2012 Knorr-Bremse Global Care e. V. Annual Report

Transcription

1 2012 Knorr-Bremse Global Care e. V. Annual Report

2 2 Annual Report 2012 Introducing the organization 3 Annual Report Foreword Origins and structure of the organization Motivation and guiding principles Project selection criteria 8 Projects world-wide in Education and training Kenya: Skills training center for young slum-dwellers Cambodia: Creating a permanent learning environment Germany: Working with a neighborhood association in Munich Social infrastructure Ethiopia: Integrated development project in drought-affected region Hungary: A new home for at-risk children Haiti: A reforestation project delivers water and biogas 26 Emergency relief Evaluation Outlook

3 4 Annual Report 2012 Introducing the organization 5 Foreword Origins and structure of the organization Dear Reader In 2012 we were able to fund an unprecedented total of 46 projects in 23 different countries, helping some 52,000 people to lead more independent lives. All this was only possible thanks to a generous donation of EUR 1.5 million from the Knorr- Bremse Group. The success of our work depends crucially on the personal commitment and convictions of all those involved in the projects and on close cooperation with our partner organizations. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks all those concerned. We regard the development work that we undertake as an opportunity not just to actively demonstrate our social responsibility but also to use our financial, resources and personal abilities to make a positive change in the lives of people in need. Working closely with those directly involved in the projects, we implement environmental, social and economic measures aimed at achieving lasting improvement in their living conditions. In 2012, in the aftermath of the severe famine in East Africa, we launched some large-scale, far-reaching agricultural projects in that region. Training in ecological cultivation methods and animal rearing and the provision of improved seed and plant material enables the local population to achieve a lasting improvement in food security. The idea is to enable them to use their own resources to protect themselves better against future droughts, build up a secure livelihood and pave the way for a more hopeful future. But aid is required everywhere, which is why as the name of our association suggests we support social infrastructure measures and education projects all over the globe. Since Knorr-Bremse Global Carewas first set up, we have realized a total of 110 projects in 39 countries, spending a total of EUR 8.8 million on helping around 300,000 people. The six projects presented in this report offer some examples of the sheer variety of our work. I hope you enjoy reading about them. Many thanks for your support! Origins Knorr-Bremse Global Care was set up as a non-profit organization on January 18, 2005 in the wake of the tsunami disaster of December 26, 2004 in South-East Asia, with the aim of providing carefully targeted, effective help to the victims. The Knorr-Bremse Group made EUR 2 million available for this purpose. Following the successful completion of selected relief projects, Knorr-Bremse Global Care continued to expand its global activities on a long-term basis. Structure The organization consists of the following members, who operate on a voluntary basis: Julia Thiele-Schürhoff (Chairperson of the Executive Board) Christoph Günter (Vice-Chairperson of the Executive Board) Dr. Sigurd Dahrendorf (Executive Board member) Josef Arzberger (Accountant) Mario Beinert Alexandra Bräuer Eva Seifert All members of the organization are employees of the Knorr-Bremse Group. Administrative assistant to the Executive Board: Sylvia Bytow-Weissheimer The members of the organization come together every six weeks to discuss current projects, applications for funding and internal matters. The members of the Executive Board also hold additional meetings on selected issues. Julia Thiele-Schürhoff, Chairperson of the Executive Board of Knorr-Bremse Global Care e. V. Once a year, a twoday closed meeting is held at which members review the work of the previous twelve months, analyze processes and set goals for the coming year. A professional, entrepreneurial approach and resolute action are important principles underpinning the work of Knorr-Bremse Global Care.

