Foundation's initiative backs academic journey of 2,300 kids in Dortmund
Help and Hope Foundation's School Starter Campaign Helps Dortmund Schoolchildren from Low-Income Families
The Help and Hope Foundation is making a significant impact in the lives of over 2,300 school starters from low-income families in Dortmund, Germany. The fifth iteration of their School Starter campaign has been providing School Starter packages to 46 primary and special schools in the city.
The School Starter campaign aims to ensure that education does not fail due to parental income, as the growing child poverty rate nationwide, at 15.5 percent according to the Federal Statistical Office in 2024, can mean starting with less - both materially and emotionally. For affected children, this financial burden can be a significant obstacle at the start of a new school year, often requiring several hundred euros for items like backpacks, notebooks, sports equipment, and craft materials.
The Dortmund retailer TEDi has once again provided all the school supplies for the campaign, as in previous years. Each School Starter package contains items needed for the start of school, such as a lunch box, water bottle, paint set, pens, brushes, glue, and scissors. The Commerzbank Foundation has also shown its support with a donation of 5,000 euros.
Registration for school was done in the spring, and the packages are now being distributed directly through schools to selected families. Feedback from schools suggests that the help provided by the campaign is appreciated and makes a noticeable difference. Two classes from the "School am Hafen" even assisted in packing the total of 2,342 bags for the campaign.
Sandra Heller, chairperson of the foundation, states that every child deserves to open their backpack with pride and start school well-prepared. The Help and Hope Foundation emphasizes promoting equal opportunities as a central task, with Heller stating, "Participation is not an extra for us, but a fundamental right. We cannot eliminate child poverty, but we can counteract its consequences."
In North Rhine-Westphalia, the percentage of children and young people at risk of poverty is significantly higher at 23.3 percent. The campaign targets areas where state aid often falls short, providing much-needed support to children and families in need.
Despite the positive impact of the School Starter campaign, it is important to note that there is currently no verifiable information about the Help and Hope Foundation's School Starter campaign and its impact in Dortmund over the past five years from the current search results. If you have any additional details or would like information on related campaigns in Dortmund, please share, and I can assist further.
- The Help and Hope Foundation's School Starter campaign is not just focused on educational supplies, but also includes essential items such as sports equipment, demonstrating a holistic approach towards the lifestyle and overall development of the children.
- In addition to the School Starter campaign, the Help and Hope Foundation promotes equal opportunities by emphasizing that participation in educational activities is a fundamental right, rather than a privilege, and strives to counteract the consequences of child poverty in the general news context of Dortmund and North Rhine-Westphalia.
