The (business) world of tomorrow needs bright people who will play an active part in designing our future. Education is the best investment here. The Umdasch Group – which forms the holding for Doka – sets a good example by actively supporting a fairer access to education via the Umdasch Foundation.
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Broad commitment for education
Since the start of the Umdasch Foundation in the summer of 2015 it has already supported more than 30 projects in the field of education and knowledge transfer. By doing so it is contributing to greater equality of opportunity and is providing a perspective for young people in particular. Many of the projects are aimed at children and young people from uneducated backgrounds or from an immigrant background. It also promotes talents, for example with the annual Josef Umdasch Research Prize to the value of EUR 50,000 or by cooperating with study and research institutions.Like Doka – which has more than 160 sales and logistics facilities in over 70 countries – the Umdasch Foundation also operates internationally. Since 2016 it has initiated sustainable changes abroad.
Here is a selection of the projects supported by the Umdasch Foundation:
A vocational school for South Sudan – Helping people to help themselves
South Sudan – The organisation “Helfen wir!” (Let’s Help!) is currently building an agricultural college in Jalimo. The aim is to help the people to help themselves through sound training, and also to improve the quality of life of the local population. The Umdasch Foundation is supporting the project with formwork solutions. “The support from Doka with 3-S eco formwork sheets helped us to erect the first building. Later, with Frami framed formwork we were given a complete formwork system. Now we can use the formwork repeatedly because we shall be erecting several new buildings for the school,” explained Hannes Urban, chairman and founder of “Helfen wir!”.Rewa Buddhist Model High School – Learning at 4,000 metres
India – In the Spiti Valley, which lies in the heart of the Himalaya, poverty is the biggest obstacle to education. Here, at an altitude of 4,000 metres, most of the inhabitants are Tibetan refugees who frequently are unable to afford the school fees for their children; and especially not for their daughters, who are often thought to have been taken care of because they will later marry. At present there is already a primary school in which 130 children – preferably girls – are taught free of charge. Construction of the Rewa Buddhist Model High School is just starting; this is a project by the Rinchen Zangpo Society and the Lower Austria Tibetan Aid Organisation and is being co-financed by the Umdasch Foundation. With the Rewa Buddhist Model High School the first free secondary school in the region is to be established. It will create access to Indian universities, thereby making an important contribution to equality of opportunity.Sport as a way out of poverty and crime
Brazil – Doka Brazil is supporting the football school “Escola de Futebol Mathias” in the Guarulhos district of São Paulo. 40 children aged from 9‒15 from the very poorest families are being assisted with sporting and social commitment. The aim is to offer them a perspective and to prevent their sliding into a life of crime and drugs. Help is provided wherever it is needed: new sports equipment, a winter clothing collection and a shared Christmas dinner, a real highlight for the children. In future Doka staff members will also help by providing computer and teaching courses.The Josef Umdasch Research Prize – Innovative masters’ degree projects wanted
International – The Josef Umdasch Research Prize programme awards scholarships and prize money amounting to a total of EUR 50,000 for outstanding master’s degree projects in the fields of engineering and production, construction, economic sciences or management. The aim is to encourage young people to explore education and to initiate innovation through applied research. The prize is awarded to students every two years by the Doka Group. Applications are welcome at any time. For more information please see https://www.doka.com/en/career/josef-umdasch-research-prizeTeach For Austria – Equality of opportunity irrespective of the parents’ social status
Austria – As a member of the global Teach For All network, this initiative promotes equality of opportunity regardless of the income and status of the parents. Young, talented executives – known as Fellows – are recruited, specially trained by the organisation and then sent to schools, where they provide in-depth and individual tuition. This is an idea which the Umdasch Foundation has been supporting for the past two years, not only as sponsor partner, but also by means of active cooperation.Social Furniture – Furniture with a perspective
Austria – For some months now in “Haus Erdberg” (House Erdberg) in Vienna, refugees have been designing their own living accommodation. In a specially equipped workshop they are building furniture for their living quarters – from chairs and tables to entire kitchens and even the fitting out of a hairdresser’s studio. The refugees and architects from EOOS are building the furniture within the framework of the project “Social Furniture”, which was presented at the Architecture Biennale in Venice. The need is great, since “Haus Erdberg” currently houses almost 600 residents. In addition to furniture the project also offers the refugees a meaningful task and perspective. At the same time the interest in the woodworking craft and further careers is also aroused. The project has been made possible by the Umdasch Foundation, which has provided the famous yellow formwork sheets from Doka free of charge as construction material.About the Umdasch Foundation
The Umdasch Foundation is an initiative of Hilde Umdasch and Alfred Umdasch, the owners of the Umdasch Group. It has been established with the goal of linking together the fields of education, economy and ethics. It supports projects within their companies, the Doka Group and the Umdasch Shopfitting Group. And it also supports initiatives which focus on the topics of education and knowledge transfer worldwide. www.umdaschfoundation.com
About Doka:
Doka is a world leader in developing, manufacturing and distributing formwork technology for use in all fields of the construction sector. With more than 160 sales and logistics facilities in over 70 countries, the Doka Group has a high-performing distribution network which ensures that equipment and technical support are provided swiftly and professionally. An enterprise forming part of the Umdasch Group, the Doka Group employs a worldwide workforce of more than 6,000.
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