Steps for children foundation

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
steps for children
legal form Foundation, endowment
founding 2005
founder Michael Hoppe
Seat Hamburg
Action space Namibia & Zimbabwe
Chair Michael Hoppe, Stefan Wolfschütz, Frauke Rawert
Website stepsforchildren.de

The steps for children Germany foundation is a non-profit foundation that was founded in 2005 by the entrepreneur Michael Hoppe in Hamburg . It currently supports around 2000 needy children and young people every day, especially AIDS orphans and families affected by HIV / AIDS in Namibia and Zimbabwe . The foundation establishes, operates and finances day nurseries, kindergartens, pre-schools, afternoon care for pupils and other social institutions in order to offer disadvantaged children an educational opportunity.

At the same time, small businesses are founded and employees are trained. In this way, paid jobs are created in a carpentry shop as well as in guest houses, computer schools and other small businesses. 100% of the profits generated there flow into the children's aid projects.

The foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2016.

organization

The steps for children foundation is a legally responsible, non-profit foundation in Hamburg.

The chairman of the board is the founder of the foundation Michael Hoppe, long-time member of the board is Stefan Wolfschütz, and since 2016 the lawyer Frauke Rawert. Two permanent employees, two freelancers and a dozen volunteers work in Hamburg.

In Namibia, Michael Hoppe founded the Namibian trust steps for children, so that the Namibian employees have a Namibian employer and the property belongs to a Namibian organization. Michael Hoppe and Stefan Wolfschütz are on the board of this trust alongside Festus Tjikua and Henk Olwage. The trust employs two national coordinators (part-time) who coordinate the projects and represent the foundation's interests. The local project managers report to you from the individual project locations.

In Switzerland , Michael Hoppe and two other founders founded a foundation of the same name in 2010, which supports the German steps for children foundation. Board members are Ute Pichorner, Guy Loretan, Michael Hoppe and Christoph Möller.

In Germany in 2006 was Förderverein steps for children founded by Michael Hoppe.

aims

The aim of the foundation is to offer disadvantaged children and young people in the poor countries of the south a warm meal, loving care and a wide range of educational opportunities. This enables children to break the cycle of unemployment, poverty, crime, teenage pregnancies and AIDS on their own. In addition, the foundation trains young adults with no prospects and creates jobs and income. steps for children also wants to create long-term prospects to stay that counteract migration flows. Another important goal is to become independent of donations through the income-generating steps.

Projects

The steps for children foundation has been active in Namibia with its own projects and, in some cases, legally independent cooperation partners since 2006. Since 2017 steps for children has also been active in Zimbabwe together with the partner PLAN International .

Social steps

steps particularly supports day nurseries, kindergartens and preschools . After completing preschool, particularly committed and talented preschoolers are accepted into the Guardian Angel program . Steps for children supports these children long-term, individually and comprehensively. Some of them are the first in their families to graduate from high school and, as role models, are supposed to have a positive effect on those around them. The children and young people are actively supported in shaping their lives independently and in realizing their future prospects. This educational program is supplemented by soup kitchens .

In the steps homes , orphans are accepted into an existing small family within the poor neighborhood. steps for children supports all family members in the steps homes with food, hygiene articles and money for firewood and water and takes the children into the steps program of preschool and afternoon classes.

By including the largest possible number of young people and adults from the community as educators, supervisors, auxiliary and specialist staff, steps works beyond the facilities and offers 50 people paid work . Each employee looks after around ten other people.

The following social steps currently exist:

  • Day nurseries: 1 - 3 years (day care)
  • Kindergartens: 3 - 5 years
  • Preschool: 4 - 6 years
  • Afternoon care: tutoring, English, art, computer school, games & fun
  • Meals: soup kitchens
  • steps homes: Admission of orphans into the steps homes foster families
  • Guardian Angel Program: Support for committed and talented children, e.g. B. School supplies and care

Income generating steps - financial independence

With the establishment of small economic businesses (e.g. guest houses, sewing rooms, carpentry workshops) at various locations, financial contributions are generated for social projects. The following income-generating steps are currently being operated:

  • Vegetable growing: supplying our own soup kitchens, selling surplus produce at local markets.
  • Olive cultivation: Cultivation of olive trees with a professional partner in cultivation and sales
  • Sewing workshops: production of souvenir pieces, uniform labels, bags, etc. a.
  • Computer schools: Providing computer, Internet use and computer courses
  • Carpentry workshops: production of solar stoves, tables, chairs, beds and toys for projects, as well as for sale of goods in local markets
  • Guesthouses & Rental Apartments: Rentals to locals, tourists, and corporate and government employees
  • Parental contributions: Contributions from less needy families who give their children to the steps educational institutions because of their high reputation.

After deduction of the costs, 100% of the generated proceeds flow into the social projects and, in addition to the parents' contributions, are intended to ensure the long-term financing of the projects and independence from donations.

Project locations

Project partner

successes

  1. The first location in Namibia has become 9 locations in two countries.
  2. The first children from the steps preschool from 2007 will soon graduate from high school
  3. The number of children cared for has increased from 30 to over 2000.
  4. Growing number of regular supporters.
  5. Increasing cost recovery of social projects through surpluses from income-generating projects.
  6. Cooperation and support from the children's aid organization PLAN INTERNATIONAL .

Awards

  • 2008: Federal award winner in the competition " startsocial " (nationwide social business competition to promote civil society engagement)
  • 2011: “Excellent place in the land of ideas ” in Germany's innovation competition
  • 2012: Golden Dove of Peace (bronze sculpture by the concept artist Richard Hilinger) for the commitment to complying with the UN Human Rights Charter (steps is particularly committed to the realization of the right to education)
  • 2016: Michael Hoppe receives the Federal Cross of Merit on ribbon for his commitment

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Articles of Association. In: steps for children foundation. 2010, accessed June 16, 2018 .
  2. ↑ 10 years of steps for children. In: steps for children foundation. 2016, accessed June 16, 2018 .
  3. ↑ steps for children Switzerland. Retrieved June 18, 2018 .
  4. ↑ Foundation, Friends' Association and Board of Trustees. In: steps for children foundation. 2006, accessed June 16, 2018 .
  5. ↑ a b goals. In: steps for children foundation. 2006, accessed June 16, 2018 .
  6. ↑ Aid projects. In: steps for children foundation. Retrieved June 18, 2018 .
  7. ↑ steps goes Zimbabwe. In: steps for children foundation. June 16, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2018 .
  8. ↑ Two foundations hand in hand. In: Plan International. Plan International - Help with a plan, accessed on June 18, 2018 .
  9. ↑ Guardian Angel Program. In: steps for children foundation. Retrieved June 18, 2018 .
  10. ↑ steps homes program. In: steps for children foundation. Retrieved June 18, 2018 .
  11. ↑ steps guest houses. Retrieved June 18, 2018 .
  12. ↑ Boomerang Kindergarten in Katutura. Retrieved August 6, 2018 .
  13. ↑ steps for children foundation annual report 2016
  14. ↑ start social certificate. Retrieved June 18, 2018 .
  15. ↑ steps is excellent. Retrieved June 18, 2018 .