We help - the lobby for children in need
The association "wir helfen" ["we help"] has become an indispensable and stable factor in the social landscape of the regions of Cologne and Halle (southern part of Saxony-Anhalt). It provides comprehensive details in "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" and "Mitteldeutsche Zeitung" of the plight of children, encourages readers to show greater commitment, gathers donations (so far already around 20 million euros), initiates networks and creates important new facilities. Projects which have been checked carefully beforehand are subsidized by donations in connection with yearly alternating topics. Among other things, the situation of poor, mentally ill and handicapped children has improved; the integration of migrants and refugees has been alleviated: street children were given a roof above their head, and young unemployed persons were given a fresh perspective.
Each cent of the donations is passed on further. All administrative costs are borne by M. DuMont Schauberg.
Until October 2006, underage mothers and their babies are the main focus at "wir helfen" in Cologne. With presumably more than one million euros in donated funds, among other things, a network of midwives is to be established. "wir helfen" Halle addressed the topic "Chance trotz Handikap" ["a chance despite the handicap"] in the fifth campaign so far (around 80 000 Euro).
"wir helfen - the support association of M. DuMont Schauberg e.V. was founded in October 1998 on the initiative of the publisher Alfred Neven DuMont. The president of the association is Hedwig Neven DuMont, the wife of the publisher. She was awarded the "Major Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany" for her dedication by the German Federal President, Horst Köhler, in June 2006.
"wir helfen - the support association of Mitteldeutsche Zeitung" was founded in spring 2001; its chairmanship was likewise taken over by the wife of the publisher; her deputy is Jutta Kiegeland.
Internet: www.wirhelfen-koeln.de