6th International Foundation Conference in Dresden

Jul 10, 2022

Diyi for Kids is part of the Plan family of foundations. Under the umbrella of the foundation Hilfe mit Plan, more than 250 trust foundations form a large network for the common good and good causes. At founder meetings, project trips and events we have the opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded people and experience projects on site. This was also the case this year in Dresden for the 6th International Foundation Conference.

The three days were filled with exchange, getting to know new projects and a lot of information about the worldwide commitment of Plan International and us, the foundations that support this task.

In the following a few topics of the agenda:

Empowering Girls, Preventing Early Marriage – Rebekka Sprenger (Program Specialist for Southern and Eastern Africa)

  • In Zimbabwe, one in 3 girls is married early before her 18th birthday
  • The bride prices, mostly in the form of animals and land, support the bride’s family
  • Plan not only strengthens the rights of girls, but also specifically advises parents and traditional authorities in the country why it is important for girls not to be taken out of school too early and separated from their own families

Climate change, wars, disasters – Plan’s response to crises worldwide, Fabian Böckler (Head of the International Cooperation Department)

  • Today’s global challenges are becoming increasingly complex: coronavirus pandemic, climate change, migration, extreme poverty and conflict. The average duration of a crisis is 9 years
  • 274 million people currently need humanitarian assistance (+40 million than 2021), 161 million people are affected by acute food shortages, close to 90 million people are refugees, we have about 400 natural disasters annually
  • Girls and women are more affected by existing gender inequality
  • Humanitarian aid and development work go hand in hand, and Plan employees are heavily involved in working with local committees and politicians to develop plans on how to provide targeted support and sustainable solutions. Plan International is currently active in 61,000 communities worldwide.

Education for all – Kathrin Hartkopf (Spokesperson for the Management Board at Plan International)

  • Approx. 1.2 billion children and young people affected by the coronavirus pandemic
  • Uganda, for example, has the longest lockdown so far. Schools were closed for almost 2 years
  • A safe protected environment and for many the only warm food per day being gone, domestic abuse increased
  • Plan responded by establishing open-air schools and distributing over 250,000 radios so that classes could come home to children and youth. Moderated youth groups invite young people to share

Of course, we at Diyi for Kids also took the opportunity to network and share ideas for each other’s active foundation work. Thanks to

  • Caroline Oehr, Engagement Counselor at Stiftung Hilfe mit Plan
  • Breuch-Schickedanz Stiftung Teamgeist
  • Roswitha and Harald Trescher Stiftung

A big highlight was the children’s choir of the Dresden Semperoper inspiring us with classical and modern music.

See you at the next foundation meeting in two years in Vienna!

Diyi for Kids Gründer Ergin Iyilikci, Caroline Oehr, Stiftung Hilfe mit Plan, Diyi for Kids Gründerin Dina Teuchner
Kathrin Hartkopf/Dr. Werner Bauch (Plan International), Katie Gallus (Moderation)
Kinderchor der Dresdner Semperoper

 Projects from Diyi

Holistic learning at the Christophorus School in Hoppenrade

Supporting children and young people with a focus on “mental development” in a holistic and inclusive learning environment

Professional Future and Work for Young People

We support vocational training and entrepreneurial training to improve future prospects for young people in Nepal.

TOMATENPARADE - Sustainable Gardening

We support education on ecological diversity and conscious food consumption among children and young people in Berlin.