Sponsorship award to combat juvenile unemployment

On 8 November 2011 in Cologne, the Essen-based entrepreneur Heinrich Deichmann, CEO of the largest European shoe retail chain DEICHMANN, awarded eleven projects with the company's sponsorship award against juvenile unemployment and granted funds totalling 100,000 Euro.

The first two awards went to the registered association Arbeit für Jugend e. V. in Wolfratshausen and to the August-Class-Schule, a secondary school in Harsewinkel. With help from 50 voluntary workers, the Wolfratshausen private initiative coached 500 youths suffering from bad grades at school. Their effort resulted in 70 per cent of these pupils being able to obtain a vocational training placement. At the August-Claas-Schule, teachers and retired craftsmen coached the pupils and thus qualified them for entering a career in the crafts. The Deichmann sponsorship award against juvenile unemployment has been awarded for the seventh time this year.

The sponsorship award acknowledges schools, enterprises and initiatives committing themselves to supporting disadvantaged youths in an outstanding manner. This year's patrons are Federal Minister for Family Affairs Kristina Schröder and Sebastian Krumbiegel, solo artist and lead singer in the band Die Prinzen.

Furthermore, this year ophthalmologist Dr Dr Werner Hanne from Bad Salzdetfurth received a special award endowed with 2,000 Euro in recognition of almost 20 years of providing vocational training for disabled youths in his practice. Over the course of this period, he enabled 16 young people with physical handicaps and mental disabilities to enter into a professional career.

During the award ceremony in Cologne, Heinrich Deichmann stated that this year saw a record number of applications for the sponsorship award. A total of 200 enterprises, organisations, associations and schools had entered into the competition.

In 2011, the Deichmann group provided vocational training for some 2,900 young people in Germany.