NEWS FROM OUR
PROJECTS AND FUNDING
PROGRAMMES
April 2025 - General Assembly of the WES family
The changes in the WES/WEF organisation over the past year have already been made clear by the fact that all positions have been filled with the exception of the Chairman. And now we have finally managed to bring all the board members and directors together on a sunny day in Düsseldorf. After extensive presentations and discussions, we ended the day in a brewery.
April 2025 - Emergency aid after earthquake in Myanmar
The earthquake hits a country in great need. People have been suffering from a civil war for years. Now the people of the Don Bosco Street Children's Centre in Mandalay are literally left with nothing. Numerous facilities were destroyed by the earthquake. The children and young people living there now have no home. We are helping here with a donation.
March 2025 - Our funding project in Hoima
The CBO YOBAC in Hoima, deep in western Uganda on the border with the DR Congo, runs a school under the most difficult conditions in a refugee settlement. We have been supporting this project, which was set up and is run by Albert Djuma, for two years. He himself has also lost his home in the Congo.
February 2025 - Dr. Wasswa is no longer Managing Director.
Dr. Joseph Wasswa was relieved of his duties as Managing Director of the Werner Erkes Foundation East Africa with effect from 14 January 2025.
February 2025 - Topping-out ceremony at DRC Swakopmund
The shell of the building has been completed, so that the dimensions of the new DRC School Project can be clearly recognised. In addition to the ODEC, the construction of the primary school is a second lighthouse project in the unofficial DRC settlement. Completion and opening of the school for regular school operations is scheduled for September 2025. Thanks to the excellent work of our partner organisation TSN and the professional construction company, we are right on schedule.
January 2025 - Fight against fake news on TikTok
We support Manfred Hoogestraat in his project "Deutschland Ehrenland". Manfred Hoogestraat is an entrepreneur from Emden and is involved in a new project to combat fake news online. Together with fellow campaigners, he produces TikTok clips to help young people form an opinion.
"We start our videos with a typical false statement that you often hear on social media," explains 35-year-old Tarasenko. They call it a "Trojan horse" and then break it down with facts in the next part. Explaining why it's simply not true." These videos are between 25 and 40 seconds long and focus on topics such as wind power, the euro as an allegedly hyperinflationary currency and equal rights. "Deutschland Ehrenland" is the name of the account under which they publish the clips.
November 2024 - OTH Regensburg builds water treatment plant
A team from OTH Regensburg has built a water treatment plant for the IMLS school in Masaka (Uganda) as part of a project. The school's service water will once again be used primarily for watering the garden and later also for the sanitary facilities at IMLS. In view of the omnipresent water shortage, resources are conserved and, of course, water costs are saved.
Sophia Schaaf, Chairwoman of the Friends of IMLS Uganda-Germany (FMK), the sponsoring organisation of IMLS Uganda, and WEF West Africa would like to thank OTH University Germany and IMLS for the excellent cooperation.
October 2024 - Grand opening of the ODEC in Swakopmund, Namibia
After laying the foundation stone two years ago, we have now once again visited our joint project with TSN, the Open Doors Education Centre ODEC. The occasion was the grand opening with 100 invited guests including numerous celebrities from politics, business and administration. It was a very emotional and warm event with various show acts as well as many excited and enthusiastic children who, coming from the neighbouring township of DRC, will benefit from a wide range of educational opportunities here. We have rarely experienced such a warm event with such great enthusiasm from all participants.
October 2024 - Sponsorship of a major netball and football tournament
We are delighted to welcome 18 children's sports clubs and young men and women from all over Uganda to Masaka for the big youth tournament. This sporting event was organised and funded by the Werner Erkes Foundation East Africa in collaboration with our new partner organisation YES (Youth Empowerment Society).
At WEF East Africa, we believe in nurturing talent to provide the young generation with long-term opportunities for personal growth. We see sport and culture as powerful tools to provide access to education and career opportunities for the poor, vulnerable and talented.
