Arbeit und Dritte Welt

On 01.11.2010, pupils from two courses at Himmelsthür High School visited us with their teachers. The first of them arrived on our premises at half past seven in the morning.

We talked about the history and role of trade unions in Germany and reported on the situation of unemployed people, especially the long-term unemployed and the disadvantaged. The students visited our workshops with great interest. There they also received information about initial vocational training in the carpentry and metalworking trades.

We really enjoyed this visit and were delighted with the pupils’ interest in our objectives and our work. We made it clear that we are very interested in expanding our contact with Himmelsthür High School and are open to ideas and suggestions for further meetings.

Once again, the executive committee of IG BAU Senior Citizens, led by Bernhard Busch, held its board meeting on our premises. Afterwards, the colleagues caught up on the latest news from Arbeit und Dritte Welt and this time paid a longer visit to the metalworking shop.

The visitors were given in-depth information about the work opportunities and prospects that we can offer unemployed people in this workshop and about initial training in the metalworking trade with us.

Through the efforts of engineer Rehkate, we were given the entire roof truss of a demolished house as firewood. It didn’t take a day’s work before the piles were dismantled and stacked. Some of the beams were still in good condition and we put them aside for a building project at the Marienberg School in Nordstemmen.

Under the direction of Gisela Sowa, some local representatives of the Diakonie visited us for a discussion and exchange of information. After a tour of the company, an intensive and lively discussion took place. Support for self-help in Africa, especially in Tanzania for the diocese of Singida, was also an important topic.

Arbeit und Dritte Welt can point to a long history of support in this area – for transports from the Scharnhorstgymnasium, the Hildesheim-Sarstedt church district, the Robert Bosch comprehensive school, the Evangelical Lutheran Missionary Society or the 12 Apostles congregation, as well as the Handwerksförderung Ost-Afrika (HOAV).

At the suggestion of Jupp Gerhardy, Youth Welfare Office of the City of Hildesheim and Head of Social Affairs Dirk Schröder, we helped to save the skating facility on Philosophenweg in Ochtersum from demolition.

Rotten wooden parts were replaced and damaged paving replaced. Many skaters were involved. The result was a great multi-generational project. Everyone was happy.

Every year, our gardeners plant pumpkin plants in a specially designated area of our garden. This year’s harvest is particularly bountiful. And as every year, the Good Shepherd parish kitchen receives a portion for the soup kitchen.