Two apprentices from Ziehl-Abegg, the German fan and motor manufacturer, are sponsoring two children in Swaziland to pay for their food, healthcare and education.

Jennifer Zürn and Marlen Geißler came up with the sponsorship idea during a seminar of the Youth and Trainees council (JAV). JAV is the council for apprentices in the company and Jennifer (20) and Marlen (22) are the young counterparts of work council members.

Marlen said: “In the JAV we considered projects that make sense and that suit us. We wanted to select something permanent” In the end, the committee decided to support the World Vision child sponsorship programme.

The apprentices agreed to donate 30 euros per month for each child. In return, the children get food, healthcare and school education. “And of course we can send a little birthday present or some money for exercise books for the whole class,” Marlen added. World Vision recommends sending things that benefit the entire community. “We can also donate money for a chicken that will be shared by a whole family,” said Jennifer, who also sponsors a child privately.

The young Ziehl-Abegg employees chose Swaziland because English is one of its official languages besides Swazi. “Maybe in the future, we could invite a child to Ziehl-Abegg in Germany for a work placement or for even more,” the JAV representatives add. In order to earn money for the project, the apprentices will set up fund-raising projects at future company celebrations. The foundation for funding the project was set when the apprentices sold company shirts with the old design which they had received from the company.

Pictured right: Jennifer Zürn (L) and Marlen Geißler sign the sponsorship for two children in Swaziland.