4 6 Annual Report 2012 Introducing the organization 7 Motivation and guiding principles Project selection criteria Knorr-Bremse Global Care e. V. is largely funded by the Knorr-Bremse Group as well as by individual donations from employees and relies on the commitment of the members of the organization and the employees within the Group. We see ourselves as a learning organization that adapts its strategy and activities in order to respond best to social challenges. Motivation Our central goal is to improve the lives of disadvantaged people and give them an opportunity to determine their own future. The idea is to give those in need through no fault of their own a chance to lead more independent lives. We always operate on the principle of helping people to help themselves. At the same time we want to sensitize Knorr-Bremse colleagues to the need for greater social involvement and encourage them to become active themselves. They can then operate as multipliers and communicate to the public in general the idea of making a personal contribution. We see ourselves as partners who can contribute not only financial resources but also time, expertise and experience to our projects. It is the experience of our partners combined with efficient project management and monitoring by our or ganization that is the key to our success and enables our joint activities to have a lasting impact. That is what differentiates Knorr-Bremse Global Care from many other aid organizations. Guiding Principles Projects are carefully selected according to clearly defined, transparent criteria that are described in greater detail in the next section. All projects supported by the organization must meet these criteria. Knorr-Bremse Global Care operates successfully according to the principle that members of the organization take on personal responsibility for actively supervising individual projects. Project management and financial controlling are particularly important in this context. The project supervisor maintains close contact with the partner organizations, collaborating with them to draw up a funding concept, a project plan and a budget. He or she monitors the progress of the project and reviews the project documentation and book-keeping. Monitoring outcomes and following up projects are becoming increasingly important. A final report is always drawn up detailing the outcome of the project. The project supervisor maintains contact for several years even after the project has ended and is thus able to keep an eye on further developments. All projects are also visited by the member of staff responsible or by selected Knorr-Bremse employees. Before Knorr-Bremse Global Care decides to support a project, the basic underlying concept is subjected to close scrutiny to see whether it fulfills our central goal of promoting the independence and self-determination of people in need. Only this type of support can result in farreaching structural change, open up new prospects for the people concerned and have a lasting impact on their lives. In line with this objective, Knorr-Bremse Nature of the project >> Promoting the self-reliance of disadvantaged people >> Helping people in need >> Supporting groups and communities >> Ensuring long-term project funding >> Involving Knorr-Bremse colleagues Main focus >> Education and training >> Social infrastructure >> Emergency relief Project management by the organization >> Active project management >> Lead sponsor >> Collaboration with local Knorr-Bremse sites Global Care does not work with cases of individuals requiring support. A further important selection criterion is that there must be an independent source of long-term running costs for the project. These costs are not cov-ered by Knorr-Bremse Global Care in order to avoid creating a situation of dependence for those involved in the project. In order to ensure the best possible use is made of the funding available, the organization bases its selection of projects on the following criteria: Project management by local partner organization >> Reliable and competent local partner >> Effective and efficient project implementation >> Detailed and transparent project documentation Consideration of possible risks >> Acceptable political risks >> Manageable economic risks >> Reliable overall framework

5 8 Annual Report 2012 Introducing the organization 9 Projects world-wide in 2012 OVERVIEW KNORR-BREMSE GLOBAL CARE E. V. IN 2012 In 2012 Knorr-Bremse Global Care spent EUR 1,564,977 (without other costs) funding a total of 46 projects in 23 countries. Some 52,000 people on four continents benefited from the organization s work. EUROPE Projects funded: 14 Spending: EUR 468,026 Project countries: 6 Germany, Hungary, Italy, Republic of Moldavia, Russia, Ukraine ASIA Projects funded: 10 Spending: EUR 207,779 Project countries: 4 Burma, Cambodia, India, Malaysia LATIN AMERICA Projects funded: 5 Spending: EUR 246,213 Project countries: 4 Brazil, Columbia, Haiti, Honduras AFRICA Projects funded: 17 Spending: EUR 642,959 Project countries: 9 Benin, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Ruanda, South Africa, Uganda Project countries 2012

6 10 Annual Report 2012 Education and training In September 2000, representatives of 189 states met in New York to sign the UN Millennium Declaration. They agreed on a list of eight binding goals that included democratisation, equality, environmental protection and universal primary education. The second of the eight development goals contained in the UN Millennium Declaration states that by 2015 children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling. The increase in take-up of primary education has, however, slowed down since 2004, despite the huge progress made by those countries with the most serious problems. In 2010, 61 million children of primary school age were not receiving any school education. More than half of these lived in sub-saharan Africa and a further fifth in Southern Asia. Overall, however, the proportion of the world population with access to education increased in the developing regions from 82 to 90 percent between 1999 and The members of Knorr-Bremse Global Care regard access to good quality education as a crucial element in the long-term battle against poverty. With our projects in the field of education and training we are investing in the future economic independence of those concerned. During 2012 a total of EUR 220,000 was invested in 19 education projects in eight countries on three continents, directly benefiting more than 2,200 pupils and trainees

