Students Raise €4,000 for Children in Poverty in One Day
Seventh-grade students at Otto Hahn Gymnasium took part in a special project day on February 5, 2026. The event, titled Together. For Each Other., focused on social action and community support. By the end of the day, the pupils had raised over €4,000 for children living in poverty. The students split into groups to work on different tasks across the local area. Some helped out in kindergartens and after-school care programmes, while others assisted on farms or tidied up neighbourhoods by collecting litter. A few also learned self-defence techniques and visited the regulatory office to understand its role in the community.
To raise funds, the pupils organised bake sales and sold handmade items, asking for voluntary donations. Their efforts directly supported the Sterntaler Fund, a Caritas RheinBerg initiative that covers essential costs for disadvantaged children—such as sports club fees, school supplies, clothing, and cultural experiences. The project day was part of a wider push by schools to encourage social engagement. Between 2023 and 2026, at least two ASA programme initiatives (including sustainability education and inclusive learning) ran alongside model projects at ten locations, targeting disadvantaged youth in schools and educational centres. Many students later described the experience as rewarding, noting how teamwork turned small contributions into meaningful change.
The event reinforced the value of collective effort, with every student playing a role in supporting the Sterntaler Fund. The €4,000 raised will help children in poverty access basic needs and opportunities. Schools involved in similar projects continue to expand such initiatives across the region.
