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Where help becomes hope: 20 years of partnership with the Arche
Open doors, a warm meal, help with homework: The Arche in Munich supports hundreds of children and young people in their daily lives. For 20 years, WACKER has backed the children’s and youth organization through a partnership that has long since grown into a friendship. The WACKER Volunteer Group was also on hand at the summer festival -traditionally held on the first Thursday in July.
Sometimes a building is much more than just a building. It is a place where people feel welcome, where someone takes the time to listen, and where a warm meal is served every day. WACKER has been supporting this form of support for two decades. At the summer festival, traditionally held on the first Thursday in July, the company once again presented a donation. Since the partnership began in 2006, WACKER’s contributions to the Arche in Munich have surpassed two million euros.
“Children and teenagers have found a place here where they are always welcome,” says Larissa Rauter, director of the Arche Munich. Her team supports young people not only with their schoolwork, but also by preparing fresh meals every day, ensuring they enjoy a warm lunch and a healthy diet.
The high cost of living continues to affect many of the families whose children attend the Arche, Rauter explains. “The situation has worsened further. Many families are cutting back on healthy food to offset rising prices.” As a result, hundreds of children and teenagers take advantage of the free hot meals offered each day. The Arche is able to continue its work solely through donations.
This year, Martin Damjanovic from HR at the Consortium presented WACKER’s annual donation to the Arche. On stage, he answered questions from a group of aspiring young reporters. The children’s interview has become a regular highlight of the Arche’s summer festival. “What advice would you give children for their future?” the young reporters asked. Martin Damjanovic offered words of encouragement: “Try new things. Try to do something good every day. There’s always a path for you; sometimes it’s harder, more challenging, and takes longer – but it will still lead you to your goal.”
One girl asked, “What can adults learn from children?” “Good point!” Damjanovic replied. “Adults are often too caught up in rules and expectations. Every now and then, we grown-ups should be more open-minded – and approach new things with the same curiosity children have.” A boy followed up with another question: “Which superhero would you like to hire as an employee?” Damjanovic thought for a moment before answering: “From the superhero universe, I’d probably hire Superwoman or Superman. But you don’t have to look far because you’re surrounded by superheroes. You just don’t always notice them because we tend to think what some people accomplish is normal. In reality, there is often a tremendous amount of effort behind it – just like with superheroes. The same goes for your parents.” The final question of the interview was: “If you had a time machine, where would you travel?” Damjanovic’s answer: “I’d love to travel to the future and bring back solutions that could make our world a better place and help ensure a bright future for you kids.”
For 20 years, the Arche has helped hundreds of children and teenagers from socially disadvantaged families build a brighter future – offering a place that feels like a second home. The partnership between the Arche and WACKER began in 2006. At that time, the City of Munich initially provided a construction trailer for the Arche in Moosach, a district in Munich’s north. A bright, modern building was later constructed on the site.
The WACKER Volunteer Group has enjoyed visiting the Arche regularly for many years and, among other activities, supplies cakes for the annual summer festival buffet. Employees also frequently make private donations, both large and small, to mark anniversaries or other special occasions. In addition, the Youth and Trainee Council (JAV) at WACKER House supports donation drives for essential goods.
The Arche publishes lists of urgently needed items online. School supplies are especially important, as many families struggle to afford the broad range of materials required by schools. Clean, well-maintained, seasonally appropriate children’s clothing is also welcome, along with non-perishable food items listed on the organization’s needs list. Even small contributions can make a meaningful difference.
www.kinderprojekt-arche.de/helfen-sie/sachspende
When a door stands open, it can mean much more to a child than simply an entrance. It can inspire confidence, ease everyday challenges, and create new opportunities. For the past 20 years, the Arche in Munich has provided exactly that. And that is why its partnership with WACKER extends far beyond the annual summer festival – giving countless young people a place where help becomes hope and support becomes lasting stability.