7 12 Annual Report 2012 Education and Training 13 Kenya: Skills training center for young slum-dwellers Vocational training gives young people the chance to live independent lives and the ability to achieve financial security. In Nairobi, the Kenyan capital and home to nearly three million people, job opportunities for young people with little or no education are scarce. Universities are extremely expensive and affordable by very few people. There is a yawning gap in the education system which is what prompted the idea of practical vocational training courses modeled on Germany s dual system, which combines on-the-job train-ing with college classes. With the help of Promoting Africa, an organization based in Herrsching in Germany, the University of Munich, the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Nairobi and Youth Support Kenya, a local association, plans were drawn up to build a skills training center. The design included classrooms and workshops, bedrooms, staffrooms, dining rooms, kitchens, function rooms and sanitary facilities, separated by courtyards and gardens. Electricity and water were to be provided by a solar system and a dedicated well. The construction work began in September 2011 using local building materials and resources. Less than a year later, in July 2012, the planning and construction phases were complete. The first practical courses in renewables (e.g. wind and solar power) and in traditional trades have already started. They are taught by experts from Kenya and Germany, who share their knowledge and experience with the young people to improve their chances of finding work. A large number of the students are selected from the local slums, and their newly acquired skills boost their self-esteem. Main focus Education and training PlacE Nairobi, Kenya Global Care region Africa Pupils per year 50 Estimated costs EUR 30,000 (Share of Knorr-Bremse Global Care e. V. ) Global Care project supervisor Dr. Sigurd Dahrendorf Partner organization Promoting Africa e.v. Local coordinator Youth Support Kenya Duration March 2012 November 2012

8 14 Annual Report 2012 Education and Training 15 Cambodia: Creating a permanent learning environment More than 30 years after Khmer Rouge rule in Cambodia ended, the consequences of a regime that stifled intellectual thought and committed countless crimes against humanity are still visible. The Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport faces a number of problems, including a shortage of well-trained teaching staff and teaching materials, but also a lack of motivation among teachers as a result of low wages. This means that classes are often canceled because the teachers are occupied with other jobs. In the countryside, children often have to help in the fields, and this affects school attendance and leads to differences in education levels between urban and rural areas. Knorr-Bremse Global Care is working with Munich-based association Hilfe für Kinder in Kambodscha and the Life and Hope Association, a Cambodian aid organization, to help develop education in the rural area around Siem Reap. Hilfe für Kinder in Kambodscha has been working in the re-gion since 2006 and built a junior high school here in 2008 with the help of Knorr-Bremse Global Care. A small nearby elementary school made of bamboo and wood that had space for only a few children was severely damaged by heavy flooding at the end of Since the government could not afford to rebuild the school, Knorr-Bremse Global Care funded the construction of a permanent school building. The school was officially opened in November 2012 and around 60 eager pupils are now taught in its spacious, dry classrooms. Main focus Education and training PlacE Peak Sneng, Cambodia Global Care region Asia Pupils per year 60 Estimated costs EUR 32,000 Global Care project supervisor Julia Thiele-Schürhoff Partner organisation Hilfe für Kinder in Kambodscha e. V. Local coordinator Life and Hope Association Duration March 2012 March 2013

9 16 Annual Report 2012 Introducing Education the organization and Training 17 Germany: Working with a neighborhood association in Munich Poverty and deprivation do not look the same in Germany as in developing countries. Poor people in Germany can usually satisfy their basic needs but they are socially disadvantaged and often excluded. For the cohesion of our society it is therefore particularly important that we take notice of these problems and help locally. For this reason, Knorr-Bremse Global Care supports several education projects in Germany. And the members of the organization are passionate about getting involved in projects close to Knorr-Bremse sites. Knorr-Bremse Global Care has been working with Stadtteilarbeit e. V., a non-profit neighborhood association in Munich- Milbertshofen, for several years now. The partnership was renamed SKILL in 2012, which stands for Soziale Kompetenz, Integration, Lernen und Lebensperspektive (social skills, integration, learning and life prospects). The aim is to accompany young people during the difficult transition from school to work, training and career, and to support and assist them. In Milbertshofen, where the project is based, most of the young people involved come from a migrant background. As well as good school qualifications, success usually depends on important social skills, such as reliability, independence and motivation. One of the key aims of the project is to promote and develop these attributes. The approach focuses on providing advice, direct learning assistance, information about the job market, training courses and the promotion of social skills. Long-term, stable relationships between the mentors and their charges support the young people on the road to autonomous, financially independent lives. Main focus Education and training PlacE Munich, Germany Global Care region Europe BeneficiariES 50 Estimated costs EUR 60,000 Global Care project supervisor Julia Thiele-Schürhoff Partner organisation Stadtteilarbeit e. V Local coordinator Helmut Gmeinwieser Duration November 2012 October 2013

