Bernhard Busch from Harsum has been collecting irises for many years – the many varieties that bloom in his garden are a feast for the eyes! Today, Busch brought a whole tub full of cuttings for the garden around our workshop. Unfortunately, he wanted the tub back. Busch: “The bucket is sacred!”
Under the direction of lecturer Andreas Oehme, participants in the “Disadvantage or Involvement” seminar in the “Social and Organizational Education” course at the University of Hildesheim visited us as part of an excursion.
Over a period of more than four hours, the students gained in-depth information about our objectives and practice and spoke to employees in the various workshops. As the weather was fine, the students had lunch together in the garden.
Hogar de Cristo supports single-person households, families with very low incomes, the physically and mentally disabled, the homeless and female heads of household. The organization promotes education and vocational training for disadvantaged people throughout the country.
Arbeit und Dritte Welt e.V. sent tools, accessories and spare parts for 2 bicycle workshops, including 50 refurbished bicycles and a repair manual translated into Spanish. The Labora youth workshop provided us with significant support. We also supported sewing workshops with 20 treadle sewing machines and 10 electric sewing machines. These were refurbished or repaired in our workshops.
Arbeit und Dritte Welt collected 7 wheelchairs, 16 walking frames, 14 pairs of walking sticks and 7 hospital beds for the disabled.
Finally, tool sets for carpenters and bricklayers.
The donations were collected in the Hildesheim region.
The transportation costs are covered by the German government-owned Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit ( giz ). The transport was inspected by Mr. Schmitt before loading by giz. The container left Germany from the port of departure in Hamburg on 18.06.2011 on the “BAHIA BLANCA” and reached Valparaiso in Chile on 16.07.2011.
Under the direction of Thorsten Hermann, a group of student teachers from the University of Hildesheim visited us and learned about our work. The visit and discussion were very useful for both sides.
The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union Germany, Hildesheim District Association (NABU) and the Hildesheim Ornithological Society (OVH) celebrated Environment Day for the second time. The event was hosted by the Paul Feindt Foundation.
The event took place on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at the Derneburg ponds. The main theme this year was biodiversity. The extensive program included information and sales stands for books and natural products, activities, guided tours, a children’s program and film screenings in the mill.
The organizers provided information about the flora and fauna in the area, about bats, bees, insects, pond birds, amphibians, the plant world and much more. There were guided tours of the Laves culture trail and of the water birds at the Marienteich.
Arbeit und Dritte Welt, which has been in contact with the Paul Feindt Foundation for many years, was represented with an information stand about our solar lamp project. Many visitors came to see our lamps, which we make from industrial scrap.
A project choir founded in Hildesheim received a visit from a choir from the South African province of Umpopo in May. They were accompanied by project choir founder Katja Ruppel and Pastor Gerjet Harms.
At Arbeit und Dritte Welt, the visitors learned about the aims and practices of our association. Our solar project attracted a lot of attention.
Coincidentally, several choir members were social workers – an intensive exchange of ideas with social education worker Sabine Jäger about working with young people was a valuable experience for both sides.
On 23 May 2011, Joseph Sekiku from the Tanzanian organization FADECO visited our workshop in the Hildesheim Technology Centre together with Thomas Sklorz. As previously reported, we produce solar lamps from industrial waste there.
In his search for support for Sekiku’s diverse activities in Tanzania, Sklorz came across Arbeit und Dritte Welt. During his first visit to us in Stadtfeld almost three weeks ago, Sekiku saw the easily rebuildable solar lamps and was delighted.
After workshop manager Peter Wein had explained the design and manufacturing principle of our lamps, we considered the steps of a collaboration.
We want to send FADECO a complete set for the production of solar lamps. Among other things, we want to use the prize money we received from dm this year for our solar project. Sekiku wants to learn how to build the lamps in our workshop next week and then train two young people in Tanzania.
The proceeds from the sale of the lamps will be used to accumulate capital for further aid shipments.
The union representatives at BOSCH have been supporting Arbeit und Dritte Welt since the very beginning. Over the years, we have repeatedly received important donations, both for us and for the Third World. Without this support, we would have found it very difficult to develop our idea.
On May 17, 2011, a group of representatives visited us. The appointment was organized by Burckhart Schwetje, head of the VK. After the colleagues had taken a detailed look at our premises and the workshop, we sat together for a long time afterwards to exchange views and information. Birgit Gerstenberg, Deputy Chairwoman of the VK, gave us a detailed explanation of the work of the works council and trade union at BOSCH. We were amazed to discover that many problems are similar.
We talked intensively about possibilities for support and cooperation. The representatives want to draw up a statement on this. As we have been invited to BOSCH next week by Works Council Chairman Henning Blum, we have the opportunity to discuss and agree details.
On May 16, 2011, Klaus Ingelmann, head of the U25 team at the Jobcenter Hildesheim and Ulf Trombach from PACE visited us. Together with Sabine Jäger, Social Services, we discussed Ingelmann’s proposal to use PACE’s Job Mobile in Stadtfeld.
The background to the idea is the highest density of children and young people in Stadtfeld compared to other districts in Hildesheim. Application assistance is intended to counteract any disadvantages these young people may face when looking for an apprenticeship or a job.
This consideration is justified, as the proportion of young people with a migration background in this district is very high and it is to be feared that this will hinder them in their job search. In addition, the initiative would signal to young people that they are not alone.
Thomas Brien, Managing Director of ADW, was certain that the initiative could be carried out very well in cooperation with the association “Gemeinwesenentwicklung Stadtfeld”, which was founded last year. Accordingly, a kick-off event is planned for the neighborhood in the near future.
On Friday, July 1, 2011, the garden around our workshop will be open to interested visitors from 12:00 – 17:00. This is the first time we have taken part in this event, which has been taking place in the town and district of Hildesheim for several years.
