CBS International Business School, 22 December 2022

CBS Christmas Charity: Students' Major Donation for Aid Projects

Shaping a future that is worth living and desirable - not only for one's own students, but also for young people who have to start out in life under difficult conditions: With this mission, CBS International Business School is once again moving into the pre-Christmas season and motivating students, employees, partners and companies to do good together with "Donations instead of Gifts".

Right at the beginning of the campaign, CBS students set a remarkable example by waiving a partial refund of their semester fees, which they would have been entitled to due to the savings from the 9-Euro-Ticket. This has already resulted in a spontaneous donation sum of over 34,000 euros across all locations. "As a university, we want to impart contemporary values to our students in addition to current knowledge, which inspire them to deal with social challenges in a responsible manner," says Christoph Willers, Managing Director of CBS, and is particularly pleased about the naturalness with which a large part of the CBS students waive their savings in favour of the CBS charity campaign.

Four donation projects for the Advent season

The Christmas Charity Campaign by CBS aims to raise awareness and funds for four aid projects that work towards improving the lives and education of disadvantaged children and young people. CBS will also make a contribution to each organization. During the Advent season, one of the fundraising initiatives will be highlighted on the university's social media channels every Sunday. Additionally, the Christmas trees on campus will feature ornaments in four different colors and shapes, each representing one of the charitable organizations. To access more information and make donations easily, interested parties can scan the printed QR codes, which will take them to a dedicated landing page at https://www.cbs.de/christmas.

Support for Women's Aid in Iran: "HÁWAR"

In Iran, arrests and violence are a common occurrence. Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, was arrested in September for not adhering to the Islamic dress code and died shortly thereafter. These events have sparked protests against the various violations of international law in the country, including the oppressive actions of the government and the restrictive traditional customs and religious rules that impact the daily lives and personal freedoms of women.

Since its foundation in 2015, the human rights organisation HÁWAR has been working to promote the freedom and self-determination of people, regardless of gender, religion or origin. On the occasion of the oppression by the Iranian regime, HÁWAR accompanies the freedom movements of the population. The "Support for Women's Aid in Iran" is presented on the green Christmas tree emblems on the Christmas trees of the CBS campuses.

Christmas Charity_Háwar

Christmas presents for children and youth: Bethanien Children's Village

For the past 65 years, the Bethanien Children's Villages in Eltville-Erbach (Hesse), Schwalmtal-Waldniel, and Bergisch Gladbach-Refrath (North Rhine-Westphalia) have provided Christmas presents to socially disadvantaged children and adolescents who are unable to live with their parents. These children and young people live in large houses with comfortable living spaces and their own rooms and gardens. In these communities, they experience living in a family atmosphere and can also receive support from educational specialists and access special therapies.

To bring joy to these children and young people at Christmas, the CBS collects donated gifts every year. The "Christmas presents for children and young people" initiative is represented by purple emblems featuring a tied gift package silhouette on the Christmas Charity trees.

Christmas Charity_ Bethanien Kinderdorf

Living together: "Lebenshilfe"

Lebenshilfe" aims to enable people with special needs in mental development to participate equally in society - regardless of the severity of their disability. The Allerheiligen children's and young people's home in Neuss, which will be opened in January 2022, offers space for four residential groups with a total of 18 children, adolescents and young adults. There, the residents can develop independently and without fear in a completely barrier-free environment. The house has 18 single rooms, each with its own bathroom, places to retreat and rest, common rooms and a garden with extensive play and leisure facilities. Children with complex disabilities or challenging behaviour also find security here.

With its comprehensive and holistic living and support concept, "Lebenshilfe" stands for appreciation, openness, respect and acceptance - important values that CBS would like to actively support with its Christmas campaign. On the Christmas trees, the magenta-coloured heart pendants present the "Common Life" project.

Christmas Charity_Lebenshilfe

Education for every child: Unicef

Education is not a given for everyone. For many children in Africa, attending school is still a distant dream. However, education and early childhood education are crucial for breaking the cycle of poverty, as educated and confident children are more likely to pursue a profession and can better protect themselves against exploitation and illness.

Unicef's education projects enable children in remote regions like Malawi in southeast Africa to go to school. As part of the "Schools for Africa" campaign, hundreds of classrooms have been built in Malawi, schools have been equipped with drinking water wells and toilets, teaching staff have been trained, and teaching materials have been provided. In addition to learning subjects like arithmetic and writing, the children also learn about health and their rights within society and the family. The CBS supports Unicef's aid campaign for children in Malawi through the charity project "Education for Every Child," which is represented by the golden star on the campus Christmas trees.

Christmas Charity_Unicef

A hashtag for sustainable helping

To sustain its social commitment in the long term and to encourage good deeds beyond the Advent season, the hashtag #cbsattentionplease will continue to be used on CBS social media. The CBS family would like to express its gratitude to its partners and all donors who have already contributed to creating a better future for others. With this in mind, we wish everyone a peaceful holiday season and a healthy 2023.

CBS International Business School

CBS International Business School is a state-recognised private university of applied sciences for business. We offer accredited Bachelor's, Master's and MBA degree programmes in German and English on a full-time or part-time basis. Throughout Germany, the university is represented at three locations in Cologne, Mainz, and Potsdam.

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