Snacks & Drinks@PATRIZIA Foundation

Apr. 2024

We welcomed numerous friends, interested parties and sponsors to the first ‘Snacks & Drinks@PATRIZIA Foundation’ on 24 April 2024.

At the PATRIZIA SE premises in Augsburg, we were able to take a deep dive into our newly opened children's home in Bangladesh. Our colleague Markus Minje was able to tell us first-hand and with fresh memories of his project trip to Bangladesh for the opening of the PATRIZIA Child Care Mymensingh.

In a world where it is not a matter of course that small children can play and learn in safety, but where the plight of single working mothers forces them to leave their little ones alone or to their older siblings, this project is a beacon in the community. This enables the older siblings to attend school and the mothers to earn a living for the family. The aim is to break the cycle of poverty and lack of education. Young children from the poorer sections of the highly segregated society and children from the middle class grow up together in our project in order to mix the local population. Markus' report inspired and touched both our guests and the Foundation team. Together with our local partner MATI Bangladesh, we have created a pioneering and innovative project with the multi-purpose building, which is groundbreaking in international development cooperation. The rental of the upper floors finances the long-term operation of the care centre.

And of course there was no shortage of good conversation, networking and the enjoyment of culinary Bengali snacks from the region in a relaxed atmosphere. Be there next time too. Just send a short e-mail to info@patrizia.foundation and we will cordially invite you to another Snack&Drinks@PATRIZIA evening at the Foundation. We look forward to seeing you there!

A Musical Programme with Lasting Impact

Young musicians from the MiSST programme welcomed guest with an opening performance. Throughout the evening, the students further captivated guests with their performances, including Adoration by Florence Price and selected pieces from The Phantom of the Opera.  

 

 

An Evening of Shared Vision and Personal Stories

In his welcoming speech, Wolfgang Egger talked about the importance of investing in young people and creating opportunities that allow them to thrive — academically, personally and socially. Ambassador Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber delivered a passionate speech on the importance of protecting arts education in the UK, particularly at a time when music and creative subjects continue to face significant cuts within the school system. He spoke movingly about the responsibility to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to creativity, culture and music education.

Chairwoman of the Board Astrid Gabler, together with Board Member James Muir, reflected on their recent visit to one of the programme’s partner schools. James shared how deeply a passionate music teacher had influenced him during his own school years and how this experience continues to shape his belief in the importance of the support in education infrastructure. 

Rachel Landon, CEO MiSST, brought the programme vividly to life through inspiring footage and powerful stories from participating students, offering guests a meaningful glimpse into the daily impact of the initiative.

One of the most moving moments of the evening came from Rain Spiegel-Johnson, a former participant of the programme, who shared her personal journey. She spoke openly about how access to music education has shaped her confidence, supported her personal development, and positively influenced her life path. 

 

PATRIZIA Music Programme 

With the PATRIZIA Music Programme, the PATRIZIA Foundation continues its commitment to educational support and equal opportunities across Europe. The programme was established to provide children and young people from disadvantaged communities in the United Kingdom with access to high-quality music education and to open new pathways for their personal and academic development. In partnership with MiSST, the programme supports schools in Morecambe and Manchester by providing classical musical instruments, professional music tuition and regular performance opportunities. Over the course of three years, the PATRIZIA Foundation is funding 300 instruments, creating long-term access to cultural education and helping young people build brighter futures through the transformative power of music.