Reiner Meutsch: Education for all – lecture on school projects in Vallendar!

Reiner Meutsch: Education for all – lecture on school projects in Vallendar!

Education is the key to a self-determined life, especially for children in developing countries. This is the central concern of the Reiner Meutsch Foundation FLY & HELP, which has been working tirelessly to build schools in affected regions since it was founded in 2010. In this context, the foundation's founder Reiner Meutsch will give a lecture at WHU on Wednesday, March 19th at 5 p.m., in which he will report on the successes and challenges of his work so far. According to the WHU, the foundation has already implemented over 850 school projects worldwide and exceeded the original plan to build 100 schools by 2025 in 2016. The foundation currently implements around 30 new school projects every year, with a strong focus on Rwanda.

Meutsch, who previously worked as managing director of a tour operator, made his dream come true in 2010 and flew around the world in a small aircraft. During this trip he supported various aid projects in countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, India, Indonesia and Brazil. These experiences motivated him to found the foundation, which is financed exclusively through donations. All donations go 1:1 to the educational projects, while Meutsch covers the costs incurred privately or through sponsors. The Campus Lions Club Vallendar WHU, the only Campus Lions Club at a university in Germany, invited Meutsch to promote social projects in the region.

Education as a global challenge

Access to education is often difficult, particularly for disadvantaged groups, including girls, women and people in poverty. Traditional roles and economic problems mean that many girls cannot go to school. This situation is further exacerbated by early marriage and pregnancy as well as poor sanitary conditions. According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, not all children with disabilities are enrolled in school and many of them do not have a sense of success in schools.

The corona pandemic has made the situation even more dramatic. In April 2020, around 1.6 billion schoolchildren and students were affected by school and university closures. Inadequate digital infrastructure and a lack of digital learning opportunities prevented many children from learning, which further entrenched existing inequalities. Girls in particular stayed at home more often and therefore did not benefit from distance learning. Crises and conflicts mean that many children do not have access to schools, which poses the risk of “lost generations”.

Event at WHU

At the upcoming lecture, Meutsch will not only report on successes, but also on the challenges that his foundation is facing. Since Meutsch's last visit, the Campus Lions Club has raised funds for its projects, which will be presented at the event. Those interested have the opportunity to register for the event by email, which will take place on the WHU Vallendar campus, Burgplatz 2, in building G, room 003. After the lecture there will be an opportunity to further discuss the important topics of education for children in developing countries in discussions in the foyer.

The work of FLY & HELP shows how supporting education not only changes the lives of individuals, but also helps strengthen entire communities. The Foundation remains a significant example of commitment to global education and invites everyone to become part of this mission.