October 2024 - Primary School, Kasese
The Nyamwamba and Kirembe divisions in the Kasese district in western Uganda are an area of poverty. The majority of the inhabitants live from agriculture and many families have to survive on less than €1 a day. In rural areas of Uganda, most communities have no schools, and the few state schools that do exist are very far away, in poor condition and perform very poorly in national examinations. The high school fees are too much for most families.
For this reason, the construction of the new Horizon Primary School is being worked on at full speed. After one and a half years, the first two-storey building is now nearing completion. We would like to thank Reach The Poor for their successful work.
September 2024 - Flood aid for Cudalbi
The picture shows a situation from Cudalbi in eastern Romania, a village that was one of the worst affected by the floods. In some places, the water was up to two metres high in the living spaces. People have lost all their possessions and houses have been destroyed. Other houses will probably continue to collapse over the course of the winter, as the walls are made of earth and are no longer stable due to all the water.
A delegation from our partner organisation Lahai-Roi from Niederkrüchten and Victoria (Romania) is on the ground with vans full of food, clothing for all ages, furniture, blankets and toys. In this way, many of the poor families affected can be helped. We are supporting this campaign with €10,000. Anyone who would like to help beyond this is welcome to make a donation to our donation account Werner Erkes Stiftung DE65 3005 0110 1006 7997 77. Keyword: "Cudalbi flood relief"
September 2024 - New school opened in Ghana
Together with our partner associations "Zusammen für Ghana" (Hanover) and "Kinder Zentrum International" (Hobor), WEF West Africa is building a primary school with a kindergarten in the rural area of Hobor (Ghana). The ground floor with three classrooms and toilet facilities has already been completed and put into operation. The upper floor of the same size is currently under construction.
The children and parents were delighted with the new educational facilities. Without this school, the journey to school would be far too long or attending school would not even be possible.
September 2024 - Up to 100 external children are at the boarding school every day
Our boarding school is now also open to external pupils during the day.
External students also receive comprehensive and competent support after school, not only with everyday problems, but above all with their homework.
There is also plenty of fun and games on the playground and football pitch (with artificial turf) and in the school's own multifunctional sports hall.
September 2024 - The WEF East Africa on Ugandan television
Joseph Wasswa (WEF) and Sophia Schaaf from the partner organisation FMK in Regensburg present WEF East Africa on Ugandan TV.
The interview, which was broadcast nationwide, attracted the attention of potential partners such as NGOs, CBOs and companies from the construction industry as well as future teachers and pupils. Many thanks to Sophia and Joseph for their commitment.
And once again, many thanks to FMK for their many years of intensive support.
August 2024 - Visit from Germany
This week, Joseph Wasswa, Managing Director of the Werner Erkes Foundation East Africa (WEF), hosted guests from Germany under the guidance of tour guide Thorsten Jansen at the IMLS music school in Masaka. It was a special event that will remain unforgettable for both the guests and the hosts.
The traditional, classical and contemporary music performed by the IMLS delighted all those present and created a wonderful atmosphere. The guests were impressed by the variety of performances and educational offerings that emphasised the skill and creativity of our children/students. The music created not only entertainment but also an emotional connection between cultures.
June 2024 - First graduation ceremony at the IMLS in Masaka (Uganda)
We are delighted with the 79 students who were the first ever to successfully graduate from the School of Music, Languages and Polytechnic Studies (IMLS) on 14 June 2024. They were awarded national diplomas, certificates, DIT certificates and elementary certificates in various disciplines, including music production, accounting, information technology, computer engineering, fashion and design, journalism and media studies, hospitality and catering, automotive mechanics, electrical installation, cosmetology and body therapy, etc. Congratulations!
June 2024 - Parts of the old DRC school project are given away
TSN's old DRC school project in Swakopmund has now been finally dismantled after many years of loyal service. The old containers, furniture and play equipment have been taken away and donated to other aid organisations. So much for the sad news. On the same site - and this is the good news - a new state-of-the-art educational facility with a kindergarten, pre-school and primary school is being built.
May 2024 - Opening of our Elhadj Diouf school complex
At the end of the month, the new Elhadj Diouf school complex including the "Werner Erkes Foundation Sports and Playground" in Kaolack (Senegal) was opened. In scorching heat above 40°C, the facility was immediately and enthusiastically conquered by the children from the neighbourhood. We will see many of them again when school starts at the beginning of September.
