Standing strong in a crisis: Martin Bauer Group supports students

The Martin Bauer Group and educational charity WERTvoll macht Schule are helping elementary school students to confidently master the upheavals of the coronavirus pandemic. Donations via Martin Bauer have allowed 3,000 children to participate in the educational program.

Many things that are important for children’s development are only possible to a limited extent at the moment: a structured everyday life, the opportunity to meet and learn with peers, and the chance to explore the world in a carefree manner. A year ago, who would have thought that many children and young people would be so happy to be going back to school? WERTvoll macht Schule is an educational initiative that boosts elementary school students’ practical life skills with a free educational program available throughout Germany. “Life is very varied. It has its high and lows, and can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster ride,” says Diana Bartl, founder and managing director of WERTvoll macht Schule. “There are some situations we simply can’t avoid, but we can change the way they impact on us, and we can learn how to cope better with the ups and downs.”

What WERTvoll macht Schule does        

The charity helps teachers of grades 1 through 6 prepare their students for the many varied aspects and challenges of modern society. Teachers are given free, open access to more than 30 complete lesson plans in line with the official state curriculum that can be flexibly incorporated into schoolwork. The program has received the Comenius EduMedia seal and medal for the exceptional quality of its educational content and materials.

The first learning unit focuses on children’s personal and social skills, with the goal of boosting their confidence and resilience. That helps the children to cope better with problems and crisis situations such as the current coronavirus pandemic. “If I know who I am and what my strengths are, I can’t so easily be thrown off course,” says Diana Bartl, summarizing the prime objective of WERTvoll macht Schule. Further learning units teach children how to manage their finances, navigate the media, and adopt a more sustainable approach to consumption and lifestyle.

What matters to the Martin Bauer Group

The Martin Bauer Group is supporting the initiative with a total of €15,000, allowing 3,000 children to participate in the educational program free of charge. “As a family business with a history reaching back over 90 years, we care about fairness and mutual respect,” says Anne Wedel-Klein, great-granddaughter of Martin Bauer and Executive Board member. “As a manufacturer of natural products, we have made sustainability and a responsible approach to natural resources a cornerstone of our business. It is our focus on these values that connects us to WERTvoll macht Schule.”