gave their best.
The success of the event was also the result of the fantastic collaboration of the entire school community. Thanks to the outstanding commitment of the school sports team, the co-curricular activities team, and the Parents' Sports Committee, this event became an unforgettable experience.
Parents' Sports Committee
The German School Shanghai fosters a vibrant community that warmly welcomes all families to join and participate. Active parents are involved in various committees to make school life even more colorful.
The Sports Committee, currently consisting of 11 parents, supports the school's sports department in organizing events such as the PASCH Basketball Tournament, Jingle Bell Run, St. Nicholas Sports Festival, and the upcoming East Asian Games in Shanghai in April 2026.
Social & Intercultural Exchange
Just as the PASCH Cup encompasses not only sports but also intercultural exchange, the commitment of the parents goes beyond athletics.
Thanks to the dedication of the Parents' Sports Committee and the involvement of host families, the 60 guest students were happily matched with their hosts.
They stayed overnight with families, experienced authentic German family life, and enjoyed excursions into the city center, capturing souvenir photos at the Bund.
The time spent together fostered exciting new friendships that will endure long after the event.
Three Families Share
Their Experiences
Kieser Family
"We hosted three boys from a vocational school for mechanical engineering and electronics in Wuxi.
They had been learning German three times a week for two to three years and communicated well, using English when needed.
The boys were grateful, polite, and open, showing great interest in our expat life in Shanghai.
After picking them up, we had lunch at Zeitgeist in Lidoway. They were curious and enthusiastically tried pork knuckle and goulash with spaetzle. Later, we had a long chat in German and English.
The next morning, they happily helped prepare scrambled eggs for an international breakfast. There were many happy faces in the early hours!"
Prautzsch Family
"We hosted two girls, Wen Xi (Year 12, Nanjing Foreign Language College) and Pin Yan (Year 11, Jiaxing Middle School).
Wen Xi, fluent in German after three years of study, taking nine lessons per week, plans to study German at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Pin Yan also studies German, and aims to attend university in Germany.
They defy stereotypes of Chinese public-school students—while they study hard for exams, they are independent, opinionated, and forward-thinking.
We enjoyed dinner at a German restaurant on the Bund, admiring the light show. The girls gave us small gifts representing their hometowns, and we discussed family, studies, and life experiences."
"Our daughter, who is six to seven years younger, quickly bonded with them over internet trends, hobbies, and language learning.
Watching them play tongue twisters in Chinese and German was heartwarming. They still keep in touch via WeChat, sharing daily life in German.
The German School Shanghai hosts the PASCH tournament yearly, and in 2026 it will also organize the East Asia Sport Games.
We encourage all families to host students—it's a wonderful opportunity for children to connect across cultures, fostering cosmopolitanism, empathy, and acceptance."
Grünwald-Ioakeimidis Family
"We hosted a student from Nanjing International School for one night. Since he had never been to Germany, we ordered German dishes to introduce him to the cuisine—food proved a great conversation starter!
He had studied German for a year and a half, and his grammar and vocabulary were impressive. We discussed German and Chinese culture, food, and history, with no awkward silences—he was mature and knowledgeable."
"Our five-year-old son was shy at first but soon showed him a German book about Europe. The next morning, we had breakfast together before the tournament.
We loved hosting, learning about his life and culture, and hope he felt at home.
We highly recommend this experience—it's a great way to step out of your comfort zone and form meaningful connections."
Find Out for Yourself!
German School Shanghai
Open Days
At the German School Shanghai Open Days, you will have the opportunity to observe a live lesson and join a school tour led by their admissions and the pedagogical team.
German School Shanghai Hongqiao
Wed, Apr 23, 9-11am
350 Gaoguang Lu, by Zhuguang Lu, Qingpu District 高光路350号, 近诸光路
German School Shanghai Yangpu
Tue, May 27, 9-11am
758 Jiangwancheng Lu, by Yinhang Lu, Yangpu District 江湾城路758号, 近殷行路
To book your place, simply scan the QR code on the poster above
[All images courtesy of German School Shanghai]
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