10 18 Annual Report 2012 Social infrastructure The best way to achieve lasting change in a society is often to expand and strengthen the social infrastructure which is why this is such an important element in the work of Knorr-Bremse Global Care. During 2012, some EUR 1.3 million was invested in 24 infrastructure projects in 16 countries on four continents, directly benefiting 42,000 people. The money was spent on hospitals, old people s and children s homes and agricultural development. Such measures in poor rural regions can help win the battle against poverty, under-development, malnutrition and starvation. Four of the infrastructure projects in 2012 were launched in the aftermath of the severe drought that had affected East Africa. Some 11 million people had been threatened with starvation five million in Ethiopia alone and almost three million in Kenya in one of the world s worst ever humanitarian disasters. Knorr-Bremse Global Care e. V. had donated a total of EUR 200,000 in emergency relief in 2011, but was determined not to lose sight of the people of this region in 2012 either, even though or precisely because their plight had largely disappeared from media reports. We are therefore trying to run sustainable agricultural projects to ensure food security in the long term and strengthen people s ability to cope with future droughts. The following description of our project in Ethiopia illustrates what is involved

11 20 Annual Report 2012 Social Infrastructure 21 Ethiopia: Integrated development project in drought-affected region Ethiopia has a similar population size to Germany (around 85 million) but in terms of land area it is three times as big. In this land-locked state in the Horn of Africa, an estimated 40 percent of the population still lives below the poverty line, despite an average annual economic growth rate of ten percent since Chronic drought will remain a serious challenge unless permanent and sustainable solutions can be found. For decades, the rural population of the Ethiopian Highlands in particular has been suffering from a growing shortage of food the result of rapid population growth, increasing deforestation and inefficient farming methods. Farmers are being forced to cultivate steeper slopes in order to feed their families. After a year or two, the rain washes away the topsoil leaving bare rock. The subsoil cannot store much water and springs dry up, forcing women to walk longer distances to fetch water each day. They often end up fetching it from the same streams that animals drink from. The dirty water leads to diarrhea and dysentery, which can prove fatal, particularly to small children. Parents are weakened and are no longer able to weed and water their fields properly, leading to poor harvests that drag the people even further into poverty. The plan is to restore the soil in the long term through environmentally friendly farming and the creation of terraces and reforestation so as to safeguard harvests. In addition, farmers have the opportunity to take part in training programs in various subjects relating to arable and livestock farming. Knorr-Bremse Global Care is working with Karlheinz Böhm s Ethiopian aid organization, Menschen für Menschen, to reverse the problems caused by the environmental destruction and open up long-term prospects for the local people. Main focus Social infrastructure: follow-up project famine in East Africa Place Borecha, Ethiopia Global Care region Africa Beneficiaries 5,500 Estimated costs EUR 131,900 Global Care supervisor Christoph Günter Partner organisation Karlheinz Böhm s aid organization Menschen für Menschen Local coordinator Ulrike Haupt Duration January 2012 December 2013

