LR Global Kids Fund and “RTL – Wir helfen Kindern” celebrate opening:
The Lunch Club Ahlen is now an RTL Children's House!
Ahlen, 29 August 2018
The Lunch Club in Ahlen has been in existence for six years - a contact point for socially disadvantaged children and young people. Right from the start, the institution, which was founded on the initiative of the Protestant pastor Markus Möhl, was supported by the LR Global Kids Fund e.V., a children's charity initiated by LR Health & Beauty. Another supporter of the Lunch Club was found last year with "RTL – Wir helfen Kindern”. The foundation of the Cologne-based private broadcaster already operates similar facilities in Germany under the name RTL Children’s House.
Now follows the next big step for the Ahlen-based institution: As of today, the Lunch Club is entitled “RTL Children’s House”. This big day was celebrated by many children, employees and volunteers at a party. At the annual summer party on 1 September, the newly designated RTL Children's House publicly celebrated with children, neighbours and the people of Ahlen.
"The LR Global Kids Fund has been a supporter of the Lunch Club in Ahlen since its inception – a heart project of all LR participants. It makes me incredibly proud and very happy that today, we celebrate the success of this joint commitment together with our cooperation partner "RTL – Wir helfen Kindern” and officially inaugurate the Lunch Club as RTL Children’s House. In this way, this important social contact point for children will be secured and further expanded in the future in order to offer a better future to even more children affected by poverty," explained Andreas Friesch, CEO of LR Health & Beauty, at the opening of the RTL Children's House.
With immediate effect, care for the approximately 50 Lunch Club children and teenagers, who can visit the newly designated RTL Children's House three days a week after school, is secured on a long-term basis. In addition to a healthy and balanced meal, the children receive help with their homework and are given targeted support through games and educational offers. "The fight against child poverty in Germany is one of the central goals of the foundation's work. This is why we opened the first RTL Children's Houses in 2009. Our experience shows how important the institutions are, especially for children who do not receive any support or the necessary attention at home," explains Achim Tirocke, board member of "RTL - Wir helfen Kindern" and Representative of RTL Children's Houses. With the new contact point in Ahlen there are now 18 RTL Children’s Houses throughout Germany. "We are very pleased that thanks to the cooperation with the LR Global Kids Fund we now also have an RTL Children's House in Ahlen. Now our common goal is to expand the offer to five days a week as quickly as possible together with the Lunch Club team," says Anja Nürnberg, board member of "RTL - Wir helfen Kindern".
Background
Nearly 20 percent of all children and teenagers in Germany live in poverty, and the trend is rising. Discrimination and social exclusion are part of their everyday lives: Poorer chances of obtaining a good school education – and thus only limited opportunities to enter the labour market – difficult housing conditions, disadvantages in leisure activities and social participation are just some of the negative consequences. A mostly unbalanced diet can also have an effect on the physical health of children. In Ahlen, around 2,200 young people are threatened or affected by poverty. The opening of the Lunch Club six years ago was therefore an important milestone for the town. On currently three days a week, the institution offers children and young people a healthy meal as well as various leisure and educational activities. The Lunch Club is sponsored by the non-profit association Lunch Club e.V.
RTL Children’s Houses support hundreds of disadvantaged children in Germany
The RTL Children's Houses have been in existence in Germany since spring 2009. The RTL telethon 2008 was the first time that donations were collected for the institutions. In the 18 existing RTL Children's Houses, pupils receive not only a balanced meal but also training on healthy nutrition, homework assistance, loving care and are supported by creative games and educational offers. All RTL Children's Houses are supported on a long-term basis by the "RTL - Wir helfen Kindern e.V." foundation.
For more information please visit www.rtlwirhelfenkindern.de .
The LR Global Kids Fund e.V.
The LR Global Kids Fund e. V. was initiated by LR Health & Beauty in 2009. The association is founded on the joint commitment of the company, its employees, sales partners and customers and supports projects in the countries where LR has a presence. With its company contribution, LR covers the administration costs of the association. This ensures that all donations arrive exactly where they are needed: at the individual projects on site. The objective is to support disadvantaged children and adolescents in every LR market. Support is provided for education and health projects, for instance. They all offer the children one thing: “More quality for your life”. For more information on the aid projects and sponsoring opportunities, please visit www.lrgkf.com. The LR Global Kids Fund e. V. can also be found on Facebook at facebook.com/lrgkf. www.lrgkf.com
Contact:
LR Global Kids Fund e.V.
Tanja Stephani
Manager LR Global Kids Fund e.V.
Phone +49 (0)2382 7060 114
t.stephani@LRworld.com
“RTL – Wir helfen Kindern”
Maren Mossig
Phone +49 (0)221 78870305
mossig@diepressetanten.de
Lunch Club - The Restaurant for Kids
Heike Gründken, Pedagogical Supervisor
Email: h.gruendken@lunch-club.de
+49 (0)152 38438674
+49 (0)2382 7665604
Lunch Club e. V.
Pastor Markus Möhl, Chairman of the Board
Email: m.moehl@lunch-club.de
Mobile: +49 (0) 170 288 03 - 93