ArbeiterKind.de

ArbeiterKind.de is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the proportion of students from non-academic families at German universities. The initiative offers a variety of support services:

• Information Portal: A comprehensive online platform with tips on study financing, information about BAföG, scholarships, study abroad, internships, and academic work.
• Mentoring Program: A nationwide network with over 6,000 volunteer mentors who provide individual support and advice to students from non-academic families. These mentors are often first-generation students themselves and offer peer-to-peer mentoring in over 80 local groups[1][3][4].
• Information Events and Stands: Regular events in schools and at education fairs where first-generation academics share their own educational stories.
• Social Network: A dedicated social network that facilitates exchange between students, pupils, and mentors.

The main mission of ArbeiterKind.de is to encourage students from families without an academic tradition to pursue higher education and to support them on their path to successful graduation and entry into the workforce. The initiative advocates for greater educational equity and cultural participation and aims to address the information deficit and cultural prejudices in family environments that often serve as obstacles to educational advancement[1][3][4].

ArbeiterKind.de pursues several sustainable goals:

• Increase in Enrollment Rates: The initiative aims to increase the proportion of students from non-academic families at universities and to reduce dropout rates.
• Comprehensive Support: Through the nationwide mentoring network and local groups, comprehensive and personal support is ensured.
• Transparency and Accountability: ArbeiterKind.de has joined the Initiative Transparent Civil Society and regularly publishes annual reports and financial statements to ensure transparency and accountability[2].

ArbeiterKind.de has received numerous awards, including the Engagement Prize from the Association of Former FES Scholars, the Student Union Award for Special Social Engagement, and the IQ Prize 2015. The founder and managing director, Katja Urbatsch, was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 2018[1][3].

ArbeiterKind.de is a vibrant example of effective social engagement and has developed into one of the leading initiatives for educational equity in Germany within a few years. Through its comprehensive and diverse support services, the organization significantly contributes to ensuring that every child in Germany has the opportunity for educational advancement.

• 1 - https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArbeiterKind.de
• 2 - https://www.arbeiterkind.de/ueber-uns/transparenz
• 3 - https://www.boeckler.de/de/magazin-mitbestimmung-2744-initiative-arbeiterkindde-5595.htm
• 4 - https://www.arbeiterkind.de/ueber-uns
• 5 - http://mitmachenalsunternehmen.arbeiterkind.de