SCHOOL MEALS

EVERY CHILD NEEDS A HOT LUNCH

Child poverty in Germany has reached a historically new dimension. According to a study by the Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband (DPWV), the introduction of Hartz IV at the beginning of 2008 has caused the number of children affected by poverty, the poor children, to rise to a record high of 1.7 million...

The facts about child poverty (Children's Report 2007): 14% of all children are officially considered poor. Since the introduction of unemployment benefit II (ALG II), the number of children dependent on social assistance or welfare has more than doubled to over 2.5 million. Today, one in six children under the age of seven relies on social assistance; in 1965, it was only one in 75. Children from immigrant families are particularly affected. The consequences are not only financial but also health-related. For example, one in three children already requires therapy when starting school. It is estimated that 5.9 million children live in households with an annual parental income of up to €15,300. This represents approximately one-third of all children eligible for child benefits.

If no employable member of a household with children is working, the family's poverty risk is 48%. If one family member is employed full-time, the risk drops to 8%, and if two are employed, it falls to 4% (3rd Poverty and Wealth Report of the Federal Government, 2008).

Many of these children affected by poverty don't receive enough money from their parents to buy a hot school lunch. ProKids-VS recognized this need and began funding school meals for children in need. With the introduction of the Participation Package, the situation has eased somewhat. Nevertheless, there are still many children who rely on our foundation's lunch subsidy.

The ProKids Foundation can help! For more information, please contact Ms. Mauthe at FJS.

Tel. 07721 / 82-2159 or by email to jbe@villingen-schwenningen.de.

Once approved, we will cover the costs except for a co-payment of €1 per meal. Don't hesitate.