Bertelsmann foundation awards prize for social engagement of companies – GERRY
WEBER International AG in the final round
The Bertelsmann foundation and the association Unternehmen für die Region e.V.
(translation: companies for the region) for the fourth time have awarded prizes for
three outstanding examples of social engagement of medium-sized companies.
Among the seven participants in the final round was also GERRY WEBER International
AG with its project “KITA KIDS WORLD”, the GERRY WEBER day-care centre.
On Tuesday evening, the companies received their certificates in Berlin handed over by vicechairwoman of the board of the Bertelsmann foundation, Liz Mohn. Altogether, 149 firms
throughout Germany had made an application for the competition “Mein gutes Beispiel”
(translation: “My good example”), which are engaged in their regions regarding the subjects
education and training, social discrimination or the compatibility of family and work. For the
selection of the finalists and awardees first of all the following criteria have been of
importance: long-term nature of the project, entrepreneurial competence, and creativity,
vicinity to region, cooperation with partners and also the transferability to other regions. The
vice-chairwoman of the board of the Bertelsmann foundation congratulated the
representatives of the companies and emphasized the significance of social engagement of
medium-sized businesses. “Medium-sized and family-run companies have helped to shape
the future of our country at all times, and have exemplified social values through their own
lifestyle. It’s the long-term thinking and action what counts for them. But in many cases not
the importance is attached to this engagement that it actually possesses”, said Liz Mohn.
The awarded companies are Biomarkt Roland Geist GmbH – Wohnen und Arbeiten für
Menschen mit Behinderung (translation: habitation and work for people with disabilities ) in
Öhringen (Öhringen), and also inallermunde kommunikation GmbH – Leutkircher
Bürgerbahnhof eG – Bahnhof in Bürgerhand (station owned by the local community)
(Leutkirch) and Klinikum Dahme-Spreewald GmbH – Dahme-Spreewald Netzwerk Gesunde
Kinder (Königs Wusterhausen).
Since 2007, the action group “Unternehmen für die Region” of the Bertelsmann foundation
patronizes social engagement of medium-sized companies. So far, some 1,500 projects
have taken part throughout Germany. Originating from the action group “Unternehmen für die
Region” (translation: companies for the region), the association “Unternehmen für die Region
e.V.” was founded in August 2012 by a renowned group of entrepreneurs and the
Bertelsmann foundation. Head office of the branch is Berlin.
Information regarding the project of GERRY WEBER:
In 2012, the fashion company GERRY WEBER International AG opened an in-house daycare centre, the KITA KIDS WORLD, in Halle/Westphalia. The KITA accommodates six
groups for up to 95 children, aged four months to school enrolment. As to the idea of the day care centre, especially great importance is attached to the quality of care and to a
consideration of staff needs, to improve the compatibility of family and work. The KITA team
is formed of 25 employees: Hence every of the groups is not only cared for by two to three
own educators, but additionally by an exclusively English-speaking educational staff
member.
Parts of everyday life of the children are art, exercise and musical offers as well as the
“House of Young Researchers”. On the 5000 sqm large outside area, there is a big
playground, an adventure barn, an own KITA garden, just like ponies, rabbits and chicken.
It’s also the children who assume responsibility for the animals. In addition to the children of
staff members of the company, a part of the places is made available also to children from
Halle and its surrounding area. All parents pay the usual local KITA fees – and this
irrespective of the place of residence. The care periods from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. are determined
by the needs of the employees – there are no holiday times.
The KITA is regarded as showcase project of entrepreneurial engagement to facilitate the
compatibility of family and work. Many companies and associations have already visited the
GERRY WEBER KITA KIDS WORLD, to benefit from the experiences in the implementation
of the concept.