Stories of Change
We’ve had lots and lots of 'Stories of Change' to tell since we were founded in 1999. Many of them were the tales of children who received an education thanks to our Kinderhaus facilities, opening doors of opportunity to a better chance in life.
We have pulled together a whole host of 'Stories of Change' – from our partners, from children at our Kinderhaus facilities, from people working at PATRIZIA SE, and from our friends and supporters.
„Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
Nelson Mandela
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President of South Africa
Happiness - the first foundation magazine
The spring 2020 issue of our foundation magazine is also dedicated to the 'Stories of Change' .
In the magazine, we take you for example to the PATRIZIA Vocational Training Center Ntarama in Rwanda. Five trades, such as tailoring and electrical engineering, are taught there, with women in particular receiving support.
“The skills people learn here are needed immediately by the community. That’s not just good for the local community, but also for our country”, explains Felix Mubumbyi, head of training and studies.
Find out more about these and many other “Stories of Change” in the magazine. Read the magazine here.
Pierre and Brigitte describe their 'Story of Change'
Everyone is dealt a different fortune in life. For Pierre and Brigitte from Rwanda, being given the chance to receive an education became an important ingredient of happiness.
Covid-19 fund
At one point, the global lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic appeared to test our aim of giving children access to an education. Schools have had to shut their doors everywhere. Despite this, we want our 'Stories of Change' to set a signal. Especially in times of difficulty, it’s important to stay focused on the good things in life and what makes us happy!
As a result, we set up a fund going by the name of Coronavirus Fund Education Healthcare. Its aim is to provide immediate aid to our Kinderhaus facilities. By adding your own donation to the fund, you can support our facilities that are experiencing serious problems as a result of the crisis. So we can hopefully tell more 'Stories of Change'.
Donation account:
You too can support us in giving the children and young people in our children's homes access to education. Together we have the opportunity to contain the consequences of the global corona pandemic.
IBAN: DE59 7208 0001 0160 0333 00
BIC: DRESDEFF720
Usage: Corona Fund
All donors of 50€ or more will receive a donation receipt
My 'Story of Change'
Endinawo from Cape Town, South Africa
Endinawo found support at the School of Hope and now dreams of studying law or business to achieve her ambitions.
Gugu from Cape Town, South Africa
Gugu chose the School of Hope to pursue her passions and now dreams of becoming a dancer, doctor, or chef.
Ekoum* from Bafia, Kamerun
After a serious accident left him excluded, Ekoum found acceptance at the Saint Sebastian School and regained confidence in a place where he truly belongs.
*Name and photo changed to protect the child
Tatenda from Cape Town, South Africa
After years of disrupted schooling, Tatenda found a second chance at the School of Hope. There, he regained confidence and now dreams of becoming a pilot, an ear specialist, or an IT professional.
Ines from Sondoveni, Peru
Ines received the prestigious Beca 18 scholarship and is now studying in Lima—a success that shows what true partnership can achieve.
Neema from Peramiho, Tanzania
Fleeing from violence, today with a clear goal: Neema studies at the PATRIZIA Peramiho Girls’ Secondary School and dreams of becoming a doctor to help other women.
Maria from Songea, Tanzania
From an orphan at the PATRIZIA Child Care Centre to an aspiring university student: Maria now gives back the support she once received, with a generous heart.
Bouya from Parakou, Benin
At the PATRIZIA Child Care in Parakou, Bouya found protection and new hope—today, she dreams of becoming a teacher herself.
Abraham from Sondoveni, Peru
As a boy, Abraham helped build the school—and 22 years later, he became the youngest tribal chief of the Asháninka—a testament to how education can transform lives.
Mary from Peramiho, Tanzania
Mary from Tanzania dreams of becoming a pilot—thanks to the PATRIZIA School Peramiho, she can complete her high school education with a focus on science and move closer to achieving her dream.