12 22 Annual Report 2012 Introducing Social the Infrastructure organization 23 Hungary: A new home for at-risk children Knorr-Bremse sites provide a great deal of support during the implementation of Global Care projects. As a result, the organization is able to rely on local, trustworthy colleagues and their networks and expertise. It is a pleasure to see that Knorr-Bremse staff are so eager and willing to be involved in social projects and to take on voluntary roles of responsibility. One example of a project supervised by a Knorr-Bremse site was implemented in Hungary in Hungary was one of the countries hardest hit by the financial and economic crisis. Its economy, once a beacon of hope for Eastern Europe, shrank by seven percent in 2009 alone. In 2011 it only grew by just over one percent. One of the consequences is very high unemployment. Many households are slipping into extreme poverty, and hopelessness, alcohol abuse and family disintegration are commonplace. Children and young people are some of the main victims of these situations, which often deny them any chance of growing up in a sheltered, carefree environment and of improving their own situation through education. In Kecskemét, Hungary s eighth largest city, 85 kilometers south of Budapest, SOS Children s Villages runs a community that is cur- rently home to 137 children. As a result of Hungary s fragile economic situation, the children s village will need to find space for a total of 250 children by the end of 2013, which means space is becoming increasingly limited. With financial support from Knorr-Bremse Global Care, SOS Children s Villages Hungary was able to build a new building for twelve to 15 young people aged 14 to 24. The young people live in youth houses, where they are looked after professionally by psychologists, teachers and education specialists. In supporting the children s village, Knorr-Bremse Global Care is playing a fundamental role in shaping the transition phase between childhood and adolescence, and is providing a space in which young people can receive targeted, allround care and education within the SOS Children s Village. The project is being supervised on site by Szilvia Papp, who works at Knorr-Bremse Fékrendszerek Kft. She is responsible for the financial management and for coordination and communication between Knorr Bremse Global Care and the project partners in Hungary. Main focus PlacE Global Care region BeneficiariES 15 Social infrastructure Kecskemét, Hungary Europe Estimated costs EUR 219,740 Global Care project supervisor Partner organisation Julia Thiele-Schürhoff SOS Children s Villages Hungary Local coordinators Szilvia Papp (Knorr-Bremse Fékrendszerek Kft.) Gábor Gosztonyi (SOS Children s Villages Hungary) Duration April 2012 December 2012

13 24 Annual Report 2012 Introducing Social the Infrastructure organization 25 Haiti: A reforestation project delivers water and biogas Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. After the devastating earthquake of 2010 and the cholera that followed, the Caribbean island was plunged into a state of emergency last year by Hurricane Sandy. Fields were flooded and harvests destroyed. For the people of Pilate, a small town in the northeast of the country close to the Dominican Republic, all hope of economic recovery disappeared long ago. Knorr-Bremse Global Care is working with the local population to develop the commercial and ecological viability of around 1,050 hectares of land that have been turned into steppe through widespread deforestation. Reforestation combined with crop and animal farming methods that preserve the condition of the soil are helping around 7,300 people build a new livelihood and a more promising future. The local people are paid to help with the digging and are given seeds and equipment so that they can farm a small piece of land. The integrated, sustainable project approach, which focuses on reviving destroyed landscapes, also involves the con- struction of biogas plants. These are intended to reduce the use of traditional firewood and to deter further logging and destruction of groundwater resources. By installing a water pump with an extensive irrigation system and a reservoir for times of low rainfall, the project is laying the foundations for successful development of the entire region. Our partner organization, the Jesuit Mission, has successfully implemented a similar project in India and is ensuring that the relevant knowhow is transferred to Haiti. Father Snell is responsible for implementing the project on site and Rudolf Schleicher coordinates the project with great commitment from Germany, together with Josef Arzberger, a member of Knorr-Bremse Global Care. Main focus Social infrastructure PlacE Pilate, Haiti Global Care region Latin America BeneficiariES 7,300 Estimated costs EUR 100,000 (total cost EUR 350,000) Global Care project supervisor Josef Arzberger Partner organization Jesuit Mission Local coordinator Pater Snell Duration January 2012 December 2013

14 26 Annual Report 2012 Emergency relief Knorr-Bremse Global Care was first set up to provide emergency relief following the devastating tsunami in South-East Asia that caused widespread destruction and cost the lives of more than 200,000 people. We intend to continue to provide rapid and unbureaucratic assistance to people in acute need which is why emergency relief will remain an important instrument for Knorr-Bremse Global Care every year, part of our income from donations will be earmarked for rapid disaster response. At the same time, emergency relief measures do not usually bring about longterm structural improvement in living conditions. That is why, after two years that saw an unusually large number of disasters and high levels of expenditure on emergency relief, we focused during the year under review above all on providing ongoing funding for long-term projects. As a result, only four percent (some EUR 60,000) of expenditure by Knorr-Bremse Global Care was on emergency relief during 2012 enabling us to invest more in projects with a long-term impact. 27

