The project “TuWaS! Technik und Naturwissenschaft an Schulen” (Do something! Technology and natural science in schools) in rhineland is offered by the chambers of industry and commerce (IHK) Cologne, Bonn/Rhine-Sieg and Middle Lower Rhine. The Hans Hermann Voss Foundation allows elementary schools in the Oberbergischer Kreis district free participation in this offer.

The aim is to introduce children to questions of natural science and technology as early as possible and in a fun way. Lessons are offered on the topics of weather, solids and liquids, the life cycle of a butterfly, electrical circuits, chemical tests, motion, and structure. Tried and tested material for 16 progressive lectures will be provided to the schools. In addition, day-long training sessions for teachers are offered that will give teachers a theoretical and didactic foundation.

The experiment units are designed according to the curriculum for regular lessons. They include handbooks and materials with which the children can conduct experiments in groups of two or three over a time period of four to eight weeks. Delivery, pick-up, and maintenance of the experiment units are included in the concept. The day-long training sessions on guided research-based learning are offered biannually on every experiment unit for elementary school teachers.

START is a project under sponsorship of the Ökumenische Initiative Wipperfürth (Wipperfürth civic trust). With the project young people who dropped out of high school are given the opportunity to re-structure their lives, go back to graduate from school, and if possible, find a training position. Young single parents face an especially great number of challenges to find an apprenticeship without having finished school, and to do so with a child. It is precisely this target group that is to receive special support. Young families and single parents are offered the building blocks to achieve family skills and educational opportunities. The goal is to increase the level of education of young mothers and fathers and therewith also the educational opportunities of the children. A missing secondary school leaving certificate can be made up for and a career start can be found through an apprenticeship.

The scholarship program of the START-Foundation is aimed at pupils with the following background: They want to actively participate in shaping our society and strengthening our democracy, they have immigrated to Germany themselves or their father or mother has immigrated to Germany, they are attending at least grade nine in the current school year, they are at least 14 years old, they have a command of German at least at the level of GER-B1 and they are still attending a general or vocational school in a German federal state for at least three years. The Hans Hermann Voss Foundation sponsors five START scholarships for students in the region Bergisches Land.

The scholarship supports the capability and the commitment of young people with a migration history and attends their education. In addition to providing material support, the grant includes a comprehensive range of educational opportunities and personal pedagogical supervision.

More information about the scholarship program and application

The Study Compass supports young people from families without academic experience in discovering their potential and finding an individually suitable educational path after graduation. The Hans Hermann Voss Foundation supports the Oberbergischer Kreis program location. Participants receive intensive support and guidance for three years as they make the transition from school to university or to vocational training. In the course of the program, young people learn to shape their educational path independently and make future-oriented career decisions. The support begins in the penultimate school year and accompanies the scholarship holders until the end of the first year of study or training. In addition to training courses and workshops to get to know one’s own strengths, the scholarship includes the teaching of skills that will be required for the working world of the future and key topics such as digital skills, entrepreneurship, cultural education or STEM. 

More information about scholarship and application