Kisha from Buyamba, Uganda
Thanks to the PATRIZIA School Buyamba, Kisha has the opportunity to receive an education and pursue her big dream of becoming a teacher.
Partho from Mymensingh, Bangladesh
Partho’s journey—from a disadvantaged child with developmental delays to a happy primary school student—shows how long-term support can transform lives.
Mohamed from Bafia, Cameroon
From an orphan without schooling to a student with a future: thanks to the PATRIZIA School Bafia, Mohamed in Cameroon is being given the opportunity for a brighter future.
Miriam from Muniguda, India
Thanks to the PATRIZIA School Muniguda, Miriam finally has access to education and the opportunity for a self-determined future.
Vincent from Buyamba, Uganda
Vincent is a pupil at PATRIZIA School St. Francis in Buyamba. He is driven by one big ambition: he wants to be a doctor one day.
Nima from Dhoksan, Nepal
Although 11-year-old Nima (right) takes 45 minutes to walk to school every morning, she always looks forward to sitting in the classroom – a privilege that’s not to be taken for granted in Nepal.
Rachel from Buyamba, Uganda
Rachel is pupil in the seventh grade at PATRIZIA School Buyamba. It is not a given that the 14-year-old can go to school, because her parents died when she was very young. Since then she and her three sisters have been living with her uncle, who looks after the girls and also enables them to attend school. Rachel is also lucky that there is an affordable school in her community, which she can easily reach on foot. The PATRIZIA School is five kilometers away from Rachel's home. She is happy that it is so close. She not only gets access to education there, but also two meals a day. And she is integrated into the social network of the school community and does not have to work at the market or in the household like other girls her age.
Wolfgang Egger
Founder of the PATRIZIA Foundation
When I look back, I feel really proud of the things we’ve achieved through the foundation over the last 21 years.
Joseph from Alego, Kenya
Support and a feeling of belonging – just two of the things Joseph benefits from at the PATRIZIA Vocational Training Center in Alego (Kenya). But things were not always that way for the 18-year-old.
Padmavathi from Porayar, India
To give her daughter the opportunity of receiving a proper education, Padmavathi – who turned 16 in 2020 – was sent by her mother to PATRIZIA Child Care Porayar. The home only takes in girls with a proven need of urgent support. Padmavathi was fully aware that this was a golden opportunity to put poverty behind her. Her father had left the family at an early age and her mother tried to collect and sell garbage, but could not feed her and her brother. Currently, the girl is in 11th grade, is diligent and particularly enjoys learning English.
Padmavathi is happy that she has friends in the girls' home with whom she can play and share her life. Here she has a sheltered roof over her head, regular meals and the chance to use her knowledge to grow into a self-confident and independent woman.
Ole from Hamburg, Germany
Ole was identified as having Type 1 diabetes at the age of four when he was admitted to a children’s hospital. He and his family were first put in touch with the SeeYou centre at PATRIZIA Aftercare Hamburg to support their needs.
Princess from Harare, Zimbabwe
Through the PATRIZIA School Harare, the entire family of five-year-old Princess has found hope for a better future.
A school bus for Dhoksan, Nepal
The challenging walk to school is now a thing of the past for children in the region around Dhoksan. The new school bus brings a smile on many faces.
Ashlyn from Western Cape, South Africa
Ashlyn’s 'Story of Change' began when, at the age of three, she was taken in by Graceland, the oldest of the three Educare Centres belonging to PATRIZIA Child Care Western Cape.
Odwa from Western Cape, South Africa
Odwa first came to the Agape Educare Centre at PATRIZIA Child Care Western Cape when she was only ten months old. She was given loving attention at the centre and received support in her early childhood development until she entered primary school. She was always a quiet child but was considered self-confident by her classmates, always doing her schoolwork as expected and like all children, she loved to play. Playful learning is important at the centre. In Agape, the ability of children to learn in the first six years of life is promoted through a holistic method that places emphasis on children’s physical, emotional and psychological well-being.