SCHOOL FOODS

EVERY CHILD NEEDS A WARM LUNCH

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

The facts of child poverty (Children's Report 2007): 14% of all children are officially considered poor. Since the introduction of ALG 2, the number of children dependent on social assistance or social benefits has doubled to more than 2.5 million. Today, every 6th child under the age of 7 is dependent on social assistance, in 1965 it was only every 75th child. Children from immigrant families are particularly affected. The consequences are not only financial, but also health-related. One in three children already needs therapy when they start school. It is estimated that 5.9 million children live in households where the parents' annual income is up to 15,300 euros. That is around 1/3 of all children entitled to child benefit.

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

A whole series of these children affected by poverty do not receive the money from their parents that they need to buy a hot lunch at school. ProKids-VS recognized the need and began to finance school meals for children in need. The situation has improved as a result of the participation package that has since been introduced. However, there are still many children who depend on our foundation's lunch subsidy.

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

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

Once approved, we will cover the costs, except for a personal contribution of 1 euro per meal. Don't hesitate.