The Peter und Luise Hager Foundation supports trinational youth camps

International exchange is very important for mutual understanding and cannot start soon enough. Spohns house, the ecological outdoor education centre in Gersheim, has been running projects for young people from Poland, Ukraine and Germany since 2008. The Peter und Luise Hager Foundation is a major supporter.

The ecological outdoor education centre Spohns Haus provides education for sustainable development (ESD) and runs European youth exchanges. Since European Week 2008, it has played host to a trinational youth camp; Germany’s largest exchange project for young people from Poland, Ukraine and Germany. For many of the 13 to 18 year-olds, the camp has become a regular event. Their parents often work for Hager Group in the respective countries. Strong international friendships have developed, which will hopefully endure.

The trinational projects were initiated by the German-Polish Youth Office (DPJW). The camps cost the participants very little because the accommodation, food, supervision, excursions and workshops are funded by the Peter und Luise Hager Foundation.

The two-week camp is packed with shared experiences, including various city trips, to Paris for example, language and art classes, and delicious barbecues. A particular creative highlight was a graffiti workshop with well-known Saarland artist Reso.

The Peter und Luise Hager Foundation always organises a special day of events for the young people: Hager Day. During the day, the participants are introduced to Hager Group, including the Blieskastel plant and the foundation, and everyone also goes on a special trip; for instance, to the Fun Forest high ropes adventure park in Homburg. The day is rounded off with an evening barbecue featuring entertainment from the Ukrainian musical dance troupe Sbrutsch.

Due to the pandemic, only 20 young people from Poland and Germany were able to take part in the camp in 2021 – significantly fewer than the average of 60 participants in previous years.

Learn more about the Peter und Luise Hager Foundation programme.