Above all, the promotion of children and young people, especially girls and young women, is a matter close to BILLA's heart. The focus is on self-determination and financial independence, which depend to a large extent on schooling and a good education. This is exactly where BILLA comes in and offers young people - regardless of their social background - important learning opportunities. In addition to "Lernen macht Schule," BILLA is now also involved in the new #GemeinsamStärker initiative with Procter & Gamble, BIPA and Caritas. All social commitment measures are planned and coordinated in the BILLA sustainability department.
Tanja Dietrich-Hübner, Head of BILLA's Sustainability Department: "For BILLA, the issue of equal opportunities is a very important concern. To this end, we have been working together with Caritas and WU in an education project for over ten years. For girls in particular, a school education with a degree is an important first step towards a self-determined life. That's why it's particularly important to us that girls are supported through #learningopportunities with Procter & Gamble and that they get the support they need."
#Learning opportunities: Donate to social justice at BILLA in spring and late summer 2023
BILLA setzt sich unter dem #GemeinsamStärker Dach für die Chancengleichheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen im Bildungsbereich ein. Zusammen mit Procter & Gamble und den BILLA Kund:innen soll im Rahmen der Spendenaktion #Lernchancen von 27. April bis 10. Mai 2023 sowie von 31. August und 13. September 2023 aus dem Verkauf von Procter & Gamble-Produkten ein fünfstelliger Betrag an Spenden gesammelt werden. Dieser kommt den 67 Lerncafés der Caritas in Österreich zugute.
"Lernen macht Schule" supports children and teenagers
Since 2010, "Lernen macht Schule", a joint initiative of Caritas Vienna, the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration as well as REWE Group Austria and BILLA, has been the lighthouse project in terms of equal opportunities and support for socially disadvantaged young people. Each semester, around 140 students from the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration support around 260 children and young people in their academic and social development. The focus is on learning from each other, as the students also build their skills by interacting with people from other social groups and cultural backgrounds. In 25 institutions, including houses for refugees, mother-child houses and Caritas learning cafés, the students act as learning buddies, helping the children and young people with their homework, reviewing school subjects and also with leisure activities.
In the course of this, the girls' center *peppa is also supported: This offers girls and young women in Vienna's 16th district low-threshold counseling, education, leisure and information services. The aim of *peppa is to reduce inequalities and in particular the disadvantages faced by women, to promote equal opportunities and to support the freedom of choice and self-determination of young women and girls - whether with or without a history of migration or flight. Since its founding, around 2,000 female visitors have been accompanied on their way to a self-determined life.
BILLA strengthens cultural and diversity competence among managers
At BILLA, the focus of support is not only on the managers of tomorrow, but also on those of today. In the context of internal training modules, "Lernen macht Schule" also plays an important role. In workshops and excursions to Caritas learning cafés, participants in the modules learn about awareness and sensitivity in dealing with other lifeworlds and cultures. "For us, it is essential to pass on know-how that we continuously acquire through social commitments at BILLA in a bundled and meaningful way. We want to support not only young people, but also those who have been with us for many years. Lernen macht Schule' is a special project that benefits everyone involved and has a high priority in our training program," says Markus Trauner, Expert Training and Development at BILLA.