April 2024 - First trip on behalf of the WE Foundation
Our dear colleague Joseph Wasswa is currently on a six-week trip to Uganda, which has already given him a full programme in the first half. He has had many discussions with mayors, district heads, architects, engineers, heads of organisations and schools as well as other personalities involved in educational institutions. Joseph finalised the establishment of the WE Foundation East Africa, started the further construction of the IMLS in Masaka and checked the progress of our Horizon School in Kasese. He also establishes further contacts with potential partners (CBOs and NGOs) in western and northern Uganda. And he is probably also a little proud of his new car ;-)
April 2024 - Opening of the sports hall in Romania
The special day was celebrated with a small party in the boarding school, a BBQ outside on the playground and the ceremonial handover of the sports hall to the children with lots of "firecrackers" and small sporting competitions. We would like to thank our partners and friends from Lahoi-Roi for the realisation of the project and the wonderful days in Victoria.
April 2024 - The IMLS educational complex is being expanded
Another building is being erected next to the IMLS music school. Young chefs and service staff from the neighbourhood of Masaka (Uganda) will be trained here. In addition, more than 500 hot meals will be cooked here every day for pupils and staff. The dining hall can also be used for smaller events and lectures.
March 2024 - Music school in Masaka
WES is building a special school in Masaka. This project will be unique in Uganda, focussing on both musical and polytechnic education. Half of the basement has been completed and is already being used for school operations. The educational project is also supported by the FMK Förderverein für Musik und Kultur Uganda e.V.. The organisation is committed to the musical and linguistic education of disadvantaged children in Uganda.
January 2024 - Life returns to the ODEC
What a great sight. The new building for our Open Doors Education Centre in Swakopmund, Namibia, was completed in a record time of just one year, and the school for the little ones has started. We think the architecture, the construction and above all the overall concept are simply unique. We would like to thank everyone involved for their outstanding work.
Dezember 2023 - Successful end to the year in Uganda
Holidays at last! In the "Kyangwali Refugee Settlement Camp", Uganda, not far from the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the successful school year was celebrated in style. The parents and teachers are at least as proud as the children. Many thanks to YOBAC for their excellent work.
November 2023 - The foundation stone for the sports and games complex in Senegal has been laid.
WES is building a special school in Masaka. This project will be unique in Uganda, focussing on both musical and polytechnic education. Half of the basement has been completed and is already being used for school operations. The educational project is also supported by the FMK Förderverein für Musik und Kultur Uganda e.V.. The organisation is committed to the musical and linguistic education of disadvantaged children in Uganda.
September 2023 - Our new kindergarten in Nkamba (Rwanda) has opened.
Since 26 September, the time has finally come. Our new kindergarten for the little ones in Nkamba (Rwanda) has opened. After three years in the kindergarten, they will move to the neighbouring primary school, which is run by the same association. Incidentally, all 14 pupils in the last graduating class passed the state examination. The importance of this educational project becomes clear when you consider that not a single pupil from the state primary schools in the same district was able to successfully complete it.
September 2023 - School life at the boarding school has started again.
After the summer camp for neighbouring children from our boarding school in Victoria, all the children have returned to the boarding school in good health. After many weeks with their families, the children have returned to normal school life and there were many new things to discover on the boarding school grounds. Good progress is also being made on the new sports hall. The interior work is in full swing.
July 2023 - Visiting Osterode am Harz
To get to know each other better, we took a weekend trip to visit our new friends and project partners at the Elhadj Diouf Foundation (EDF). Over coffee and cake and a short hike, there was plenty to talk about and learn. Of course, the joint project of a multifunctional sports facility, a playground and changing and sanitary facilities in Kaolack, Senegal, took centre stage. On this occasion, we also dusted off an original painting by a Senegalese artist, which thematises the cultural bridge between the schools in Kaolack and Osterode.
