Buergerstiftung Stuttgart
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Mission Statement
The Community is the heart of everything we do. Our mission as a Community Foundation is to promote civic engagement and social cohesion among citizens of Stuttgart. We initiate and support charitable projects and initiatives that benefit the local community. Our aim is to enhance the quality of life for inhabitants through various means such as community development and creating awareness on different societal topics. This involves 1) Identifying challenges and addressing current issues faced by the Stuttgart community by finding sustainable solutions. 2) Encouraging public involvement. 3) Establishing projects that facilitate communication and collaboration among people in and around Stuttgart thus promoting social unity. As a foundation, our goal is to support vulnerable groups in the community, such as the homeless, youth, refugees, elderly individuals, people suffering from loneliness and individuals that are social economically or educationally disadvantaged. We strive to provide resources, opportunities, and awareness to empower these groups and promote self-efficacy by working to meet their immediate needs and provide long-term support. We hope to improve their overall well-being and enable them achieve their full potential. We recognize the importance of a strong support system and aim to foster a sense of community and belonging. Through our efforts, we hope to create a more equitable and inclusive society for everyone. To fulfill our mission, the Community Foundation works tri-sectorally by involving the civil society, the administration and the corporate sector in projects we undertake. This approach acknowledges the unique strengths and resources each sector possesses, which when combined can result in more significant and long-lasting impacts towards resolving intricate challenges. We offer a platform for exchange and mutual learning to strengthen the communication between the different parties of interest, by dealing with urban challenges, we draw our focus on various aspects. With experience of over 20 years, we have not only seen the problem but also the solution from more than one source. Due to our long existence, we were able to establish a continuously growing network it being one of our greatest resources. Keeping in touch with volunteers and local partners helps us to have a better understanding of the common atmosphere and the needs of the citizens. Our long-lasting and sustainable relationship with the city Stuttgart, its mayors and offices eases the realization of greater projects. Our approach is centered on transparency and participation with a commitment to leaving no one behind. We aim to foster a shared understanding and support for future actions while initiating projects. This is done by involving them in early stages of decision making processes. The Community Foundation, through its bylaws, has pledged to tackle issues that affect the quality of life of inhabitants of Stuttgart regardless of who is impacted or the scale of the issue.
About This Cause
The Community Foundation of Stuttgart (Buergerstiftung Stuttgart) is a Non-Governmental Organisation based in Stuttgart. It was established in 2001 by residents of Stuttgart & operates in the interest of all inhabitants. Currently, the foundation is governed by a board of trustees, who oversee the foundation's activities & initiatives. The Community Foundation of Stuttgart fosters positive change by connecting diverse people with different ideas, passion, devotion & resources for the betterment of citizens' quality of life in the community of Stuttgart. The foundation works as a platform that pools resources, knowledge & expertise to achieve its set goals which tackle emerging societal problems. The foundation has a strong commitment to supporting all members of society, including those who are often overlooked & marginalized. To achieve this goal, the foundation has identified four key target groups that require additional support: - Vulnerable children & the youth - Refugees - The elderly - Those experiencing social economic challenges. The foundation aims to empower these groups to advocate for their rights & needs & ensuring that they are they are not left behind in pursuit for a better & more inclusive community. In order to support the aforementioned groups, the foundation mostly initiates projects dedicated to improving the situation by applying the round table method. This helps foster more acceptability of the projects. In these processes, the foundation ensures that all parties work at eye level. Here are some of the projects that are carried out at the foundation: Refugees It is important to recognize the challenges & obstacles that people face when immigrating. It takes time, resources, & energy to adapt to a new culture & environment, & it can be difficult to feel a sense of belonging when facing social isolation, stigmatization, & racism. The Foundation initiated a project called the “Ausbildungscampus” on a round table to assist this group. It is a great example of an initiative that is designed to be an open & inclusive space for young refugees to learn, develop & integrate into German society. The campus offers a range of services including professional/vocational counseling, psychosocial services, integration courses, Mentorships, a platform for learning & development & it creates an open space for these individuals to feel supported & empowered as they navigate their new lives. Unique features of this campus is the way it combines different services under one roof. For example, young people can attend German language classes while also receiving mental health support from trained professionals. There are also opportunities for them to learn job-related skills & receive guidance on career paths. Working together with Companies, the administration & other organizations like the chambers of commers, chambers of crafts & the Job center was crucial to ensuring the project was successful. The fact that the "Ausbildungscampus" has been nominated for the "Innovation in Politics Awards 2023" in the category of "Education" is a testament to the positive impact it has had on the