Naturally, “Echo hilft!” is, this year, very much affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The more pleasing it is how many creative ideas – including an online concert – have arisen in order to do fundraising, even in difficult circumstances. The campaign is, however, not only collecting money from readers, as well as companies from the region; it is also looking to obtain greater visibility for the socially challenging topic of “dementia”, through in-depth coverage.  ...

Every year in the autumn, pupils at Waldorf educational institutions invest a lot of creativity and commitment to benefit other, less well-equipped establishments worldwide and organise various donation campaigns. This year, the coronavirus pandemic poses special challenges for all those involved, which is why SAGST is doubling the money collected with a total matching fund of €50,000.

Over 31,000 young refugees are currently being looked after in children’s and youth welfare institutions. Traumatic experiences as refugees, as well as lack of knowledge, shame or culturally-based misunderstandings, often make their first steps in Germany difficult, also posing major challenges for the institutions responsible.

Homegrown produce and fresh air instead of supermarkets and pavement: in the Rhein-Neckar urban area, since 2019 city dwellers have had the means to satisfy their cravings for proximity to nature and their own garden beds. The Mannheim organization“Micro Agriculture” allows participants to plant and harvest vegetables on their own small parcel of farmland.