Juliy 2023 - Support for a primary school in Uganda
In addition to building the school in Kasese, we are also supporting another school project in Uganda in the refugee camp in Kyangwali on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are delighted that we were able to help keep the school running with our support. The NGO YOBAC was founded in 2016 by young people from various countries such as Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan, who are currently living in the Kyangwali Refunge Camp. The organisation has set itself the goal of transforming African communities. YOBAC is interested in the education of war orphans and youth and is dedicated to working with youth in the refugee settlements and host communities to empower the vulnerable and tackle the root causes of poverty.
May 2023 - Playgrounds and sports fields in Kaolack, Senegal
Together with the BRS, EDF and AKS foundations, WES is building a sports complex on the site of the pre-school and primary school currently under construction in Kaolack, Senegal. This includes a multifunctional sports field and a playground as well as a changing room and sanitary building. We are delighted that the new co-operation was concluded so quickly and smoothly and look forward to the intensive collaboration. (The graphic shows a non-binding preliminary design)
May 2023 - Start of construction in Kasese
WES and REP (Reach the Poor) are building a school of excellence that will enable children to progress from kindergarten (Early Childhood Education) through primary school to the end of their education. The school will not only cater for the educational needs of the children, but will also offer literacy classes, ICT training and lectures on practical life skills to improve the students' competences so that they can keep up with their peers in other developed cities in the country that already have better school facilities, thus reducing the economic gap.
April 2023 - The iMacs have arrived in Romania
The 12 iMacs donated by TASKOM have been installed. Several children can now learn, play and surf on the computer at the same time. The children of different age groups are thus introduced to the media under supervision. 4 computers are used in the administration.
April 2023 - The kindergarten was completed
The construction of the kindergarten in Nkamba (Rwanda) was completed in just a few months. All the rooms have been furnished so that the little ones can enjoy a playful education and a hot meal every day from the summer.
Dezember 2022 - iMacs for boarding school
12 iMacs decommissioned by the TASKOM advertising agency and 10 additional monitors are on their way to our boarding school in Victoria (Romania).
November 2022 - New school project in Kasese (Uganda)
We are very pleased to have found an experienced partner in "Reach the Poor" for the construction of the Horizon Primary School. The project comprises a kindergarten and a primary school for a total of 800 boys and girls as well as a boarding school for up to 240 children.
Oktober 2022 - Start of construction of the ODEC in Swakopmund
During our trip to Namibia, we were very impressed by the people and the landscape. The living conditions in the townships once again impressively confirmed our decision to build the ODEC education project in Swakopmund. The foundations have already been dug. The opening is planned for January 2024.
September 2022 - A visit to the Stamm Foundation in Burundi
On our trip to Africa, we gladly accepted the invitation from Fondation Stamm to familiarise ourselves with their numerous projects (kindergartens, schools, hospitals, etc.). We were overwhelmed by what Fondation Stamm has built up in partnership with Burundikids e. V. and other charitable organisations over the last few decades.
September 2022 - NOBE and WES are planning educational projects in Nkamba (Rwanda).
The Executive Board of the Werner Erkes Foundation visits a primary school project in a rural area near the capital Kigali (Rwanda). NOBE and WES are working closely together to expand the primary school by adding more classrooms and constructing an administration building. A kindergarten and a secondary school are planned for the medium term.
August 2022 - The ODEC - Open Door Education Centre - is being built
The cooperation agreement between the Werner Erkes Foundation and Tangeni Shilongo Namibia e. V. on the construction and operation of an education centre in Namibia has been signed. A visit by the organisation to Namibia is planned for October.
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Postanschrift: Werner Erkes Stiftung, Marc-Chagall-Straße 146, 40477 Düsseldorf, Germany - Werner Erkes, E-Mail: erkes@erkes.de
Büroadresse: Toulouser Allee 4, 40211 Düsseldorf
Werner Erkes Foundation Southwest Africa - Volkan Sazli, E-Mail: sazli@erkes.de
Werner Erkes Foundation East Africa - Peter von Heyking, E-Mail: vonheyking@erkes.de
Werner Erkes Foundation West Africa - Dr. Djiby Diouf: E-Mail: diouf@erkes.de
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