Time for people in a changing world

The Samaritan Foundation has set itself a goal: in line with universal standards it aims to foster young people as competent partners within its social learning initiative. Social learning is one of the tools with which society can preserve a human face in times of radical change brought about by digitisation Along with seven subsidiary foundations, the “Stiftung Zeit für Menschen” (Time for People Foundation), launched in 2004 as a Samaritan Foundation initiative, helps to ensure that social welfare institutions, services and associated facilities remain places of benevolence and charitableness. This is mainly achieved through cross-generational civic commitment and promotion of the development of civil societal structures and social learning.

“Values are only upheld successfully in society if they are actively cultivated by its citizens. We can only make improvements together and go forward by actively professing our Christian love”, says Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann, one of the founding fathers, referring to the success story of “Stiftung Zeit für Menschen”, which embraces a commitment to society as a whole. “Our society is in the midst of a dynamic transformation process. It is important that our commitment to society as a whole is consistently focused on people,” explains Frank Wößner, Chairman of “Stiftung Zeit für Menschen”. This is why “Stiftung Zeit für Menschen” also fosters projects which – on the surface – have little to do with the Samaritan Foundation, but which play a major role in the lives of young people, for instance. “We do so with the aim of instilling social issues in the minds of people as members of society”, remarks Reinhard Gradmann, General Manager of “Zeit für Menschen”. Among the subsidiary foundations of “Zeit für Menschen” the “Jugendsozial Stiftung” (Social Youth Foundation) is mainly en- gaged in the dialogue between generations and social learning. Its aim is to teach social skills as an important basis for the economy and society.

The umbrella foundation and all its subsidiary foundations regard themselves as communication and support platforms. Talking to each other, helping our fellows where need exists – this is the goal to which our foundation members are passionately committed for the good of society. Meanwhile, the number of members has swelled to 250 and so far EUR 500,000 have been invested in projects.

“In its work, ‘Stiftung Zeit für Menschen’ creates crystallisation points in which to foster civic commitment,” stated Dr. Jürgen Gohde, Chairman of the Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe (KDA) (German Elderly Assistance Board) at the twelfth Forum for Civil Society, an annual event of the umbrella foundation, which addresses current issues in civic commitment.

Thanks to their dedication “Zeit für Menschen” members give a face to social commitment. 43.6 per cent of the over 14s are already actively involved in Germany. The commitment quota has thus risen by ten per cent over the past fifteen years. As Gohde remarks confidently “So we needn’t worry that we will not be able to master the challenges of the future and change”. In his opinion this participative model of the welfare state is part of Germany’s democratic culture.