New non-profit group promotes educational and career opportunities for Elbe island residents

The newly formed non-profit educational association "Bildungslandschaft Elbinseln e.V." is committed to supporting the new learning centres being erected thanks to IBA Hamburg, as well as many more promising educational projects on the Elbe islands. The group is backed by teachers and concerned citizens with an interest in education, including district representatives of Hamburg-Mitte, the Lutheran congregation of Nordelbische Kirche, and a law firm. On Tuesday, 22 May 2012, the organisation, which was co-founded by IBA Hamburg, made its first impact by sponsoring a banquet gala to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the educational association Forum Bildung Wilhelmsburg.

Hamburg, May 23, 2012 - A broad coalition of individuals deeply committed to community educational and counselling services and projects have been working towards the goal of improving educational opportunities and future prospects for the residents of Hamburg's Elbe River islands as well as for local children and young people for many years. IBA Hamburg's education project section has supported this commitment since 2006. Through 2013, new learning centres and educational networks will be created, which will allow the facilities to expand their offerings in close cooperation and to align them to the needs of the people they serve - all with the support of the International Building Exhibition. "The IBA Gateway to the World Educational Centre, the speech and physical education centre, the MEDIA DOCK and multifunctional project building all lay foundations for the development of education on the Elbe islands, for new forms of learning and even stronger networking among the various educational institutions," said Theda von Kalben, IBA project coordinator and member of the executive board of the new non-profit association.
Founded at the end of last year, the non-profit association "Bildungslandschaft Elbinseln e.V." aims to support the many solid educational projects on the Elbe islands. The group is backed by teachers and concerned citizens with an interest in education, including district representatives of Hamburg-Mitte, the Lutheran congregation of Nordelbische Kirche, and a law firm. "We wish to make a contribution towards guaranteeing that the newly formed educational institutions will continue to be filled with life and full of excellent educational opportunities in the post-IBA era as well. To that end, we want to provide targeted assistance to the many diverse projects on the Elbe islands," explained the group's executive director Dittmar Loose.

The organisation's first official act was to sponsor a banquet gala, held today at the community centre Bürgerhaus Wilhelmsburg, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the educational association Forum Bildung Wilhelmsburg. Around 80 guests were on hand to enjoy a festive buffet of superb food.

The gala luncheon featured an entertaining programme of sketches, musical numbers and an exhibition of photographs, posters, and other media surrounding the anniversary.The culinary part of the event was organised and executed by the two top classes of the 8th form of the Wilhelmsburg Stadtteilschule. The teens have been preparing since the beginning of the year, testing the menu and making decorations as well as practicing table presentation and service and cleanup. "The project enables young people to gain a wide range of experience in cooking, catering and service. Learning on the job boosts motivation and provides insights into future careers early on. The organisation's grant went a long way towards supporting that goal," said Wilhelm Kelber-Bretz, director of Forum Bildung Wilhelmsburg (FBW). The educational non-profit is a major educational granting body that has been working to improve the educational situation in all of Hamburg's Elbe island districts by funding exemplary projects - a commitment that began with the Wilhelmsburg Future Conference in 2002. A commemorative publication is also in the works to mark the tenth anniversary of the group's founding with thoughtful contributions from allies and members reliving ten years of the educational network.

The anniversary event is part of the fifth annual Wilhelmsburg cooking week. During the weeklong event with the slogan "the island is cooking", Elbe island schools and daycare centres whip up homemade food one week out of the year. The cooking week focuses on the issues of nutrition and exercise, culminating each year with the culinary feast at the Wilhelmsburg community centre. There, professionally trained chefs man mobile cooking stations and prepare delicious dishes together with children.

The organisation is always seeking new supporters. Anyone wishing to assist the group with a donation of money, time or a sponsorship can find further information at: http://www.iba-hamburg.de/themen-projekte/bildung-und-stadtteilentwicklung/bildung-und-stadtteilentwicklung/bildungslandschaft-elbinseln-ev/projekt/bildungsoffensive.html

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For further information please contact:
IBA Hamburg GmbH, Kristina Hödl, Director of Media Relations,
kristina.hoedl@iba-hamburg.de, Tel.: +49 (0)40 / 226 227 335, or Anna Vietinghoff, Media Relations, anna.vietinghoff@iba-hamburg.de, Tel: +49 (0)40 / 226 227-331 or to presse@iba-hamburg.de