Christmas 2007 LINHARDT donated Euro 10,000 to the association “Aktion
PIT Togohilfe e.V.” At the time another donation of the same amount was made to
the children’s hospital project KUNO, Regensburg. The money for Africa was used
to build a new annex for a primary school in Matema.LINHARDT’s initiative “Donations instead of Business Gifts” is designed to send a signal during the Christmas season: in 2007 Euro 10,000 were therefore donated to the children’s hospital project KUNO, Regensburg and another Euro 10.000 to the association “Aktion PiT – Togo Hilfe e.V.” to build a new school in Africa. Classes started up in Matema only recently: the shining eyes of children reflect their gratitude for the generous help from Germany.
Donations for a better future
Margret Kopp has been working for many years to provide a better future for the children in Togo – and a year ago she started up her own association. “In the past LINHARDT has helped us out many times by donating materials like felt pens for classes”, Margret Kopp recounts. The Christmas donation 2007 was the first time a larger sum of money was donated: “It was enough to completely finance an urgently needed annex to the primary school in Matema”, Kopp reports. About 150 pupils are taught in the school’s 5 classrooms there. The primary school covers 6 forms, with the youngest children being 5 old. The construction and development of the primary school is one of the most longstanding projects of Margret Kopp. Building the annex became necessary due to the success of the school project: “The introduction of the school meal was especially important in this”, Kopp recounts. “In this country the first priority is water, the second is finding food. That’s why parents are eager to send their kids to our school – and we get the chance to give the children prospects for the future with education.”
Helping to help yourself
In addition to money Margret Kopp also sends many donations of materials to Togo: “We are asking the pharmaceutical industry to donate drugs, which are especially needed.” But school materials like pens or paper or sewing supplies such as needles, threads and fabrics for sewing schools, for example, are also sent to Africa. Aside from the primary school in Matema Margret Kopp also supports about 20 sewing schools: “Here girls, who often have no education at all, get the chance to learn a trade.” This is why Kopp also sends clothing that is rarely collected to Togo: “With ready-to-wear clothing I am taking people’s jobs away there. That’s why I’d rather send basic materials to help them help themselves.” No matter if it’s materials or money like the Christmas donation from LINHARDT: “All donors can be assured that the money or materials will get to where it’s needed”, Kopp points out. And she is already drumming up support for the next larger project: “With the construction of a well we ensure the survival of an entire village and so mark the beginning of a very positive development.” For further information about the association “Aktion PIT - Togo Hilfe e.V.” and possibilities to make a donation, go to www.aktionpit.de
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