Under the motto "1.000 Chancen für benachteiligte Jugendliche" (1,000 opportunities for disadvantaged youths), the Wirtschaftsjunioren Deutschland (WJD - German Young Entrepreneurs) have entered into a cooperation agreement with the German Ice Hockey League.
"Young entrepreneurs and top-notch athletes join forces, so that every young person is given a chance", said Thomas Oehring, Federal Chairman of the WJD. "In doing so, we jointly assume responsibility and contribute towards enabling young people to be in command of and determine their own lives."
The background story:
Since the beginning of the year, the Wirtschaftsjunioren Deutschland, with more than 10,000 members the largest association of young entrepreneurs and executives in Germany, supports the German Federal Ministry of Family Affairs in helping disadvantaged youths to enter into a career.
For the project "JUGEND STÄRKEN: Junge Wirtschaft macht mit" (EMPOWERING THE YOUTH: Young industry supports), the Young Entrepreneurs were already able to win over the author Vladimir Kaminer and the entrepreneur Hans Wall to act as ambassadors. Now the German Ice Hockey League likewise committed their support.
"We are happy to be able to support the Young Entrepreneurs in their ambitious project", said Gernot Tripcke, Managing Director of the German Ice Hockey League. "Athletes in particular are important figures of identification for young people and can assume a model function to impress on young people that performance and effort are well worth the while."
At the same time, he added, the league demonstrates how important it is to assume responsibility for young people in particular.