Help for forgotten children Harley-Davidson supports the German “Off Road Kids” foundation
• The company donates $7,143 to the reintegration of street children
• Street work stations in major German cities benefit from the donation
In 1978, a 16-year-old Berliner gained notoriety throughout Germany with the autobiographical book “We Children from Bahnhof Zoo” under the pseudonym Christiane F. - a vicious circle of drug addiction and prostitution marked her life's path. The fact that fates like Christiane F.'s are now a thing of the past is thanks, among other things, to the “Off Road Kids” foundation, which was founded by the author and journalist Markus Seidel in 1993. The national aid organization, which now operates street work stations in major German cities, a parent advice hotline, two children's homes and the Institute for Pedagogical Management (IfPM), has helped more than 3,000 young people out of homelessness. But according to experts, up to 2,500 children and young people aged 12 and over still end up on the streets in this country every year. Many of them become street children who rely on begging, prostitution or petty crime to survive.
The Motor Company wants to help and has therefore been supporting the work of the “Off Road Kids” foundation since 2012.
“When we first heard about 'Off Road Kids', we were shocked to learn that at least 300 minors and an unknown number of adult runaways arrive in major German cities every year,” explains Christian Arnezeder, Managing Director of Harley-Davidson Germany GmbH, the commitment.
“Without the help of Off Road Kids, they might become street children permanently.” This year too, the Harley-Davidson Foundation donated to “Off Road Kids”. On September 10th, Christian Arnezeder, together with his colleagues Markus Geissner and Frank Klumpp as well as Matthias Meier from the Frankfurt dealer Harley-Factory, handed over a check for 7,143 US dollars to Markus Seidel. “The donation will benefit our street work stations in Berlin, Hamburg , Dortmund and Cologne and help the local employees to show perspectives for the young people they support,” said Seidel happily.
If you want to find out more about “Off Road Kids” or get involved with the organization, you can find further information on the Internet at www.offroadkids.de