community. It is encouraging to see political innovation being recognized & celebrated, especially when it is focused on improving the lives of marginalized populations. The elderly Loneliness is a serious problem for older adults, as it can have negative impacts on their physical, mental, & emotional well-being. Studies have shown that prolonged loneliness can lead to depression, anxiety, & other health problems, such as high blood pressure & weakened immune systems. During the pandemic, many elderly people were unable to participate in activities that would normally provide social interaction & support, such as visiting with friends & family, attending social events, or volunteering. As a result, they may feel cut off from the world & experience a sense of hopelessness & despair. The infection rate of the pandemic has decreased but the side effects are still being felt. Elderly people find it difficult to re-ignite the social contacts they had, hence leading to isolation & loneliness. The foundation stepped up & provided a telephone-hotline called “Plaudertelefon” which means just chat, that enabled elderly people to take part in different activities & have someone to talk to. They affected people call volunteers at the foundation who help them get a talk-to partner. Up to date, 180 elderly people have been matched with younger inhabitants who would take time & talk about different topics & give emotional support. Friendships have been formed through phone & beyond. Children & Youth Community foundations also invest in education programs that help children living in poverty overcome the challenges they face. These programs can include after-school tutoring, mentoring programs, & literacy initiatives that help children improve their academic performance & build critical skills for success. In addition to providing basic necessities & education, community foundations also support children's physical & emotional well-being. This can include funding programs that promote healthy lifestyles, such as sports & recreation programs, as well as mental health services that help children cope with the stress & trauma of living in poverty. Growing up in poverty can have a significant negative impact on a child's physical, emotional, & cognitive development. Despite the availability of various activities for children to participate in, some children do not have the opportunity to take part in them regularly due to their home environment. This may be due to financial difficulties, social integration challenges for refugee or migrant parents, lack of familiarity with how the system works, or even neglectful circumstances. The Kinder Stiftung, which is a trust fund of the Bürgerstiftung, initiates & funds projects aimed at supporting these children & promoting their physical & emotional well-being. The foundation provides opportunities for children to develop their talents & pursue their passions by i.e., funding art, music, & theater programs, as well as offering extracurricular activities that enable them to explore their interests & build self-confidence. In one of the projects called “kleine Leute größe Töne” “translates to little ones with big sounds”, the foundation aims to spark children's curiosity in music & support them in early music education. The program is meant for children who can’t afford such classes. The children work with volunteers who have interest in music. The Buergestiftung also has established projects aimed at addressing the frustrations of the youth in Stuttgart, particularly those brought about by the Covid pandemic and the perception of police control. Following a youth riot during the new year, Buergestiftung created projects that foster youth dialogue within and around the town of Stuttgart. Often feeling misunderstood and excluded from conversations that affect them, many young people can benefit greatly from being heard and understood. By encouraging open dialogue and actively listening to their concerns and opinions, young people can develop a sense of belonging that positively impacts their mental health and well-being. When their voices are heard and their perspectives are valued, they gain the confidence to express themselves and form stronger relationships with others. Ultimately, this can contribute to a more inclusive and supportive community for everyone. Homelessness Homelessness is a complex and multifaceted problem that arises from a combination of social, economic, and personal factors, including poverty, unemployment, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and lack of affordable housing. Homelessness can have devastating consequences for individuals and families, including poor health outcomes, increased risk of violence, and social exclusion. The challenge of addressing homelessness requires a comprehensive approach that involves government, non-profit organizations, and individuals working together to provide solutions. As the pandemic numbers surged, many homeless people suffered. Facilities such as day care centers, homeless shelters, food banks etc. were closed, hitting the less fortunate people hard. Their precarious living conditions coupled with multiple health issues they often suffer from, increased their vulnerability to covid-19. Many of them earned part of their meagre income from collecting refundable bottles or selling newspapers on the streets but these opportunities ceased to exist when movement restrictions in public spaces were introduced. The foundation recognized the problem and initiated a project called “Supp_Optimal. This enabled us set 10 food banks where food could be served every other day. As the pandemic reduced, the number of food recipients didn’t reduce, as a matter of fact, more people came to get food. This is due to increasing poverty that leads to many people not having enough to buy food. The food banks still exist, serving food around town. Additionally, there are workers assisting in the projects who were former homeless people. The foundation works with existing organisations that foster homeless people around Stuttgart. In order to accomplish these goals, the community foundation relies heavily on funding from generous donors. Your support as a well-wisher would be greatly appreciated.