Northern Germany
Empowering young people
Strong for the Future
Young people are the next generation of leaders who will shape our society. They need people who will guide them, encourage them, and believe in them. They need opportunities to try new things, develop their skills, and build a future for themselves. Through our “Youth in Northern Germany” program, we support projects that create precisely these opportunities, regardless of young people’s social background or living conditions.
What we support
We support projects that empower children and young people who face challenging circumstances to build a better future. The approaches to achieving this are just as diverse as the projects themselves. They promote learning to read, provide space for creativity, enable playful exploration of nature and the environment, and support young people on their path to a career. Our project partners encourage young people, build their self-confidence and optimism, and recognize the enormous potential that lies within every young person.
How we provide support
Close collaboration with dedicated partners forms the foundation of our approach to support. We are committed to long-term relationships and also support the structural development of our partner organizations. As a reliable partner, we stand alongside people who don’t bury their heads in the sand but want to tackle societal problems with courage, dedication, and plenty of fun.
Our six support areas
1 - Language Development
In this area of support, we view language not merely as a “technical” skill, but as a fundamental prerequisite for many learning processes and social interaction. The projects focus, for example, on learning to read, but also on language as a means of communication, such as in creative writing processes.
2 - Strengthening Social and Emotional Skills
These projects build self-confidence and foster social skills, resilience, and self-efficacy. They include many sports and creative activities that allow participants to experience a sense of community and step outside their comfort zones.
3 - Transitions in Education and Careers
These projects focus on supporting young people through all phases of their transition into the workforce, such as career guidance, the transition from school to vocational training, support during vocational training, and entry into the workforce.
4 - Social Participation
The projects provide access to regular play, recreational, and/or educational activities, regardless of a family’s financial or personal circumstances.
5 - Nature and Environmental Education
The funded projects enable children in urban areas to experience nature while also raising their awareness of the environment and their own surroundings.
6 - Democracy & Society
Children and youth need knowledge, skills, and experiences to be able to participate actively and responsibly in society. The funded projects focus on the conditions necessary for successful, diverse coexistence, personal responsibility in social life, and respect for different perspectives.
2,000 Families
Summer vacation should be a time for families to relax, but for many, taking a trip together remains difficult due to financial constraints. Once a year, the Hanns R. Neumann Foundation organizes the “2,000 Families” project. As part of this project, we invite 2,000 children and their families from Hamburg to spend a day at the Lüneburger Heide Wildlife Park during summer vacation. This gives the whole family the opportunity to experience nature together and enjoy a wonderful day off. We cover the admission fees, travel expenses, and meals. In addition to the HRNS, the project receives financial support from Dirk Roßmann, the Klaus and Lore Rating Foundation, and the Kurt and Maria Dohle Foundation.
Examples of our project work
SchlauFox
SchlauFox supports socially disadvantaged youth with a variety of different projects aiming at getting a high school degree, language acquisition or eating healthy. Most of their projects are long-term, some of them last as long as two years. Within their projects SchlauFox successfully established a mentoring concept, benefitting both, mentee and mentor.
Entenwerder Elbpiraten
Entenwerder Elbpiraten are a non-profit association for children and young people from Rothenburgsort and the surrounding area. By means of sailing lessons, the elblab (the laboratory of the Elbe) and participatory workshop formats, they encourage children to explore and shape their environment. Emphasis is laid on team building, physical exercise, and proactivity.
