Corporate press release
New SOS-Kinderdorf home opens in Düsseldorf-Garath
April 24, 2026
A new home for children and young people facing difficult circumstances has opened in Düsseldorf-Garath (Germany). The new SOS-Kinderdorf home was officially inaugurated today, providing a safe and stable environment for children and young people who are unable to live with their biological families. The home offers reliable care, stability and new opportunities for the future. The project was supported by a major donation from the GEA Foundation.
The GEA Foundation generously donated to support the construction of the new SOS Children’s Village home in Düsseldorf-Garath. At the opening ceremony, Dr. Nadine Sterley, Chief People & Sustainability Officer at GEA Group and Member of the Executive Board at GEA Foundation symbolically handed over the keys to the home to Herbert Stauber, director of the SOS Children’s Village in Düsseldorf. (Source: GEA/SOS Kinderdorf)
- GEA Foundation provided a total of EUR 740,000 spread out over three years
- This support enabled the home’s rapid completion
- Combating child poverty is one of the GEA Foundation’s key focus areas
Following the groundbreaking ceremony in December 2024, the building was fully renovated, with the first children moving in as planned at the end of 2025. Six children and their caregivers now call the light-filled, 320-square-meter house their home. The official opening took place during a symbolic key handover ceremony at the property. Herbert Stauber, Director of SOS-Kinderdorf Düsseldorf, welcomed Dr. Nadine Sterley, Member of the Executive Board, Chief People & Sustainability Officer at GEA Group and Member of the Executive Board of the GEA Foundation; Jill Meiburg, Head of Corporate Communications at GEA Group and Member of the Executive Board of the GEA Foundation; and Burkhard Hintzsche, City Director of Düsseldorf.
New prospects for the future
“For us, the value of social engagement is about the tangible difference it makes. The new SOS-Kinderdorf home offers protection, support and new opportunities for children and young people facing difficult life situations,” said Dr. Nadine Sterley. “Equal opportunities for children are a central concern of our foundation. That is why we specifically support projects that create better prospects for young people. We are very pleased that, with our support, construction of this home could be completed so quickly.” GEA is providing a total of EUR 740,000 spread over three years. This support will support educational and social programs at SOS-Kinderdorf Düsseldorf over the long term, helping to secure and further develop services for children, young people and families through the end of 2026.
Herbert Stauber, Director of SOS-Kinderdorf Düsseldorf, added: “With this new house, we can provide a reliable home and a stable daily routine for more children and young people. For those who have experienced trauma, secure relationships, continuity and a safe living environment are especially important. The completion of this home therefore marks an important milestone for our facility and, above all, greatly benefits the children and young people in our care. On behalf of our entire team, I would like to sincerely thank the GEA Foundation for its generous and long-term support.”
The renovated building in Garath is the fifth SOS-Kinderdorf home in that community and provides urgently needed assisted living accommodation in the Düsseldorf area. It features light-filled rooms, a cozy living area and a landscaped garden with a terrace, lawn and raised herb beds – a space that invites children to play and relax during good weather.
For SOS-Kinderdorf Düsseldorf, the new facility means, above all, more space for children and young people in need of protection, support and a stable environment. At the same time, the new building underscores the importance of strong partnerships between social service providers, civil society and businesses in creating a positive impact in the local community.
Strong commitment to social responsibility
Support for SOS-Kinderdorf Düsseldorf is an integral part of GEA’s corporate strategy and social engagement, which is channeled through the GEA Foundation, established in 2025. Each year, GEA donates one percent of the group’s annual profit to social initiatives and charitable causes. In fiscal year 2025, this amounted to more than EUR 4 million, supporting community resilience with projects in key areas including STEM education, combating child poverty, disaster relief, access to clean water, renewable energy and medical care.
Nicole Hoffmann
About GEA
GEA is one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.
The international technology group, founded in 1881, focuses on machinery and plants, as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services. For instance, every second pharma separator for essential healthcare products such as vaccines or novel biopharmaceuticals is produced by GEA. In food, every fourth package of pasta or every third chicken nugget are processed with GEA technology.
With more than 18,000 employees, the group generated sales of about EUR 5.5 billion in more than 150 countries in the 2025 fiscal year. GEA plants, processes, components and services enhance the efficiency and sustainability of customers’ production. They contribute significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions, plastic usage and food waste. In doing so, GEA makes a key contribution toward a sustainable future, in line with the company’s purpose: ”Engineering for a better world.”
GEA is listed on the German DAX, 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.
