Even here in Wiesbaden—a city generally considered affluent—child poverty is evident in everyday school life. There are many students whose parents simply cannot afford a school backpack, a field trip, a hot lunch, or after-school care. Quite a few children come to school without having had breakfast. Unfortunately, even in an affluent society, none of these things can be taken for granted. This is true in nearly every neighborhood, regardless of the type of school.

This must be addressed decisively and straightforwardly so that as few schoolchildren as possible are excluded!

The “School Sponsors” program exists precisely to help these children. Through your donation, you, too, can easily make your own contribution to combating child poverty in Wiesbaden’s schools!

The project is managed by the Department of Schools and Culture. Teachers and school administrators make decisions regarding eligibility on their own authority, without any bureaucratic requirements. Only then do the informal applications reach the department, where they are processed very efficiently and without red tape. The goal is always to ensure that support reaches those who truly need it as quickly as possible. In addition to private donations, the city supports the project with an additional 150,000 euros per year.

The project was launched in 2008 with support from the Wiesbadener Kurier. Since then, it has helped countless children and brought smiles to their faces. Numerous responses from the schools express the students’ gratitude.