15 28 Annual Report 2012 Introducing the organization Evaluation 29 Evaluation In 2012 a total of EUR 1.6 million was spent supporting 46 projects in 23 countries to the benefit of some 52,000 people. According to regions ACCORDING TO MAIN FOCUS 30% Europe 25% Follow-up projects, East African famine 41% Education and training 25% Social infrastructure: follow-up projects, East African famine 11% Latin America 3% Other 15% Further aid to Africa 13% Education and training 22% Asia 15% Latin America 7% Emergency relief 4% Emergency relief 3% Other 13% Asia 37% Africa 29% Europe 52% Social infrastructure 55% Further social infrastructure projects Distribution Funding Distribution Funding As described in this report, an increase in the amount of support given by Knorr-Bremse Global Care to broad-based projects in East Africa in the wake of the drought and famine (see the example of Ethiopia on page 20) meant that 2012 saw more expenditure (40 %) in Africa than in other regions. 17 projects on the African continent meant that the relative proportion of all Knorr-Bremse Global Care projects in 2012 was 37 percent. In Europe, Knorr Bremse Global Care supported 14 projects in Germany (see the example on page 16), and Eastern Eu-rope (see the example of Hungary on page 22). The proportion of projects in this region, at 30 percent, was higher in 2012 than the previous year and expenditure rose accordingly (from 16 % in 2011 to 29 % in 2012). Funding of aid projects in Asia and Latin America were more or less at the same level. In 2012 Knorr-Bremse Global Care supervised ten projects in four Asian countries (see the example of Cambodia on page 14) and invested 13 percent of total expenditure in this region. In Latin America the organization funded five projects during 2012 (see the example of Haiti on page 24), which accounted for eleven percent of all aid projects. 15 percent of total expenditure (4 % the previous year) went to this region. In 2012 Knorr-Bremse Global Care supported a total of 24 infrastructure projects (52 %), four of them in the form of follow-up projects in East Africa in the aftermath of the famine, 19 education projects (41 %) and three emergency relief projects. The latter were deliberately kept to a minimum in order to free up capacity for projects with a more long-term impact. Most of the funding went into projects in the field of social infrastructure (25 % for follow-up projects against starvation in East Africa and 55 % for further infrastructure projects). 13 percent of funding flowed into purely educational projects and four percent was used for emergency relief.

16 30 Annual Report 2012 Outlook In 2013 we intend to further concentrate on certain themes and issues, focusing our activities on two areas that we regard as the key to improving the situation of people in need. Firstly we will put the issue of water at the heart of our activities. Water is the basis of all life indeed the United Nations has designated 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation, not least because water is a common thread running through the eight Millennium Goals. In some parts of the world, the water supply situation is still very poor. 783 million people currently do not have access to clean drinking water, and 2.5 billion have no basic sanitary facilities. Poor hygiene and polluted drinking water are amongst the commonest causes of disease in the developing countries. More people die of diarrhea caused by poor water quality than of AIDS, malaria and measles put together. For this reason we intend to increasingly focus our international cooperation and development work and project selection on improving the water situation. Furthermore, within our main focus on educational projects, we put the emphasis on vocational training projects that offer young people an opportunity to achieve economic security and lead independent lives. For this reason, our education and training projects in this and coming years will concentrate increasingly on this aspect. We would like to thank you for the confidence you have shown in our work and look forward to your continued support. Munich, March 01, 2013 Julia Thiele-Schürhoff Christoph Günter Dr. Sigurd Dahrendorf Chair of the Executive Board Vice-Chair of the Executive Board Member of the Executive Board

17 32 Annual Report 2012 CONTACT Knorr-Bremse Global Care e. V. Julia Thiele-Schürhoff Moosacher Straße Munich Tel.: Fax: ACCOUNT FOR DONATIONS Knorr-Bremse Global Care e. V. Deutsche Bank Munich Account no.: Bank sort code: IBAN: DE BIC: DEUTDEMMXXX German donors will receive a donation receipt. Please indicate your address on the bank transfer form for this purpose. Further information about the organization is available on the Internet at: