Committed to the children of Düsseldorf
GEA supports new children’s house for SOS Children’s Village (SOS Kinderdorf) Düsseldorf
December 19, 2024
SOS Children’s Village has been dedicated to providing safe accommodation for children also in Düsseldorf, Germany, for 15 years. Due to high demand, SOS Children’s Village Düsseldorf is now building a new Children’s Village home in the city’s Garath suburb. GEA is supporting the project, making a sizeable donation over several years. The symbolic cornerstone for the children’s home was laid today.
Laying of the symbolic cornerstone with city director Burkhard Hintzsche left - facility manager Herbert Stauber middle - GEA CEO Stefan Klebert right
- GEA to provide funding totaling EUR 740,000 over three years
- Key building block in GEA’s social engagement
- Acknowledgement of commitment to Düsseldorf as the company’s home base
A special ceremony was held today at the SOS Children’s Village grounds in Düsseldorf-Garath, with the construction phase of a new Kinderdorf home officially opened by the facility’s director, Herbert Stauber. The two-story building spanning some 320 square meters will open its doors to Düsseldorf-based children and young people in need, along with their Children’s Village parents, in 2025. The event was also attended by City Director Burkhard Hintzsche and District Mayor Klaus Erkelenz. GEA CEO Stefan Klebert and Dr. Nadine Sterley, Chief Sustainability Officer, were also present to celebrate the launch, with the new home representing a key social development project for the company.
Promoting equal opportunities
The expansion of its premises will enable SOS Children’s Village Düsseldorf to better meet the high demand for assisted living for children growing up without their biological parents. SOS Children’s Village can rely on GEA’s backing. The Düsseldorf-based company is helping to fund construction of the new home, providing a total of EUR 740,000 over three years. “As a responsible business, we live up to our social responsibility in the cities and communities where we are present. This is particularly true for our home base Düsseldorf. We want to enable and empower the children of this city to have a good future in terms of equal opportunities,” said Stefan Klebert.
Guests at the inaugural event also included children from the SOS Children’s Village together with their carers and local residents. “On behalf of the entire SOS Children’s Village team, I would like to sincerely thank GEA Group for their donation,” said the facility’s director, Herbert Stauber. “Creating safe and caring spaces for children and young people in difficulty is now more relevant than ever. Thanks to your support, we can achieve this here. We are proud to have GEA as a partner.”
The highlight of the ceremony was the burying of a time capsule in the home’s garden. This symbolic cornerstone contains good wishes expressed by GEA employees for the young residents-to-be of the new family home. Later, guests were given a tour of the construction site to view the progress of the expansion work for themselves.
Strategic significance
Supporting SOS Children’s Village Düsseldorf represents a key building block in GEA’s social engagement, which is a fundamental pillar of the group’s corporate strategy. The strategic significance of this pillar is reflected in GEA’s commitment to donating one percent of the group’s annual profit to social projects. Key focal areas include child poverty, disaster relief, access to clean water, renewable energy and medical care as well as technical and scientific education.
Matthias Schnettler
About GEA
GEA is one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.
GEA is listed on the German MDAX, the European STOXX® Europe 600 Index and is also a constituent of the leading sustainability indices DAX 50 ESG, MSCI Global Sustainability and Dow Jones Best-in-Class World.
